Marguerite Hamilton

Marguerite Hamilton (1920 - 1998) was an American author who was best known for her two books written in the 1950s. Red Shoes for Nancy (1955)^[1] is the real-life story of the birth and first twelve years of life of her daughter Nancy, who was diagnosed with lymphohemangioma, an extremely rare and crippling disease affecting the lymph nodes and blood vessels. Recently widowed and penniless, Marguerite must care for her child while the disfiguring illness — despite more than 40 operations — slowly spreads upward through Nancy's body. Nancy's legs and one arm are affected by the painful swelling, and Nancy's fingers and toes — and eventually both legs — are amputated in a desperate effort to slow or halt the progress of the disease.

Borrowed Angel (1958)^[2] is the sequel to Red Shoes for Nancy, as the Hamiltons prepare for a trip to Lourdes where they hope the healing waters will cure what medical treatments of the 1950s cannot. The Hamiltons' trip to France was covered extensively by the American and French press.^[3][4][5]

Both books have been out of print for many years, although a paperback version of Borrowed Angel was available in the 1970s.

Some time after Nancy's death, Marguerite Hamilton moved to Parker County, Texas where she died in 1998.

Bibliography

• Red Shoes for Nancy (1955) published by Lippincott
• Borrowed Angel (1958) foreword by Irene Dunne, published by Hanover House

References

1. ^ Red Shoes for Nancy from the Library and National Archives of Quebec
2. ^ Borrowed Angel from the Library and National Archives of Quebec
3. ^ "Disease Victim Returns to U.S.". Idaho State Journal (Pocatello, ID): pp. 3. 1956-04-17. 
4. ^ "U.S. Girl In France For Shrine Visit". Galveston Daily News (Galveston, TX): pp. 6. 1956-02-19. 
5. ^ "Diseased Girl Reaches Paris On Shrine Trip". Daily Review (Hayward, CA): pp. 3. 1956-02-18. 

• Friedberg, J.B., Mullins, J.B., Sukiennik, A.W. (1985) Accept Me As I Am: Best Books of Juvenile Nonfiction on Impairments and Disabilities, p. 59. R. R. Bowker ISBN 0835219747.
• Addis, P.K. (1983). Through a Woman's I: An Annotated Bibliography of American Women's Autobiographical Writings, 1946-1976, p. 204. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810815885.
• Graham, E.C. and Mullen, M.M. (1956). Rehabilitation Literature, 1950-1955: A Bibliographic Review of the Medical Care, Education, Employment, Welfare, and Psychology of Handicapped Children and Adults, p. 155. Blakiston. ASIN B0006AUNX8.

External links

• Red Shoes for Nancy, Amazon.com
• The story of Nancy Hamilton, from the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City

Persondata
Name	Hamilton, Marguerite
Alternative names
Short description	Author
Date of birth	1920
Place of birth
Date of death	1998
Place of death	Parker County, Texas