Book Review: Hope Heals

In April 2008, Katherine Wolf was a 26 years old, with a six-month old son at home.  Katherine was a model with a promising career, and her husband Jay was preparing to finish law school.  She had been feeling a little strange, and her life changed suddenly when she suffered a brain stem stroke.  Fortunately, Jay was at home and she was rushed to the hospital.  Miraculously, she survived a long surgery, but the outlook did not look good.  Half of her face was paralyzed, she could not swallow, and she would need to learn how to complete basic tasks again.

Hope Heals tells the story of husband and wife Jay and Katherine Wolf.  The story goes back and forth between their two unique perspectives, demonstrating how this sudden tragedy affected their lives and the life of their son.  The story begins with Katherine's sudden stroke, and takes readers through the early days of her recovery.  Tears filled my eyes as I read through Katherine and Jay's struggles. At her first Thanksgiving after the stroke, Katherine recalls struggling as she watched others consume food, and she was unable to eat anything.  She had a moment then when she found herself asking why she had lived when she was unable to be the wife and mother she dreamed of becoming.  But an instant later, God revealed to her that He was in control, that He had her story in His hands, and in that moment, Katherine's faith and hope were renewed.

What has followed has been nothing short of a miracle.  Though Katherine still faces many physical issues, she and Jay are now sharing their story full-time with those that are in desperate need of hope.  Their commitment to one another, to God, and to their family is nothing short of amazing.  I found my own faith renewed after reading through this page-turning book.