Occasionally I love to pick up books about real people who have endured intense hardships and persevered, overcome. It's always amazing to me how resilient the human spirit can be. Reading books like this one restores my faith in humanity. There really are so many good people out there, working hard to help other people and extending kindness in times of trouble. Mostly it helps me put life back into perspective and remember the things that are most important. I never want to take the good things and blessings in my life for granted.

Obviously, Carol Decker is a miracle. She survived something few people do. I am in awe of her persistence and how she has transformed something horrible into something beautiful. Now she shares what she has learned with others and many lives are blessed by her courage and determination. I am glad I picked this book up. I feel better for reading it and that's one of the great things about books. They fill so many different roles in life. Sometimes I read to escape and be entertained, sometimes I read to learn something new. Sometimes I read to be inspired by the triumphs of other people and I always read with the hopes of being a better person when I'm done. Mission accomplished here.

This book is amazing. What a story of hope and resilience. I was so blown away by what she went through and yet how remarkably positive she stayed through the process. If this book doesn't make the reader quit whining, nothing will! Thank you so much, Netgalley for an ARC.

Carol Decker had a pretty normal life—great husband, beautiful daughter, and another on the way. Then, nearing the end of her second pregnancy, Carol’s body began to attack itself. Doctors had to perform an emergency c-section to save her baby and send Carol to the ICU as she battled sepsis. In order to save her life, they had to amputate Carol’s feet and left hand. She also lost her sight. As a blind, triple-amputee, Carol faced strenuous physical therapy but also had to overcome feelings of hopelessness and insecurities, learning that although her body may have been shattered, her life was beautiful and very much worth living.

Wow. This book packs a punch. T descriptions of what Carol went through physically and emotionally are heart-rending. It’s very honest, as Carol shares her fears and worries, her frustrations, her hopes, and the lessons she learned. Carol is very inspirational, as she learns how to not only exist but to thrive and to do things that seem impossible. This was a gripping memoir.

4 stars.

I read an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #Unshattered

Unshattered

Overcoming Tragedy and Choosing a Beautiful Life

by Carol J. Decker, Stacey L. Nash

Shadow Mountain Publishing

Shadow Mountain

Biographies & Memoirs

Pub Date 05 Jun 2018

I am reviewing a copy of Unshattered through Shadow Mountain Publication and Netgalley:

June 10.2008 Carol Decker walked into the hospital feeling like an ordinary woman with flu like symptoms and premature labor. She would spend three months in the hospital, her daughter born by C-Section, her daughter was born prematurely weighing four pounds and fifteen ounces.

Later Sepsis would leave them to make a choice that though horrible would change her life, and that of her family, when Safiya grew stronger, and Carol got better, her husband found himself carrying for a five week old preemie, a disabled wife and an eighteen month old daughter.

Coming home after all of this was hard, she faced many struggles but the hardest part for her was when her oldest daughter Chloe was afraid of her. The darkness began to swallow her.

Life as a blind triple amputee isn’t easy but Carol Deck learned to look at people and the things she had taken for granted differently, and she learned not only to survive but to thrive.

I give Unshattered five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

What an amazing book! When life hits hardest, how do you make it over each bump in the road? Carol's life changes in an instant through sepsis, she tells of seeing her husband Scott's face, for what would be her last time, and how she wishes she wouldn't have taken that moment for granted. Triple amputee and blindness, almost stop Carol from progressing, but she is determined to find out who she is again and to gain a new perspective. This book made me feel so many emotions, a book about not giving up when life becomes difficult.

When I first started this book I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. But by the 3rd chapter I couldn't put it down. This woman, Carol Decker, is an inspiration. But not only her, her husband, her family, volunteers, the doctors, everyone involved in her healing, became heroes. I love when a breast cancer survivor told Carol that she has "perspective." So true. If anyone might decide to give up, a triple blind amputee could have the excuse and most people wouldn't blame her. But Carol didn't. She fought. And when she was discouraged, her family and friends fought for her. Now she has perspective that so few understand. Her story definitely helped me take a look at my life and once again count my blessings. We all have trials and we all have the choice as to how we will get through them. I'm glad Carol made the choice to fight and succeed.

#NetGalley #Unshattered
Available June 2018

“On June 10, 2008, Carol Decker walked through the hospital doors a healthy woman with flu-like symptoms and early labor contractions. Three months later, she returned home a blind, triple-amputee struggling to bond with a daughter she would never see.”

This book addresses the deep feelings that Carol Decker experienced while trying to cope with an unimaginable loss in her life. It is a very honest look at working through the emotions of what-will-never-again-be to acceptance and in fact thankfulness for each day of her life.

Cons: I definitely wanted the introduction by husband Scott Decker included, but I would have liked it to have been at the back of the book. It felt like it shared too much in advance of reading the story.

Pros: This is one of the most inspirational books I’ve read. Yes, as one reviewer stated it is sad in places, very sad. And her recovery is tough. So if that doesn’t appeal to you, you may need to skip this book. But Carol Decker and her husband are amazing. This story should help each of us see life through a clearer lens. I would highly recommend it to all.

Author: Carol Decker and Stacey Nash

Published by: Shadow Mountain (June 5, 2018)

What an unbelievable story! Carol J. Decker thought she had the flu and expected to be in and out of the hospital in a breeze unfortunately the flu turned into sepsis which caused her to be blind and triple-amputee. She returned home three months later trying to learn how to live life in a completely different way. This book is truly uplifting. Carol goes though extensive medical treatment which only deepens the trauma more. Today she is living a "normal" life and using this traumatic experience to motivate others. No matter what life brings you there is always hope.

Unshattered was just okay for me. Not a lot of detail was given as to what exactly led up to Carol's illness, how and why it happened, etc. It mainly focuses on her recovery. It was a pretty depressing book to be honest. No hope is felt till the very end, and even then it is a very mild hope. There is little to no talk of faith at all, till a very shallow mention of it at the end. Carol did not seem to lean on God or her faith pretty much at all throughout. I finished the book feeling kind of down.

This book is PHENOMENAL!
Such an amazing story!
Be inspired today!
DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS ONE!

This is one of the most inspiring books I've read. Carol becomes blind and a triple amputee after the onset of a disease known as Sepsis. This is her story of how she handles her situation and learns to thrive despite everything.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

An amazing look at the life of Carol, a young mother and wife whose life changed overnight with the onset of sepsis. Because of this disease Carol became a blind triple amputee. Reading about her physical and emotional recovery, rehab and life is a true inspiration to anyone facing any kind of challenges in their life.