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God Gave Me You

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When a single mother with terminal cancer asks an oncology nurse to look after her son, neither can imagine what God has in store. This is the heartwarming story of how two very different women with two very different paths were brought together for one very special purpose.

Oncology nurse Tricia Seaman and her family were hoping to adopt a son. They were months into the grueling process when she met Trish Somers, a terminally ill cancer patient. Trish was a single mother and her eight-year-old son Wesley was her entire world. As the young mother poured out her fears and emotions, it became clear that this was unlike any other nurse-patient relationship Tricia had in her career. When they learned that the cancer had spread and Trish only had a short time to live, she looked at Tricia, a complete stranger three weeks ago, and asked if she could raise Wesley when she passed away.

God Gave Me You tells the true story of how these two incredible mothers met, the immediate bond they formed, and the ups and downs of joining families as Trish’s earthly life ebbed away. This heartwarming tale inspires readers to find the courage to trust in faith and never give up. The miracle of these two families coming together demonstrates that family isn’t always blood; often, it’s made up of the people God gives you if you have a willing heart. God Gave Me You is a story you can turn to again and again when you’re looking for hope, inspiration, and a reason to believe in miracles.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2016

8 people are currently reading
223 people want to read

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Tricia Seaman

3 books5 followers

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5 stars
103 (65%)
4 stars
33 (21%)
3 stars
16 (10%)
2 stars
4 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Karin.
1,826 reviews33 followers
March 24, 2017
In 2014 an oncology nurse walked into a new patient's room and that day a remarkable friendship and bond was formed. It grew until, on the day this patient, Tricia Somers, asked her nurse, Tricia Seaman, if she would take care of her son after she passed. No answer was given immediately, but as their friendship grew, they continued to bond, the two families bonded, and this is one of the most poignant and yet heartwarming memoirs I have ever read. I learned about this book reading a news article online, and am glad to have read it.

The writing is very sound, it's not lyrical or written with a literary style, but I had to give it five stars because once I got into it it was very difficult to put down and move onto other things. I have two adopted brothers, so adoption is close to my heart anyway. It is a Christian memoir, although nothing about Christianity comes up during that first hospital stay. While I do think that there people who aren't Christian who might really enjoy this poignant journey, anyone who cannot abide anything religious isn't going to like this.
Profile Image for Katrina.
19 reviews
December 26, 2025
This story is incredible in itself, but especially so because the author was one of my substitute clinical instructors in nursing school and told us her story in person and then told us about her book so it hit so much closer to home. I cried multiple times while reading this book and I think it's because I was able to relate so much to the way the author, as a nurse, was processing everything.
Profile Image for Cady.
102 reviews
March 16, 2017
A good friend loaned me this book which she received as a gift for nurse's day from our local community hospital's COO, who is the brother of the author Tricia Seaman. This is an uplifting true story about how an oncology nurse's encounter with her patient (coincidentally named Trish) changed both of their lives forever. While it is a quick and easy read, the message of friendship, generosity, and faithfulness leaves a lasting impression. I wanted to learn a little more about the families after I finished the book, and discovered they were featured in a CBS Evening News "On the Road" story with Steve Hartman.

2017 Reading Challenge - A book by someone who isn't a writer
Profile Image for Lori.
380 reviews
April 30, 2024
Amazing Heartfelt Read!

My review can't do this book justice! It captivated me, brought me to tears more than once, made me smile, laugh, and thank God He directed me to buy it during a hard time for me that can't compare to Tricia Sommers pain, the author Tricia's pain or that of Wesley or the others but hurts nonetheless. It is a poignant reminder to trust God in even the worst of times for He is the Waymaker when there seems to be none!
Very intense and ultimately both sad and triumphant true story. Well written and edited. And a great example of what family should be! God bless them all.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,087 reviews10 followers
November 2, 2019
Nurse Tricia Seaman walks into a cancer patient's room and at the end of her shift walks out with aninvitation to adopt the dying woman's son. She and her family decide that God wants this path to enlarge their family when they'd been looking to enlarge their family. To achieve this, they end up taking the boy's mother in and giving her a home and family along with her son. It gives the woman also named Trisha the large and happy family she's longed for.


Great show of faith and compassion but not overly preachy.
Profile Image for pamela kroese.
44 reviews2 followers
November 3, 2017
Inspiring!!!

What an God-inspired story & book! Thank you for sharing this! As an RN who has work in the settings of the hospital, Home care (my passion) & Hospice, I could relate to many aspects! Yet, while I have gone above & beyond for many of my clients, I'm not sure I could have done what you did! That is God truly at work in your family's life with the power of His Spirit! Thank you for sharing this gift!
476 reviews5 followers
February 15, 2018
What an emotional journey! A touching, heartfelt story of two families coming together. You can clearly see God working, preparing the Seaman family beforehand. While we ache and can't understand some things that happen God never leaves us alone to handle our grief on our own. This book keeps it real though as you follow their journey.
64 reviews2 followers
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December 27, 2023
Did not finish. I listened to over two hours but felt like she had a lot of “ I knew she was thinking this or that” and I felt uncomfortable with that much speaking for someone else who can’t confirm or deny what they were actually feeling and thinking. I felt the story was sugarcoated, flowery but I didn’t finish so maybe it gets better and maybe just not my style.
Profile Image for Melissa Coffman.
350 reviews1 follower
October 13, 2024
Such a beautiful heartbreaking story, this book had me crying. It’s a beautiful true story of a nurse and her patient who ends up having terminal cancer, and the story that unfolds between them. This book shows how amazing God is and how he works everything out just how it’s supposed to be. Awesome book!
Profile Image for Marie.
654 reviews7 followers
March 6, 2018
This is a true story, told by the person who experienced it, told in her own words. Very worthwhile reading. It really reminded me that the world is full of wonderful people, generous and courageous people, who step up when given the opportunity to serve others. I'd like to know this woman.
Profile Image for Susan Kendrick.
919 reviews15 followers
May 9, 2017
Moving story of an oncology nurse who adopts the son of a terminal cancer patient. Very sweet. Not particularly well-written.
Profile Image for Galion Public Library Teens.
1,540 reviews18 followers
July 30, 2018
Review by C.J. : "This book was good. It was about a mother who was in the hospital & unable to take care of her son so she had one of the nurses do it."
17 reviews
April 14, 2020
BEAUTIFUL! Awesome story about God's love for us, His mysterious ways and the love of family members. So much hope....
170 reviews8 followers
May 4, 2020
interesting (kind of amazing actually) story, but written in a gushy, emotional way that turned me off...
Profile Image for Becky.
71 reviews
October 7, 2022
A wonderful, heartwarming story of the love and joy in difficult circumstances. More about the joyous moments than the sad ones.
Profile Image for Christina.
1,317 reviews
May 9, 2024
A very sweet story that can be quickly read in a day. I had seen this on the news and wanted to read the longer version.
Profile Image for Stephanie Henricks.
51 reviews3 followers
October 17, 2016
Cover to cover in one evening. An absolutely unbelievable story about a mothers love. Recommend.
Profile Image for Victor Gentile.
2,035 reviews65 followers
June 5, 2016
Tricia Seaman and Diane Nichols in their new book, “God Gave Me You” published by Howard Books gives us A True Story of Love, Loss and a Heaven-Sent Miracle.

From the Back Cover: When a single mother with terminal cancer asks an oncology nurse to look after her son, neither can imagine what God has in store. This is the heartwarming story of how two very different women with two very different paths were brought together for one very special purpose.

Oncology nurse Tricia Seaman and her family were hoping to adopt a son. They were months into the grueling process when she met Trish Somers, a terminally ill cancer patient. Trish was a single mother and her eight-year-old son Wesley was her entire world. As the young mother poured out her fears and emotions, it became clear that this was unlike any other nurse-patient relationship Tricia had in her career. When they learned that the cancer had spread and Trish only had a short time to live, she looked at Tricia, a complete stranger three weeks ago, and asked if she could raise Wesley when she passed away.

God Gave Me You tells the true story of how these two incredible mothers met, the immediate bond they formed, and the ups and downs of joining families as Trish’s earthly life ebbed away. This heartwarming tale inspires readers to find the courage to trust in faith and never give up. The miracle of these two families coming together demonstrates that family isn’t always blood; often, it’s made up of the people God gives you if you have a willing heart. God Gave Me You is a story you can turn to again and again when you’re looking for hope, inspiration, and a reason to believe in miracles.

It is amazing to me how God can work all things together for our good for multiple individuals at the same time. Trish is the mother of Wesley and Trish has been given a cancer diagnosis that will be fatal. Tricia is a nurse that is working to adopt a son. Tricia is the nurse that will take care of Trish when she comes in for her treatments. These two women become friends eventually leading to Tricia adopting Wesley. God, Himself, put this together as it is something only He can do. Os what happens to these two families easy? No. The fact that it works at all shows how God was able to join these families. This story will make you laugh, but will make you cry as you witness the power of a miracle. This is a story that will help you see the greatness God has put here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Howard Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Profile Image for Lori Wasson.
149 reviews
February 11, 2017
I loved this book! This was such a sweet book about the friend between the author and Trish, who was dying of cancer. Trish asks Tricia to take her son in after she dies, and not only does Tricia agree to this, she develops a very precious friendship with Trish.

There was so much that I liked about the book. It was well written and flowed nicely. There was plenty in-depth information on Trish’s background. I loved how the author portrayed Trish and how she lived life to the fullest, even though she knew she was dying. There was humor…I got a kick out of the scene where Trish and Tricia went to the “warehouse” to get Trish’s movies and Tricia was scared out of there because of snakes and bats. And of course, there was so much sadness, especially towards the end and frustrations on both Trish’s and Tricia’s part. I appreciated the author’s honesty on all of that.

Rating: 5 out of 5

This book was provided by NetGalley and Howard Publishing for free in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for Linda.
452 reviews30 followers
May 16, 2016
I primarily review Christian fiction but as a nurse, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read and review this book. What an inspiring and encouraging testimony of how God moved in the lives and circumstances of two women whose paths intersected on a seemingly random night that would prove to be anything but random. Honest and raw, this story doesn't shy away from the heartbreak of Trish's illness and prognosis, nor does it imply that the transitions were smooth and trouble-free. The focus of the book, however is God's grace and provision, and the strength he provides in the midst of life's seemingly-impossible storms. A relatively quick read, this book will touch your heart with its message of faith and hope.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Profile Image for Sarah.
958 reviews32 followers
May 8, 2016
"God Gave Me You" is a powerful story of faith, miracles and a powerful God who can do anything during the mist of difficult situations. This is only a story he could write as he weaves a beautiful story between two mothers that share a bond and join families. This book shows the trials, pain and suffering, but how blood doesn't define family, Christ does and through his church, anyone can walk through any journey with one another. This book will make you laugh, but will make you cry as you witness the power of a miracle. It is a book that you cannot put down because you need to know what is going to happen next. Thank you to the kind folks at Howard Publishing for allowing me to review this book. I give it a 5/5 stars for its testimony and ability to capture a wide range of audience. I was provided a complimentary copy for review purposes only.
228 reviews11 followers
February 5, 2017
A friend gave me this book for Christmas. This is a sweet touching story that shows how God can bring people together for reasons that only He knows why. This story shows faith in action. God used a woman who was trying to adopt a baby to instead be a mother to an eight year old boy who would eventually lose his own mother. This story while bittersweet offers lessons in trusting God even if we don't understand His plan. I especially loved the Scripture used throughout the book, It really encouraged me,
63 reviews
July 11, 2016
This is a very beautiful story and another case of how deep a parents love for their child goes. For Tricia Somers to be dealing with her own mortality yet to only be thinking of what is best for her son is truly touching.

She didn't have the biggest support group initially, but to see how that turned around once she met Tricia Seaman was amazing.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone especially if you are a person of faith.
1,124 reviews6 followers
November 7, 2018
This book caught my attention so I decided to read it- an inspirational true story with true emotions, feelings about the relationship and friendship between an oncology nurse and her patient. I liked the honesty in this book - nothing sugar- coated but the real emotional responses to the nurse's and her husband 's wish to adopt a baby boy that was met with disappointment and resolved in a way that they never expected.
6,155 reviews
May 6, 2016
God Gave Me You is an inspiring read. It is a tear jerker but yet a heartwarming true story of love, faith and inspiration. This is a wonderful book with a reminder that God plays a role in our lives.
A reader should keep their tissues handy while reading this one.
Highly recommended.
5 plus stars.
I received this book from Howard Books in exchange for my honest opinion, which was given.
Profile Image for Megan.
71 reviews4 followers
June 3, 2016
Talk about going above and beyond! Tricia Seamen had no idea how her job as an oncology nurse would change her life when she met Tricia Somers, a single mother with an 8 year old boy and no family to care for him. A nice reminder of the fact that we can always do more to help others in need and that family isn't always those related by blood.
Profile Image for Maria.
129 reviews
September 18, 2016
This book is based on a true story. We met Tricia who is a single mom with terminal cancer and Tricia a nurse in the Oncology unit in the hospital where both meet. We take an emotional journey during the last stages of terminal cancer and we learn about the tough choices cancer patients must make...especially if you are single with children. Heartbreaking yet spiritually uplifting book to read.
84 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2017
This is an inspirational book but I often thought that many important details were left out. Tough times are briefly mentioned but immediately followed by all the help and joy others brought them. It almost read like a fairy tale. The author wrote simply and had a tendency to use cliches to express her ideas. Despite these limitations, the book still had merit.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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