Product Description

The Same Smile - The Triumph of a Mother's Love After Losing Two Daughters, is the story of 2 of my 4 daughters. My first born was lost to adoption in 1968 when I was 17 years old. 21 years later, my second born daughter was lost to leukemia at the age of 16. It is the story of my struggles & triumphs as a broken hearted mother in search of her first lost daughter.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #229490 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 166 pages

Review
...I cried, laughed, and most importantly, embraced the gifts of my own life; especially the gift of my children. -- Laurie O'Neil, September 2005

...I cried, laughed, and most importantly, embraced the gifts of my own life; especially the gift of my children. --Laurie O'Neil, September 2005

I finished your book. Outstanding. Your writing is excellent. Well done. I will use it in my memoir writing workshops. -- John Prophet, Author, English Professor - Boston Unversity September 2005

I finished your book. Outstanding. Your writing is excellent. Well done. I will use it in my memoir writing workshops. --John Prophet, Author, English Professor - Boston Unversity September 2005

About the Author
Susan Mello Souza, founder & co-owner of NEASPA, is the author of the moving memoir The Same Smile: The Triumph of a Mother's Love After Losing Two Daughters. In 1968, at the age of 17, Susan surrendered her first-born daughter to adoption. Her birthmother experience has led Susan to become an active member in various birthmother support groups, while providing her the opportunity to assist several individuals in their reunions. Her spirit and resilience has enabled Susan to triumph over life's disappointments. After the death of her 16-year-old daughter, Jacqueline, in 1990, she founded The Friends of Jackie Memorial Fund, which has raised and distributed over $90,000 in scholarships, charitable contributions and gifts for local families in need of assistance. Susan is also an inspirational speaker having recently returned from Monterey, CA where she spoke at the Concerned United Birthparents Conference. She has also lectured at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI, Stonehill College in Easton, MA, American Business Women's Assocation, "Strengthening Your Spirit" Reiki Weekend Retreat, New Bedford Rotary Club, and at St. Mary's School in New Bedford, MA, after her book was listed in their summer reading program. She resides in Acushnet, MA.

Customer Reviews

A Really Sweet Book
This book continues, along with An Adopted Woman, Twice Born and other titles the ever-thrilling story of a birth mother's reunion with the child she was forced to give up as an infant because she was unmarried and underage, usually from the 1940s, 1950s,or 1960s. Looking back on this practice it seems so cruel to both the mother and the child. I was wondering what becomes of these young pregnant girls today, and it hit me: abortion. How very sad in a totally different way. Society has its ways, often brutal when looked at from a distance, even a very short distance. Both ways of dealing with unexpected/unwanted pregnancies are obviously devastating to the mother, but at least adoption affords an opportunity to become acquainted with the child who was given up. In this story, the author has a rocky few years as we all do in one way or another, but always has the love of her children, and always has the hope of finding her baby. When she finally does, it is very exciting to read of the thrill the mother feels and of the slow awareness of the found child, now a grown woman who had never had any plan to seek out her birth mother. While being excited for Susan, the mother, my heart went out to Joanne whose entire life was instantly changed by this meeting. She was a married woman with a job, friends, and a loving family. Now, she was justifiably afraid of this woman entering her life, claiming to be her birth mother, who was pitting her entire happiness on Joanne's returning her love. Susan never quite goes over the line relative to stalking or smothering or demanding love, but she gets close. In any case, it is a very satisfying book and it is nice to read about such nice people who can have such a happy conclusion to a heart-breaking (for the mother) beginning.

A MUST READ for all members of the triad!
I just LOVED this book! I can't say enough about it. I am an adoptee and it was really great to hear a birthmother's perspective. She told an honest, heartwarming story that flowed well and was easy to read. I couldn't put this one down!!! Grab your box of tissue, warm blanket & enjoy!!! It was EXCELLENT!

One of the Best Adoption Stories
I very much enjoyed reading this "fantastic" read! I have been in the adoption searching business for over 13 years now and this is one of THE best adoption search stories ever - not kidding. The way Susan expressed herself and that oof her family members shows such genuine love and affection, considering what she had to go through.

Jan Bowyer