Jo Kessel

Born Blue Jo Kessel

We don't need the Covid-19 global pandemic to remind us how fragile life is. And whilst it's rarely discussed, childbirth can be a risky business. When my daughter was born blue and starved of oxygen, the future looked bleak. Death, cerebral palsy, brain damage and severe disability all loomed large. But there was a clinical trial going on at the time which the doctors believed could help. So we signed her up, took a deep breath and started on this unchartered medical journey.

This memoir tells the true story of our baby's medical miracle from beginning to end and is illustrated with photos. From our baby's treatment on a neonatal intensive care ward where she was part of a 3-day cooling experiment, to bringing her home and letting doctors monitor her for the next six years of her life. To growing into the teenager she now is.

Ours was an unexpected and difficult journey, full of highs and lows - there were times we feared it could have a very different ending. This memoir is an honest account of the challenges faced by patients, doctors and physicians alike at a time when emotions run high and life is at stake. Taking part in a clinical trial comes with both risks and rewards and I offer tips which could help everyone involved, from parents to medics to friends and family.

If you're a parent interested in reading about a heartfelt, real-life medical miracle, this book is for you.

If you're pregnant and wanting to read around the subject of childbirth, this is for you.

If you're a patient considering taking part in a clinical trial or a friend of somebody facing a medical journey, read this.

For anyone working in a clinical setting wanting to hear it from the other side (it might change how you talk to patients) this is a must-read.

Or if you just plain like learning about miracles - that probably accounts for most of us - press on the click button now.

Be warned, a box of tissues might be required.

This is the true story of one baby girl, born blue. She didn't just survive against the odds...she survived to thrive.