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What God Had Emptied: How I Found Hope in my Children’s Diagnoses by Kathryn Casey
What God Had Emptied: How I Found Hope in my Children’s Diagnoses
by Kathryn Anne Casey
A memoir of the two years during which Kathryn Anne Casey became a mother to a medically-complex son, faced another unexpected pregnancy with a fatal prenatal diagnosis and expectantly awaited the birth and death of her daughter. This book illustrates the lesson that when we commit our lives to Christ, he will ask us to walk the way he walked, the mysterious journey through the cross and hope of resurrection.
Paperback: $14.95 | Kindle: $9.99
REVIEWS
An Honest Window Into the Heart of a Mother’s Suffering, a review by Jeannie Ewing, author of Waiting With Purpose
What God Had Emptied: How I Found Hope In My Children’s Diagnoses by Kathryn Anne Casey is a powerful read. Her depth of spirituality is interwoven into every loss and every fragmented moment of peace or joy in the midst of constant crises and unexpected/surprise pregnancies (and subsequent losses).
I am a mom of 5, two of whom are neurodivergent. Sarah, my middle daughter, was born with a rare disease. As I turned the pages of Casey’s book, there were moments I nodded my head enthusiastically – because, finally, someone expressed in words my experience! There were moments I shed tears – because, yes, I asked myself the same questions about God’s goodness and mercy. I wondered if life would ever return to “normal” again.
She is so direct about her struggles, but never in a defeated manner. Casey offers incredible insight as she draws the reader into her journey of navigating Peter’s complex medical needs and the fatal prenatal diagnosis and subsequent death of her baby daughter, Celeste.
Another aspect of the book that makes it unique is that Casey explains the ways she found meaning and joy and cared for her body and soul and mind in the midst of the incessant uncertainty. Her daily walks, which she scheduled while Peter was in the hospital, included exploration and adventure – a return to her senses and to grounding her with what simple delights may await in the form of local cuisine, a scented candle, a book, some lipstick.
For mothers who find themselves, or have found themselves, in a place of constant mental exhaustion, particularly if they have a child or children with ongoing medical needs, this book is a light. A genuine light. There is no fluff here. There are no pat answers or platitudes we tend to hear when people don’t know what to say.
Casey is an incredibly gifted writer, as well, and selects her words thoughtfully and beautifully.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathryn Anne Casey is a writer with a focus on faith, art, psychology, and the importance of local community. She blogs at KathrynAnneCasey.com and is a regular reporter and columnist for The Hughson Chronicle and Denair Dispatch. She studied gender complementarity and psychology at the University of St. Thomas and clinical psychology at Divine Mercy University. Kathryn lives in Hughson, California, with her husband and children.
Father Jacob Dankasa was ordained a Catholic priest in 2004 and presently serves as the Pastoral Administrator of Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church in Irving, Texas. He is a columnist and regular contributor to The Texas Catholic Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. In addition to bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and theology, he has a master’s degree in Mass Communications and a doctorate in Information Science.
Born in Amityville, NY, on May 19, 1957, Father Charles Bak is Roman Catholic priest and a member of an Apostolic Society called the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles. The Society’s charism is to promote, form, and accompany vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and committed laity. Father Bak was ordained to the priesthood on October 3, 2009. Father earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Christendom College and his Master’s Degree in Moral Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He has experience both in parish ministry and in teaching.
Mary Kloska is from Elkhart, Indiana. She was raised in a huge Polish family (12 brothers and sisters) along with a lot of foster babies and other needy people in and out of the house. She presently has 70+ nieces and nephews. She has lived a very unique life. Upon graduating from Notre Dame in 1999 she spent almost 20 years in the missions serving the poor (including orphanages) as well as praying as a consecrated hermit all over the world –Siberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Philippines, Mexico, the Holy Land and all over Europe as well. Although she spent a lot of time away in silence praying, ironically she loves children and is very fun and outgoing when it comes to serving young adults, as well as the little ones. She also spent her time in the missions giving retreats, doing simple catechesis, leading prayer groups, giving spiritual direction, helping in deliverance, changing diapers, feeding babies and cleaning floors. After spending intense time serving in a mission she would withdraw for periods of ‘retreat’ as a hermit (including three years as an official diocesan hermit with vows under a Bishop.) The last few years she has spent as a fulltime nanny to infant triplets, twins and several large families. She speaks many languages (poorly) and enjoys playing guitar, painting icons, baking, gardening, reading, writing and simply filling in where there is the greatest need in the Church. Her WCAT Radio program, “The Heart of Fiat Crucified Love,” may be found