SixtyFive Roses Review and Giveaway
When I started reading SixtyFive Roses, I had no idea what the book was about. All I knew was that Eva Longoria optioned the film rights, Celine Dion wrote the foreword, and Angela Lansbury said she couldn’t put it down. What I didn’t expect was to pulled into the lives of the Summerhayes family. Heather Summerhayes was only six when her sister (who was four) was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. However, since she was only four, she couldn’t say that and called it “sixtyfive roses” instead. In those times, kids didn’t live very long with the disease (I think the oldest living person with Cystic Fibrosis is in their forties now I think). Pam beat all the odds and (spoiler alert!) she did end up living till she was 26.
This is not a book that is happy go lucky. For me, I found it gut wrenching. I have a cousin (who is in his twenties right now) who has Cystic Fibrosis, so this book hit close to home for me. Before having children, I was tested to see if I was a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis (which I was not). I am actually finding myself tearing up just trying to write this review – that’s how much this book affected me. It was Pam’s deathbed wish that Heather write their story and to tell it like it was. This book shows you this family’s strength in a time there was no hope. The Summerhayes helped to create the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. They set up a Financial Advisory Board as well as a Medical Advisory Board to help families and to raise funds for research for a cure. There have been many books written about parents going through this struggle, but I think this is one of first of a siblings struggle. This is one of the few that shows you what it is like to live in a home with a chronic illness and how it effects every single person. You feel like you are one of family. You laugh with them; you cry with them. After reading this book, there is no way it doesn’t leave an imprint on your heart and you soul.
This is one of the best books I think I have ever read, and I want one of you to have the opportunity to read this. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Leave a comment on this post. Tell me why you would like a copy of the SixtyFive Roses book.
2. Twitter about this contest. Please leave me your username so I can verify.
3. Stumble this post. If you don’t know what Stumble Upon is, please read Lori’s post at Blogging Cents. She explains it extremely well.
4. Add this post to other social media sites like Digg, Kirtsy, Blogging Zoom, Reddit, Propeller, Etc. (1 entry for each social network).
For 5 additional entries,
1. Blog about this on your blog. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.
2. Add this to any forums you belong too. Please give me the URL, so I can verify.
3. Subscribe to this blog using either my email or RSS feed
4. Add my badge to your sidebar:
This giveaway will end on December 20 at 8:00 pm CST is available to US residents. Good luck!
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December 13th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I stumbled: http://justjulie.stumbleupon.com/
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December 13th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I love non-fiction books so much, and this one sounds like a perfect read to me!
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December 13th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
wow i would love to read this! i would love to learn more about this disease!
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December 13th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
i twittered at
http://twitter.com/thegiveawaydiva
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December 13th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Looks like a great read!
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December 13th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I would love to read this book on Cystic Fibrosis !
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December 13th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
hey that same cousin you have with CF is my cousin too
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December 13th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Sounds like a good book.
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December 14th, 2008 at 12:37 am
This would make a great gift for someone I know.
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December 14th, 2008 at 2:37 am
have many who have children who have cf, and have know many- my heart hurts becuase you just know the time is cherished but they go on and love live and laugh- there are many things to be inpsired in this book I just know it and would love to read it and pass it on
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December 14th, 2008 at 4:52 am
What an amazing read…would love this for myself…sounds amazing. thanks
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December 14th, 2008 at 4:53 am
am subscribed
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December 14th, 2008 at 4:53 am
have your button on my sidebar
again…thanks
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December 14th, 2008 at 4:57 am
I would love to read this because it sounds like a heartwarming story and it tells the tale of love between two sisters. Thank you!
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December 14th, 2008 at 4:57 am
I’m a subscriber.
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December 14th, 2008 at 5:04 am
This books sounds so touching and sweet – like it could definitely make me cry. Please enter me to win!
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December 14th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Although it may be a difficult book to read emotionally, I enjoy books that give me a learning experience. This book sound like a book that I won’t put down until it is finished! Thanks for this giveaway!
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December 14th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I would like this book because I love heartwarming stories like this
jceko77@yahoo.com
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December 14th, 2008 at 7:58 am
subscribe #1
jceko77@yahoo.com
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December 14th, 2008 at 7:58 am
subscribe #2
jceko77@yahoo.com
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December 14th, 2008 at 7:58 am
subscribe #3
jceko77@yahoo.com
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December 14th, 2008 at 7:59 am
subscribe #4
jceko77@yahoo.com
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December 14th, 2008 at 7:59 am
subscribe #5
jceko77@yahoo.com
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December 14th, 2008 at 8:06 am
I love to read and this sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance.
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December 14th, 2008 at 8:15 am
i love to read and this sounds good
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December 14th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Well, this would be totally out of my normal reading genre(s), but you make it sound like a book that would be very uplifting to read as well as teaching me things I don’t know about this disease.
I already follow you on twitter which is how I learned about this book and your contest. I’ve stumbled it and digg-ed it as well.
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December 14th, 2008 at 11:39 am
I love true stories.
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December 14th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I would LOVE to read this book…it sounds very interesting. As always, thanks for a great review AND giveaway.
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December 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I am a subscriber
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December 14th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
This runs in our family. Would love to win it
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December 14th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Your review of SixtyFive Roses makes me KNOW that I must read it….thank you!
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December 15th, 2008 at 12:27 am
I’ve heard good things about this deep book and would like to read it.
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December 15th, 2008 at 12:30 am
twittered it
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/1058048704
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December 15th, 2008 at 12:33 am
subscriber
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December 17th, 2008 at 3:04 am
I’d love to read this poignant and compelling story, the book Sixtyfive Roses. One person’s struggles equals everyone’s, and I would lend it to everyone I know to read also.
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December 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
To hear anyone say that a book is one of the best they’ve ever read is pretty impressive. I’d love to check it out!
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December 17th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
sounds like a good read maybe i can learn more about Cystic Fibrosis
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December 17th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
this sounds like a really good read
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December 18th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
sounds like a good book
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December 19th, 2008 at 1:36 am
This sounds like a good book.
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December 19th, 2008 at 4:55 am
I’d really like to read this great book!
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December 19th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Sounds like such a touching story-would really like to read this book.
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December 19th, 2008 at 5:39 am
I am also asubscriber.
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December 19th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Interesting idea
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December 19th, 2008 at 8:16 am
i would love to learn more about this disease and this book sounds great. thanks!
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December 19th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I would love to win this, thanks.
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December 19th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I would love to win to learn more about Cystic Fibrosis.
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December 19th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I would love to win this–it sounds like a very thoughtful and insightful story.
Thanks for a great giveaway!
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December 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I’m always looking for a great book to read, this looks like an interesting read.
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December 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I would give this book to my cousin. She had twins a few years ago, a boy and a girl. The boy has his disease.
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December 19th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I love to read and love books that are rich and deep and meaningful as is this one
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December 19th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I’m a subscriber
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December 19th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
For my niece Hannah
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December 19th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Cystic Fibrosis is something I’d like to learn more about.
pantslearson@yahoo.com
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December 19th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I love to read and this sounds like an interesting book
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December 19th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I would love to read this book. True life stories are the best. Plus, the fact that one sister wrote it for the other pulls at my heartstrings.
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December 20th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Lisa’s review made me want to read this book. I’m sure I had a Sixtyfive Roses Calender from donations and didn’t know what it meant.
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Thanks for this giveaway. This book is interesting to me. When my son was just six months old, he was tested for this disease. He was lucky enough not to receive a diagnosis of CF, but his experience left with me, awareness for the disease.
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I LOVE TO READ
, MOSTLY NON-FICTION…MY DAUGHTER WENT TO SCHOOL WITH A GIRL WITH CF, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO COMPARE THEIR LIVES.
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Because I love to read anything I can get my hands on and then I pass it along so others can enjoy it as well.
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December 20th, 2008 at 9:49 am
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December 20th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I got goose bumps after reading your description of the book. OMG….it sounds good.
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December 20th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Having always been blessed with good health, I love reading about the support, courage and hope people with diseases such as this have. I look at is as a building block, to understand what other people deal with in the face of despair.
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December 20th, 2008 at 11:45 am
sounds like a sensational read thanks for the contest
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December 20th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
i love to read new books
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December 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
im a subscriber
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December 20th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
We have a nephew with CF
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December 20th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I would like a copy of the SixtyFive Roses book because it sounds very interesting.
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December 20th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I subscribed to your email feed.
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December 20th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I want to give it to my mother. She would enjoy it.
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December 20th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I subscribed & would love to read this book!
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December 20th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
This sounds like a really good book. I have a cousin with Cystic Fibrosis, so I would be very interested in reading this book. Thank you so much for the great giveaway!
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December 20th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
sounds and looks great:)
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I’m fascinated with memoirs; they’re one of my favorite types of books to read.
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I’m subscribed!
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I have your button
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
This sounds like a very touching book,I have a neighbor who has
Cystic Fibrosis and she suffers a great deal with it.I would love to
read this book it helps to know what other’s are dealing with,in
order to help them.Thanks for the contest
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I am a Nurse and have had various patients with this disease. By reading this book it would be the other side of the story! Thanks for the chance to win!!
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December 20th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I serve in the health care industry so this will be and should be on my reading list. I’ll donate it to the township library after reading.
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April 2nd, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I have CF and am 48! I’m also a retired physician and now coach others with CF to be happy and as healthy as they can be with CF. I think this contest sounds great! I stumbled you, and I think I’ll write a quick blog post, too (www.sickandhappy.com).
I am not entering the contest (I just lost a brother to CF a couple of months ago, and have previously lost a sister so it sounds a bit much right now), but I’m going to help you publicize it!
Be well.
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