But what makes him happiest is when someone attends a sports-oriented lecture and brings a copy of Alex: The Life of a Child for him to sign. Reading Also includes sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of Frank Deford’s Alex The Life of a Child. Browse books: Recent| popular| #| a| b| c| d| e| f| g| h| i| j| k| l| m| n| o| p| q| r| s| t| u| v| w| x| y| z|. The book depicted Alex's discomfort with her frequent visits to the hospital as a cause of often feeling lonesome and missing social,activities. GoodReads community and editorial reviews can be helpful for getting a wide range of opinions on various aspects of the book.
They really do. Cliff Notes ™, Cliffnotes ™, and Cliff's Notes ™ are trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc. SparkNotes ™ and Spark Notes ™ are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. Alexandra was correctly diagnosed at Boston Children's Hospital. Plot Keywords [1], Alexandra Deford was born on October 30, 1971, to Frank and Carol Deford. It's terribly dramatic, but they literally say that. Please see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this book. [1], John O'Connor's writes about the film in a review for The New York Times, saying it is "generally shrewd enough to let the intrinsically affecting story tell itself. The book depicts Alex’s determination to make the best of her circumstances and brings awareness to the disease that took her life. Copyright © FreeBookNotes.com 2014-2020. | The book depicts Alex’s determination to make the best of her circumstances and brings awareness to the disease that took her life. An American doctor who cares for Tita when she experiences a breakdown, and the father of Alex. Among the summaries and analysis available for Alex The Life of a Child, there The book was adapted into a 1986 film by ABC starring Craig T. Nelson as Frank Deford, Bonnie Bedelia as Carol Deford, and Gennie James, as Alex Deford. Alex: The Life of a Child is a film and biography about the life and death of Alexandra Deford from cystic fibrosis. Deford says. Hearing from people like that means more to me than anything.". Whenever he speaks, sportswriter Frank Deford knows people will bring articles for him to sign. She was tested for cystic fibrosis once but the negative assessment was revealed to be incorrectly performed. [1], The start of third grade was the beginning of the end for Alex when she had a collapsed lung. Her daily routine consisted of taking a variety of medications and getting her chest "pounded on"[1] by her parents to clear her lungs of mucus, which Frank Deford described as a very unpleasant and painful experience for Alex. [1], After exactly a year after their daughter's burial, Alex and Carol Deford adopted a baby girl from the Philippines. People leave things at her grave. [3] Many sections of the book show Alex's love for dress-up and jewelry that was gaudy and glittering. "Invariably, and happily, there's usually someone at each appearance who either brings that book or wants to talk about their connection to cystic fibrosis." But that’s a good thing. The emphasis is on describing the writing style and quality, with a short plot synopsis included. The Defords took her to several hospitals, but did not receive a correct diagnosis. I heard from a woman who became a pediatric nurse after reading the book. — Written by Kasey Louise Based on true events, 'Alex: The Life of a Child' follows former 'Sports Illustrated' writer Frank Deford and his wife Carole when their happy, all-American family is rocked to the core when their baby daughter Alex is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.
It looks like we don't have a Synopsis for this title yet. [1] After her death in 1980 at the age of eight, her father, Frank Deford, a sportswriter, was inspired to write a memoir about Alex three years later. [9], https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex:_The_Life_of_a_Child&oldid=969137861, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 July 2020, at 16:33. As the years went by, she would begin to ask more and more questions about death to those she entrusted to tell her the truth as she was beginning to come to terms with her fate. Her loving family were quick to rally around her, determined to show the same bravery as the little girl as they supported and cherished her through life and struggled to move on after her death at the tragically young age of eight. After her death in 1980 at the age of eight, her father, Frank Deford, a sportswriter, was inspired to write a memoir about Alex three years later. [4] Frank Deford wrote about several instances in which Alex would have insight into matters that were far beyond typical for children her age. This is an instance where a television movie decidedly transcends its formula. | Alex's disease wasn't diagnosed until she was four months old, but her father said, "She was sick almost from the day she was born -- she should have been diagnosed when she was born. | If there is a Alex The Life of a Child SparkNotes, Shmoop guide, or Cliff Notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. Synopsis
[2], Frank Deford pieced together a collection of his own memories and that of his wife, Carol, as well as interactions from Alex’s classmates, nurses, and hospital volunteers. KirkusReviews - Alex The Life of a Child Kirkus Reviews tend to be brief, only two or three paragraphs long. But the years do pass and the family discovers that Alex is an exceptionally bright and imaginative child, fond of dressing up in grownups' clothes … Sites with a book review or quick commentary on Alex The Life of a Child by Frank Deford. Her illness progressively worsened, but she survived through the holidays.
Tita becomes engaged to him, … The final pages are an epilogue describing the Deford family's experiences after her passing. Rarely does a week go by that I don't get a letter about that book. ALEX: The Life of a Child by Frank Deford ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1983 In 1972, Deford's five-month-old daughter Alexandra was diagnosed as having cystic fibrosis, an always-terminal, degenerative lung disease; expected to live only two years, she died in 1980, just over age eight.
The story of her life is mostly written in chronological order with certain recollections from her final years weaved in between. [8], Frank Deford and the book were listed as a stepping stone to the success of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She was especially worried about her older brother who she felt would be overshadowed by the attention that her disease was consuming. Reviews end with a summary of the reviewer's thoughts and links to purchase options. For the most part, there is no belaboring the obvious.
I have people tell me that she changed their lives. We found no such entries for this book title. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Synopsis submission guide. is 2 Book Reviews. Reviews end with a summary of the reviewer's thoughts and links to purchase options. [5] In January 19th, 1980, Alex died in her home surrounded by her loved ones. Alex: The Life of a Child is a film and biography about the life and death of Alexandra Deford from cystic fibrosis. [6] Frank would eventually dedicate the book to Scarlet so that she would grow up to know who Alexandra Deford was. Parents Guide. FreeBookNotes found 2 sites with book summaries or analysis of Alex The Life of a Child. At four months, Alex began to show symptoms that were concerning, such as a sickly pallor to her skin and an inability to gain Weight. "[7] Reviewing for The San Francisco Chronicle, Donald Chase writes that Alex's "extraordinary, heart-rending humor and nobility during her painful ordeal" are "captured in the film". Depending on the study guide provider (SparkNotes, Shmoop, etc. Sites like SparkNotes with a Alex The Life of a Child study guide or cliff notes. Alex was eight years old when she died of cystic fibrosis on January 19, 1980, seven months after Erin was born. Kirkus Reviews tend to be brief, only two or three paragraphs long. Based on true events, 'Alex: The Life of a Child' follows former 'Sports Illustrated' writer Frank Deford and his wife Carole when their happy, all-American family is rocked to the core when their baby daughter Alex is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Her classmates described Alex as a child that did not use her disease to make excuses for herself and that she loved to laugh and be involved in everything. FreeBookNotes has 1 more book by Frank Deford, with a total of 3 study guides. This book, the story of Alex’s life, is so eloquent and intimate that neither Erin nor I can read it without sobbing. The emphasis is on describing the writing style and quality, with a short plot synopsis included. All Right Reserved. While CF sufferers were almost certainly doomed to an early death in the Seventies, Alex grew into a child who showed remarkable courage and strength in face of her illness. A new introduction contains information on the latest cystic fibrosis research, and a touching postcript reveals how the Deford family came to terms with the loss of Alex. "It's tremendously gratifying to me. "[2] In the Richmond Times review "Don't miss 'Alex: The Life of a Child'", Katherine Phillips states that "The painful realities of cystic fibrosis are given stark visual life – a romp with her father leaves Alex coughing blood, and the inability to catch her breath leaves her crying in helpless fright and anger.
She was protective and concerned with her family, always trying to divert them from being sad in moments when she was hurting. [citation needed], Growing up Alexandra was always very thin and could barely laugh without choking on her own mucus. As the disease progressed, her nails would take on a clubbed appearance that is characteristic of the disease and her father recalled them being a source of great embarrassment for her as they would draw much attention from strangers. Upon her birth no alarms were raised and the Deford's believed they were bringing home a healthy baby. Be the first to contribute!
Her poignant and uplifting story touched the hearts of millions when it was first published and then made into a memorable television movie. Taglines Frank was apprehensive at the idea of what he initially felt would be replacing Alex, Carol pointed out that it would have been the answer to one of Alex's nightly prayers. Alexandra Deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old when she died in 1980 following a battle against the debilitating effects of cystic fibrosis, the number-one genetic killer of children. ), the resources below will generally offer Alex The Life of a Child chapter summaries, quotes, and analysis of themes, characters, and symbols. Her lung would collapse again, but was dismissed when a young doctor ignored Alex's protestations. John eventually falls in love with Tita and helps rehabilitate her soul, revealing to her the nature of the fire that resides in each individual.