Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family

Oh my goodness. I began reading this and I couldn’t put it down. This is a huge part of Mitch and Janine’s life and it is given to you with all the emotion you can put in to words. This is a book to keep, read and re-read, as it puts a human life into real human perspective. I knew nothing about Chicka in the beginning but now I can almost imagine being with her. And yes, a grown man can cry….

Great story from one of my favorite authors. It's a fast read and very likely a book we should all read. I love Mitch Album's books because of all the lessons that he brings to us, the readers. He has that something that every great author has. He keeps our attention, is very direct and has a wonderful relationship with God whom I'm pretty sure guides his hands as he writes. Thanks Mr. Mitch for sharing all that you learned and the experience you and your wife had with this wonderful child!

“What we carry defines who we are And the effort we make is our legacy” Mitch Albom Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family by Mitch Albom is an emotional, moving story of love and loss. Chika Jeune was born three days after Haiti’s devastating earthquake of 2010. Her extremely poor family was dealt another tragedy when Chika’s mother died giving birth to another child. Chika, three, was brought to the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage that Albom operates in Port Au Prince. When Chika was five years old, she developed a weakness in one leg and a droopy eyelid that was later diagnosed as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, DIPG, which had already advanced to grade 4. There was no help for her in Haiti. Janine and Mitch Albom, in their late fifties and with no children of their own, brought Chika to their home in Michigan, hoping to find a cure for the little girl. They took her to C. S. MOTT Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they performed surgery on Chika’s brain. They were able to remove only ten percent of the invading tissue because the mass involved too much of the brain. The mass was somewhat diminished by radiation, but subsequent treatments were ineffective. Twice they took her to Cologne, Germany, but the treatment received wasn’t a lasting one. In the meantime, the little girl became a cherished member of the Albom household with her bravery, self-assurance and wonderful sense of humor. Finding Chika is yet another of Mitch Albom’s impressive, heartrending work. He tells his story in hindsight, and through imagined conversations with Chika herself. The memoir shows how dedication and love can bring unimagined blessings. This would be a good audio book—it was sometimes hard to read through tears.

This is the most powerful, poignant and prayerful book that I have read in many, many years. I laughed and yes, I cried as I journeyed with Chika and her 'new family'. Absolutely heart warming and so very sad at the same time. It will tug at all of your senses and they will be awakened...each and every one of them...throughout this book. You will see Haiti after the earthquake of 2010 completely devastated; you will see the children dancing in a rainstorm and you will hear them singing gospel songs in English and Creole; you will taste the foods that Chika loved; you will smell the air after the earthquake that is full of smoke from the burning trash; and, you will feel the touch of the all encompassing love that flowed between her 'new' family. Wise beyond her years, Chika was brave, stubborn, resilient, cheerful and full of hope who loved to have fun. She went to the Orphanage in Haiti when she was 3 years of age and shortly after that she came to the US to live with the author and his wife, Ms. Janine. This is the story of Chika and her short (but most remarkable) time on this Earth. She was diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gluoma) which is rare - about 300 cases in the US yearly. This affects mobility, as well as swallowing and the survival rate is zero after one has been diagnosed. The book is divided into seven areas and those are the lessons that the author learned. Excellent lessons that a small child taught the author. I loved the one titled 'What we Carry' as it had the quote from Chika 'your job is to carry me'...and more, so much more about her life and its lessons. And, there is humor interjected through the pages, as well. Loved it when she said 'that's my lip gloss' and 'Hmmph' A book which also covers spirituality and what truly matters when you know you are dying.. A quote from Proverbs is mentioned 'Surely there is a future and hope will not be cut off'. As Chika was so fond of singing 'The Sun will come out tomorrow', we should all rejoice in her short life and her innate ability to smile despite her sickness, to teach others valuable lessons and above all, live for today....there is no guarantee of a tomorrow. A truly magnificent book and one which I am sure I will read over and over again. Most highly recommended.. .I feel so privileged to have met Chika though the eyes of this author....

I like Mr. Albom's writing. His stories are insightful and thought provoking. One is challenged to think about the end of life issues and our feelings as e face he death of loved ones - and our own. This story is another in that genre. Well written and a tug at the heart strings for a very tough little girl.

Excellent read

The book is full of emotions, happiness, family bonding, touching, and yes tears Mitch and Janine are such a wonderful parents, they are so kind. Whatever they did for Chika were the bests! “The most precious thing you can give someone is your time, Chika, because you can never get it back. When you don’t think about getting it back, you’ve given it in love.”

This is one of the best books I've ever read. An absolutely beautiful story, which was written in the most interesting and beautiful way. But have your kleenex ready!! Oh man, I sobbed. Will read again and again.

I’m fan of Mitch albom’s books and this one didn’t disappoint me. Very touching story of how little child can change a person’s view at the world. Book itself gets 5 out of 5 in overall But I believe It deserves 4/5 compared to other of his writings. I think other books were even more emotionally in depth and poetical in a way.

👺👺 Book Review 👺👺 Title "Finding Chika" Author Mitch Albom @mitchalbom This is a book straight from Authors heart.This is a story of a little girl called Chika who lived through the worst earthquake Haiti had ever witnessed & waltzed into the life of Mitch & his wife. Although she lived only 7 years she filled of everyone around them with joy during that time. Hers was no ordinary life.Mitch & his wife run an Orphanage in Haiti where they met this girl. For this childless couple this girl was a precious gift. They cherished their time with her while doing everything they could to save this child. Even after she is long gone it is her spirit that goads Mitch to complete this book. Verdict 🧐 A book that leaves you moved beyond words.😇 Sweet,warm book that will leave u in tears.😭 A book that reinforces love & family & doing whatever to keep it together.👍 Takeaway😇 "We did not lose a child.We were given one"

Meant for it to be a gift. But the edges are kind of scratched and worn off. And should've looked at reviews with images. I am not sure if it was meant to be published with deckle edges. It just looks like unfinished product with ridges for the pages. Very hard to flip.