"Thompson's moving collection of narrative voices proves that there are as many different pregnancy and birth stories as there are mothers-a personal, compelling reminder of why women's reproductive health care matters, and why one size does not fit all."-Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author
"Immersive, compassionate, and vulnerable. . . . Dr. Thompson invites us to walk with her as she navigates her own journey to parenthood and the beautiful, messy, uplifting stories of the families she cares for along the way."-Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
A primary care physician's moving memoir of navigating a complicated path to motherhood, interwoven with the stories of twenty-one of her patients, friends, and medical colleagues-sharing the intimate truths of their diverse perspectives and surprise stops along the way to creating all kinds of families, born and built and chosen.
Seventeen years ago, when Dr. Rebecca N. Thompson endured a string of life-threatening miscarriages and rare medical conditions, her career as a physician didn't protect her from feeling isolated and overwhelmed. She longed to find a community of women-or even one encouraging story-to reassure her that she wasn't alone.
Deciding to create the community she longed for, Thompson reached out to twenty-one friends, patients, and colleagues across the medical field and asked each to share the story of their own personal journey to parenthood. Held Together explores their diverse experiences as well as Thompson's own. Their intimate accounts cover a range of circumstances, including infertility, multiples, abortion, surrogacy, the loss of pregnancies, the death of a child, the death of a spouse, adoption, fostering, and stepparenting. Through these individual stories we are reminded that, though our lives may be unique, we are creating life, raising children, and building families even as we search for reassurance that we are not alone in our struggles. We make meaning of our experiences, especially in moments where grief and joy converge, through our stories.
Held Together offers a place of healing, a refuge built from the stories that surround us and nurture us if we are brave enough to seek them. Thompson welcomes us, reminding us that we are held together in love. The foundations of our lives may not always be strong, but together, we are.
"With wit and bravery, Rebecca N. Thompson corrals two of life's most terrifying prospects-becoming a parent and becoming a doctor. Her deeply personal narrative is intertwined with the voices of other women who've navigated the complicated shoals of pregnancy, birth, family, and parenthood. Their stories are remarkable for the complexity of human experience and for the commonality of everyday courage. Inspiring." - Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, author of Incidental Findings: Lessons from My Patients in the Art of Medicine
"Thompson's moving collection of narrative voices proves that there are as many different pregnancy and birth stories as there are mothers-a personal, compelling reminder of why women's reproductive health care matters, and why one size does not fit all." - Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"We are, indeed, held together-by love, by stories, by what we have in common and also by how we are unique. This book does not seem like a book. It seems like a quilt that weaves together stories to create a treasure, and reading it is a healing. The message rings true, as Tess's words assure us: 'Telling our stories might save us all.'...should be required reading for every healthcare professional."
- Wendy N. Davis, PhD, PMH-C, President and CEO of Postpartum Support International
"Immersive, compassionate, and vulnerable." - Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
"This tapestry of intimate stories is a
