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Walk Beside Me
Willow Adair has a picture-perfect life--or so it seems.
A stunning model-turned-wife-and-mother, she lives in a beautiful home with her husband and two kids in historic Bexley, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio. On the outside, she has everything. On the inside, she struggles with issues of self worth. Spurned by her neglectful husband and defied by her rebellious teen daughter, Willow never feels she is good enough. She fears everyone she loves will leave.
Piece by piece, the cornerstones of Willow's life begin to crumble. A routine colon operation goes horribly wrong, leaving her bleeding and alone on the long road to recovery. A yoga injury leads to a series of surgeries and misdiagnoses, ultimately ending in a full wrist fusion and permanent loss of motion in her right arm. And then, as if she hasn't suffered Willow is diagnosed with breast cancer. Convinced that no one will stand by her for one more day of sickness and depression, she prepares to end her life.
That's where the Angels come in...
Willow's friends are a tour de force. They go with her to chemo. They come and sleep over at her house. They lift her spirits when she is sad, and weep with her when she is hurting. They walk beside her quite literally, on sidewalks from Cleveland to Miami. And they walk beside her spiritually and emotionally, soothing her heartache, healing her self-esteem, and reminding her that every single minute of her life is abundantly worth living.
Walk Beside Me is a tale of sickness and triumph, of being comfortable in your own skin, of valuing the things that have true value, and of learning to fight for yourself and what you truly want. It's the story of a woman who peels away the layers to find her inner warrior, a woman who faces insurmountable odds and--thanks to her earthly Angels--learns to treasure the gift of God's infinite light and love.
A stunning model-turned-wife-and-mother, she lives in a beautiful home with her husband and two kids in historic Bexley, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio. On the outside, she has everything. On the inside, she struggles with issues of self worth. Spurned by her neglectful husband and defied by her rebellious teen daughter, Willow never feels she is good enough. She fears everyone she loves will leave.
Piece by piece, the cornerstones of Willow's life begin to crumble. A routine colon operation goes horribly wrong, leaving her bleeding and alone on the long road to recovery. A yoga injury leads to a series of surgeries and misdiagnoses, ultimately ending in a full wrist fusion and permanent loss of motion in her right arm. And then, as if she hasn't suffered Willow is diagnosed with breast cancer. Convinced that no one will stand by her for one more day of sickness and depression, she prepares to end her life.
That's where the Angels come in...
Willow's friends are a tour de force. They go with her to chemo. They come and sleep over at her house. They lift her spirits when she is sad, and weep with her when she is hurting. They walk beside her quite literally, on sidewalks from Cleveland to Miami. And they walk beside her spiritually and emotionally, soothing her heartache, healing her self-esteem, and reminding her that every single minute of her life is abundantly worth living.
Walk Beside Me is a tale of sickness and triumph, of being comfortable in your own skin, of valuing the things that have true value, and of learning to fight for yourself and what you truly want. It's the story of a woman who peels away the layers to find her inner warrior, a woman who faces insurmountable odds and--thanks to her earthly Angels--learns to treasure the gift of God's infinite light and love.
- GenresFiction
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2016
16 people are currently reading
1192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 22, 2017
What a beautiful book. I won a giveaway for it and was pleasantly surprised at the wonderful binding and expensive cover. It was also autographed to me with a lovely message. This book brought me to tears, laughter and amazement. I also have traveled an extensive medical road and am still dealing with it. A very well written book and a definite page turner. I couldn't seem to put the book down. In fact I started it and finished it in one day. I definitely loved this book.
July 3, 2017
Be true to yourself
Some people think being wealthy solves all problems. Not true. If you do not have self respect, the love of family, a few good friends and your health you really have nothing at all.
Some people think being wealthy solves all problems. Not true. If you do not have self respect, the love of family, a few good friends and your health you really have nothing at all.
January 19, 2019
The author is a breast cancer survivor. She wrote this book to help other women who are going through the same things that she went through. She wants them to realize that through God and friends, they can conquer this terrible disease. They shouldn’t feel guilty or ashamed.
The author describes in vivid detail the suffering she went through, including a series of sixteen chemotherapies and a mastectomy. When she first got the diagnosis of cancer, she despaired. In order not to be a burden on her family and friends, she decided to commit suicide. She believes that God showed her a way out of this unblessed solution. She allowed her Angels—her circle of women friends—to help her through the long process of treatment. In the end, she is thankful to God and to her friends for helping her to live—to live for them and for her family.
I quote from the final chapter: “For many months and years, my Angels’ love and encouragement had become a heavenly host of voices, and the song they sang was not about guilt or shame or unworthiness. You are beautiful, they said. You are good. You are deserving.”
The author describes in vivid detail the suffering she went through, including a series of sixteen chemotherapies and a mastectomy. When she first got the diagnosis of cancer, she despaired. In order not to be a burden on her family and friends, she decided to commit suicide. She believes that God showed her a way out of this unblessed solution. She allowed her Angels—her circle of women friends—to help her through the long process of treatment. In the end, she is thankful to God and to her friends for helping her to live—to live for them and for her family.
I quote from the final chapter: “For many months and years, my Angels’ love and encouragement had become a heavenly host of voices, and the song they sang was not about guilt or shame or unworthiness. You are beautiful, they said. You are good. You are deserving.”
April 18, 2020
Christine captures how God uses the love of people to help others from pain and lifts the soul out of depression of a life or death illness. She shows what faith can do in the human life. Having been in such situations myself I highly recommend this book.
July 26, 2017
Walk Beside Me by Christine Handy is a fictional story. Part of the story is based on the author's experience while going through cancer treatment.
Willow Adair has what so many people want. She is a former model, who's husband is very successful in his career. They have two children and live in a wealthy area in Columbus, Ohio. They vacation in Nantucket and own a second home in Miami. But – her husband travels a lot with his job. And her teen age daughter is rebellious and going to school out of town.
Willow has struggled with her health and has a routine colon surgery. A vein is cut during the surgery and she almost died. Even after the surgery she is still very sick, until she eventually goes to a specialist out of town and learns she needs to change her diet.
Willow injures her wrist and has a simple surgery for a torn ligament. While recovering she has a blood clot and then after the cast is removed her arm starts to hurt and swells. Her doctor insists nothing is wrong. Her husband accuses her of seeing more doctors than anyone. She eventually goes to a specialist out of town who tells her, she has a really bad infection that has destroyed her wrist. She will need to have it fused.
Before she has finished the treatment for her wrist, she is diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had it and is thinking of ending her life. When her friends find out, they gather around her and schedule for someone to be with her everyday while she goes through treatment.
This is a good, inspirational story. Once I started reading it, I wanted to keep reading it to find out how Willow progressed. This is a good story of friendship and reaching out to those in need. I enjoyed the part of her friends surrounding her with prayers and encouragement constantly. I hope fellow readers learn from Willow's mistake and seek medical care when they think something is not right.
I have to give this book a 4 due to the language. I feel the message would have come across just as well, or even better, without the swear words. I also hope people realize this is fiction and don't shrug off their medical concerns. I do think Willow should have thought more about her husband's feelings and kept weekends for family without friends always there.
Don't get me wrong, this is a good story. . Having gone through a very severe injury then cancer treatments I know you have to be your own health advocate. I wish the story had more of this to help those going through health struggles.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I have written an honest review.
Willow Adair has what so many people want. She is a former model, who's husband is very successful in his career. They have two children and live in a wealthy area in Columbus, Ohio. They vacation in Nantucket and own a second home in Miami. But – her husband travels a lot with his job. And her teen age daughter is rebellious and going to school out of town.
Willow has struggled with her health and has a routine colon surgery. A vein is cut during the surgery and she almost died. Even after the surgery she is still very sick, until she eventually goes to a specialist out of town and learns she needs to change her diet.
Willow injures her wrist and has a simple surgery for a torn ligament. While recovering she has a blood clot and then after the cast is removed her arm starts to hurt and swells. Her doctor insists nothing is wrong. Her husband accuses her of seeing more doctors than anyone. She eventually goes to a specialist out of town who tells her, she has a really bad infection that has destroyed her wrist. She will need to have it fused.
Before she has finished the treatment for her wrist, she is diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had it and is thinking of ending her life. When her friends find out, they gather around her and schedule for someone to be with her everyday while she goes through treatment.
This is a good, inspirational story. Once I started reading it, I wanted to keep reading it to find out how Willow progressed. This is a good story of friendship and reaching out to those in need. I enjoyed the part of her friends surrounding her with prayers and encouragement constantly. I hope fellow readers learn from Willow's mistake and seek medical care when they think something is not right.
I have to give this book a 4 due to the language. I feel the message would have come across just as well, or even better, without the swear words. I also hope people realize this is fiction and don't shrug off their medical concerns. I do think Willow should have thought more about her husband's feelings and kept weekends for family without friends always there.
Don't get me wrong, this is a good story. . Having gone through a very severe injury then cancer treatments I know you have to be your own health advocate. I wish the story had more of this to help those going through health struggles.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I have written an honest review.
March 15, 2018
This book was a little different at first but in getting into it more, I loved it. This lady's struggles and the feeling of being alone with her health issues was a bit sad and makes you wonder how true this is today. She consistently had issues with an aching in her arm and finally a doctor listened and the findings were horrific. Then as time goes on dealing with this, another horrific illness pops up.
I do not want to reveal the entire story but it is a great story of struggles and how Godly friends can certainly make a difference. As these friends rally around Willow, they help bring her through a debilitating experience with love, faith and a renewed belief in herself.
A must read for any who are struggling and a must read for those who have a friend that needs this type of support.
I do not want to reveal the entire story but it is a great story of struggles and how Godly friends can certainly make a difference. As these friends rally around Willow, they help bring her through a debilitating experience with love, faith and a renewed belief in herself.
A must read for any who are struggling and a must read for those who have a friend that needs this type of support.
May 17, 2018
Here is an inspirational quote i liked from the book:
"Have faith in yourself. This pain and suffering
you’ve been through—it’s made you stronger, not weaker. You’re almost done.
Walk on
You can let your battle scars paralyze you, or you can grow even stronger from them."
Review posted on my blog. Here is the link:
https://nargiskalani.wordpress.com/20...
Do leave your comments.
"Have faith in yourself. This pain and suffering
you’ve been through—it’s made you stronger, not weaker. You’re almost done.
Walk on
You can let your battle scars paralyze you, or you can grow even stronger from them."
Review posted on my blog. Here is the link:
https://nargiskalani.wordpress.com/20...
Do leave your comments.
gave-up-on
September 30, 2018I've started reading this book a couple times and haven't been able to get into the character or storyline. Based on other reviewers ratings and comments, this was not the case for them. This one is not for me.
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
November 25, 2019
Believe
If you feel like giving up or feel like no one loves you or maybe even selfish this is the book made for you.
If you feel like giving up or feel like no one loves you or maybe even selfish this is the book made for you.
March 16, 2022
It is a difficult book to review and I'd probably give it a 1.5 stars (rounded up for Goodreads). It is challenging if you or someone you love goes through a hard-hitting illness - it is hard to even imagine how difficult it is unless you have gone through it and that is why it's important to have books that try and shed light on what it's like. And, of course, everyone's personal experience is different.
However, this book didn't quite go deep enough for me. Faith was obviously a big part of the equation, but the book never really showed how a debilitating illness can shake your faith in anything (god, yourself, science, the existence of sun, you name it) and make you question everything. It didn't show the doubts nor the journey back to whatever you decide to believe or not believe in and making peace with that final decision.
Just as friendship was a major theme of the book, but it never showed the toll it takes - from you, from a friend, from a partner - if you let someone else in. And the toll it takes if you don't.
It did try to show the hard times - the days when everything is too much, when the pain is so bad you can't even breathe for it, when the only reason you get out of bed is because you know that if you don't do it now, you never will again, the days when the only thing keeping you going is a friendly word and the days when an absent smile from a stranger will break you. It tried, but I never really got that sense of despair and rage and will and strength and whole gamut of emotions brought up by something like this.
So all in all, for all that cancer is not a light topic, everything still seemed too easy, if that makes sense? There was no doubting, seeking, searching, no piecing yourself together on shard at a time, with there being too many and too few shards and with some pieces seemingly almost from someone else. The character immediately had a friendship circle - and a large one at that, none of whom also had any money issues so could fly in across the country at the drop of a hat -, a partner and supportive family, no money issues, no external pressures or worries at all beyond the fact that she had cancer (well, and a messed-up arm). Plus, the second half of the book got too preachy for me.
If there is anyone going through an illness like this and this book helps them, even if for just a few hours - what more could you ask for? But it wasn't a book for me.
However, this book didn't quite go deep enough for me. Faith was obviously a big part of the equation, but the book never really showed how a debilitating illness can shake your faith in anything (god, yourself, science, the existence of sun, you name it) and make you question everything. It didn't show the doubts nor the journey back to whatever you decide to believe or not believe in and making peace with that final decision.
Just as friendship was a major theme of the book, but it never showed the toll it takes - from you, from a friend, from a partner - if you let someone else in. And the toll it takes if you don't.
It did try to show the hard times - the days when everything is too much, when the pain is so bad you can't even breathe for it, when the only reason you get out of bed is because you know that if you don't do it now, you never will again, the days when the only thing keeping you going is a friendly word and the days when an absent smile from a stranger will break you. It tried, but I never really got that sense of despair and rage and will and strength and whole gamut of emotions brought up by something like this.
So all in all, for all that cancer is not a light topic, everything still seemed too easy, if that makes sense? There was no doubting, seeking, searching, no piecing yourself together on shard at a time, with there being too many and too few shards and with some pieces seemingly almost from someone else. The character immediately had a friendship circle - and a large one at that, none of whom also had any money issues so could fly in across the country at the drop of a hat -, a partner and supportive family, no money issues, no external pressures or worries at all beyond the fact that she had cancer (well, and a messed-up arm). Plus, the second half of the book got too preachy for me.
If there is anyone going through an illness like this and this book helps them, even if for just a few hours - what more could you ask for? But it wasn't a book for me.
August 26, 2018
When I started reading this book, I could not put it down. The level of detail that the author goes into about the struggles of having on going health issues is raw and at the same refreshing. There is no pretense or sugar coating serious health problems. However, with each chapter there is a underlining promise of hope.
For instance, the strong bonds of love, faith and friendship are woven very deeply in this book. In my opinion, this is true fabric of the book that makes it a wonderful page turner. If you are looking for a book to delight, inspire and provide honesty and clarity amidst pain and suffering, then look no further. After reading this book, I will never look at someone dealing with cancer the same way. What a wonderful book! I was privilege to receive a copy of this book from Goodreads; the opinions are my own.
For instance, the strong bonds of love, faith and friendship are woven very deeply in this book. In my opinion, this is true fabric of the book that makes it a wonderful page turner. If you are looking for a book to delight, inspire and provide honesty and clarity amidst pain and suffering, then look no further. After reading this book, I will never look at someone dealing with cancer the same way. What a wonderful book! I was privilege to receive a copy of this book from Goodreads; the opinions are my own.
June 11, 2024
Touching and Inspiring!!!
I found myself connected to the main character, Willow. The horrific things she endured and the angels she had helping, gave her strength to endure.
This was a very healing book. I felt a wave of gratitude as I read this beautiful story of sisterly and Godly love.
I found myself connected to the main character, Willow. The horrific things she endured and the angels she had helping, gave her strength to endure.
This was a very healing book. I felt a wave of gratitude as I read this beautiful story of sisterly and Godly love.
August 10, 2021
“Walk Beside Me” is an amazing book! I’m really looking forward to watching the film about it...“Willow!”
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews