Remedies for Sorrow

An Extraordinary Child, a Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother's Pursuit of the Truth

By: Megan Nix

Narrated by: Megan Nix

This "compulsively readable memoir...brings to light an issue that has been too long ignored...An immensely important book" (Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author of Expecting Better and Cribsheet).

A story of a mother’s fierce love for her exceptional child and her courageous journey to break the silence about a hidden risk to pregnant women: "both a beautiful family story and an urgent call to action… [A] moving, potentially life-altering book" (Robert Kolker, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Hidden Valley Road).

After a seemingly uneventful pregnancy, Megan Nix’s second daughter, Anna, was born very small and profoundly deaf. Megan and her husband, Luke, learned that Anna could have lifelong delays due to an infection from a virus they had never heard of: cytomegalovirus, or CMV, which Megan had unwittingly contracted from her toddler during pregnancy.

Megan was electrified by this knowledge. She had been warned, while pregnant, about the risks of saunas, sushi, and unpasteurized cheese, a lack of folic acid, and an excess of kitty litter. She knew to fear a slew of genetic syndromes she could do little to prevent. But she had not been told that CMV is contagious in the saliva of one out of three toddlers, spread through a kiss, a shared cup, a bite of unfinished toast. She had not been told that the stakes were high, that congenital CMV causes more birth defects and childhood disabilities—including blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism—than any infectious disease. Or that some of these disabilities are evident at birth, but others appear suddenly at age two or three and are never traced back to congenital CMV.

Remedies for Sorrowunfolds across the dramatic landscape of Sitka, Alaska, where Luke makes his living as a salmon fisherman. There, Megan struggles to meet Anna’s needs and dives deeper into the mystery of why no one—not her OBGYN, not her toddler’s pediatrician—had mentioned CMV, despite the staggering cost of this silence to families and children like Anna. From this rugged and beautiful place comes a memoir about the boundless capacity of mothers, the extraordinary child that is Anna, and the lifesaving power of truth.

Compelling listen

A beautifully written narrative that shares an important message relatable to any with chronic disease and a story to tell.

Absolutely Fantastic

This book was fantastic, sad, inspiring, and many many more words all in one. I am in shock and appalled (and yet somehow not surprised) at how greatly the medical system has failed us as mother's. I will always remember this story when I am pregnant and interacting with my children.
Outside of the overall story itself. Megan's intense love and care for her children and her husband was inspiring. Having nothing to do with the situation they found themselves in, I found myself wishing I could be as loving a mother as she.
This is a book everyone should read, and share the story with everyone.

Great true story for parents and medical professionals

I loved everything about this story. Might be a hard listen for expecting women, but worth it!

We’ll written with good information

Engaging and the author is very easy to listen to.
This needs to be told to all pregnant women so they can make informed decisions for the care of their child during pregnancy

Truly enjoyed this eye-opening and heart-opening story

I love listening to Megan share her story. Her narrative and story telling was wonderful and easy to listen to for hours. I could relate to her story as a mother, daughter, wife, healthcare worker and just human doing the best I can and fighting for what I believe in. ❤️