Malachy

The beautiful boy staring out from the book cover was sunshine itself. I was lucky to meet Malachy in an all too familiar setting for Maggie and Dom, at Sydney's Westmead hospital. Malachy stole your heart in an instant. He'd be very proud of his Dad and his family, who have crafted an exquisite tribute to his remarkable life. With an eloquence and insight that comes in part from overwhelming pain and loss, Dom has written a book that speaks to all the complexities of the human experience. This is so much more than a guidebook to being the parents of a Heartkid; it's a deeply profound memoir about the meaning of life. In his life, Malachy bestowed his special gifts on everyone who knew him. With this magnificent book, Dom conveys the Malachy magic to all, reminding us again that we can never take a single day for granted. - Simon Reeve, television presenter, journalist, podcaster and HeartKids Ambassador All around us, though we don't always know it, are parents whose children are not well. Who have anguish and grief mixed with the normal travails of raising a child. Some of these parents become able to rise up through that and muster an extra lovingness that means a hard life, or a tragically short life, can still be a beautiful one. Suffering doesn't have to break us. It can teach us to love. A beautifully written book about a beautifully loved child: this family did something special under huge stress, and we can all take heart from it. - Steve Biddulph AM, bestselling parenting author whose books include Manhood, Fully Human and Raising Boys A beautiful book and an eye-opener for all of us involved in the care of children with heart problems. Always well-intentioned but often messy, their story is a good reminder of how we can improve. Dom and Maggie's relationship with Malachy, and their investment of precious time in the development of HeartKids, both have interesting back stories. Their loss is enormous. Dom's thoughtful humanity shines as a guiding light throughout. - David Winlaw, Professor of Surgery, cardiothoracic surgeon, researcher, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Dominic Frawley's loving elegy to his cherished son is deeply moving. It is a beautiful celebration of young Malachy's life and the family who adored him. As it moves from heart-warming to heart-rending ... to heart-wrenching, there are also moments where you will laugh out loud. ('They're crying! Get the social worker!' had me chortling and smiling for some time.) Ultimately, Malachy is a supremely uplifting story of an irrepressible soul, beloved forever and immortalised in this tribute. - Cindy Pan, medical practitioner, bestselling author, media personality Joy and grief, philosophy and faith, and the everlasting bond between father and son. Through one life, Frawley explores the things that make us - and almost break us. - Allison Tait (A.L. Tait), bestselling author middle-grade adventure series The Mapmaker Chronicles and the Ateban Cipher, and her new novel The Fire Star