Hanging by a Thread: The journey of a little girl and her mother from death to life

by Elissa D. Bjeletich

translated by Polyxeni Tsaliki
This book charts the course of Elissa Bjeletich and her daughter of just 4 months from severe illness to health. The family's struggle began when little Mariana was found to be suffering from liver failure. This is not a novel about grief and suspense but a true story of hope, faith and love, with a happy ending. With reviews by: - Kyriaki Kanellakopoulou, Professor of Pathology and Infectious Diseases at Athens University Medical School - Father Vasileios Kontoyannis, chaplain at the Ippokrateion Hospital and director of the Voluntary Ministry for the Sick, Archiepiscopate of Athens - Andreas Karabinis, Pathologist and Intensivist at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre - Serafim Nana, Professor of Pathology and Intensive Care Medicine at Athens University Medical School Ultimately, the soul which 'discovers' the Love of God in its prosaic everyday life, can do no other than seek each day for ways to come to know it better by ministering to those who are suffering. Father Vasileios Kontoyannis The book 'Hanging by a Thread' is one of those books that can inspire the reader and act as a pathfinder in his spiritual search. Kyriaki Kanellakopoulou This book proves in the most dramatic way that tissue and organ transplants donated by humans are a unique achievement of modern medicine, thanks to which thousands of patients who have been condemned to death, like little Mariana, today live a normal life after receiving organs from their fellow-humans. They are the ultimate expression of human love and solidarity, giving life in exchange for death. Andreas Karabinis A gripping read and a true story about the experience of severe long-term illness and death, with a profoundly Christian ethos. A book which challenges all of us and is particularly instructive for any health professional.

221 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

This author is also published under Elissa Bjeletich Davis.

Elissa D. Bjeletich grew up in rural Napa Valley and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied Comparative Literature (English, Spanish, Italian and Danish.) Elissa has five daughters and a son who reposed in 2005. Active in youth ministries and at Orthodox summer camps, she directs and teaches Sunday school at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Austin, Texas. She sits on the Advisory Board of Youth Equipped to Serve (YES), a ministry of FOCUS North America, and is the host of four popular Ancient Faith Radio podcasts: Light Streams In, Everyday Orthodox, Raising Saints, and together with Kristina Wenger, Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.

Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families written with Kristina Wenger, is a collection of meditations for families, to carry them through Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha. From Bible stories to spiritual lessons to Saints' lives, the meditations both educate and inspire conversation in the home.

Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home written with Caleb Shoemaker, is a practical and down-to-earth guide for bringing an Orthodox rhythm to your family's life.

Welcoming the Christ Child: Family Readings for the Nativity Lent is a journey through the Old Testament, with 40 stories from Scripture to read aloud and questions to inspire conversation. Families can choose to read this book together throughout the year, or to make it a 40-day Advent preparation for the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; either way, these timeless stories from Scripture will equip families to engage in fruitful discussion.

The Grace of Being There: Single Mother Saints in our Lives is a collection of essays, in which Elissa contributes a chapter on one of her favorites: St. Helena.

In God's Hands: A mother's journey through her infant's critical illness is her testimony to God's faithfulness through suffering and struggles.