Attention All Book Lovers!

A story worth sharing 

“…Reg and I listened with rapt attention as she described these tragic cases. At the time we had no idea how important they would become to us. We had been hired to practise the whole gamut of obstetrics and gynaecology. The fistulas seemed like a minor curiosity. But they would become much more than that. I shall remember forever her prophetic words, ‘the fistula patients will break your heart.'” –  Dr Catherine Hamlin, The Hospital by the River 

Dr Catherine Hamlin’s story, told in her own words, in The Hospital by the River, has captivated thousands of readers – allowing people from all corners of the world to be transported to Ethiopia, to live through decades of history and to be moved, often to tears, by the plight of countless strangers.

Co-written with John Little this book is a candid account of 60 years of service to women in Ethiopia suffering from obstetric fistula. Catherine weaves her own story together with the history of the hospital and that of her adopted country, Ethiopia. Click here to read the prologue to The Hospital by the River.

If you’ve already enjoyed The Hospital by the River, the continuing story, Catherine’s Gift by John Little is a must-read! Click here to read some of John Little’s memories of Dr Catherine Hamlin. 

Both books are best-sellers at the Hamlin Shop, however we know there are still so many people who do not know about this amazing woman and her story.

Hers is a story worth sharing and we want to spread the word through book clubs!

Get the books

If you are interested in sharing either Healing Lives, The Hospital by the River or Catherine’s Gift with your book club, please contact us at [email protected].

Five Dock Book Club x Hamlin

Recently, Five Dock Families (FDF) Book Club took advantage of our new book club offer. The Hospital by the River was nominated by one of their members, and agreed upon, even though the majority of the group had never heard of Catherine, the work of the Hamlins or even an obstetric fistula.

That had all changed by the time the group had their meet up in late June – they were so inspired by Catherine that their meeting ran for over five hours! (They assured us that it was the book and not the wine that kept them talking for so long!) and the talking didn’t stop there, their facebook group chat continued where the night left off.

A new story to discover

Followers of the Hamlin story will be excited to learn of the new book telling the remarkable untold tale of Mamitu Gashe, Catherine’s protégée, and the inspiring almost 60-year friendship between the two women. Healing Lives, the new book written by award-winning journalist Sue Williams, explores the story of two incredible women, an unlikely friendship, and a united mission to save the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most desperate women.

In 1962, 14 year-old Mamitu Gashe arrived in Addis Ababa seeking the aid of Drs Reg and Catherine Hamlin. Mamitu was horrifically injured during childbirth in her mountain village in remote Ethiopia. Catherine and Reg saved her, and in return, Mamitu dedicated her life to their mission – helping women with fistula.⁠
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Under the Hamlins’ guidance, Mamitu went from mopping floors and comforting fellow patients, to becoming one of the most acclaimed fistula surgeons in the world, despite never having had a day’s schooling.⁠
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Feel moved and inspired by this story of two incredible women, an unlikely friendship, and a united mission to save the lives of over 60,000 of the poorest women on Earth.⁠

Healing Lives is available now! Click here to order your copy of this unmissable story today!

Words… and action!

The FDF Book Club also decided that they wanted to contribute to Catherine’s work and set up a fundraiser with the aim of raising $700 to cover a standard fistula operation for one woman. As of the first week of July, they have raised a staggering $1,000… and counting! Click here to view their fundraising page.

We hope to inspire more book clubs like FDF to read The Hospital by the River and Catherine’s Gift and learn more about the amazing work of Dr Catherine Hamlin and the team at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia.

If you are interested in sharing Healing Lives, The Hospital by the River or Catherine’s Gift with your book club, please email us at [email protected].