A New Book by the Author of Anatomy of a Yes
Anatomy of a
No.
Field Notes from an Organ Donation Advocate in Appalachia
Every "No" Has a Story.
In hospitals across Appalachia, families are asked one of the most difficult questions they will ever hear. Sometimes they say yes. Sometimes they say no. For more than a decade, Brent Whetstone has sat beside families in the moments when life, loss, faith, fear, and love collide.
by Brent Whetstone
Pre-orders begin June 17
100% of proceeds benefit the Whetstone Family Foundation
About the book
This is not a book about convincing people. It is a book about understanding them.
As an organ donation advocate, Brent Whetstone has witnessed extraordinary generosity. He has also witnessed something equally important: the stories behind the refusals.
From a father killed on a winding Appalachian road to parents mourning a child lost far too soon, these field notes explore the grief, mistrust, culture, faith, and lived experiences that shape some of life's most difficult decisions.
Set against the backdrop of Appalachia — a region often misunderstood by those who have never called it home — the book examines the forces that influence medical decision-making, family dynamics, and perceptions of healthcare.
These are not stories of villains and heroes. They are stories of people. People carrying generations of hardship. People trying to honor those they love. People doing the best they can with impossible choices.
Featured Chapters
Inside the book.
A preview of the stories that shape the manuscript.
The Right Choice
An excerpt from the opening of Anatomy of a No — a cold conference room, a panel of evaluators, and the eight families whose refusals shaped this book.
The Anatomy of Forgiveness
A biker dies on an Appalachian roadway after a drunk college student pulls out in front of him. His son and brother are riding beside him.
The Anatomy of Pain
An eight-year-old child suffers a fatal asthma attack at school. By the time she reaches the hospital, the outcome is irreversible.
The Anatomy of Mistrust
Long before a donation conversation begins, many Appalachian families carry generations of skepticism toward institutions. This chapter explores how history, poverty, healthcare disparities, and cultural identity shape trust — and sometimes refusal.
From the manuscript
“A no is not a statistical defect. It is not a failure of persuasion. It is often an honest expression of love, fear, culture, theology, exhaustion, or unresolved grief.”
Appalachia Is Not a Statistic
Too often, Appalachia appears in headlines only as a problem to be solved.
But Appalachia is more than data.
It is church suppers and coal towns. Mountain roads and front porches. Hardship and resilience. Sorrow and hope.
These pages are an invitation to listen.
Coming Soon
Pre-orders open June 17
From the author of Anatomy of a Yes, a new collection of stories exploring grief, humanity, and the complicated anatomy of a no.
Because every refusal has a story. And every story deserves to be heard.
Stay close to the work
Pre-orders open June 17.
Reserve your copy and receive occasional notes from Brent on chaplaincy, donor families, and the stories behind Anatomy of a No.