Finding Chika
by Mitch Albom
Mezy Fadhila
November 5, 2019
FantasyFiction
After the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, Mitch Albom and his wife Janine founded an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. It was there that they met Chika, a lively 3-year-old girl with a strong will and a vibrant personality.
At age five, Chika was diagnosed with a rare and inoperable brain tumor. With no adequate treatment available in Haiti, Mitch and Janine brought her to the U.S. for care, hoping to extend her life. What was intended to be a temporary medical visit turned into two years of living together as a family.
The book chronicles:
- Their efforts to find a cure by traveling across countries and hospitals.
- The intense emotional and spiritual journey of parenting a child not biologically theirs.
- Chika’s resilience and humor in the face of terminal illness.
- Mitch’s reflections on fatherhood, love, grief, and what it means to truly belong to someone.
The story is told through letters, imagined conversations with Chika, and flashbacks, blending sorrow with joy, laughter with loss.
What I Loved
I am deeply moved by how Mitch and his wife fought with everything they had for Chika — from seeking treatment at the best hospitals in the U.S. to traveling as far as Germany in search of hope. Their love for her was boundless and unwavering, even more poignant knowing that Janine had been waiting to have a child of their own — and then, Chika came into their lives.
The grief Mitch experienced after Chika’s passing was profound. It was so deep that he often dreamt of her visiting him — not just as a memory, but as a presence urging him to write, to reflect, and to remember.
What I love most about Chika is her joyful personality — her brightness, her humor, and how she could be funny and innocent at the same time. Her friends at the orphanage clearly cherished her, and it’s beautiful to see how her spirit brought light to so many around her.
Perfect For
Comments
Loading comments...
