Piece of Soul through the Heart

I read the book in two seatings, followed your and Zura's journey with interest and emotion. My eyes swelled with tears as I closed the book. Not only is the book well written, the authenticity in narrative is just striking. I felt you were telling me the story in person. I feel happy for you and Zura that your path reconnected in this time dimension. Looking forward to hear / read more about it as the journey continues.

~Caterina A.

So much I could relate to!

There were so many things in the book that I could relate to, such as helping a parent through illness and preparation for their passing, and also finding a soul that you knew from before. Having gone through a similar experience with my father and trying to make him comfortable and also helping him prepare for the next phase of life, I could easily relate to the pain and sadness, as well as the joy in knowing he wasn't ever alone.

The story of Zura, his selfless giving during a family's most difficult hour, and all of the emotions he was holding within during this timeframe - missing his family, wanting to establish himself in his new country, and the worry over the immigration issues - were so similar to someone I have known for many years. Like Zura, all things worked out for the best, but getting there was a rocky path.

Thank you, Ms Herrington, for sharing your experiences with us and for showing us that all things are possible when we have faith and compassion for others.

Admirable book by an admirable woman

"A Piece of Soul through the Heart" provides a revealing look by a strong woman at a once in a lifetime experience. This is a beautifully written story about what can happen when you are open to love in many forms, and having the courage to recognize when life offers you a gift in the midst of a difficult time. I admire Loretta and her family so much for the way they took care of their Dad, and for what they continued to do in helping Zura. I look forward to more adventures by Loretta and Zura. This tale of selflessness rewarded was very satisfying. This is a moving memoir by my dear cousin, about my beloved uncle and the special spirit that is Zura. Enjoy!

Grown-Up Spirituality

This is a lovely little book. There are so many "spiritual awakening" books, but not many "spiritual maturing" books. This is a book that will aid the person aspiring for more knowledge and more understanding of life and its mysteries. The author traces her spiritual, mental, and emotional growth from a terrible low (the death of a beloved father) to a new level of belief and awareness, with the added benefit of a new member of her emotional family.

Ms. Herrington's father - on his deathbed - needs Hospice help, and the worker that Hospice sends is a young artist from the country of Georgia. As her father - a sailor of The Greatest Generation - dies, she comes to understand and appreciate a fellow human being from a strange, almost unknown part of the world, and to accept him into her closely bonded Irish American / Polish mixed family.

The author then traces the help that she and her husband give to this young man - to allow him to acclimate and integrate into American culture. There are many rewards and a few heartbreaks, but she shows how faith, hard work, and persistence can ultimately pay off. The spiritual and emotional growth depicted in this book is not the result of a lightening bolt or an instantaneous conversion, but rather the result of good, old fashioned, hard work. This is almost certainly the way that most people achieve spiritual and emotional maturity.

The book also traces the efforts involved in helping a person immigrate to the United States and become a naturalized citizen. It's not the cakewalk that many politicians would have the public believe.

This is a book that can be read in a couple of hours, but to completely savor it and to get all of the benefits from it will take a re-reading or two and the marking of passages for review and pondering. It's well worth the effort.

Journey Across Time

Loretta's brief story of her father's final days on earth touches deeply. It has the feel of one finding a soul mate across time where the connection ignites quickly through a bond of understanding and the intent to complete an important mission -- making the patient as comfortable as possible on his journey home. Little did Loretta know that when her family scheduled Hospice care the social worker would find a capable healthcare worker named Zura from the country of Georgia. This young immigrant bonded immediately with the family and with the patient known fondly as "Mr. Bill." My favorite part of the book is the soul connection. So touched was Loretta by Zura and his stories of life in Georgia and adventures in the U.S. that she soon felt like she was experiencing a reunion with someone she had known before who had come to help out in her time of need. Within a few weeks her Dad was gone yet the connection with Zura continues to influence her life. Find out how she and her husband came to sponsor Zura's U.S. citizenship and how this growing bond has changed the course of their lives. You'll finish the book feeling that the adventures for the second half of their lives are just beginning.

Touching Story

The author reveals her thoughts, fears and feelings throughout the journey of her father's later stages of life and his death. It is both reflective and honest. She treats her father and this process with dignity and respect. In doing so, she connects with a new soul needing the same nurturing. She elegantly moves through the thoughtful, loving steps of helping her father prepare for his own passing to helping a young man who also needs her help in building a new life in America. Her bond with Zura forged through the passing of her father develops into a deeply touching story that goes far beyond her original intentions. I would love to see more photographs of the Georgian countryside as the cover of the book looks almost mythical.