Clinton High alum releases memoir on faith and infant loss

Special to The Clinton Courier

Clinton High School alum Esther (Neal) Camealy

Clinton High School alum Esther (Neal) Camealy, a 2003 graduate, recently released her debut memoir, My Song in the Night: Worshiping When the World Goes Dark, a personal account of receiving a fatal prenatal diagnosis and navigating the grief that followed the loss of her infant son.

The memoir details Camealy’s experience after learning her son, Isaac, had Trisomy 13, a life limiting condition. She describes entering what she calls a “night season” of the soul and chronicles the months that followed as she sought to reconcile her faith with profound loss.

“I wish there wasn’t a need for a book like this,” Camealy said. “But I know there are families sitting in doctor’s offices right now receiving the same news we did. Those families don’t know where to turn, and they are desperately looking for hope. I wrote the resource I wish I had then. My prayer is that this book meets them in the depths of their pain and serves as a quiet companion, offering resources and hope when the questions feel impossible.”

More than a retelling of her story, the book offers guidance for those supporting grieving loved ones and provides resources for families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss.

My Song in the Night has already gained attention within the medical community and has reached Perinatal Palliative Care centers across the country. It includes endorsements from healthcare leaders as well as reviewers ranging from local advocates to international readers.

The book is independently published through 43Butterflies, a name honoring the forty-three hours Isaac lived after birth. It is available through major booksellers. Retailers and additional resources can be found at 43butterflies.com.

Camealy is the daughter of long time Clinton residents Don and Debbie Neal and James and Cindy Cruise.