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Mackenzie's Mission: How One Mother Turned Tragedy into Hope and Love
'A true love story' - Mia Freedman
Rachael Casella is one of the bravest, kindest people you could ever meet. Despite having her life completely shattered by the death of her baby daughter, and the termination of a subsequent pregnancy due to a genetic defect, she has turned that tragedy into a historic change in Australia's genetic testing laws. She has also built a community through her social media and blog for people in similar situations where they can share their grief and heal together. This book is the story of her daughters, her struggles with conception, pregnancy, genetic defects and ultimately death. But it is also the story of triumph over adversity, the strength that can be found in kindness and the power of one woman to affect positive change.
From
I want the book to be about the love of a parent to their child, the effect of genetics on Australia and how it will change the future, the life of a little girl who will ultimately alter Australia and save lives, the death of a child, how society deals with grief and the beauty that can come from tragedy; both in other people and within us.
We are more than just a sad story.
I would never wish what happened to us on our worst enemy, but I would wish the perspective we were given on everyone.
I have so many people reaching out to me who feel connected to some part of our journey. Some feel attracted because they have a child with a condition, others because they have also lost a child. Some are just parents who use our story to help them push through the hard times of parenting and have more perspective. Some are because they feel connected to our IVF journey or have had to have a medical interruption like us and finally some simply want to be kind and witness our lives.
Whilst most would feel uncomfortable at the discussion of child loss or a sick child, I have found that in fact it is actually a conversation many people want to talk about. I have learnt that people are screaming to talk about their loss, for their pain or new life to be acknowledged and for guidance. Every week I have people write me emails, send me messages and even send me and Mackenzie gifts. This is a topic people care about and can't be hidden anymore.
Rachael Casella is one of the bravest, kindest people you could ever meet. Despite having her life completely shattered by the death of her baby daughter, and the termination of a subsequent pregnancy due to a genetic defect, she has turned that tragedy into a historic change in Australia's genetic testing laws. She has also built a community through her social media and blog for people in similar situations where they can share their grief and heal together. This book is the story of her daughters, her struggles with conception, pregnancy, genetic defects and ultimately death. But it is also the story of triumph over adversity, the strength that can be found in kindness and the power of one woman to affect positive change.
From
I want the book to be about the love of a parent to their child, the effect of genetics on Australia and how it will change the future, the life of a little girl who will ultimately alter Australia and save lives, the death of a child, how society deals with grief and the beauty that can come from tragedy; both in other people and within us.
We are more than just a sad story.
I would never wish what happened to us on our worst enemy, but I would wish the perspective we were given on everyone.
I have so many people reaching out to me who feel connected to some part of our journey. Some feel attracted because they have a child with a condition, others because they have also lost a child. Some are just parents who use our story to help them push through the hard times of parenting and have more perspective. Some are because they feel connected to our IVF journey or have had to have a medical interruption like us and finally some simply want to be kind and witness our lives.
Whilst most would feel uncomfortable at the discussion of child loss or a sick child, I have found that in fact it is actually a conversation many people want to talk about. I have learnt that people are screaming to talk about their loss, for their pain or new life to be acknowledged and for guidance. Every week I have people write me emails, send me messages and even send me and Mackenzie gifts. This is a topic people care about and can't be hidden anymore.
336 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2020
1 person is currently reading
84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 17, 2020
This was such a beautiful read. It was tragic, breathtaking, raw and magical, and I’m so glad Rachael chose to share Mackenzie’s life with the world. There were tears, but there was also joy, and the amount of love present throughout this book was almost overwhelming. I would recommend this book to everyone and anyone.
September 22, 2020
I cried many tears reading this book but it was so worth it! What a brave family and I want to support Mackenzies Mission now.
January 15, 2023
Was like all the feelings I’ve felt/still feel from on a page! Very well written and explained!!
June 2, 2020
Beautiful. I finished feeling full of love, hope and perspective. A must read for everyone.
June 10, 2020
This book made me a better person. A must read!!!
June 4, 2020
Incredible. This book gave my life so much joy and perspective. Thank you so much for this experience.
June 28, 2020
A raw and honest journey shared in the most eloquent of ways. Your unconditional love for your children coupled with much bravery has enabled the path to be paved for others in creating awareness about genetic testing. Thank you for sharing your story with the world.
August 25, 2020
Rachael and Jonathan Casella were thrilled to welcome their baby Mackenzie into the word and to start their new lives as parents. Little did they know that in a few months that they would be tested to endurance and beyond. Like many other couples starting a family, Rachael & Jonathan had no idea they were both carriers for a genetic disease, and that 1 in 20 babies are affected by genetic birth defects. Their daughter was one of those babies, and Mackenzie’s Mission is Rachael’s beautiful and heartwarming account of Mackenzie’s life, child loss and a journey through IVF. Determined that other couples should not go through the same heartbreak, Rachael and Jonathan are now champions for genetic testing ✨
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This was such a beautiful and raw read. I had tears running down my face throughout. Rachael and Jonathan, thank you for sharing your story. The strength you both have to carry on and put one foot in front of the other each day is inspiration. I hope one day you get your happy ending 💞
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This was such a beautiful and raw read. I had tears running down my face throughout. Rachael and Jonathan, thank you for sharing your story. The strength you both have to carry on and put one foot in front of the other each day is inspiration. I hope one day you get your happy ending 💞
June 4, 2020
Beautiful, heart wrenching book written in an honest, raw and true manner.
The loss of their gorgeous baby girl Mackenzie and subsequent journey through grief, IVF, campaigning and child loss would no doubt have been challenging for Rachael and her husband Jonny to articulate and share, but their love for their children and each other radiates from every page.
Having followed Rachael on social media for some years, I had knowledge of their story but this book eloquently explains so much more about the world they have found themselves inhabiting. It is often relentless and cruel, and yet their persistence in the face of adversity is so inspiring.
Contributions from Jonny and Rachael’s mother Wendy are valuable additions to the storytelling.
I so look forward to the day this is republished with an epilogue sharing the new addition to their family.
A must-read for any parent or parent-to-be.
The loss of their gorgeous baby girl Mackenzie and subsequent journey through grief, IVF, campaigning and child loss would no doubt have been challenging for Rachael and her husband Jonny to articulate and share, but their love for their children and each other radiates from every page.
Having followed Rachael on social media for some years, I had knowledge of their story but this book eloquently explains so much more about the world they have found themselves inhabiting. It is often relentless and cruel, and yet their persistence in the face of adversity is so inspiring.
Contributions from Jonny and Rachael’s mother Wendy are valuable additions to the storytelling.
I so look forward to the day this is republished with an epilogue sharing the new addition to their family.
A must-read for any parent or parent-to-be.
February 8, 2021
This is the saddest and cruelest book I've ever read. It's her true story of her baby Mackenzie born April 2017, diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 in May 2017, passed away on October 2017 at only 7 months old.
Rachael had Mackenzie without knowing she and her husband are both carrier of the SMA recessive gene. They're now campaigning in Australia for genetic testing to be available to every couples before starting a family, under the name Mackenzie's Mission.
Rachael has also went through 9 rounds of IVF (to have a healthy baby not affected by SMA), had two pregnancies terminated with medical reasons (both babies were unfortunately tested to have SMA) and is still trying currently.
This is the link to her blog and book: https://www.mylifeoflove.com/
I wish her all the best of luck. Her story has made me grateful for the simplest thing in life.
Rachael had Mackenzie without knowing she and her husband are both carrier of the SMA recessive gene. They're now campaigning in Australia for genetic testing to be available to every couples before starting a family, under the name Mackenzie's Mission.
Rachael has also went through 9 rounds of IVF (to have a healthy baby not affected by SMA), had two pregnancies terminated with medical reasons (both babies were unfortunately tested to have SMA) and is still trying currently.
This is the link to her blog and book: https://www.mylifeoflove.com/
I wish her all the best of luck. Her story has made me grateful for the simplest thing in life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2023
Heartbreaking, raw and beautifully written- thank you so much Rachael Casella for writing this pioneering book. Thanks to Mackenzie, beautiful little baby girl- Australian's have better access to preventable genetic disorders in their babies.
I have been following Casella's journey since 2017 when my youngest son was born in the same month as Mackenzie. To discover that sweet little Mackenzie had SMA type 1, a very rare version of muscular atrophy in babies- which is almost always fatal, was just a hard pill to swallow as a reader and as a mother.
I think Rachael was very brave and kind to write about their story. Then to champion and fight for Mackenzie's Mission in order to get these genetic tests more accessible as well as better education about them to parents-to-be.
Brilliant book, loved it but it made me cry so much.
I have been following Casella's journey since 2017 when my youngest son was born in the same month as Mackenzie. To discover that sweet little Mackenzie had SMA type 1, a very rare version of muscular atrophy in babies- which is almost always fatal, was just a hard pill to swallow as a reader and as a mother.
I think Rachael was very brave and kind to write about their story. Then to champion and fight for Mackenzie's Mission in order to get these genetic tests more accessible as well as better education about them to parents-to-be.
Brilliant book, loved it but it made me cry so much.
July 2, 2020
Beyond incredible. So beautiful and honest, I feel as though I am apart of this wonderful family after reading this. As a mother currently going through a similar situation with my own little daughter, it was such a heart-wrenching, honest, painfully beautiful story to read. The book just explodes with love and shows the beautiful bond Racheal and Jonny have with their Mackenzie. I cried so many times and I also smiled and felt my heart fill with both happiness and sadness reading this. I will recommend this book to everyone I can to read it, it teaches so much about love and life and what’s really important.
July 26, 2020
I loved this book! It’s an honest and open insight in Rachael’s journey and more importantly her love for her daughter Mackenzie. I laughed, I cried and I laughed and cried at the same time. Anyone dealing with grief will connect with Rachael, I felt so seen in corners of this book. And anyone who hasn’t been touched by this kind of loss will also benefit, I learnt so much and I felt privileged to witness Rachael and jonnys pain, love and perspective. I loved this book and I would recommend it to everyone. Eye opening, perspective shifting and down right beautiful. Easy to read and has stayed with me long after I finished it.
July 6, 2020
A truly heartbreaking story, so beautifully written from Rachael’s soul. I have so much admiration for how she has used an utterly tragic situation for the greater good of others through her campaigning for genetic carrier testing. All parents and parents-to-be should read this book. Congratulations Rachael on your book and I look forward to continuing to follow your journey on Instagram - you are a remarkable human.
August 2, 2020
This book got me from the first second. Followed their journey for about 3 years now and loved reading this book. It is full of love.
I am from Germany and it was easy for me to read it in English.
I cried a lot of tears, tears for their loss and tears of joy. You can feel their love in this book. It is a Lovestory of two people for each other, for their beautiful girl, for the baby's that they lost and for changing the world in the name of their little Mackenzie.
I am from Germany and it was easy for me to read it in English.
I cried a lot of tears, tears for their loss and tears of joy. You can feel their love in this book. It is a Lovestory of two people for each other, for their beautiful girl, for the baby's that they lost and for changing the world in the name of their little Mackenzie.
August 20, 2020
A raw, emotional and heart wrenching journey of love and hope. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these books and loved each section. It helped me through grieving the recent loss of my son. I connected with Rachael through the book and she is such an inspirational mother. Thank you for opening your hearts, lives and souls and letting us all in. Thank you for sharing your truth, beliefs and opinions. I am so grateful we have 'virtually' crossed paths.
June 19, 2020
Mackenzie’s Mission is a beautiful and heartfelt story of loss, life, love and hope.
In writing this book and sharing her story, Rachael is making a difference to the lives of so many.
I would definitely recommend Mackenzie’s Mission to others. Mackenzie has touched the lives of so many.
In writing this book and sharing her story, Rachael is making a difference to the lives of so many.
I would definitely recommend Mackenzie’s Mission to others. Mackenzie has touched the lives of so many.
July 6, 2020
I am so grateful that Rachael has shared their story. She was completely honest and refreshingly raw and this book has helped me with my own grief and understanding my emotions. Her message is so important and needs to be spread!
Highly highly recommend.
Highly highly recommend.
August 27, 2020
A heartbreaking but also inspiring read of the tragedy of losing their daughter Mackenzie to a genetic condition. A story of their resilience as a family in the face of adversity. More than that Rachael and Jonathan became ambassadors for genetic testing and gave hope to other families.
October 24, 2020
The most beautiful book to read. Filled with unimaginable loss but also so much love and hope, it was a privilege to read and I sincerely hope for happiness in their future. It is well worth following Rachael on Instagram as well, a truely beautiful person.
June 19, 2020
What a beautiful book where love outshines the grief. It was my honor to read this and a pleasure to see Mackenzie’s gorgeous face look up at me from the cover.
June 22, 2020
Mackenzie's story is so inspiring, her parents love and devotion to her is beautiful. Wonderful story about love, family and loss.
Really well written book, I read the book in a day
Really well written book, I read the book in a day
April 9, 2021
Heart wrenching story of how MacKenzie’s Mission came to be. Lovely to be reading this knowing that they now have a little baby boy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2023
Powerful emotional read.
May 15, 2024
Heart breaking and amazing story. I couldn't put it down but also could not stop the tears. Mackenzie would be so proud of her parents!
June 11, 2020
The most beautiful, heart wrenching but heart warming book I’ve ever read, such a beautiful family who have stayed strong.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews