Smiling Again

Coming Back to Life and Faith After Brain Surgery

By: Sally Stap

Narrated by: Heather Burdette

"When I woke up...I quickly became aware that gliding through brain surgery recovery was not the big plan. Pain, paralysis, and single-sided deafness loomed ahead."

Sally Stap was in the midst of a busy and successful 25-year career in information technology, juggling the usual concerns about job, daughters, and life, when the unthinkable happened: She was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a benign but large brain tumor.

Written with a poignant blend of honesty, dry humor, faith, and inquisitiveness, Smiling Again is a story of the persistence of life and beauty in spite of pain. Sally recounts the shock of diagnosis, a long and painful recovery from invasive brain surgery, her eventual retirement due to disability, and ultimately contentment and acceptance of a new life journey.

For caregivers and survivors, Sally shares practical lessons and tips that will help you find your own signposts of faith along a treacherous but ultimately exhilarating journey, including:

• Be optimistic, but don't discount possible outcomes just because they don't sound fun.
• Allow yourself to grieve because there is a new you.
• A sense of humor will give you a better temperament than frustration.

Whether you are a brain tumor survivor or are facing another experience that has brought you to the end of yourself, Sally's experience shows that even when the worst happens, God is present and visible in sometimes unexpected ways. The future you may not be the same as the old you, but it can lead you in new and rewarding directions.

©2014 Sally Stap (P)2014 Sally Stap

Warrior

This book was spot on! I could relate to the emotional and physical deficits. I wish there were more stories like this.

Incredible Strength Through Faith

Smiling Again is an incredible look at Sally Stap's brave journey of coming back from a shocking diagnosis and surgery with the help of friends and family, faith and prayer. With a college degree in computer science and a promising new career she received a diagnosis of an acoustic neuroma brain tumor. From when she received her diagnosis up to her surgery date she stayed strong with an optimistic outlook even though she was frightened.

Her story is very moving. She began a blog about her diagnosis and to track her surgery and recovery. She wanted people to see her faith speaking through her blog gently. She included what people could do because they had asked. People loved this idea and word spread. She posted pictures from the Mayo Clinic and of her walks. Also included was an FAQ section and a section on what you can do. Pray a lot. She took an active, positive approach to something that was out of her control. And I want to say God Bless You Sally and I will include you in my prayers.

About the narrator: Heather Burdette did an outstanding job telling Sally's story. It was as if Sally herself was speaking. She is a wonderful narrator and I will be looking for more from her in the future.

I received this audiobook foc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Highly Recommended

Any additional comments?

If you are facing a crisis--medical or otherwise in your life--and your faith is wavering, I highly recommend you buy and read this book. You won't regret it and I'm sure will finish with a greater determination to give God a chance to show you, he truly does know best. He loves you! Very inspirational book