CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "Mercy Lily" by Lisa Albert is a heart-wrenching book. In it, a high school sophomore named Lily has to take care of her dying mother, Sophia, who has multiple sclerosis. After years of going to a doctor for her MS, Sophia has refused to go back or to take all the medications that are no longer working.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "Mercy Lily" by Lisa Albert is a heart-wrenching book. In it, a high school sophomore named Lily has to take care of her dying mother, Sophia, who has multiple sclerosis. After years of going to a doctor for her MS, Sophia has refused to go back or to take all the medications that are no longer working.
Sophia has found a new cure: bee sting therapy. Every day, Lily has to sting her mother with bees that they keep in their yard for just this reason. She has to sting her mother 11 times all over her body to make the MS pain stop.
Slowly, though, Sophia's body becomes immune to the venom, and they have to up the dose of bee stings. After a while, it becomes very clear that the bee stings are no longer working.
One day Lily's mother asks for the impossible: to let her give up. She asks Lily to let her die by giving her a lethal dose of bee stings.
When her mother asks her to do this, Lily, of course, says no. She is haunted by the fact that her mother no longer wants to live.
Like a normal sophomore in high school, Lily must also deal with love and friendship. Her long-lost friend, Shauna, starts talking to her again, and things become like the old days when they would go for a swim and just hang out.
Plus, Trent, with whom she has always been friends, confesses his love for her. Like in every high school relationship, though, there is drama. In this case, Trent's ex-girlfriend won't leave Lily alone.
While at school one day, Lily finds out that her mother has gotten very sick and been hospitalized. Then, when her mother comes home from the hospital, some very difficult decisions must be made.
"Mercy Lily" is a heart-wrenching story about friendship, love and finding courage. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a really inspiring book.
I loved how Albert told the story and how the book was written. I cannot wait to read more of her books.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "Mercy Lily" by Lisa Albert is a heart-wrenching book. In it, a high school sophomore named Lily has to take care of her dying mother, Sophia, who has multiple sclerosis. After years of going to a doctor for her MS, Sophia has refused to go back or to take all the medications that are no longer working.
Sophia has found a new cure: bee sting therapy. Every day, Lily has to sting her mother with bees that they keep in their yard for just this reason. She has to sting her mother 11 times all over her body to make the MS pain stop.
Slowly, though, Sophia's body becomes immune to the venom, and they have to up the dose of bee stings. After a while, it becomes very clear that the bee stings are no longer working.
One day Lily's mother asks for the impossible: to let her give up. She asks Lily to let her die by giving her a lethal dose of bee stings.
When her mother asks her to do this, Lily, of course, says no. She is haunted by the fact that her mother no longer wants to live.
Like a normal sophomore in high school, Lily must also deal with love and friendship. Her long-lost friend, Shauna, starts talking to her again, and things become like the old days when they would go for a swim and just hang out.
Plus, Trent, with whom she has always been friends, confesses his love for her. Like in every high school relationship, though, there is drama. In this case, Trent's ex-girlfriend won't leave Lily alone.
While at school one day, Lily finds out that her mother has gotten very sick and been hospitalized. Then, when her mother comes home from the hospital, some very difficult decisions must be made.
"Mercy Lily" is a heart-wrenching story about friendship, love and finding courage. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a really inspiring book.
I loved how Albert told the story and how the book was written. I cannot wait to read more of her books.
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