Book Review: A Story Unfinished by Matt Mooney

Matt and Ginny Mooney were elated to find out they were pregnant with their first child.  As any expecting new parents, they were filled with joy and excitement and couldn't wait to welcome their new baby into the world.  At thirty weeks pregnant, Matt and Ginny were given the devastating news that their child had a genetic disorder, Trisomy 18 or Edwards syndrome.  This diagnosis could mean that the baby would not survive birth or if he should, that it would only be for a few hours or a few days.  But when Eliot was born, not only did he survive, he lived for 99 days.

Each day that Eliot was alive was celebrated.  It was a gift that Matt and Ginny cherished.  Although their lives have changed drastically and their world turned upside down, they never ceased to acknowledge the blessing that Eliot was to the world.  The lessons that Eliot's life taught Matt and Ginny surprised them and helped them more than they could have ever imagined.  The power of prayer, faith, community and hope surrounded, guided and uplifted this family.  To see Matt's personal relationship with God and how Eliot's life help to transform and strengthen it is purely amazing, beautiful, and encouraging.

Just from reading the title I knew that this book would move me. What I underestimated was by how much. At first glance, the story of losing a child is a heartbreaking one. Yet, Matt and his wife Ginny have laid out the beautiful lessons that are weaved into that loss. I so appreciate how candid and truthful they were in telling this story. It is their faith, community of friends and family, and each other that get them through the most difficult part of their lives. But most of all, their appreciation of the precious time they had with Eliot and how they cherished each moment, no matter how distraught or difficult they may have been, was most enjoyable to read. You are able to witness the growth of two people in their own knowledge of themselves and in their faith and you can't help but want to take that journey with them. A Story Unfinished: 99 Days with Eliot is the document of a beautiful life and the beautiful blessings Eliot brought with him and shared with the world.

For each day of his life, 99 balloons were released at Eliot's funeral which was documented in this YouTube video.  The responses from the video created a lot of buzz nationwide.  So much so that Matt and Ginny were featured on The Today Show and Oprah.  

 

99 Balloons

99 Balloons Aftermath

The outreach from the community and the entire nation has culminated in the organization 99 Balloons, helping individuals with disabilities nationally and globally.  Matt and Ginny live in Fayetteville, Arkansas with Eliot's three siblings - Hazel, Anders, and Lena, who was adopted from the Ukraine and has special needs.

Matt Mooney

Connect with Matt, Ginny and 99 Balloons

Matt's blog:  www.theatypicallife.com
Ginny's blog:  www.orbitofthemooneys.blogspot.com
Eliot's blog:  www.mattandginny.blogspot.com
99 Balloons:  www.99balloons.org
Facebook:  www.facebook.com
Twitter:  @mattmooney





Product Specs

Title:  A Story Unfinished
Author:  Matt Mooney
Publisher:  Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
Date of Publication:  July 1, 2013
Retail Price:  $15.99
Pages:  200 pages
ISBN:  978-0-8341-3011-1

Purchase the book and see sample pages!

You can also read my review of this book on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com.