What do you think?
Rate this book
My Spirit Took You In
Louise Troh—fiancée of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first man ever to die of Ebola in America—breaks her silence about her experience in this deeply moving memoir, chronicling the decade-long love story that starts in Liberia and ends in an isolation ward in Dallas, Texas.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 2015
3 people are currently reading
61 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 3, 2015
This book tells the story of Louise Troh and Eric Duncan, who were at the heart of the Ebola drama in Dallas in the fall of 2014. Christine Wicker, a former religion reporter for the Dallas Morning News and a bestselling author, assisted Louise in writing the book.
Dallas and the nation were inundated with so much misinformation, ignorance, fear, blaming, and prejudice during that time. This book helps to set the record straight.
Further, if you want to see a church and its pastor, staff, and other leaders dealing forthrightly and well, in a truly Christian manner, with what became a city, state, and national crisis, you'll find that in this book. Both Louise and Christine are members of Wilshire Baptist Church. Louise gives much praise to her church and her pastor, George Mason, for their help before, during, and after the Ebola crisis that cost Eric his life. Louise also gives praise to others, including the county judge, the mayor, and the Roman Catholic bishop. In contrast to the local, state, national, and even international critics, they took extraordinary measures to help during this time.
The book is well written, and I highly recommend it.
Dallas and the nation were inundated with so much misinformation, ignorance, fear, blaming, and prejudice during that time. This book helps to set the record straight.
Further, if you want to see a church and its pastor, staff, and other leaders dealing forthrightly and well, in a truly Christian manner, with what became a city, state, and national crisis, you'll find that in this book. Both Louise and Christine are members of Wilshire Baptist Church. Louise gives much praise to her church and her pastor, George Mason, for their help before, during, and after the Ebola crisis that cost Eric his life. Louise also gives praise to others, including the county judge, the mayor, and the Roman Catholic bishop. In contrast to the local, state, national, and even international critics, they took extraordinary measures to help during this time.
The book is well written, and I highly recommend it.
November 6, 2016
I have mix feelings on this story. I feel a lot is of truth but other parts are dramatized. Living in the area during this time does hit close to home.
December 3, 2015
Louise Troh was the fiancée of Thomas Eric Duncan who came to the U.S. from Liberia to be with her. He was the first person in America to die from Ebola. Louise unflinchingly tells their stories and, not surprisingly, much of their treatment was shameful. Amazingly, she is not vindictive. Her spirit rises above.
March 26, 2024
“Romance” is one of the words on the front to the book. But Troh, the writer, uses the word in a different way that shows up in so many books.
This book carries the story of one person, a very young woman, who came to America and found how to work and handle a family; a big family. In the book, there are many pieces that show us how different it was between her home in Africa and America. He’s one example: “It is easier to find enough food in America.” (p. 15) And there’s a page about the many in Africa, a man could have as a wife in Africa. (12)
And she tells how the Americans looked at Africans.
Chapter three tells about her change. With nine children, she saw that people in the US were amazed. And, of course, she writes about how she missed Africa. There’s a piece about how cold it was in America.
She gets a job in a nursing home – the work was hard the money was small. (70+) There’s a short piece about the church where she wound people to help her. And she had to deal with the times when the children were sick.
There’s a full chapter on “Men in Yellow Suits.” Her story is a tough when to get through life in America. The last chapter is “No Room at the Inn.”
It book is telling the story of what happens to people who come to the USA. And it focuses on what happens to the people who are from the world outside Europe. And the writer gives a story that would tell us what the problems of people in other the parts of the places where it’s not western life. But it’s difficult to find a thing for what we should/could do.
This book carries the story of one person, a very young woman, who came to America and found how to work and handle a family; a big family. In the book, there are many pieces that show us how different it was between her home in Africa and America. He’s one example: “It is easier to find enough food in America.” (p. 15) And there’s a page about the many in Africa, a man could have as a wife in Africa. (12)
And she tells how the Americans looked at Africans.
Chapter three tells about her change. With nine children, she saw that people in the US were amazed. And, of course, she writes about how she missed Africa. There’s a piece about how cold it was in America.
She gets a job in a nursing home – the work was hard the money was small. (70+) There’s a short piece about the church where she wound people to help her. And she had to deal with the times when the children were sick.
There’s a full chapter on “Men in Yellow Suits.” Her story is a tough when to get through life in America. The last chapter is “No Room at the Inn.”
It book is telling the story of what happens to people who come to the USA. And it focuses on what happens to the people who are from the world outside Europe. And the writer gives a story that would tell us what the problems of people in other the parts of the places where it’s not western life. But it’s difficult to find a thing for what we should/could do.
November 9, 2024
Good story of what happened
March 24, 2016
It is an easy read, it is ghostwritten but I think faithful to Louise's perspective.
It's unique. A gentle insight to the experiences of recent immigrants to the USA and what it's like (horrible) for an ordinary person to get caught in an international media and legal storm. I read it because I was curious what Louise did to stop the sickness from spreading to her family. I hadn't expected all the cultural differences to be so gripping, too.
It's unique. A gentle insight to the experiences of recent immigrants to the USA and what it's like (horrible) for an ordinary person to get caught in an international media and legal storm. I read it because I was curious what Louise did to stop the sickness from spreading to her family. I hadn't expected all the cultural differences to be so gripping, too.
May 15, 2016
This is a very interesting book that gives insight to the many cultural differences between Liberia and the US but more importantly, gives a human face and story to a horrific disease. It was also meaningful to read more in depth about the people who put their faith into action...who put their beliefs before their fears.
September 4, 2015
Easy to read. Honest. Good book about treating everyone as they are... Human. No matter the circumstance, beliefs or background, we are human.
Eric's loving spirit is truly living on in Karsiah.
Eric's loving spirit is truly living on in Karsiah.
January 15, 2016
very interesting read. kept my attention and educating my further on the topic.
February 6, 2016
thought provoking: we don't always have correct information, yet we treat/mistreat people accordingly; morality (sexual et al) is defined differently in Liberia (and other countries) than I define it
April 24, 2016
Spectacular reading with a different English dialect. The storytelling is circular, interwoven with if...then reasonings, emphasizing grief and regret. I learned much about another culture.
December 17, 2016
Interesting story, interesting perspective.
December 21, 2016
Tragic story, well read.
Read
June 3, 2025A somber look towards the human side of epidemics. A fitting read during this current outbreak, and a reminder that those affected are first humans with family. Really enjoyed this memoir
May 21, 2015
Wonderful and sad story with a happy ending, well written and easy to read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews