Forgotten Twin
Faith, Trauma, and the Things we Can’t Repair
by Matthew Sullivan Cox
“Matthew Sullivan Cox has done a wonderful service to us in this poignant book… I recommend this book as a manual about how trauma can be a path into love.”
-David Richo, PhD, author of Five True Things: A Little Guide to Embracing Life’s Big Challenges (Shambhala, 2019)
Twin brothers Matt and Seth grew up in different worlds. After an accident leaves Seth unable to see, hear, or control his body, he becomes a permanent resident of a hospital for "medically fragile" children. For Matt, having Seth as a twin is like having a monster as a shadow. He freezes in hospitals, lies to avoid visits, and for years tries to forget his other half. As the brothers approach adulthood, Matt is pushed to face his fear and build a relationship with Seth before it's too late.
Forgotten Twin is an unflinching memoir about the things that terrify us, the courage of choosing presence, and the truth that some relationships matter not because they make sense, but because they make us whole.
Reviews
"Matthew Sullivan Cox has done a wonderful service to us in this poignant book. We get to walk step by step with him on a journey from grief into self-discovery. I was especially moved by how Matt found a way to know his brother not by words but in the touch of a flower. Matt and Seth's story shows us how nature is the universal language of wisdom and human connection. I recommend this book as a manual about how trauma can be a path into love."
—David Richo, PhD, author of Five True Things: A Little Guide to Embracing Life's Big Challenges (Shambhala, 2019)
“Forgotten Twin is a true story of pain, personal growth, and overcoming deep heartbreak and loss. Trauma, grief, and reconciliation are constant themes. You might want a box of Kleenex close by. The details and suspense captivates the reader’s imagination. You can feel what Cox is feeling as he tells the story. His vulnerability, transparency, and personal honesty draws the reader into the story. His wisdom, therapeutic insights, and theological thinking are skillfully woven into his story.”
—Jules Glanzer, D.Min, author and President Emeritus, Tabor College
A twin brother is a difficult secret to keep—even if you’re only keeping it from yourself.
Twin brothers Matt and Seth grew up in different worlds. After an accident crushes Seth's infant brain and leaves him unable to see, hear, or control his body, he becomes a permanent resident of a hospital for medically fragile children. For Matt, having Seth as a twin is like having a monster as a shadow. He freezes in hospitals, lies to avoid visits, and tries for years to forget his other half.
But some absences become unbearable. As the brothers approach adulthood, Matt is pushed to face his fear and build a relationship with Seth before it’s too late. Through rooftop garden visits, hospital bed conversations, and encounters with an unforgettable cast of caregivers, family, and friends, Matt discovers a bond that transcends pain.
Forgotten Twin is an unflinching memoir about the truths that terrify us, the courage of choosing presence, and the grace that sustains us. With searing honesty and profound tenderness, Matthew Cox explores what it means to grieve what never was, to wrestle with a God who didn't intervene, and to discover that some relationships matter not because they make sense but because they make us whole.
Matthew Sullivan Cox
Matt is a speaker, author, and therapist who enjoys good questions and the stories that help us explore them. He writes and teaches on topics at the intersection of spirituality and psychology and doesn’t put much faith in simplistic answers to hard things. Matt is a Christian and a former pastor who isn’t always sure where his faith fits, but knows he’s not alone.
On most days, you can find Matt somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, where he enjoys long hikes, short runs, black coffee, and making his wife and kids roll their eyes at Dad jokes and 90's movie quotes.
Publication Info
Publisher: Third Trail Publishing
Paperback ISBN: 9798993407807
E-book ASIN: B0GX2RWD9J
E-book ISBN: 9798993407814
Hardcover ISBN: 9798993407821
Publication year: 2026
Printed in USA
Page length (paperback): 248
BISAC Categories:
BIO026000 BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Memoirs
BIO018000BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Religious
BIO021000BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Social Scientists & Psychologists
BIO033000 BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Disability