Letters from a Distant Shore

Tragedy shattered Marie Lawson Fiala's life as wife, mother and lawyer when her 13-year old son, Jeremy, was felled by a massive hemorrhage from a ruptured artery deep in his brain. Within an hour, Jeremy was in a coma, sustained only by machines. This memoir of a mother's ferocious care, devastating loss and prayerful transcendence focuses on bringing her son back from the edge. The suspense is relentless and the author's observations as sharp as a scalpel.

MARIE LAWSON FIALA's first language was Czech, and she learned English only after starting grade school in the U.S. She earned her BA in Psychology with Distinction from Stanford University, her Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School, and MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco. A full-time practicing attorney and a partner in an international law firm, specializing in complex commercial litigation. She is married and the mother of three children. She lives with her family, two wise cats, and a humble dog in California.