The Same Smile: The Triumph of a Mother's Love After Losing Two Daughters

By Joanne Medeiros Harrington and Susan Mello Souza

The Same Smile - The Triumph of a Mother's Love After Losing Two Daughters, is the story of 2 of my 4 daughters. My first born was lost to adoption in 1968 when I was 17 years old. 21 years later, my... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0972510001
• ISBN13: 9780972510004
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Susan Mello Souza
• Length: 166 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A MUST READ for all members of the triad!

I just LOVED this book! I can't say enough about it. I am an adoptee and it was really great to hear a birthmother's perspective. She told an honest, heartwarming story that flowed well and was easy to read. I couldn't put this one down!!! Grab your box of tissue, warm blanket & enjoy!!! It was EXCELLENT!

From the Other Side

I attended High School with Susan Mello Souza but we were never friends. I knew who she was, but always considered her to be one of the "popular" girls and she always seemed to just be bursting with confidence... little did I know. I reconnected with Susan just this past year as I was surfing the net doing genealogy ... our last names were the same and that is how it came to be that I found a former classmate. After I read about the loss of her daughter, Jackie online and the story of her being pregnant in High School and giving that daughter up I contacted her via e-mail. She was very gracious and we e-mailed back and forth several times and I ordered a copy of her book.The story is very well written and for me personally it showed me the "other side" of the adoption story. You see, while Susan was struggling with giving a baby up I had my own personal struggle. My parents were getting a divorce and I decided to give up my Dad and allow a step-father to adopt me. Like Susan this decision would haunt me for many years. I thank God that I too had the chutzpah to correct a decision that was in may ways made for me and I was reunited with my Dad. After reading Susan's book I came to realize how much pain I had inflicted on my own Dad. Susan lost not one but two daughters in her life and you feel her pain, but also know that hope is what carried her through the dark days. This book I believe will inspire not only those birth mothers still looking for their child, but also those who may have given up on people that loved them.

A must read book for everyone with a heart!

I highly recommend this book; once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down! This is a true story of triumph over adversity and the hardship of losing two children. Susan Souza give a heart wrenching account of what it was like to be young, unmarried and pregnant in the 1960's and the life altering effects that relinquishing a child has on a mother's life. However, losing a child to adoption was not the only hardship that Susan was to experience, just when she is ready to search for her first born she learns that her first daughter born after losing her baby to adoption has an incurable disease. This book is a must read for all those who's lives have been touched by adoption, although, I believe that everyone should read this book as it is an inspirational, eye-opening educational experience for those who have not dealt with these issues in addition to valadating the emotions of those who have. If you are looking for a wonderful book that will make you laugh and cry; a book that will leave you with a sense that no obstacle that life throws in your path is too hard to overcome...then read `The Same Smile'. I loved this book and want to thank Susan for having the courage to share her story with the world.Denise M. LeitchFirst Mother to MichaelDOB: 12/23/69DOD: 5/26/88FOUND: 5/30/03

Very Moving Story About The Depth of A Mother's Love!!

This book touched me in many ways. I read it twice in the first week. This is one of those stories that you will have you thinking "I could never make it through such a difficult time" but you will see that Susan made it through an unbearable time not once, but twice...losing two daughters, on two separate occasions, and yet she emerges with a determination to find her relinquished daughter and deal with the roller-coaster ride of reuniting. I highly recommend this for anyone who has heart...but make sure you order a box of Kleenex along with it!

Very Moving Story About The Depth of A Mother's Love!!

This book touched me in many ways. I read it twice in the first week. This is one of those stories that will have you thinking "I could never make it through such a difficult time" but you will see that Susan made it through an unbearable time not once, but twice...losing a daughter, on two separate occasions, and yet she emerges with a determination to find her relinquished daughter and deal with the roller-coaster ride of reuniting. I highly recommend this for anyone who has heart...but make sure you order a box of Kleenex along with it!