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What I Wasn't Expecting When I Was Expecting: A Grieving Widow's Memoir
In the past few years, after suffering the loss of my husband Joe to colon cancer, many have told me that I have a story to tell. I have been told the love between my husband and me is something most people only dream of, something that many never experience. Our love story is often called a fairy tale. Maybe it is, but our love story is my hard reality.
Despite our story of pain, suffering, personal sacrifice, hopelessness, helplessness, and anger that we have been robbed of our life together, our love story prevails. It’s my favorite story of all. And through it all, I’ve experienced the mercy of our Heavenly Father, who has given me the faith, hope, and love I needed every step of the way.
This book is written in honor of the greatest fight of love I’ve ever witnessed or experienced. I wrote this book primarily for my own healing, but I hope many others will experience healing after reading the words I was able to pour out onto these pages. I’ve always expected nothing but greatness for my life—our life—and greatness is exactly what I have.
May my words bring comfort, empathy, sympathy, healing, hope, strength, or whatever it is that will help heal your broken heart. I also pray that my words will give you a greater capacity to help others—both friends and strangers—as they walk through their own pain and suffering. May our story spur each of us on to love others well.
Despite our story of pain, suffering, personal sacrifice, hopelessness, helplessness, and anger that we have been robbed of our life together, our love story prevails. It’s my favorite story of all. And through it all, I’ve experienced the mercy of our Heavenly Father, who has given me the faith, hope, and love I needed every step of the way.
This book is written in honor of the greatest fight of love I’ve ever witnessed or experienced. I wrote this book primarily for my own healing, but I hope many others will experience healing after reading the words I was able to pour out onto these pages. I’ve always expected nothing but greatness for my life—our life—and greatness is exactly what I have.
May my words bring comfort, empathy, sympathy, healing, hope, strength, or whatever it is that will help heal your broken heart. I also pray that my words will give you a greater capacity to help others—both friends and strangers—as they walk through their own pain and suffering. May our story spur each of us on to love others well.
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2019
10 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 1, 2019
My heart goes out to Kristina and her family at the loss of her husband at such a young age. Their story, while incredibly sad, is also filled with love. Her strength is so evident as she walked this journey. I am also in awe of the love her friends, family, and community showered on her family in the midst of their devastating diagnosis. In my experience as a teacher, when something happens that interrupts your teaching, even for a short term, the outcome is usually much different. I am so happy that her administrators and co-workers walked alongside her through the entire time of her husband's illness, all the while holding her up and working with her to keep her job. It gives me a hope for humanity! In addition to caring for her very ill husband, she was also taking care of a new baby! The strength this woman has/had is so inspiring! While heartbreakingly sad, this story also show the resilience of the human spirit and the healing that is ongoing as she goes forward with her life!
December 9, 2021
So my aunt loaned me this book. The author is from the area where I live and my aunt knows her (I believe the author's hometown is where my aunt currently lives). And my aunt thought I might like this one.
This book covers an absolutely harrowing journey with cancer. It was incredibly difficult to read and definitely brought a lot of tears. But I really did enjoy reading this (if enjoy is even the right word).
This may have been a short, quick read but it definitely packed quite a punch. Cancer is such a brutal disease and it’s always difficult to watch someone suffer its affects (even through the pages of a book). And I really commend the author for her strength in reliving this pain to put it down on paper. I know that wasn’t an easy task.
But. I deeply appreciate this story and I’m so glad to have read this book. Highly recommend!
This book covers an absolutely harrowing journey with cancer. It was incredibly difficult to read and definitely brought a lot of tears. But I really did enjoy reading this (if enjoy is even the right word).
This may have been a short, quick read but it definitely packed quite a punch. Cancer is such a brutal disease and it’s always difficult to watch someone suffer its affects (even through the pages of a book). And I really commend the author for her strength in reliving this pain to put it down on paper. I know that wasn’t an easy task.
But. I deeply appreciate this story and I’m so glad to have read this book. Highly recommend!
September 11, 2019
Coming from a GI oncology nurse, it was both heart wrenching to read this story because it’s the story of so many patients I’ve cared for over the years but also because the story of young onset colorectal cancer is just too common now. It’s no longer the exception and the struggles and needs of these patients are so different than that of the much older adult, the age group this disease used to solely belong to. While crying throughout almost every page, it’s good to keep this perspective in mind; to remember their struggles don’t stop once they go home or what it’s like to wait for scan results, etc. Beautifully written and I highly recommend it.
March 5, 2019
An epic love story
I chose this book because I know Kristina and her son. What a great read! It was raw and emotional and uplifting and encouraging. It will break your heart, but make you laugh and give you hope.
I chose this book because I know Kristina and her son. What a great read! It was raw and emotional and uplifting and encouraging. It will break your heart, but make you laugh and give you hope.
April 28, 2019
It was a quick read I finished this book in a just a few hours. It was so GOOD! And so heartbreaking at the same time. Kristina is so resilient! So much to be learned from her!
May 9, 2019
Sad but good.
A very warm, heartfelt story of a young marriage and cancer. I couldn’t put this book down. What a courageous young wife and mother. And the father as well.
A very warm, heartfelt story of a young marriage and cancer. I couldn’t put this book down. What a courageous young wife and mother. And the father as well.
May 12, 2020
What a heart wrenching, yet up-lifting story of finding the good around you in troubled times.
September 18, 2021
Tearjerker for sure but worth the read. You can feel like wife and mama's pain throughout the book
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews