What do you think?
Rate this book
Suitcases from Heaven: A Mother's Journey of Hope through Her Daughter-in-Law's Cancer
“Jazmin came fluttering into our home, speaking of healing and miracles. I didn’t know how to tell her I didn’t believe in that nonsense.”
Cindy Henson had jumped on a miracle train twenty-five years earlier, believing God was going to heal her young son of severe autism, and quickly jumped off with a suitcase full of bitterness. God had healed the bitterness, but she still didn’t believe in miracles.
From day one, soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Jazmin, who had been diagnosed with terminal adrenal cancer, declares she is holding out on a miracle from God.
Cindy wonders if she has the fortitude to endure a life of believing in miracles and makes it her mission to help Jazmin accept that she is dying and the possibility of receiving no miracle at all.
Then God invites Cindy to take out her hope-suitcase, pack up her mourning, and help Jazmin live the rest of her life believing in miracles. Through fundraisers, prayer chains, long hospital stays, and deep conversations about faith, Cindy learns from Jazmin that the best way to live a fragile life is with hope and belief that miracles still happen every day.
Suitcases from A Mother’s Journey of Hope through Her Daughter-in-law’s Cancer helps caregivers and cancer victims understand that God knows the number of their days, and their life is not in the hands of the medical community but in His loving hands.
Cindy Henson had jumped on a miracle train twenty-five years earlier, believing God was going to heal her young son of severe autism, and quickly jumped off with a suitcase full of bitterness. God had healed the bitterness, but she still didn’t believe in miracles.
From day one, soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Jazmin, who had been diagnosed with terminal adrenal cancer, declares she is holding out on a miracle from God.
Cindy wonders if she has the fortitude to endure a life of believing in miracles and makes it her mission to help Jazmin accept that she is dying and the possibility of receiving no miracle at all.
Then God invites Cindy to take out her hope-suitcase, pack up her mourning, and help Jazmin live the rest of her life believing in miracles. Through fundraisers, prayer chains, long hospital stays, and deep conversations about faith, Cindy learns from Jazmin that the best way to live a fragile life is with hope and belief that miracles still happen every day.
Suitcases from A Mother’s Journey of Hope through Her Daughter-in-law’s Cancer helps caregivers and cancer victims understand that God knows the number of their days, and their life is not in the hands of the medical community but in His loving hands.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2023
65 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 17, 2024
In “Suitcases from Heaven,” Cindy Seaton Henson offers a heartfelt exploration of faith, hope, and the challenges of caregiving in the face of terminal illness. The memoir revolves around her relationship with Jazmin, her daughter-in-law, who is battling terminal adrenal cancer. This powerful narrative captures the emotional complexities that arise when hope clashes with reality.
Cindy begins by sharing her personal history with belief and miracles, revealing a deep-seated skepticism that emerged from past heartaches. Twenty-five years earlier, she had placed her faith in divine healing for her son, who struggled with severe autism. When that hope was shattered, it left her with a profound sense of bitterness that colored her perception of faith.The arrival of Jazmin, full of optimism and a firm belief in miracles, serves as a catalyst for Cindy’s transformation. Jazmin’s diagnosis presents a challenge to Cindy’s established beliefs. While Jazmin expresses her unwavering faith and hopes for divine intervention, Cindy finds herself torn between wanting to prepare her for the possibility of loss and respecting her hope.
As the narrative unfolds, readers witness Cindy’s gradual journey toward reconciliation with her own beliefs. Engaging in various activities—like organizing fundraisers, initiating prayer chains, and spending time in hospital rooms—Cindy learns valuable lessons about the power of hope. The contrasting perspectives between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law create a compelling tension, as Cindy grapples with her instincts to shield Jazmin from harsh realities while simultaneously witnessing the strength that comes from faith.Henson’s writing is both candid and reflective, drawing readers into her emotional struggles. She confronts themes of despair, acceptance, and the often messy nature of hope. The memoir’s intimacy allows readers to connect with Cindy’s vulnerabilities, making her journey resonate deeply.
One of the core messages of the book is that life is not solely governed by medical outcomes. Henson emphasizes the belief that true power lies beyond the medical establishment; it rests in a loving divine presence that understands the intricacies of each individual’s journey. This perspective offers a comforting and profound understanding for those navigating similar experiences, providing solace amidst uncertainty.Cindy’s evolution from skepticism to a more open embrace of hope is inspiring. She learns to appreciate the significance of believing in miracles, recognizing that such belief can enrich one’s life, even in difficult circumstances. Her journey exemplifies the strength of the human spirit and the importance of cherishing moments of joy and connection, regardless of the looming shadows of illness.
In conclusion, “Suitcases from Heaven” is a deeply moving memoir that artfully navigates the themes of faith, hope, and the realities of caregiving. Cindy Seaton Henson’s personal narrative offers insightful reflections on the complexities of facing terminal illness while emphasizing the transformative power of hope. This book will resonate with anyone who has experienced the trials of illness or the search for meaning in difficult times, making it a significant read for those on their own journeys of resilience and faith.
Cindy begins by sharing her personal history with belief and miracles, revealing a deep-seated skepticism that emerged from past heartaches. Twenty-five years earlier, she had placed her faith in divine healing for her son, who struggled with severe autism. When that hope was shattered, it left her with a profound sense of bitterness that colored her perception of faith.The arrival of Jazmin, full of optimism and a firm belief in miracles, serves as a catalyst for Cindy’s transformation. Jazmin’s diagnosis presents a challenge to Cindy’s established beliefs. While Jazmin expresses her unwavering faith and hopes for divine intervention, Cindy finds herself torn between wanting to prepare her for the possibility of loss and respecting her hope.
As the narrative unfolds, readers witness Cindy’s gradual journey toward reconciliation with her own beliefs. Engaging in various activities—like organizing fundraisers, initiating prayer chains, and spending time in hospital rooms—Cindy learns valuable lessons about the power of hope. The contrasting perspectives between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law create a compelling tension, as Cindy grapples with her instincts to shield Jazmin from harsh realities while simultaneously witnessing the strength that comes from faith.Henson’s writing is both candid and reflective, drawing readers into her emotional struggles. She confronts themes of despair, acceptance, and the often messy nature of hope. The memoir’s intimacy allows readers to connect with Cindy’s vulnerabilities, making her journey resonate deeply.
One of the core messages of the book is that life is not solely governed by medical outcomes. Henson emphasizes the belief that true power lies beyond the medical establishment; it rests in a loving divine presence that understands the intricacies of each individual’s journey. This perspective offers a comforting and profound understanding for those navigating similar experiences, providing solace amidst uncertainty.Cindy’s evolution from skepticism to a more open embrace of hope is inspiring. She learns to appreciate the significance of believing in miracles, recognizing that such belief can enrich one’s life, even in difficult circumstances. Her journey exemplifies the strength of the human spirit and the importance of cherishing moments of joy and connection, regardless of the looming shadows of illness.
In conclusion, “Suitcases from Heaven” is a deeply moving memoir that artfully navigates the themes of faith, hope, and the realities of caregiving. Cindy Seaton Henson’s personal narrative offers insightful reflections on the complexities of facing terminal illness while emphasizing the transformative power of hope. This book will resonate with anyone who has experienced the trials of illness or the search for meaning in difficult times, making it a significant read for those on their own journeys of resilience and faith.
April 13, 2024
Imagine being a sixteen year old vibrant teenager with your whole life ahead of you. Now imagine being told that you have cancer – a cancer that you will not survive.
Several pages into the book, we are introduced to Jazmin when the author asks her son who was the girl she saw her other son Eythan with his arm around in a photo, and was she a nice girl.
He replied, “Mom, have you ever met someone who has an angel inside them, that’s Jazmin”.
What a powerful statement, and with that one sentence, you know how special Jazmin is and you step onto her Hope Train, with all of her faith, her hope, her love for God and her belief that no matter what the outcome, she would never lose her trust in God’s plan for her. Through unimaginable pain and suffering she held onto God and no matter what challenges she faced, her faith always stood strong.
In the midst of an incurable cancer diagnosis, Suitcases from Heaven is about love, about family, about strength, about God. Above all else it’s about Jazmin’s unwavering devotion to God, her faith and her absolute belief that God would heal her. The hardest part about reading this book is that although you know the ending, in your heart you find yourself holding onto hope, keeping the faith and praying that she will get her miracle.
It is important to mention that throughout the book we meet another teenager going through her own cancer journey. She too was young and yet displayed strength, courage and maturity beyond her young age. She was Gayle Katzenback, and in one of her final Facebook posts before her passing she wrote:
“Sometimes, however, you’re so overwhelmed by the goodness and light in your life that the darkness gets pushed down deeper and deeper within you. And although you may not see it, it brews inside you still – even when you place your best face on”.
This was just a small section of her final post, but it is a passage that we can all relate to, emotions we have all felt when facing a difficult time in our lives, and the pain that lies under the surface. It’s a very emotional book and your heart breaks for these young girls, their friends and their families. Even though Suitcases from Heaven is written through the eyes of Jazmin’s mother in-law, it’s the moments like Gayle’s post and the many quotes by Jazmin herself that pull you into this book, pull you into Jazmin’s world of Hope and you come to understand just how truly beautiful and blessed she was. Take a leap of faith and step onto Jazmin’s Hope train, she will definitely find a place in your heart.
Several pages into the book, we are introduced to Jazmin when the author asks her son who was the girl she saw her other son Eythan with his arm around in a photo, and was she a nice girl.
He replied, “Mom, have you ever met someone who has an angel inside them, that’s Jazmin”.
What a powerful statement, and with that one sentence, you know how special Jazmin is and you step onto her Hope Train, with all of her faith, her hope, her love for God and her belief that no matter what the outcome, she would never lose her trust in God’s plan for her. Through unimaginable pain and suffering she held onto God and no matter what challenges she faced, her faith always stood strong.
In the midst of an incurable cancer diagnosis, Suitcases from Heaven is about love, about family, about strength, about God. Above all else it’s about Jazmin’s unwavering devotion to God, her faith and her absolute belief that God would heal her. The hardest part about reading this book is that although you know the ending, in your heart you find yourself holding onto hope, keeping the faith and praying that she will get her miracle.
It is important to mention that throughout the book we meet another teenager going through her own cancer journey. She too was young and yet displayed strength, courage and maturity beyond her young age. She was Gayle Katzenback, and in one of her final Facebook posts before her passing she wrote:
“Sometimes, however, you’re so overwhelmed by the goodness and light in your life that the darkness gets pushed down deeper and deeper within you. And although you may not see it, it brews inside you still – even when you place your best face on”.
This was just a small section of her final post, but it is a passage that we can all relate to, emotions we have all felt when facing a difficult time in our lives, and the pain that lies under the surface. It’s a very emotional book and your heart breaks for these young girls, their friends and their families. Even though Suitcases from Heaven is written through the eyes of Jazmin’s mother in-law, it’s the moments like Gayle’s post and the many quotes by Jazmin herself that pull you into this book, pull you into Jazmin’s world of Hope and you come to understand just how truly beautiful and blessed she was. Take a leap of faith and step onto Jazmin’s Hope train, she will definitely find a place in your heart.
July 4, 2024
This book allows you to follow along with a mother-in-law who is walking beside her daughter-in-law in her journey with cancer. She describes all the emotions her and the families go through. Throughout the book, she continually speaks with God to help her understand why things are the way they are. I thought it was a great book that shows the complicated emotions of watching a loved one experience cancer and what it means to rely on a faithful God in the midst of it all.
May 17, 2024
Faith Building
As a mom to brain damaged little guys, a cancer survivor, a mom to adult children who are a constant blessing to me,as a fellow believer in the LORD I felt like I could relate to the author in SO many ways. This made it easy to be encouraged in the LORD by her sharing of this journey.
Definitely worth the reading for anyone in any stage of life.
As a mom to brain damaged little guys, a cancer survivor, a mom to adult children who are a constant blessing to me,as a fellow believer in the LORD I felt like I could relate to the author in SO many ways. This made it easy to be encouraged in the LORD by her sharing of this journey.
Definitely worth the reading for anyone in any stage of life.
July 28, 2024
Comfort
From someone who has lost both parents to cancer at a young age, this book was a journey of memories and raw honest emotions. Well written and Jazzed that I took time to read it.
From someone who has lost both parents to cancer at a young age, this book was a journey of memories and raw honest emotions. Well written and Jazzed that I took time to read it.
February 6, 2024
This book was well written, and moving. I listened to it via audio book, and the narrator (author) was difficult to listen to. That said, I continued with it because it came so highly recommended.
Want to read
February 6, 2024
February 21, 2024
Listened via audio.
Well written and moving. A story of hope.
Well written and moving. A story of hope.
April 12, 2024
Wonderful read!
I absolutely love this book! So well written! I definitely cried a lot reading this book! I could really feel her pain and happiness reading this book.
I absolutely love this book! So well written! I definitely cried a lot reading this book! I could really feel her pain and happiness reading this book.
May 20, 2024
Thank you for the story- it was beautifully written. I cried for people I do not know, but felt the love for Jazmine through each page. Thank you for sharing your family, and for showing God’s love through Jazmine’s story.
March 7, 2025
Thank you!
Such a sad and uplifting and joyous story of love throughout a difficult journey caring for a beautiful daughter-in-law suffering through cancer. The honesty and compassion and perseverance was to be admired as the author shared her deepest struggles while caring for her sweet Jazmin. I felt I was right there with her. Great writing. Great story. Our great God was right there with her family as they walked together on this pathway toward heaven. Thank you!
Such a sad and uplifting and joyous story of love throughout a difficult journey caring for a beautiful daughter-in-law suffering through cancer. The honesty and compassion and perseverance was to be admired as the author shared her deepest struggles while caring for her sweet Jazmin. I felt I was right there with her. Great writing. Great story. Our great God was right there with her family as they walked together on this pathway toward heaven. Thank you!
January 6, 2025
Loved this book. Beautifully written
April 2, 2024
This book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride of emotions. The book was very well written and easy to read and you can feel how much she cares in her writing.
December 18, 2023
highly recommend
I started following Eythan on TickTock. He inspired me in so many ways. As a mother reading Jazmins testament from Cindy’s perspective was life changing. I am inspired to seek Jesus in a whole new way.
I started following Eythan on TickTock. He inspired me in so many ways. As a mother reading Jazmins testament from Cindy’s perspective was life changing. I am inspired to seek Jesus in a whole new way.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews