About the Book
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This is the true story of the life of a remarkable West African midwife, seen through the eyes of a young Peace Corps Volunteer who worked side-by-side with her, birthing babies and caring for mothers, in an impoverished village. It is rare tale of friendship that reaches beyond borders to vividly and irrevocably unite another woman's world with our own. What is it like to live and work in a remote corner of the world and befriend a courageous midwife who is breaking traditional roles? Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali is the compelling story of the author's decade-long friendship with Monique Dembele, an accidental midwife who became a legend. Monique saved lives and dispensed hope every day in a place where childbirth is a life-and-death matter. From witnessing her first village birth to the night of Monique's own tragic death, the author draws on her first-person experiences in Mali, her graduate studies in maternal and child health, medical and clinic records, letters and journals, as well as conversations with Monique, her family, friends, and colleagues, to give readers a unique view -- and a friend in West Africa. |
About the Author
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Kris Holloway served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali, West Africa from 1989-1991, where she met her husband John Bidwell. She holds a MPH from the University of Michigan where she focused her research on maternal and child health. She has used her unique background in writing, public health, and development to further the mission of numerous non-profits and educational institutions including Planned Parenthood, the Greenbelt Movement International, the Western Massachusetts Center for Healthy Communities, the University of Michigan, and Springfield College. She currently works with the National Priorities Project, a non-profit organization offering citizens and community groups the tools to shape federal budget and policy priorities that promote social and economic justice. Kris is also involved with fundraising and strategic planning for Clinique Monique, a rural clinic in Mali. A percentage of proceeds from book sales help to fund this growing health center. She is a confirmed Francophile, loves chocolate, and sits on a physio ball while at her computer. She lives in Northampton, MA with John and their two sons (both born at home with midwives). |
Message Edited by Jessica on 04-20-2007 03:21 PM
