Live Your Life

My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero

De: Amanda Kloots, Anna Kloots

Narrado por: Amanda Kloots

Performed by the author featuring original music by Nick Cordero.

Amanda Kloots bravely reflects on love, loss, and life with her husband, Broadway star, and Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero, whose public battle with COVID-19 and tragic death made headlines around the world.

In March 2020, Broadway star and Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero was hospitalized for what he and his wife, Amanda Kloots, believed to be a severe case of pneumonia. Entering the hospital, they had every reason to believe that Nick - a young father and otherwise healthy man - would return home. After an eventual diagnosis of COVID-19 that led to Nick’s being placed on a ventilator, Amanda took to documenting their journey on social media, showing the dangers COVID-19 posed to everyone, regardless of age. Her updates quickly captivated millions, inspiring people around the globe to dance each day to Nick’s song “Live Your Life” and offer positive thoughts and prayer. When he passed away after 95 grueling days in the ICU, the world grieved for Amanda, her infant son, Elvis, and the future COVID-19 had snatched away from them.

Live Your Life is the story of Nick and Amanda’s life together - of their beautiful relationship, of Nick’s dramatic fight for survival, of those sudden tragic months that permanently changed her world and ours - and of their interrupted future as a family. From the confusing early days of his illness to searching for signs of hope in every update from the doctors to the healing sound of Elvis’s laughter, Amanda details how she approached even the most devastating moments with the personal optimism and faith that have shaped her life. Written with her sister Anna Kloots, who was with her every step of this journey, Live Your Life explores how Amanda’s willingness to accept help from an entire community of people - friends, family, and even total strangers - played a vital role in enduring this hardship. In the process, she offers a touching meditation on how even the worst times have silver linings that deepen our connections to the world around us and to the people who matter most.

What emerges is an inspiring and unexpectedly uplifting message for life in the time of COVID, a vision of courage for anyone coping with overwhelming loss or the collective trauma of what the pandemic has taken from us. A poignant reflection on love, hope, motherhood, and the transformational power of music, Live Your Life is a love letter to Nick and a reminder that, sometimes, celebrating life today is the only path through tomorrow’s darkness.

©2021 Amanda Kloots and Anna Kloots (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Grace in Tragedy

Like so many people, I have followed Nick and Amanda’s story since it was first in the media. I was always amazed with the grace, strength and positivity she showed throughout the most difficult time in her life. I thought I knew their story, but after listening to Amanda tell her story in her own words, I am even more amazed.

It is such a beautiful display of grace in tragedy, from how she interacted with the doctors and staff at the hospital, to how she made sure Elvis never felt that anxiety or sadness. She and Nick will forever be in my heart.

Heart-wrenching and beautiful!

A powerful story of love, loss, family and positivity. I’m so glad the author narrated this herself. Her authentic emotions coming through in her own voice was so powerful, nobody else could have narrated this book. I laughed with her, felt her frustrations, and bawled my eyes out. I’ll continue to follow her and Elvis’ story on Instagram and pray for healing for her and her family. So glad I bought this audiobook!

Stay fierce

Amanda must be a fierce woman. Listening to this, I was amazed at her willingness to relive the entire nightmare again - it was clear that during her narration there were moments that were quite painful. Her raw honesty and openness left me at times amazed. It is for that reason that I was surprised at the flippant reviews about her “privilege”. I know that these days people find some stupid sort of satisfaction at pointing fingers about “privilege”. And I certainly subscribe to the notion that there is “privilege” in some contexts. Just not here. Yes, as Broadway performers she and Nick had celebrity friends. And yes, some of those friends had the means to comfort her’s and Elvis’ indescribable blow, if just for a moment, with enviable generosity. But is that “privilege”? No, and that’s a cheap, cynical, and ultimately depressing way to look at it. When you are down on your knees and navigating a fatal illness, it’s human to reach for help and allow yourself to trust in the kindness of strangers. Accepting an outstretched hand during those times is simply a means to reengage—shepherded by a kind soul—into a life that has exposed you to real cruelty. I did it when I had breast cancer. I’m certain Amanda was doing it here. It’s not a “privilege” - its a life vest. I write this because it made me sad to read those reviews—for Amanda and one day Elvis, but also for our community. A widow chronicles for her son the death of his dynamic father during and from a historical pandemic, exposing her battered heart to a nation, and people read it and yell “privilege”? Is this what we’ve come to? Are we all that disconnected with empathy? I fear so. So I will end with this—Amanda, this is a beautiful book and a beautiful gift to Elvis. Thank you for sharing it with us. I’m so glad you have him and your wonderful siblings and parents. I’m so so sorry you lost Nick. God bless you and your positivity. Stay fierce. Know Nick is always with you.

Heartbreaking but beautiful

Thank you Amanda, Anna, Elvis and the entire Kloots and Cordero family for showing that beauty can come from heartbreak. The world deserves to hear Nicks story and thank you for sharing it with us.

Wow

Just incredible. Incredibly heartbreaking, powerful, honest and raw. You can hear all of the emotion in Amanda’s voice as she speaks and at times, it’s gutting. This took such bravery and strength to write AND narrate. So grateful to be able to hear about the happy times in Nick and Amanda’s life as well. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your life with Nick. Your strength is inspiring.

Beautiful, breathtaking, emotional

There are no words for how beautifully this was written. Amanda reading this her sweet voice & raw emotions throughout make the icing on the cake. What a emotional, raw beautiful retelling of such a tragic time in her life. So glad elvis will always have this book.

Incredible story

This book both broke, and restored a deep sense of hope in me. It‘s a story about love, community and faith; it is an important reminder to hold your loved ones tight and never miss a chance to tell them how you feel about them. This story also reminds us of the fact that behind all the numbers of people who died from COVID are individuals with families and lives that should be lived.

By reading the story herself, Amanda makes it so special.

live your life!!

loved it. I knew the story but to hear it on audio was awesome. thanks

Amanda thank you for sharing your life with the world!! Live your life 🤟🏼💚

Incredible story and I wish it wasn’t so. I wish it ended with Nick getting code Rocky.

Couldn’t stop listening!

I don’t have Instagram, so I wasn’t following Amanda through the process of Nick being in the hospital, but did see bits of her story on the news from time to time. When I saw she wrote a book, I bought it out of curiosity, wanted to see how her story turned out, how such a young and healthy person dies from this horrible disease. I didn’t have any expectations of the book. I have to say, I was instantly hooked. Her story is heartbreaking. I cried through most of it and can’t imagine the pain she went through and is still going through each day. I was mostly in awe of how she has handled the whole tragedy and her story of family is inspiring. I didn’t know who Amanda Kloots was before this, but I am definitely a fan now and am rooting for her and Elvis. I would definitely recommend this book and I will be making a “Hooray for” purchase as well.