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I Believe In Evan - My Fight to Save my Baby from a Devastating Brain Injury and the Forces Against Us
On 18 January 2012, Elise Schwarz received a phone call that threatened to tear her world to ‘There’s something wrong with Evan. He’s turning blue,’ her babysitter screamed down the line.When Evan was born Elise felt her life was complete. She had her own New York apartment, a brilliant career as a litigator and a beautiful baby boy. But all that was thrown into turmoil when her only child was found to be the victim of shaken baby syndrome. All evidence pointed to the babysitter, with whom Elise had entrusted Evan’s care.In the agonising weeks and months that follow, she finds herself taking on both the New York authorities, who at first prevent her from taking charge of her own child, and a medical establishment that seems anxious to terminate Evan’s prospects as swiftly as possible. But this single gay mother, with a great support network of friends and family around her, had the resilience to fight like a tigress for her son in order to prevent his short life being extinguished prematurely.Faced with a nightmarish mix of emotions and a roller coaster of conflicting advice and agonising decision making, Elise emerges a Mother Courage, prepared to go to any lengths for her son. This moving and compelling account, told in diary form, is a testament to a mother’s unbending love and above all unflinching belief in her child.
- GenresNonfiction
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 31, 2020
I believe in Evan was about Elise's amazing battle with the authorities in keeping Evan from having his machine turned off. Norma was the child minder who shook Evan when Elise was at work so sad and ended up with Evan suffering from severe brain damage. This was her true story. How moving was the letter she wrote to Norma the child minder how she could feel so much empathy and forgiveness toward her showed what a strong body makeup Elise had even though she had to survive on antidepressants to get through each day.
Elise put her trust in Norma who had amazing work references but they counted for nothing and all the expense Elise spent to get closure and for Norma to be found out in the end. Norma should never be allowed to work with children again.
Elise tried her very best to make Evan as comfortable as possible and did everything she could to achieve that in his short life. This book was written with love, compassion that came from the heart and it moved me so much as I read it.
Elise put her trust in Norma who had amazing work references but they counted for nothing and all the expense Elise spent to get closure and for Norma to be found out in the end. Norma should never be allowed to work with children again.
Elise tried her very best to make Evan as comfortable as possible and did everything she could to achieve that in his short life. This book was written with love, compassion that came from the heart and it moved me so much as I read it.
October 30, 2017
Elise was my immigration lawyer and got me a green card. During the immigration interview there was a very important moment that she handled in the best way that she could and the outcome was successful. She is my hero always. When I read her story about Evan I was so heart broken. Her voice was in my head with her beautiful accent telling everything that happened to her beautiful baby boy. I couldn’t put the book down. Her strength is just impossible to measure and the power of her love. It’s a very sad and extremely inspiring book that should be read by every mother.
February 21, 2022
this is a book about a woman called elise schwarz.
it is based in new york city.
she has a son called evan louis schwarz.
she is gay and is a single parent.
she is a lawyer and her family lives in glasgow,scotland.
her son is only a few months old.
on 18 january 2012 she receives a call from her babysitter that her son is not well.
she takes her son to the hospital and he is diagnosed as shaken baby syndrome.
the doctors tell her that this just cant happen and that some one has done this to him.
they accuse the babysitter of abusing the child.
and then the mother is accused of doing some thing bad to the child but that could not be true because she loved her son so much and would not want to harm her or do some thing bad to her.
she is accused of abusing her son.
later the charges are dropped against her and the baby sitter is accused of child abuse.
the childs condition is very bad and is critical.
what happens family is that the baby boy dies and his mother is shattered.
she thinks about all the love that he had given every one and she knows that he is in heaven.
she is devastated by the death of her son.
it is based in new york city.
she has a son called evan louis schwarz.
she is gay and is a single parent.
she is a lawyer and her family lives in glasgow,scotland.
her son is only a few months old.
on 18 january 2012 she receives a call from her babysitter that her son is not well.
she takes her son to the hospital and he is diagnosed as shaken baby syndrome.
the doctors tell her that this just cant happen and that some one has done this to him.
they accuse the babysitter of abusing the child.
and then the mother is accused of doing some thing bad to the child but that could not be true because she loved her son so much and would not want to harm her or do some thing bad to her.
she is accused of abusing her son.
later the charges are dropped against her and the baby sitter is accused of child abuse.
the childs condition is very bad and is critical.
what happens family is that the baby boy dies and his mother is shattered.
she thinks about all the love that he had given every one and she knows that he is in heaven.
she is devastated by the death of her son.
August 14, 2023
Absolutely heartbreaking. Brain injury is close to my heart so this touched me more than ever. I felt so much sadness for Elise going through what she did as a mother, but felt her strength and determination to keep Evan alive even in the darkest of hours, really is inspiring. No human should have to go through losing someone to a brain injury, where their body is still going but the person they once were has disappeared due to brain damage. I lost my dad to it and wish no one had to go through the pain. Her love for her child is out of this world; I just wanted to give her a bug hug. I lit a candle for Evan on baby loss awareness month and always keep his little soul in my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2020
Desperately sad, brutally honest, incredibly brave and spiritually profound, this book reduced me to tears. Evan seemed to be doing incredibly well and then suddenly the light went out of his world and all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him. He made such a difference, a positive difference, to all those who loved him. My heart goes out to his mum who must be so incredibly proud to have been his mum, words cannot do justice. This story will stay with me for a long time to come, I don't believe I've ever said that about a book before.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2020
Amazing, heartbreaking,and just beautiful
This book is so inspiring even if you do not have a child or a child with some disability/illness. It shows how hard you need to work to ensure your life is full of love and that small victories should be celebrated no matter what. every life is important and it shows that with a loving bond between 2 people how far you will go ensure that their life is worth fighting for and that sometimes those in a trusted position are not invincible and do get it wrong.
This book is so inspiring even if you do not have a child or a child with some disability/illness. It shows how hard you need to work to ensure your life is full of love and that small victories should be celebrated no matter what. every life is important and it shows that with a loving bond between 2 people how far you will go ensure that their life is worth fighting for and that sometimes those in a trusted position are not invincible and do get it wrong.
November 6, 2018
Heart breaking but amazing the courage n hope this mum has is inspiring
Anyone who finds them self in this situation please read this book it made me smile and then left me in tears Hopefully u will get through this and eventually have a happy life My love n kisses too Even always in Your Heart for Ever Xxx
Anyone who finds them self in this situation please read this book it made me smile and then left me in tears Hopefully u will get through this and eventually have a happy life My love n kisses too Even always in Your Heart for Ever Xxx
September 7, 2021
Such a sad story! Evans mum is a saint to manage to stay so positive and not carry anger around as any mum would! She worked wonders for Evans sake and he will be very proud of her! I’m glad that writing a book helped you heal a little bit it was one where all you do is will Evan on to keep improving as the story unfolds, RIP beautiful boy! X
January 15, 2018
Gripping book ...
This book had me hooked, it tells a story of a mothers love, a mother's battle to save a little boy. Beautifully written. Highly recommend.
This book had me hooked, it tells a story of a mothers love, a mother's battle to save a little boy. Beautifully written. Highly recommend.
May 21, 2022
Absolutely heartbreaking and amazing story of a mothers unconditional love and willingness to fight to the end.
December 31, 2023
This books consumed me, my son is a SBS survivor so this book really hit home for me on so many levels
I needed this book
I felt less alone in a world full of what ifs and it gave me the hope and strength to push on for him
I needed this book
I felt less alone in a world full of what ifs and it gave me the hope and strength to push on for him
July 14, 2023
Very gripping story i read it in two days but at times i wish it was a little shorter which maybe is unfair but lots of details about dinners and foods could have been cut to stay on track. Devastating events
April 6, 2016
A story of how a working mother left her son in the care of a childminder, how Evan developed SBS and the trials that came about afterwards.
Made me tear in places especially towards the end
Made me tear in places especially towards the end
April 12, 2016
A heartbreaking but inspiring true story of a mothers love for her baby son when he becomes severely brain damaged.
Written in diary form and absolutely engaging.
Very sad but good to read
Written in diary form and absolutely engaging.
Very sad but good to read
July 1, 2019
A sad story of great courage and bravery.
July 23, 2019
There are no words that are enough to convey the love, warmth and emotion that this book leaves you feeling!
April 9, 2017
If nothing else it shows what optimism and positivity has in order to get through life. I wish you had learnt that justice, or at least a truthful answer had been given so that you could have something to make you feel better or in your words "remove the bricks".
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews