perfectly human -- a book review

Sarah Williams' Perfectly Human:  Nine Months with Cerian recounts the heartbreaking story of her decision to take her pregnancy to term even though her child had skeletal dysplasia.  When her doctors told her the birth would "certainly result in [the child's] death", Williams, already raising two daughters and teaching history at the University of Oxford, remained firm in her decision to go to term with her pregnancy.  She was supported by her husband, family, and community.  She also felt compelled by her belief that God wanted her to love this daughter, whom she named Cerian, which is Welsh for "loved one".

For Williams and her husband, the medical advice was unimportant because the child had a slim chance of survival, and they felt a great sense of responsibility to "ensure that all provision is made should that 1 percent chance come about".  During her pregnancy, Williams questioned assumptions about prayer (of God as wish-granter), normality (which she feels is overrated), and grief (Cerian did indeed die at birth). 

Perfectly Human is a passionate spiritual reflection on what pregnancy means to Christians, and how the vocation to marriage and family are sometimes fraught with complicated decisions that will test our faith.  But in the end its the story of how marriage and family, for Christians, is ultimately the story of God's love for all of us.
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I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.