by Jill Kelly
First published 2010
Jill Kelly watches her severely disabled son Hunter communicate through silence while her marriage to Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly fractures under pressure. Hunter cannot speak or move normally, yet his presence forces both parents to confront painful truths. Jim's past betrayals create distance between them as they navigate medical appointments and sleepless nights. Jill questions her faith while caring for a child who will not live to see adulthood. The family spends eight and a half years learning Hunter's wordless language of love. Jim struggles with guilt and denial as his football fame means nothing in hospital corridors. Jill must choose between bitterness and forgiveness while watching her son's body fail. Hunter's brief life becomes a mirror reflecting both parents' need for redemption. Through their son's silent teachings, the Kelly family discovers that love transcends words and that broken people can find healing in unexpected places.
Genres: medical, biography-memoir, inspirational, family-drama, disability, christian-living
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
272 pages · Hardcover · FaithWords
Content warnings: terminal-illness