What is more wonderful than the connection between mother and child? "Nothing," say Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen Steiger, co-authors of Miracles of a Mother's Love (Adams Media). "We believe there is something special, something sacred, about the unique bond that exists between mother and child. A mother's first act of courage is to give her baby life at the risk of her own. "And the selfless heroism of mothers protecting their young is legendary." That may explain the daring of Pam Prier-Steward of Park Hills, MO., who was admiring the mightly Mississippi River with her husband and four kids when their 2 year old - left alone in the vehicle for only a few seconds - popped the car into neutral. Suddenly, it plunged into the raging river and Pam, only 5-foot-2 and weighing a scant 83 pounds, dove in and pulled the baby from the car as it sank to the murky bottom. The same fantastic phenomenon may also explain what propelled Candace Franklin of Hartford, Conn., to chase down a carjacker who had driven off with her two youngsters. Courageous Candace hung on to the car door as the thief dragged her 200 feet. Then, with superhuman strength, she pummeled the driver until police arrived! "Candace suffered cuts and scratches from her toes to her thighs and her knees looked like raw hamburger from being dragged on the asphalt," write the Steigers. But her powerful maternal love enabled her to hang on to the car door and save her babies." Here are a few more amazing stories excerpted from Miracles of a Mother's Love: Deborah Goodwin was only 22 weeks into her pregnancy when she was rushed to the hospital, bleeding. As she was flown to a medical center 150 miles away, docs warned the young mom from British Columbia that her baby might not survive. Sure enough, the infant, named Taryn, was stillborn. Tearfully, the nurse gave the tiny preemie to Deborah for a first and last kiss. At that moment, a true miracle occurred. The baby, who had shown no signs of life for five minutes, suddenly opened her eyes and raised her arms. After spending 99 days in a special-care nursery, Taryn went home to her overjoyed mom and dad. 'There is no medical explanation," says Wendy Amos, the nurse who assisted with the birth. "It's amazing, but she's totally healthy and will grow up normal in every way." X Never underestimate the power of prayer," says Sherry Hansen Steiger, recalling the extraordinary experience she had in 1976, when her 6 year-old daughter Melissa's baby sitter accidently slammed the girl's fingers in a car door. Sherry could see the hand had been crushed. At the hospital, X-rays confirmed her worst fears. "I asked the baby sitter to join me in prayer while I placed my hand over Melissa's crushed fingers," recalls Sherry. "I prayed out loud for God to touch and heal my child's hand." When the doctor reappeared, he was astonished to see Melissa was healed. "It's a miracle," he exclaimed. "It is truly a miracle." Sherry with her young daughter Melissa. When the girl was injured in 1976, Sherry prayed for a miracle - and her prayers were answered. Irene Govis, 32, was exploring the wonders of nature in Ontario's North Bay woods with daughter Nevin, 5, son Zachary, 7, and their pal Natasha, 6, when a bear knocked Irene down and clawed her thighs and backside. Then it lunged for Nevin, its massive jaw closing around the girl's neck and its fangs puncturing her jugular. Irene threw herself on her injured daughter, and the bear was now biting and clawing Irene's flesh and biting at her back. When the animal crashed off into the woods, Irene ripped off her shirt, wrapped it around Nevin's neck and raced to the nearest home. At the hospital she was told Nevin had cheated death by a "millimeter." Irene suffered 24 bites on her back. "The powerful force of a mother's love enabled Irene Govis to fight off a savage bear and use her body as a shield to save her children," write the Steigers. "That's the incredible power of a mother's love." Order MIRACLES OF A MOTHER'S LOVE from AMAZON.COM Home | Meet Brad | Meet Sherry | What's New? | Book List | Links  | Photo Album | Questionnaire | The S Files