Of Medicine, Miracles, and Mindsets

For nine weeks before he was born, his parents were told by the doctors to “let nature take its course.” His parents opted to look beyond nature. When their sixth child was diagnosed in utero with complex congenital heart and gastrointestinal defects, Elie and Chaya Rochel Estrin knew they had a tough ride ahead. Their determined battle to save baby Nissi was waged in spite of doctors’ predictions for a six-hour lifespan. It was a struggle inspired by the Jewish approach to life, deep Chassidic insights, and spurred on by overt miracles — resulting in the remarkable medical journey recounted here. Of Medicine, Miracles, and Mindsets is a candid journal of fear and determination, a passionately eloquent yet humorous chronicle of the beauty and the ugliness in hospitals, of patient advocacy, of unwavering parental love, and of optimism and trust in G-d — even under the most trying and difficult circumstances.