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One Tattered Angel: A Touching True Story of the Power of Love

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Book by Yorgason, Blaine M.

199 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

11 people are currently reading
382 people want to read

About the author

Blaine M. Yorgason

71 books44 followers
Blaine M. Yorgason was born in Sanpete County, Utah. He attended Brigham Young University and received both a BA and MA in History. Blaine and his wife Kathleen have 7 children and numerous grandchildren.

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5 stars
506 (51%)
4 stars
305 (30%)
3 stars
134 (13%)
2 stars
36 (3%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
33 reviews
June 30, 2007
One Tattered Angel is a remarkable story of the power of love to reach beyond physical limitations. This is a touching, true story about the "angel" Blaine and his wife Kathy adopted in 1988. Born with hydraencephaly -- only a brain stem and cerebrospinal fluid -- Charity changed the lives of their entire family. Blaine Yorgason describes the immense difficulties and even greater joys of raising Charity along with their six children. In a home filled with love and compassion, Charity outlived her doctors best predictions and progressed beyond belief.
Profile Image for Jorgina.
384 reviews
August 9, 2016
Cried all the way through the book.. of course I was an emotional wreck at the time. This true story of a girl born with no more than a brain stem and lived to the age of 8 is soooo amazing in how it changed her family for the good, no, great. This girl was in the hospital during her last days the same time my daughter was at Primary Children's hospital fighting her own life threatening car accident recovery. Wish I could have met her and the family.
Profile Image for Amy.
16 reviews
February 22, 2008
After hearing Blaine and his wife speak about their experience with their adopted daughter Charity, who was born without a brain, I HAD to read this book!
I did not know then how much their story would motivate or encourage me in the future, but I think about their strength and knowledge of who this sweet spirit was often. It is a strength I draw on regularly with our situation!
6 reviews
July 22, 2008
this is a story of family, sacrifice, endurance and most of all love. it is the true story of a family that adopts a baby born without a brain, she had only a brain stem. she was expected to live only a year or two, but lived many years beyond two. it is about the lessons this little tattered angle named charity taught her family and those around her.
809 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2020
This is a heart felt story about the faith and love felt by a family that adopts a child born with little or no brain. What the family learns and tries to tell others is what this book is all about. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels that they are someone else has it too hard and so isn't loved by God. A great book!
Profile Image for Sarah.
440 reviews8 followers
February 6, 2008
I enjoyed this book. It was fun to read all the touching stories surrounding one girl who was born with a severe birth defect. It just shows that everyone has a purpose and that everyone can make a difference.
Profile Image for Princess.
346 reviews6 followers
February 18, 2008
My family is going through a difficult time as we prepare for the arrival of a baby that will have a severe heart defect. This book was such a comfort to me and a way to look for the positives in any given situation. But you'll want to make sure that you have tissues handy!
Profile Image for Denise.
217 reviews10 followers
March 28, 2009
This was a good book, but I thought the story was a little too personal to share. The parents are amazing. I would not have the courage and dedication they did to take care of such a sick little angel. It is a remarkable story of faith. I would be interested to see whatever happened to Charity.
Profile Image for Katie.
3 reviews
June 18, 2007
This is one of the most powerful true stories I've ever read. It's a simple short read, but extremely moving. I've read it countless times and I know that you'll want to as well.
26 reviews49 followers
March 14, 2018
One Tattered Angel by Blaine M Yorgason is about a little baby who was born without a part of her brain. The Yorgason family was all growing up and Kathy, the mom, had a dream that they were going to have another child, which was impossible for her. When she told her husband, Blaine, about it, he didn’t like the idea. A couple years later, they started to do foster care. One of the babies that they got was born without a cortex and had hydrocephalic. No one would adopt her so they ended up taking her in. There are many miracles that happen, the biggest one is the Tattered Angel they adopt.
While reading this book, there’s a good feeling. Just reading this book brings joy. There weren't any parts in this book that I thought were unnecessary or didn’t need to be in it. There weren’t any part’s in this book that I didn’t like either. I enjoyed it and thought that it was a great book! This family had some struggles, just like any other family. A lot of people could relate to some of the hardships that the Yorgason family had. Blaine M Yorganson, the author of the book, said a lot of good things in this book. He also made a lot of good points. I agreed with him through most of the book. There were a couple things that I had a different opinion on, but, for the most part, what he said were true. Having to go see all those suffering children at the hospital is hard. He had a hard time and so do others that have to go there as well. Having Blaine be the person telling the story made it really good. Blaine was a good voice for this story. It was good having him be the voice of this book because you got to see his side of everything. This book made me feel good inside and made me feel happier. I realized how I looked at others and how much differently I looked at them while I was reading it. This book just gave me more joy overall.
Miracles do happen. There were many examples in the book to show that. The little girl, Charity was one miracle in itself. She was able to live without a brain basically. The doctors kept telling Kathy and Blaine that she wouldn’t be able to live very long, maybe a couple weeks. She lived a lot longer than the doctors had expected. Another miracle is that whoever was in her presence was able to feel her love. She has such a great spirit and even though she didn’t have a brain, she still was able to be happy. One time, she was not feeling good. The doctors didn’t even know what to do. One night Kathy woke up and had a feeling to give Charity a bath. Both Blaine and Kathy put her in the tub and she was able to play and move like she never had or was even supposed to. After that bath, she was never able to do that again. Another time was when they were at the hospital, it was Christmas morning and both Kathy and Blaine wanted to go to church but didn’t want to leave Charity alone. One of the nurses was walking in when they were discussing it and said she would stay with her while they went. After that, Blaine went to go eat lunch and there was a person there that just talked to him. That was what Blaine needed. What the guy said to Blaine really helped him out while he was going through a difficult time. That was another miracle. This book has a great meaning to it. I had a great experience reading this book and really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Jeni | StoryTimeReviews.
450 reviews88 followers
February 21, 2025
What an amazing story of love and faith and devotion! Blaine and Kathy adopted a special needs infant born with hydraencephaly -- only a brain stem and cerebrospinal fluid. Where "science" entitled her basically lifeless and brain dead, Blaine goes on to describe the beauty and love and LIFE their little daughter Charity exhibited and the many wonderful ways Charity touched their lives. I was very moved and inspired by their great faith and complete reliance on the Lord as they raised this daughter with such love and devotion to the Lord. Truly she was an angel and so are Blaine and Kathy for providing such a wonderful life for her here on earth.
Profile Image for Cindy.
182 reviews
June 22, 2010
Putting it on the to-read list as it is a book club choice. Although, looking at a few of the synopses, I'm afraid it's going to rip my heart out. Hope I can handle this.

Well, I got through it better than I thought I would. This book gave some interesting insights on raising a special needs child. At times I felt a little ashamed, wondering if I cope worthily enough with my own angel. Yorgason truly adores it wife. The way he describes her, it's a wonder she hasn't been translated.

There were some accounts which I didn't feel completely comfortable reading. They seemed to be either too personal or sacred in nature to be shared with the general public.
Profile Image for Tabitha.
203 reviews5 followers
October 16, 2015
Wow! What an amazing story! This book was written by my mother-in-law's cousin, and when I saw it in her house, I asked her what it was about. After she told me it was about her cousin's family that had adopted a little girl who was born without a brain, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I had to read that book! The next time I was there I asked to borrow it and I read it that night. There are so many profound spiritual nuggets in there that really caused me to think hard about why some people are born with "limitations" and what that could actually mean. This incredible story deepened my appreciation for the sanctity and importance of every human life.
Profile Image for Megarah Mae.
5 reviews
December 6, 2008
This book is a heart warming, tear jerking story of a little girl who became a miracle in the lives of Lucy and Blaine Yorgason. A baby girl, born without a brain.... only the stem, which you can only survive on for a few months, yet miraculously survived for approximately 10 years. this book is an inspiration to all of the world what the true meaning of love is. you need to genuinely care about the person and grow to know them. as they grew to know charity, she blessed them and they grew to love her. this book is an amazing story for everyone to read!!!
29 reviews5 followers
December 15, 2008
Wow! I read the whole book today! This book is amazing I recommend it to everyone! It was so touching I cried. It's a true story about a little girl named Charity (a baby) suffering through a lot...how she came to be in their lives, what they learned through it all...etc. It's incredible. I rated it a five because of the ending chapters. All the other chapters are leading up to those ending chapters...to make it all worthwhile and touching! The Spirit really touched me. This is a MUST-READ and perfect for the Christmas Season!
Profile Image for Kiersten.
37 reviews
June 1, 2010
Love this book! It was a nice, quick read. It is an amazing, inspiring story! I thought it was really uplifting even though it was a sad story. I will admit I choked up a few times and finally lost it at the end of the book. I would definitely recommend this book. Especially for the times that you wonder why children have to endure such physical pain at times in this life. It gave me a new perspective on why certain things happen in this life that don't seem fair.
Profile Image for LeeAnn Taylor.
Author 3 books19 followers
September 25, 2009
This story is a rare and beautiful look into the power of love and the worth of souls. My favorite chapter, favorite part of the entire book, is the chapter entitled "The Dishwasher." It's absolutely magical and deeply inspiring. I recommend this book for anyone who is looking to feel a deeper level of love and diving presence in their lives.
621 reviews7 followers
March 24, 2015
I LOVED this little book. It has such a portrayal of glimpses into eternity. How we look back and see God's hand, how we look into a child's eyes and see his hand, and how he can communicate his love and will to us.

Great story...but get out your tissues. You are going to need them for this one!
Profile Image for Katelyn Radle.
34 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2019
This book is a favorite if mine. A true story about a family adopting a baby girl born without a brain. Talks about the trials and miracles of having her in their life and how their lives changed for the better. It's a good reminder to me that God is real. That all human lives matter. That the hardest trials comes with the most rewarding blessings. Truly inspiring.
Profile Image for Brandi.
25 reviews
December 10, 2008
This was an amazingly touching, spirit-filled book. I couldn't put it down. I cried and my heart broke with theirs. It's a story of faith, hope, and Charity. I highly recommend it, and what better time than Christmas to read it!
Profile Image for Kathryn.
56 reviews
January 22, 2009
Oh my, if you want to cry, read this book. I had tears streaming down almost the entire time. It's the true story about a little girl who was born without a brain, but the power of her spirit touched everybody around her.
Profile Image for Michelle.
53 reviews
May 30, 2009
A true story about Blaine & Kathy's adopted baby girl's excruciatingly painful life from birth and how through faith, hope and love of Christ, they are able to turn this experience into a blessing. A must read.
Profile Image for Erika.
14 reviews
November 7, 2010
Yeah. Tearjerker book. LOVED it, absolutely LOVED it, though I was crying through most of the book. This is definitely a book you leave inspired by. Highly recommended on my part, if you don't mind cryin' your eyes out.
Profile Image for Marlene.
601 reviews
December 9, 2008
This has to be one of my favorite Christmas books. I read it to Gary on our way to St. George. We both had to shed a few tears.
Profile Image for Kristel.
30 reviews8 followers
December 16, 2008
Grew up with Blaine's daughter Michelle. This is a story about their daughter with special needs - amazing story, amazing girl, amazing family - great for Christmas
Profile Image for Delirious.
16 reviews
January 28, 2009
This is an easy read, it's a relatively short book. I would recommend this to anyone who has a child with a disability.
105 reviews
April 15, 2009
A sweet story about an angel on earth. I can't believe she lived almost 8 years without a brain. Her sweet spirit touched so many lives, especially her families.
Profile Image for Susan.
15 reviews
June 14, 2009
My friend recommeded the book & I read her copy. I was so touched by it, that bought it on tape. When Charity died, I kept the obit that I cut from the Tribune.
Profile Image for Connie.
243 reviews
September 29, 2009
I loved this book. I read it my first year at BYU and needed a whole box of Kleenex but it was very worth it.
Profile Image for Princess.
17 reviews
October 25, 2009
this book was the most touching book. i cried. alot. it strengthened my testimony in god, and the miracles of prayer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews

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