Unshattered: Overcoming Tragedy and Choosing a Beautiful Life


Unshattered: Overcoming Tragedy and Choosing a Beautiful Life
by Carol Decker;  
Stacey L. Nash (Author)
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain 
(May 7, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1629724165
ISBN-13: 978-1629724164






Synopsis

On June 10, 2008, Carol Decker walked through the hospital doors a healthy woman with flu-like symptoms and early labor contractions. Three months later, she returned home a blind, triple-amputee struggling to bond with a daughter she would never see.
Unshattered: Choosing a Beautiful Life after Unspeakable Tragedy recounts Carol's fight for survival against sepsis and its life-shattering complications. From excruciating skin grafts to learning how to function in daily life without lower legs, a left hand, and her sight, Carol takes us on a personal and raw, yet inspiring journey. She travels through the darkness of trauma, anxiety, and depression to arrive, literally, at the peak of a mountain with a heart full of gratitude and love. More than a story of triumph over tragedy, the book offers inspiring life-lessons and insights which can help readers to do more than endure unimaginable pain and darkness in their own lives. This book can give them the perspective and strength to pick up the pieces of their own tragedies and choose a life of healing, purpose, and joy--a beautiful life.

Lessons learned:
There is always hope, even if it sometimes feels small and hard to find.
Even if you are the most capable person, you can't do this life alone. We all need a support system. It is okay to ask for help.
Happiness takes work. It doesn't just happen.
The human spirit is able to endure and withstand great adversity.
Even the smallest broken pieces of a life can be put back together.



My Thoughts

Unshattered Overcoming Tragedy and Choosing a Beautiful Life is a well-written account which kept me curious. 

At 33 weeks pregnant, Carol Decker entered the hospital unaware that she had sepsis, a deadly blood infection. The staff asked about her rash and the next thing she knew they told her they had to take the baby. The C-section took only 10 minutes, and the baby was rushed to NICU, as Carol was in septic shock. 

One might think that was surely enough but this was just the beginning of Carol's journey. Her fever soared in excess of 106 and she developed DIC, and her limbs began dying off.  She was placed in a drug-induced coma soon after.

Carols husband, Scott,  was forced to make an extremely difficult decision to save her life. Both of her feet were amputated as well as her left hand and right ring finger.  Her optic nerve was also damaged. She was left blind. And, due to her blood not properly clotting, she had to begin the process, when she was strong enough, of undergoing multiple skin grafts.

Throughout this book, we see Carol is transparent.  

This is a  heartwrenching story! It consistently speaks of faith, hope,  love, and perseverance. The story is aided by photographs of her life's journey. We are able to have a sense of how Carol is feeling and see the true inspiration that she is.




There is a quote in Carol's book she lives by,  'Life is a gift. If you don't open it, you'll never experience the beauty inside.' 




Nowadays,  Carol uses technology to assist her in life. She relies on Siri, My Notes, and her prosthetics to maneuver around the nation where she is a motivational speaker.

I received a copy of this truly impressive inspirational book from Julianne Muszynski with Havas PR.



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