Premature-Babies Books

Great Book! Helped us a lot to survive our 25 weeker's roller coaster NICU ride.
A Must have for the preemies parents!

Our youngest son was born 14wks premature and not knowing anything about extreme premature babies we saught out a good book to help be a resource. Our son was lucky to only have a cpap and appeared to be doing well, but soon we were on quite a ride. From NEC, intestinal surgery, Pulminary Hypertension, chronic lung disease and surgery to repair a hole in his heart, we weren't sure what he was going to be up against next. This book helped guide us in a factual way.
Today he is 13 months old and has overcome EVERYTHING! He is a healthy and happy little boy working on keeping up with his big brother. We feel incredibly blessed.

This product was extemely helpful in getting me ready for my twins. They were born 11 weeks eary and I was much more prepared for the NICU and what the care would involve for the hospital stay for my boys. I would suggest others with multiples or complications read it.

This book was full of useful information that helped me feel more calm after learning my niece would come early.

My baby is a micro-preemie that was born at 24 weeks and 1 day gestationally. He is now 28 weeks gestational age. The NICU loaned me a copy and I pretty much devoured it.

This book was wonderful in letting me know what to expect and where my preeemie was developement wise. He has had two surgeries (for a collapsed lung and PDA) and the book helped to calm my fears and inform me of the process. The book seems to cover every issue, even when the preemie goes home and what the future looks like for him/her.

I would recommend this to any parent with a preemie.

After my twins were born 3 months early, I felt really alone. No one in my family had babies like ours. The only people that I had to talk to were nurses and doctors, and the are not big on offering hope.
I finally found this book and immediately found what I needed at the time, to know that other babies had went through this and survived. This book gave me comfort while my two boys were still in the NICU, I cannot recommend it enough.

I cried in every single stories of this book. they are very touching. and yes, i could relate to all of the stories in there, especially the stories on very premature babies. the stories definitely gave me hopes on my baby's future (who was born 10 weeks premature). this book is really a good source for parents with premature babies.

how would i describe this book? engrossing, heartfelt, heartbreaking, encouraging, emotional, wonderful!
all of the babies do survive in this book, but not all come out unscathed. all the parents mention how the child is affected now by their problems. some stories are short, some are long, but they are all so heartfelt,and true! you can't help but be engaged by these stories, that are not at all what you expect. you cry with the parents, and get excited when they do well. you are amazed what these kids go through. since the stories are written by the parents, it is firsthand knowledge, and no two stories are told in the same manner,and each one is so important to the writer, which is conveyed in the story.
i really recommend this book!!

I went down this dark road after the premature birth of my daughter at 27 weeks gestation. Living Miracles offers hope to those who might feel their situation is hopeless, but it is not for the faint of heart. To be the mother or father of a premature child, especially with one who develops problems, one must learn to be strong, resilient, loving, and patient. It is a selfess calling, as these parents show us. And it always, always helps to know you are not alone . . .

Thank you for sharing!

Three years ago, I took a trip to my local book store in search of books about preemies. The selection I found was limited at best. I spent hours searching for a book with real stories about babies born prematurely-I found not one. I found some good informative books, which were also important, but none that gave me the kind of hope and inspiration I so desperately needed those weeks and months after my daughter was born at 25 weeks gestation. When I heard about this book, Living Miracles, Stories of Hope from Parents of Premature Babies, edited by Kimberly A. Powell & Kim Wilson, I thought to myself, "Well, it's about time there came about a book like this!" I was very excited about the book as I sat down to read it, but nothing could have prepared me for how wonderful the book turned out to be!

The book is laid out by gestation from 23 weeks to 36 weeks, with 22 stories in all. They have various outcomes, just as in real life. Each story is written from the parent's point of view, which makes it that much more gripping. There are stories where the children come out virtually unscathed from their experience with prematurity, and also stories where children have severe complications due to their prematurity. There are also stories about children who have problems completely unrelated to their prematurity. However the stories end up, they are all very touching and inspiring.

This is a book not only for parents of premature babies, but for everyone. You can't help but feel inspired after reading the stories of these heroic children born with the deck stacked against them. It is good for new parents of premature babies to give them hope for the future and make them realize they are not alone in what they are feeling the hours, weeks and months after their babies are born; For families of people with babies born premature to help them understand some of what the new parents are going through and feeling; For the average person who doesn't even know that there are over 400,000 babies born prematurely every year. It is important for people to be more aware of the many babies who are born early, and also that there are a number of reasons babies are born premature. Hopefully this book will find it's way to those people who don't have a clue that the preemie world even exists-just as I didn't just a short 3 years and some change ago! But most importantly, it is a great book for new parents of preemie babies because there is so much uncertainty after their birth.

... since this is the *definitive* book for people like me who've been through this life-changing experience. And as an avid reader who's already bought many other Preemie books, I sure don't say WOW lightly.

As other reviewers noted, I too wish I had come across this resource much much sooner. Our 30 week twins spent 8+ verrrrrry stressful weeks in the NICU. The months following their joyful homecoming was (and still is) constantly colored by awareness & vigilance re: issues related to their prematurity.

In particular, this book does a terrific job of validating & acknowledging a parent's feelings that only other families who've been through this journey are going to "get it". I felt like the book often like that song... somebody to lean on.

This book was very helpful to me and my husband. We had a long NICU stay of 9 weeks and felt like we were the only ones in the unit who wasn't in and out. This book caters to people like us who had to deal with the on-going, never-ending days of procedures, tests, emotional ups and downs, and disappointments. I was really able to prepare myself for discharge with the chapters about homecoming. The best part of this book was that we didn't feel so alone.

This book is like no other preemie book out there, because it is about the emotional aspect of having and raising a preemie and it is told not only through the authors, but in the words of parents who have lived through this experience. I found it extremely valuable even though my preemies are now 12 years old. The book is over 900 pages but don't let that intimidate you, because you can't put it down once you start to read it and you can read it in chunks.

Don't be daunted by the book's hefty size! This was without a doubt the most useful book of all that I referenced during our two months in the NICU. Other books explain all of the technology, procedures, etc., but this one covers the mental and emotional side of the NICU - handling the one-step-forward-two-steps-back preemie dance, grief at the premature birth experience, anxieties about care, worries for the future, feelings about separation and having others taking care of your child, and the hesitancy in parenting with so many barriers in the way. This book was invaulable during the hospital experience and has been such a help in the homecoming experience. Already I know that this will take us through the next few years, as it also covers topics regarding developmental issues and what to expect as our child grows. In addition to the advice in the book, there are quotes throughout from other preemie parents who have handled all of these issues. This was one book that didn't manage to have anything to scare us; rather it validated all of the feelings we've had. The health care professionals with whom we have shared this book were impressed and wanted their own copies! I can't recommend this book highly enough!

A 902-page compendium of information, Parenting Your Premature Baby And Child: The Emotional Journey by developmental psychologist Deborah L. Davis and clinical psychologist Mara Tesler Stein addresses dealing with powerful and painful emotions associated with being the parent of a premature child, physical recovery from difficult childbirth, forming bonds with one's baby when it must be kept in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), dealing with the difficulties of discharge, homecoming, and settling in, observing one's child for evidence of disabilities and coping with them, and also, how to deal with the loss of a child. Parenting Your Premature Baby And Child presents the wisdom of experts in no-nonsense terms for lay people and parents. An extensive index allows for quick reference, in this well-rounded and thorough compendium of vital information.

I loved this book. I cannot recommend it enough.

If you are considering buying it (either as a parent of a Preemie, someone who knows someone with a Preemie and wants to understand a little more, or someone who is just interested in a well written story of life and survival) then this is well worth your time. The book tells it how it is so don't expect a sugar coating but it is all the better for that.

One word of caution though - as the mother of an IUGR preemie I am glad that I did not hear about this book until after we were out of the hospital and had some sort of certainty. Essential reading now but may have been a little too raw back then.

I loved this book. It puts everything about life into perspective. I found myself checking my own life - am I doing the best I can as a father? Am I truly supportive of my family in the things that matter? Do I see the best in my children? This book challenged me to grow. I found too that I felt inspired after reading. It is an awesome source of hope for families.

I can say I'm the proud mother of a preemie - 22 wks, weighed 397 grams (14 ounces) and 11 1/2 inches long. He spent the first 5 months of life in the NICU. He (Zuri - Kiswahili for 'beauty') is doing well now. He's 2 1/2 yrs old and is a strong toddler. He has some minor developmental delays but otherwise he's here and healthy! Hang in there parents and read all these stories. You ARE not alone...you didn't BRING this on yourself and you WILL survive it!

Having an ex-preemie myself, I was so relieved to find the truths in this book, the ones the Hallmark Card Preemie Books don't say: what it's like to bring home a sick child, what it's like not to know his future, what it's like when the doctors turn out to be wrong or to have lied. Many many preemies end up like Alex with disabilities (mine did) and it's so important for their stories to be told. Right on, Jeff.

I am a grandparent of preemies, so I know that Jeff Stimpson's book is an honest and moving account of what it's like to watch a brave tiny baby go through medically necessary procedures that you can't bear to watch, and then what it's like to take a preemie home who is extremely fragile and on various medical equipment. Coming through an experience like the one related in "Alex: The Fathering of a Preemie" is something that changes your perception of the world forever, and makes you acutely aware of the fragility of life, and how poignant every day is that we have with our loved ones.

My daughter recently had twin premature baby boys--sadly one died--fortunately other twin boy very healthy survivor--and in neo natal unit for a month to gain weight and be sure okay--we needed a book on Preemies-I checked new bookstore and nothing good there--checked Amazon.com-and although this book is 9 yrs old--has everything our neo natal hospital was teaching my daughter and son in law --same neo natal basics and in a book they can use for reference during the busy times of having baby in the home finally--great book--I got an older copy too for Grandma-myself- to read at my home-0-so I can back up my daughter and son in law when they are tired--BEST PREEMIE BOOK YET AND EASILY READ.

This was the best book I have seen for premature babies. When our twin boys were born at 29 weeks, the hospital gave us a book that we could refer to. Everytime you would look at the book it scared you to death. I found this book and I kept it with me at all times. When ever anything came up I would refer to it. The book is very realistic but also very positive. I still refer to it even though our boys are 2. The book is very helpful. I would recomend this book to everyone. It really helped us out through this difficult time.

I did not use this book much at all. I thought books by Joseph A. Garcia-Prats and Dana Wechsler Linden were much more helpful.

I purchased this book after the premature birth of our son. He was considered a "micro preemie" being born at 1 lb 14 oz. We were told in the NICU that many preemies have challenges that were unlike "typical" children, and we thought it would be helpful to refer to this book and to educate ourselves so that we could help identify problems that many pediatricians overlook in preemies.

This book is an absolute must-have for any parent of a preemie. I know that weight is always a concern, and the book included boy and girl weight charts and seperated it even further to their birth weight (born less than/greater than 1500 grams.) We still use the weight chart today (our son is 2 1/2 years old)
and it can be used up to age 3.

Nothing can prepare you for the experience of having a premature baby. Often, once home with baby, parents are confronted with a child who is obviously different from the typical infant. Finding information and support is difficult, because of the very isolating nature of the experience- a tiny, often ill baby isn't able to cope with being carried to environments where parents could find support. In addition, outcomes are difficult to predict and preemies' issues can be as diverse as their personalities. Fortunately, Amy Tracy and Dianne Maroney's Your Premature Baby and Child provides insight and information in a practical guide that should reside on every preemie parent's bookshelf. Each chapter offers honest assurances about the emotional aspects of caring for a preemie, as well as accurate and detailed information about everything ranging from the homecoming experience, medical concerns, development and early intervention all the way through to beginning school. The epilogue is especially helpful; it validates the emotional effects of prematurity and offers insights from other parents, whose hope and understanding encourage those new to the roller coaster of prematurity. This book is one of the best resources written yet for parents of children born prematurely.

I bought this book while expecting our daughter, who we know will have to spend a fair amount of time in the NICU. I had never heard of the concept before, and after reading the book, am convinced that it is a wonderful concept and I can't wait to try it!

Kangaroo care is an excellent book for people with preemee's. It takes you through all the aspects of what is happening during the first few days or months of your young ones life. Nothing is left to the imagination.

Upon reading this book, one finds that it's very clear the author is extremely supportive of the use of Kangaroo Care to cure just about whatever may ail your premature baby. Despite the repetitiveness of this, the book is chock-full of just about everything you'd need to know about Kangaroo Care.

I also found it was quite informative in the realm of not only the care of preemies (and their signs of distress/contentment), but of full-term infants as well. So, if you're wondering how best to help your small and/or sick baby in the NICU, or are wondering just what benefits the act of such skin-to-skin contact can bring to both you and your full-term newborn, the book is a very good--and helpful--read.

I discovered this book in January, 1995, when it was very little known. My son was born 8 weeks premature in a Honolulu, hospital that had never heard of Kangaroo Care. He was transferred to NICU at a military hospital after 11 days so I never did the KC there, but I did pass my book on to my son's neonatologist in hopes that this would be available for future parents/premies. I did KC as often as I was able at the military hospital and my son came off all meds and monitors 3 wks after his early birth. All he had to do was gain weight. He come home a mere 4 weeks after his birth, and 4 weeks before he original due date! I continued to Kangaroo him at home, all day long some days and he gained so fast it was miraculous!
Two and a half years later I gave birth to a full term daughter but used KC again because, "it couldn't hurt" and we never suffered those backwards hours that newborns have and I bounced back faster after this birth because I was resting more. Kangaroo Care is worth buying, in fact buy two so you will still have one when you pass one on!! :-)

Our full-term (37wk) son was in the NICU due to a birth defect. This method was explained to us as we started to be able to hold him and I was trying to teach him to nurse. All I can say is IT WORKS. He was able to go home at 6 wks when we were told he would probably be in for than 3 mos. min. When you think about it it makes sense...this baby was inside you and close to you for however many months you carried him/her. Don't you think dropping the child in a "box" with no human contact would be a shock to the system? I think that "normal" babies could probably benefit from this too. Lord willing, I'll get a chance to prove my theory. :-)

My niece's baby was born at 28 weeks. Needless to say, this was a shock and a scary time for them. I saw this book and thought it might bring some comfort to her and her husband. She said the book is great. Brings tears to her eyes, but she can relate to all the stories that she has been reading.

I could relate to every story having been in all those situations. Being a parent of a micro-preemie is an isolating feeling. It helps to know there are others who are out there going through the same thing you are and are surviving it!

Many people don't realize that micropreemies do have a solid chance to survive and enjoy relatively normal lives thanks to modern medicine and the love and dedication of parents and NICU nurses. But with Mr. Smith's book, it takes the reader right into the lives of people who have experienced the birth of a very premature baby, and -- without sugarcoating it -- shows how these miracle babies are wonderful examples for all about the fight for precious life!
Every hospital neonatal intensive care unit should have this available by the case for those who need the support and positive reinforcement when confronted with what can be a perilous situation.

Parents facing the suspense and stress of premature childbirth can take heart by reading this! In fact, it should be in the waiting room by every hospital's preemie ward, so anxious parents can read these stories of tiny bodies with enormous courage. Tim Smith has told the tale of his own daughter's bravery, and the tales of other families going through this difficult experience, with insight and warmth. This is a must-have for anyone who needs to believe in the power of the human spirit.

I thought that the book "Miracle Birth Stories Of Very Premature Babies" by Timothy Smith was a well crafted and welcome addition to the world of medical literature. As I was reading, I felt like I was in the hospital with each set of parents, going through their triumphs and defeats with them.

One strong aspect of the book is that it is written for the average person, in basic language that we can all understand. The medical information provided is relevent and accurate, but we are not bogged down in medical and hospital terminology. Medical journals and texts are often written in a very dry, academic tone that is hard to get through. Also, as I was reading I also felt that I was learning information about a controversial topic without being preached to.

We have all heard things about this topic through magazines, television news, newspapers, tabloids, etc. Smith is a veteran newspaper reporter and it shows. Each story is special in their own situation, and the different families are tied together in a nice way through a common cord of compassion, mutual experiences, and hopes for the future. I wish that premature birth parents in hospitals everywhere could receive this book. It is truly inspirational and lets them know they are not alone.

What a delight to share in the love and the pain as the families of these preemie-babies struggle with the issues of our time. What a wonder to have a peek, not inside the womb, but outside, as these babies continue development that is normally hidden from the world.

There is nothing weak in the love of parents who spend weeks at their baby's bedside, reaching through tubes and machines to assure a little one he/she is loved. There is nothing callous in a doctor spelling out the almost insurmountable obstacles a baby must overcome in order to survive.

Intensive care neonatal units are places few of us will ever see. Healthy children are a blessing most of us take for granted. Yet this book takes us into the lives of several families, with all the drama of repeated life-and-death crisis. This book lets us feel the pain, and the joy; the frustration and the wonder. It confronts us with the questions. It does not preach, yet dependency on God breathes from its pages. These infants, so astonishingly small, are precious and wonderfully made.

This is a book you'll want on your shelf. You'll find your eyes overflowing at times. You'll find yourself sharing pain too deep for words. You'll also find yourselves lifted with a sense of wonder at the Majesty of God's handiwork.

There need to be more books like this one. An important topic like prematurity needs more attention.

Dail R. Cantrell was recently nominated for a Book of the Year award for Equal to the Task, one of the best books on the subject ever written. This book is a good companion.

My daughter spent 90 days in the NICU unit at our local children's hospital. It was the most difficult and most joyous time of our lives. Fortunately, our story had a happy ending and she came home without needing medication or reliance on medical equipment to eat or breathe.
I came across this book about two weeks into our NICU stay. It gave me hope in that it expressed many of the thoughts and feelings that our family was going through, and describing the unique intersection of parents, neonatologists and premature or critically ill newborns that make up the NICU. (It was also difficult to read with my child being hospitalized at the same time)
I really enjoyed a brief essay in the last chapter of the book about perseverence. Every parent of a child in NICU should read that last chapter. It was very affirming to me in light of how tiring (and rewarding)the experience of being present each day with your child in the hospital can become. The experience is emotionally draining, and a parent will experience hope and fear and discouragement, and many times will wonder where they will get the energy to interact with the medical staff, learn the medical terminology and interact with the different personalities of the nursing team, and be able to deal with the incredible emotions that are generated when they receive medical updates on their baby. Parents need a lot of affirmation.
I also recommend this book because the stories of the newborns are well written. You will laugh and cry and become attached to all the babies and their families. I bought a copy for the library at the childrens hospital where our daughter was treated. This book would be appropriate for parents of critically ill newborns or for those who love a good story. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I thought this book was wonderful. It helps people who have never experienced life in the NICU get a glimpse of it. I have quadruplets and all 4 of my babies went through the NICU at Chidren's Hospital in Minneapolis. Dr. Ronald Hoekstra took care of my babies and he is as wonderful as the stories in this book make him sound. It is very difficult and hard to explain what life is like in the NICU and this book does a marlvous job of conveying that. I have given this book to many friends and family members to help them understand what I went through.

I loved this book. I often read and the gym on the exercise bike and my mind will wander. Not with this book! I was engrossed with the stories and tears came to my eyes often as these people of faith go through very challenging times. Although written to partially explain how the Christian faith of these parents and some of the staff helped them through their individual ordeals, it was not offensive. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the wonder of new life.

My wife, who was on bed rest for 10 weeks due to pre-mature labor, felt this book really helped her cope. The chapters that I've read also helped me.

One issue that confused me though:
The authors consider 40 weeks to be full term. Others consider it to be 37 weeks.

Upon hearing you're pregnant, most people will only have images of perfect babies. When hearing something is going wrong with your pregnancy, most people have no idea what to expect.
When I heared I was going to have my baby within half an hour, at 26 weeks of pregnancy... I had no idea what was laying ahead of me.
This book prepares you on what to expect when you have a high-risk pregnancy and takes you trough the 24 hours after delivery, your preemies growth and maturation, the neonatal unit, bringing your baby home and later-life development. There is also a part on babies with special needs and a part about when things go wrong.
From the many lonely hours I could not be with my baby, I spent many reading this book. The stories of other parents helped me survivng the nicu and the many charts and statistics helped me to get an image on what to expect.

Thank you very much for this book.

This is THE book I wished I'd known about in advance when we developed problems later in my pregnancy. I actually think anyone expecting a baby where there is a possibility of it becoming a high-risk pregnancy (and face it, that could be any of us, right?) should read this book so that you can be prepared to be the best possible advocate for yourself and your child in the NICU and during the transition out. It will also help you understand the complexities of what goes on in the NICU so you can work well with the staff caring for your infant.

My son was born prematurely June 10, 2004. My 30 week ultrasound came back showing that my ambionic fluid was low and my baby only weighed 2 lbs. 7 ounces. The next day I was sent by my OB/GYN to meet with a perinatologist. Within 15 minutes of meeting the specialist, I was told my baby would be born witihin 24 to 48 hours and was admitted to the hospital 30 minutes later. My son was born via emergency csection 27 hours later. I was 31 weeks into my pregancy. He will spend 9 weeks in neonatal ICU before he can come home. This so far, has been the hardest and most heartbreaking part of my entire pregnancy.

I am 30 years old and was diagnosed with chronic high blood pressure two years ago. This book is a step by step account of what happened to me. I developed pregnancy induced hypertension which turned into preeclampsia. None of my doctors (family practicioner or OB/GYN) told me how dangerous and high risk my pregnancy would be. I wish I knew then what this book has taught me now, it has been a real eyeopener and lifesaver.

A very helpful book for reading during your high-risk pregnancy and when your baby is in the NICU. I did think that the anecdotes about women's experiences with terbutaline and magnesium sulfate were unnecessarily alarming. This book complemented Linden's Essential Guide for Parnets of Premature Babies nicely.

Reading Strong Winds Change Lives, one can only think well, Eureka F. Collins is a very strong woman of faith. She went through IVF and had a premature son - he past away. The eloquence of dialect between Collins and her husband (a Naval Officer) as they grieved together will caused even the hardest male to shed a tear. Her husband departed for war after burying their baby boy to support the war on terrorism. He returns safely only to go through the IVF process and the roller coaster of emotions as their second son is born at 1 pound and 2.5 ounces. This story is one of those inspiring, romantic (Lifetime Movie) types and more! Once you pick this book up - you will laugh, cry and shout for the Collins family.

She's a great writer and she brings all of her wit, intellect and stylish pen to Strong Winds Change Lives. More than that, she brought a great deal of courage to her chosen task of revealing the most trying and personal times with the world. I understand how Strong Winds (the meaning her son's Name: Mekani) changed many lives. It sure made me take a look into my life.

A powerful read!

JMS

Wow! I just finished reading the book. I am left in AWE! Strong Winds Change Lives is a must read. Eureka Collins has a masterpiece for the soul!

Chapter 1 - To have and to hold...captured my heart and put me in tears. The graceful way the mother held her son in her arms while dead is a tear-jerker. I lost all emotions as I read the poems and saw the photographs. I learned that I must be strong in tragedy and trust that healing is mine.

Chapter 2 - A New Beginning...reminded me of the new starts that many of us have when we have gone through a tragedy or a life-changing ordeal. I was not much of a Bible reader until this eloquent and passionate book revealed that it is natural to know what God has to say in our daily situations. I know that he is willing to help me - if I just ask Him.

Chapter 3 - An Unexpected Blow...like so many things unexpectantly happening in the course of a life, to have a child born at 23 weeks at 1 pound and 2.5 ounces beats most situations. In the book, the doctor continually informed the family that the child would not make it. I learned that it is not what happens or what people say that affects a person; it is the way you respond. This was an intense chapter. I felt like I was a fly on the wall, observing each situation and conversation.
The photographs show that the baby is about the size of a dollar bill. WOW! Yet, the parents believed in God with unyielding trust.

Chapter 4 - Changing Lives...depicts a miracle in the intervention of God to keep the child alive and how his birth has allowed a group of doctors, nurses and family members to bond and grow in seeing that things are not always what they appear when you believe in God.

Chapter 5 - Dominion and Power...this chapter is full of inspirational understanding. I did not truly understand what the "Holy Spirit" was, however after reading this chapter, I knew what it is and how it works in my life. The beliefs are not over-the-top and they are for anyone - not only religious folk. This chapter is powerful and has a message clearly from above.

Chapter 6 - Miracle Life...this chapter gives a feeling like in the movie "Rocky" when he emotionally and intensely won in the end. This is the feeling I have! I have a feeling of victory and strong inspiration to better myself, my circumstances and to inspire those around me - for positive change.

The Epilogue - Revealed that same circumstances that Hanna (in the Bible) went through. It is Amazing to see the resemblance.

In summary, Strong Winds Change Lives is unique and a blessing. It is a love story, inspirational companion, and self-help for difficult times and even has poetry. This book is definitely hard to put down. I will be reading it again and again. You must read this book in book clubs and get the word out. It has MOVIE written all over it. I am better for reading this book and I know you will be as well.

I finished the book and it touched me in so many ways. I cried, laughed, and sat astonished. I was convicted for putting my devotions at the end of the day, so now I have returned to reading them earlier in the day. Of course I noticed a change immediately. God is just so awesome and Strong Winds Change Lives just screams that. It just reminded me how powerful God is and how powerful we can be by simply loving Him, trusting Him, surrendering to Him, and allowing Him to guide us through. I have not read a book that quickly in such a long time. I just could not put it down. I'm still going back and reading it. The poems are just beautiful. I could have a long discussion about it, but I would summarize it by saying that the couple in the book are examples of what God wants from us. When their son, Mekani, was born, neither of them showed any doubt that he would live. At the same time, it explained just how fragile his infant state was. I was a little surprised, because I just never experienced or heard of any thing like it. Their example was and is very powerful. Their unity as a married couple is what God asks, but it seems impossible for so many. Thank you for "Strong Winds Change Lives," it reminded me to draw near to God and allow Him to draw near to me.

"Strong Winds Change Lives" will be a bestseller. Thousands, even millions, of followers and colleagues of Eureka F. Collins, the inspirational advisor and speaker who has turned her awesome inspiration into authorship. Undeniably, Collins' success started in 2003 with the revealing of the tragedy and miracle that had taken place in her family's life leading to the publication on which the self-help book is based. Looking back on the account of Hannah's (Old Testament) struggle with the desire to have a child, asking to be remembered by God, and having the strength to ensure and persevere as the strong winds of life tear at the soul Collins reveals how God used suffering as part of a bigger plan and purpose to change lives.

"Strong Winds Change Lives" further reveals a praying mother and her tenacious ordeal with the death of one son, while her U.S. Navy husband departs for the war in Iraq after the funeral and one year later, the birth of a twenty-three week son at 1 lb and 2.5 ounces. Something miraculous occurred in her family's situation--something truly extraordinary! Collins shares their heart-warming, tear-jerking and remarkable experiences that she says, "Were guided by the power of the Holy Spirit." It's a story about dominion, power and Perseverance.

"Strong Winds Change Lives" will no doubt garner a plethora of new devotees. Her husband, Gregory, is a Naval officer and attempts throughout the story to keep the family together. One can see that the military family lifestyle is anything but perfect. There are times that Gregory has to confront various military individuals in order to defend the progression of the family. As the reader continues to read, the story becomes awe-inspiring and very special. 'Strong Winds Change Lives' also reveals the rigorous sequence of the Invetro Fertilization (IVF) process, as well as the painful realities of so many mothers as they yearn for a precious child. Although this story appears to be especially geared toward women, it poignantly focuses on parents to include a love story in the mist of tragedy. "Strong Winds Change Lives" will become a classic and spiritual tool for inspiration.

You can probably place this book on the same shelf as Joyce Meyer's 'Battlefield of the Mind' or Joel Osteen's "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential." Collins reveals intimate real-life experiences as a roadmap for inspiring hearts to make positive change, in order to defeat the day-to-day (as well as unexpected) hardships of life. She has a caring cliché, 'Be inspired!' At its best, 'Strong Winds Change Lives' conveys the unfathomable meaning behind those words. "Strong Winds Change Lives" will undoubtedly feed your soul, teach you to love, speak to your needs and inspire you to change. You must read this story.

Also recommended: Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential by Joel Osteen Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer The Beginning of the End by John C. Hagee Woman, Thou Art Loosed by TD Jakes

Eureka F. Collins' new book "Strong Winds Change Lives" is a masterfully put together story about dominion, power and perseverance. She reveals how God used suffering as part of a bigger plan and purpose to inspire individuals toward positive change in their lives. I loved this book. It reveals a mother and father dealing with the tumultuous death of their son at 5 ½ months, while the father is sent off to the war in Iraq. The father, a naval officer, returns and they try again to have a child and the birth is premature (twenty-three weeks).

In this gleefully erudite true story of faith, triumph, and healing, Collins takes the format of her signature "Inspirational" speeches and articles that she has been known for and fine-tunes it to bestseller perfection. She has flagrantly delighted in leading readers on a heart-warming, tear-jerking and remarkable experience that took the family deep within the valley of the shadows of death. As doctors give up on trying to save their one pound and 2.5 ounce baby boy, this is merely a warm-up for the mind-boggling, breathless miracle that occurred next. Collins gracefully lies to rest all the questions she has raised in the end.

"Strong Winds Change Lives" is a book that is hard to put down. Collins presents information that will make the reader stop and think - and then be inspired to take action. She reveals a striking comparison of her situation to that of Hannah from the Old Testament of the Bible, in the Book of First Samuel. This comparison dates back to 1050 B.C. and sheds light on the miracles that occur in our lives today with deep explanations. "Strong Winds Change Lives" is extraordinary reading; it sparkles with energy and emotion. The poems and photographs helps Collins to grab hold of your imagination and allows the heart to truly have dominion and power over circumstances.

This dynamic saga reveals a love story hidden at the core of suffering. Many parents, and those who aspire to become parents, may consciously hope that they are good parents and good spouses; they want to teach their children so that they can spare them the many hardships that lie ahead in this harsh, cruel world. They desire to treat their spouses and be treated with respect and devotion. But we all have stories to tell. This story was written to share experiences and insights which, if thoughtfully read, will undoubtedly inspire change in your life.

Collins says, "This amazing story is the meal that will feed your soul." She solidifies her reputation as one of the most inspirational writers of today with her debut book. "Strong Winds Change Lives" is not only for anyone who has lost a loved one but a fascinating and perfect story for lovers or anyone who appreciates a great, inspiring and riveting read.

This masterpiece should be mandatory reading. Word of mouth will push this top-notch story onto best-seller lists throughout the country. Eureka F. Collins is my new must-read. Highly recommended.