Maria Juana’s Gift

Description

Set during America’s Bicentennial in 1976, Maria Juana’s Gift tells the story of Jake and Tina, a young teaching couple fighting for the survival of their infant daughter born on the Arizona-Mexico border. The baby appears healthy to Jake and the unconcerned staff at the small hospital, but Tina and a custodian/nurse’s helper from Mexico named Maria believe the child is ill. Maria’s lowly status and lack of English cause the medical staff to dismiss her concerns. After the women convince Jake that something is wrong, he begins a frantic effort to secure medical attention for the baby.
How far will they go to fight the system in order to save their daughter? Although Maria Juana’s Gift is a fictional account of preventable human medical error, the novel draws its passion from real events. Its theme approaches the very core of inhumanity but also celebrates the gratitude that the young couple has for the “gift” they believe will stay with them for the rest of their lives.