Sign of Life: A Story of Family, Tragedy, Music, and Healing

by Hilary Williams

Just after noon on a spring day in 2006, aspiring singer songwriter Hilary Williams and her sister Holly – the granddaughters of country legend Hank Williams and daughters of country music star Hank Williams Jr. – were driving through Mississippi down a rural stretch of Route 61 on their way to their grandfather’s funeral. Suddenly, the front wheel of the truck became caught in one of the many deep ruts and gravel lining the road, causing the vehicle and its passengers to flip over several times, crushing steel and breaking fragile bones as it crashed. Holly was lucky. She only suffered a broken wrist and cuts and bruises. But when the Jaws of Life finally pried Hilary's shattered body free of the wreckage, she was in shock and barely breathing.She had suffered two broken legs, several broken ribs, a ruptured colon, and bruised lungs. Her back, collarbone, tailbone, pelvis, and right femur were fractured. Her hips were crushed. It had taken nearly 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, and she had already lost a large amount of blood. Then, as EMTs scrambled to stabilize her in the middle of a muddy Mississippi field, Hilary Williams died. But that was only the beginning. This is a story of struggle and pain. But more so, it is a story of second chances, of love and resolve and recovery. When she was pulled back into life, Hilary’s world changed. It was the beginning of a long, courageous, and inspiring journey during which she would undergo twenty-three surgeries and years of therapy. Along the way, with her family at her side, Hilary has learned the meaning of strength, not only the strength to survive, but the strength to live with the legend, the talent, the burden, and the privilege of her place in country music’s most famous family.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2010

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: What an inspiring story and appreciate how Hilary Williams tells the good the ugly, the pleasant and gritty. Like how she owned how the human body works, especially after the multiple surgeries, the medication reactions and how it literally hurts to heal. The support she received from family members, medial staff and music industry is heart warming to read about. Her after death experience is amazing.

Cons: Not much, if anything.

Cover art: 5 out of 5

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only do you get to read Hilary's inspirational story you get some more info on Hank Jr's accident, Hank Sr and Audrey's lives and how all the kids/grandkids are related to the Williams that we've heard of as singers! So its not just all about Hilary but her relations come into a lot of it too which made for a very interesting story along with her accident and recovery. You get to see a different side of Hank Jr as her Dad even though he wasn't in her life very much due to his career and a divorce, he still tried to be there for her. A book worthy of your time to read.

[Dale Stonehouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

The hook in this book for me was that the author had a near-death experience in common with her father, Hank William Jr., hers in a car accident and his after falling down a mountain. Aside from that, it seems you would have to know some of these people to really get involved. Outside of the accident and hospital stay and surgeries, there are stories about Nashville musicians many people will not be familiar with. I like the effort, but I guess only a daughter could make Hank Jr. sound boring.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book with lots of personal and family information and history, unfortunately, I was a little confused. Miss Williams would be talking about her accident and injuries and then go off on another completely different tangent about family history. Was she trying to tell us about her accident or family? Both would have been okay if she did not skip back and forth so often. Smooth read book otherwise.

[Johnnm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilary is a survivor. Regardless of her last name, her story is a remarkable one.

[Alison]

kindle 258 (memoir)