Heaven Is Here
An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy
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4.8 • 60 Ratings
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
Go on an unforgettable journey, with a woman who has unimaginable strength.
Stephanie Nielson began sharing her life in 2005 on nieniedialogues.com, drawing readers in with her warmth and candor. She quickly attracted a loyal following that was captivated by the upbeat mother happily raising her young children, madly in love with her husband, Christian (Mr. Nielson to her readers), and filled with gratitude for her blessed life.
However, everything changed in an instant on a sunny day in August 2008, when Stephanie and Christian were in a horrific plane crash. Christian was burned over 40 percent of his body, and Stephanie was on the brink of death, with burns over 80 percent of her body. She would remain in a coma for four months.
In the aftermath of this harrowing tragedy, Stephanie maintained a stunning sense of humor, optimism, and resilience. She has since shared this strength of spirit with others through her blog, in magazine features, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Now, in this moving memoir, Stephanie tells the full, extraordinary story of her unlikely recovery and the incredible love behind it -- from a riveting account of the crash to all that followed in its wake. With vivid detail, Stephanie recounts her emotional and physical journey, from her first painful days after awakening from the coma to the first time she saw her face in the mirror, the first kiss she shared with Christian after the accident, and the first time she talked to her children after their long separation. She also reflects back on life before the accident, to her happy childhood as one of nine siblings, her close-knit community and strong Mormon faith, and her fairy-tale love story, all of which became her foundation of strength as she rebuilt her life.
What emerges from the wreckage of a tragic accident is a unique perspective on joy, beauty, and overcoming adversity that is as gripping as it is inspirational. Heaven Is Here is a poignant reminder of how faith and family, love and community can bolster us, sustain us, and quite literally, in some cases, save us.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Mormon homemaker Nielson was leading an old-fashioned happy life with a handsome husband (she called him "Mr. Nielson," la Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy), four kids, and a successful blog about her perfect life. Then she and her husband were in a small plane crash. Both survive, but are badly burned; Stephanie is burned over 80% of her body and in a coma for four months. After she awakens, she isn't sure she wants to live, but she is sure she doesn't want to see her children, and most of all she doesn't want them to see her, disfigured by burns. Nielson heals, as the subtitle immediately telegraphs. But the road to recovery is deeply cratered with difficulties: pain, depression, the inability to look in a mirror and behold her scarred features. What saves her almost in spite of herself is her large family: parents, brothers and sisters, and her husband, himself recovering from injuries. Nielson's journey from a simple life taken for granted to complex and challenging daily joy is moving and authentic.
Customer Reviews
astounding
i love this book so much, it was such an inspiring story and made me realize we need to be grateful for what we have, as she struggled with her new looks and life she kept faith and love. although she was regretful that she went in the plane in the first place, she was never bitter towards anyone. although i’m still confused how the plane crashed in the first place
Heaven is here
It's terrible
Heaven is Here
I am inspired, motivated and a little kinder each day I have read this book! I love my life more and more as Stephanie shares the beauty in being alive. Thank you so much!