126 - Healer; Carol Cassella

 

 The Boehnings were a family who at one time had it all.  A lakefront McMansion in Washington State, a vacation getaway in the mountains, and all the other material things that go hand in hand with success. Addison was a brilliant Bio Chemist, and his company made it big when he discovered a simple blood test to detect ovarian cancer. As the novel opens, Claire is moving into the Hallum, Washington vacation home which is in desperate need of updating, along with the couple's fourteen year old daughter Jory. Her husband, Addison, without Claire's knowledge, gambled their life savings and even their home on an experimental cancer drug, whose trial testings go badly.

How could Claire have been so blind?  A bright woman in her own right, Claire was in her residency in medical school when a difficult pregnancy forced her to end her residency early. She spent the last fourteen years as a stay-at-home mom.  Now she finds herself searching for work in the medical field. The only position she can find, without being board-certified, is a job at an understaffed clinic that serves primarily the indigent and the migrant worker population.  Rusty in both skills, and Spanish, Claire works long hours to keep her family afloat while Addison searches for other backers in business.

Claire befriends a woman from Nicaragua who develops a bond with daughter Jory. The woman is not completely honest with Claire, and Claire soon learns a secret about what happened to the woman's daughter.  The revelation brings up medical ethics issues, and this subplot becomes significant within the story.

I liked this story, but not quite as much as her first novel,  Oxygen, which I loved.  I felt angry at Addison for being secretive about family finances. While he was off traveling and trying to rebuild his career, Claire was left to deal with the aftermath. She had all the pressure and demands placed on her as a result of his bad decisions. Claire kept her cool and did what she needed to do to keep things as harmonious as possible given the circumstances. I doubt I would have acted in a similar manner. The title is significant, and,  in my opinion, Claire was the true Healer in this story: herself, her family and others in need, in the process.

The author practices anesthesiology in Seattle, and her writing style reflects her knowledge in the field of medicine. The novel gives you much to think about regarding ethical issues, the ups and downs of a marriage, and child rearing.  If you enjoy stories with a strong and sympathetic female protagonist, then this might be just the novel for you. RECOMMENDED 

4/5 Stars - Review Copy