Breath Taking

A memoir about loving and caring for a child with a rare and fatal degenerative disease. Highlights the effects of, and treatments, for mitochondiral disease.

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"A master class in how to be a person."  --Joanna Rakoff, bestselling author of My Salinger Year

"Astonishing...one of the most moving memoirs I've read."  --Caroline Leavitt, best-selling author of With or Without You and Days of Wonder.


In Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes, Jessica Fein takes readers on a powerful journey through the profound joys and heart-wrenching challenges of love and loss. At the tender age of five, Jessica's daughter Dalia is diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the family’s life. Inspired by Dalia's unyielding spirit and irrepressible zest for life, Jessica and her family embark on a remarkable odyssey of love, resilience, and self-discovery.


From the initial shock of diagnosis to the relentless battles against the ravages of disease, Jessica navigates the complexities of parenthood with unwavering courage and love. As each breath becomes a precious act of defiance against fate, Jessica learns to embrace the present moment with fierce determination, finding solace in the small joys that illuminate even the darkest of days.

But Breath Taking is more than a story of loss and grief; it's a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the transformative power of love. Through laughter and tears, Jessica discovers the delicate balance between advocacy and acceptance, vulnerability and strength. Along the way, she confronts her deepest fears, finds unexpected allies, and discovers the resilience of the human heart.

With poignant insights and unflinching honesty, Jessica's narrative transcends the boundaries of tragedy to offer a beacon of hope for anyone facing life's most daunting challenges. Breath Taking is a masterclass in resilience, a testament to the enduring power of love, and a celebration of the extraordinary courage found in ordinary moments.

"More than an honest and humorous memoir, Breath Taking can be the guide star so many seek when life hands them more than they ever imagined they could endure."  --Daniel DeFabio, rare disease filmmaker and Co-founder of The Disorder Channel 


“A story of relentless heartbreak met with wit, strength, and resilience.” –Jennifer Weisel Bailey, ELLE Magazine