Little Matches

A Memoir of Finding Light in the Dark

By: Maryanne O'Hara

Narrated by: Maryanne O'Hara

“Gripping and true in all ways. This fine, affecting memoir will stay with me for a very long time.”—Meg Wolitzer, author of The Female Persuasion

“In this vividly written memoir novelist O’Hara shares a painful but ultimately beautiful account of her daughter Caitlin’s life with cystic fibrosis. . . . Her compelling story will resonate with anyone seeking a light in the darkest depths of grief.”—Library Journal

In the vein of The Year of Magical Thinking and Beautiful Boy, an emotionally raw and inspiring memoir that illuminates a mother’s grief over the loss of her adult child and considers the hope of soulful connections that transcend the boundary of life and death.

When their only child was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at the age of two, Maryanne O’Hara and her husband were told that Caitlin could live a long life or be dead in a matter of months. Thirty-one years later, Caitlin lost her battle with this devastating disease following an excruciating two-year wait on the transplant list and a last-minute race to locate a pair of healthy lungs.

The sudden spiral of events left Maryanne in an existential crisis, searching to find an answer to the eternal question: Why we are here? During her final years, Caitlin had become a source of wisdom and comfort for her mother—the partner with whom she shared a deep spiritual quest to understand what it meant to have a soul. After Caitlin’s passing, Maryanne began to notice signs—poignant, persistent synchronicities that seemed to lean toward proof of Caitlin’s enduring presence.

Weaving together a series of interconnected meditations with illuminating glimpses of life rendered via text messages, e-mails, and journal entries, Little Matches is a profound reflection on life and death, motherhood, the pain of chronic uncertainty, and finding inspiration in the unexpected sparks that light our way through the darkness.

So powerful!

I am not quite sure how I stumbled upon this book, but I am so grateful that I did. It gave me so much to think about. I’m guessing I will be thinking about it for a long time.

Inspiring and powerful!

Beautifully written, exquisitely read. I worried the subject matter might be too heavy, but the opposite was true. It inspired me, I loved every word, and I feel recalibrated towards greater mindfulness and gratitude.

Beautiful & Transformational

If you’d like to be moved and transformed pick up this new, beautifully written memoir. I’m so sorry for your loss Maryanne O’Hara. Thank you and Caitlin for this story of love , joy, and hope. My own grief has been eased by your words.

I don't know who needs to read it...

Tough Listen.
Highly recommend.
Thankful our connected world brought this book to me. 💙
47 & Amalfi Coast are both signs from my son, and they were both in this book. No coincidences.

Beautiful

I lived this life. My son was ill with a very serious autoimmune disease that mimicked CF. He passed away June 26 2019. Forever missed, forever loved sweet boy.