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3 out of 4 stars
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Healing in the Journey: Living Life with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is the story of Heather Russell, the author; it describes the genesis of her physical pain, the process to understand the ailment, and the healing journey. The story starts during her childhood and progresses to adulthood, where her struggles begin. It is filled with joyous and harrowing moments and the arduous task of searching for the correct diagnosis and treatment.
Due to its effects, the attack was not just physical, and the author goes into great detail about how complex regional pain syndrome affected her life. Consequently, her story is unique, as the circumstances of the development of the condition and the effects on herself and her family are unique. Being a mother and a wife means the fight for healing took on more goals, than just her physical healing.
Pain and suffering are some of life’s inevitable realities, striking when least expected. Unfortunately, not understanding why they happen, as this is the case often, makes the situation more debilitating. The author suffered from all of these, and it was possible to empathize with her when she included the severity of her pain and its effects, as it is difficult to feel another person's pain as they exactly do. The aspect I liked most about the book is that the author shares her story to inspire others; she narrates her entire journey and includes what worked for her. I also admired her family, particularly her husband, for standing with her and refusing to give up.
Like Heather, you may never fully answer some questions that will constantly flood your mind. You might be on the brink of losing hope as the storm rages on and even question whether God is still with you in it. I admired her resilience and determination to be a blessing even in little ways in her journey; the disease could not take this away from her. Her story is a beacon of hope to those with chronic pain. Through the inclusion of exercises, Healing Hope, at the end of every chapter, the author allows the reader to use reflections from that chapter to help them in their journeys.
I did not find any unlikable aspects of the book. Due to the number of errors I encountered while reading, I rate it three out of four stars. Anyone battling chronic pain will find this book resourceful. It will also appeal to those whose loved ones or close family members are fighting this battle. To the one who does not believe in God, some aspects of the book might not make sense. However, if you are curious or willing to find how the author found the strength to hold onto hope in God, grab a copy of this book; you will not be disappointed.
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Healing in the Journey
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