Attorney Dail Cantrell has written other books before but never one so personal. Equal to the Task is the story of Cantrell's family walking through the crisis of bringing a "preemie" into the world and practically living at the hospital while skilled doctors and nurses try to help him survive.

Cantrell's son, Benjamin, born two months premature, experienced heart failure at the start of his tentative life. There's a happy ending to his story, and the author purposely gives it away in the preface. In this emotional diary, he skillfully communicates the fears, doubts and struggles the family endured during the two-plus months their "miracle baby" was in neonatal intensive care. Yet, Cantrell found hope.

"If I were to summarize the experience in a thought, it would be 'do not be afraid to hope for miracles,'" Cantrell writes.

Little material is available to benefit families going through this kind of trial. In the book's foreword, two Tennessee doctors familiar with Benjamin's case recommend this book without reservation. Equal to the Task will be of benefit to those who need someone to come alongside who knows what they're going through, yet can also offer some advice for how to cope.