When sisters come together for a life-changing experience
When 31-year-old lawyer Jemani Alchin-Boller was diagnosed with cervical cancer and told she needed a radical and urgent hysterectomy she thought her dreams of being a mother were dashed. Then her sister Maddy sent her a text saying, “You can have my womb.” Amazing Grace is a story of the love and resilience of two sisters. It is a poignant, personal narrative that will inspire and encourage others who – against tough odds – are determined to be parents.
How to order
Simply email us on info@amazinggrace.co.nz and we'll send you the details!
THE PEOPLE BEHIND AMAZING GRACE
JEM AND MADDY
Jem is a lawyer. She and her husband, Mark, a landscape gardener, live in Hamilton with their daughter Grace and a dog named Frankie.
Maddy is a legal administrative assistant. She and Joe live on a semi-rural property on the outskirts of Hamilton with their three children Amelia, 10, Lachie, 7, and Harry, 4, plus a dog, two cats and 2 goats.
Both women work for Rose Alchin & Associates, owned by their mother Rose, a Hamilton barrister. Their father, Henry Boller, lives in Whitianga with his wife Anne.
The sisters have always been close, but their bond has grown closer as adults. They share a can-do attitude. Maddy says she never doubted Jem would beat cancer; and she always knew she would step in to help her sister have her child. Jem says she owes Maddy an eternal gift of gratitude for making her family complete.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Venetia Sherson is a writer and editor. She was editor of the Waikato Times newspaper in Hamilton, New Zealand, and has written for newspapers and magazines throughout her career.
In 2003, she was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Journalism. She has edited two books and co-authored two others.
She lives on the outskirts of Hamilton with her husband John. The couple has two sons – Sam and Mark and four grandchildren. One of them is Grace Madeleine Sherson.
WHAT READERS SAY
"A beautifully judged - and told - story of the events that led to the birth of Amazing Grace Sherson: a loving collaboration by two sisters and a stellar supporting cast" – DENISE IRVINE
"I absolutely loved this story of resilience and sisterly love. It’s a confronting read, asking that silent question: how much would you do for your sister/brother/friend? Highly recommended." ANNIE T (Amazon Reviews)
"I devoured the book. I have no doubt it will become a valuable resource for those involved in surrogacy, but is also an absolutely heart-warming read for others less involved in the system" TRACEY GUNN
"Amazing Grace is equal parts palpably-real and impossibly-miraculous, and both measures made me laugh and cry throughout this treasure of a book." ANTONIA ALLUM
AMAZING GRACE - A STORY OF HOPE, RESILIENCE AND LOVE
Venetia has beautifully captured our surrogacy journey and all that went along with it. Amazing Grace is a story of illness, infertility, surrogacy, home birth and induced lactation, which we hope will inspire and encourage others who may be facing similar hurdles. It is a story filled with hope, resilience and love.
Find out more
If you'd like to find out more about our story, or to share yours, contact us below or visit our Facebook page here.
Contact us
Phone: +64 22 163 8855 or +64 27 923 7724
Email: info@amazinggrace.co.nz
Address: Hamilton, New Zealand
We'll be donating a portion of the sale of each book to Cancer Society NZ.
