Book excerpt: A mother's tragic and senseless death leads her daughter to investigate the terrifying world of medical mistakes. It is a cold February night when Donna receives the shocking news. Her mother, Mary, is in the ICU of her local hospital. She is bleeding into her abdomen, and her organs are beginning to shut down. How did this happen? Donna wonders. Her mother had gone to the hospital for flu-like symptoms, and she was to be released the next day, but when Donna and her husband, Ken, arrive at the hospital in Kentucky, they find Mary near death. Over the next few days, Donna begins to suspect a grave error that was made by the doctors in charge of her mother's care. After Mary's passing, Donna decides to order a copy of her medical records, and she quickly discovers what actually happened at the hospital-the mistakes that cost her mother her life. Silent Pain is the true story of a daughter who not only had to cope with the loss of her mother, but the grief caused by the carelessness of medical professionals. A loving tribute from a daughter to a mother, this poignant book is also a call to action-to be knowledgeable advocates for your loved one's medical care. About the Author Donna M. Stout grew up in Kentucky and Texas before settling down in Northern Michigan, where she met and married her husband, Ken. She has two boys and two girls and is the grandmother of four. After her mother's death, Donna realized that no one should be subjected to the consequences of medical malpractice, and came to realize her story had to be told. Donna has been in real estate and retail sales for most of her career, and she is now retired. She enjoys spending time with her family, and urging people to question doctors who prescribe drugs that may have dangerous, sometimes fatal, consequences.