A New Heart

            I just finished reading the book In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth. In the book, Eagan, a talented figure skater, dies. Her heart then goes to Amelia, who has suffered heart disease for several years. Eagan, although dead, is a big part of the book. In the afterlife, she re-lives memories from her former life, including scenes from her complicated relationship with her mother. Amelia, happy to live, feels guilty that she is alive and that her donor is dead. I've noticed that throughout the book, each girl has affected the other's life in many ways.
             Amelia affects Eagan's life by acting as the settler between Eagan and her mom. Before she died, Eagan had a fight with her mother. This complicated past kept her from moving on to heaven. Amelia then goes to meet her donor's parents, and when she does, Eagan's mother does not want to see her. In the end, Amelia does meet Eagan's mom, and she is able to reassure her that Eagan knew that her mom loved her, because she feels it in her heart. Amelia affected Eagan's life, or afterlife, by settling the rocky relationship she had with her mother. Amelia knew this was the right thing to do. I look at this as a way she was thanking Eagan. Amelia got a new life, and Eagan got to move on to a new part of her life beyond death.
             Eagan has greatly affected Amelia's life by giving her a second chance to live. Amelia is grateful and feels very lucky, but she is also sad. She doesn't get why her family should celebrate her new life while another family is mourning a tragic loss. She then decides to meet her donor's family, Eagan's parents. This brings her a little more peace, knowing where her heart is coming from. She is relieved that the family is coping and that they're okay. Amelia also starts developing characteristics of Eagan, like her love for ice skating and purple things. Amelia feels weird at first, but then she realizes it brings a connection between them. I'm glad that Amelia feels Eagan. It's like Eagan is still on earth, as a part of Amelia.  
             In conclusion, Amelia has affected Eagan's life by letting her be at peace and comfortable with herself. Eagan has affected Amelia's life by giving her a second chance at life. This is fiction and we can't be sure of this ever happening in real life, but I'm happy it ended up this way for the characters.
            In A Heartbeat is a great book about loss, joy, and second chances. It has taught me a lot more about the complex idea of heart transplants. I never new they were so complicated and that they took the patient and the donor's family on such a long journey that affects them so much.