Go Back and Be Happy [Paperback]

Julie Papievis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2005

What happens when life changes in an instant? Is faith enough? Go Back and Be Happy recounts the near-death experience and miraculous recovery of Julie Papievis. Feel firsthand what it's like to wake up from a coma, paralyzed from a severe brain stem injury after a teenager runs a red light. Share in the joy and personal pain as Julie faces the everyday struggles of reclaiming her life. Read how God provides grace in an unbearable circumstance.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Julie Papievis has a national speaking and lecturing career as a survivor of traumatic brain injury. She has appeared on The 700 Club, CNN, and WGN News and has been featured in Woman's Day Magazine and Lifetime TV's "Beyond Chance" to share the story of her near-death experience. She is based in the Chicago area. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing (April 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414103182
• ISBN-13: 978-1414103181
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,896,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be Inspired and Uplifted!, April 13, 2009

By 

M. K. Hoelscher (Wapakoneta, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Go Back and Be Happy: A Devastating Brain Injury Left Julie at the Gates of Heaven . . . (Paperback)

This book is the inspiring true story of Julie Papievis. Julie was a successful businesswoman and athlete whose life changed when her car was hit by a teenage running a red light. Julie sustained brain stem injuries that left her with something like a 3% chance to survive, let alone recover to any degree.

When Julie woke up from a coma three weeks after her accident, she wasn't given great odds for much of a recovery. With strength and determination and a lot of faith, Julie has recovered and was able to run a 5k race and then goes on to run a triathlon. Today she is an advocate for others with brain stem injuries, and spends time speaking to groups about her journey and her overwhelming faith.

This book outlines her journey. It is inspiring and motivating and had me in tears many times while reading it. For anyone who has struggled with illness, or watched someone they loved struggle with illness, this book would be so great to read. The book fills you with such hope that you can get through another day, that we all have a purpose for our life. Julie Papievis is nothing short of a miracle. People are not supposed to recover from what she has recovered so fully from. Experience some of the miracle yourself by reading her story. I can guarantee that you won't forget her, and you won't regret the time you spend with her story.

[...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Inner Life, November 19, 2005

By 

Curious Fellow (Villa Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Go Back and Be Happy (Paperback)

GO BACK AND BE HAPPY: JULIE PAPIEVIS

GO BACK AND BE HAPPY tells the true story JULIE PAPIEVIS
overcoming a car crash - brain stem injury - protracted coma
and consequent disabilities to emerge, years later, as a
crusader helping others with brain injuries.

While many people suffer traumatic brain-stem injury,
very few recover to fully competent adult life. Most
never recover physically. But among for who do, there
are still mental and spiritual hurdles to deal with, and
that is what this book is all about.

I came to this book thinking that I already knew what
she had to say - since I had read a news report of her
story in a newspaper and I had heard her tell her story
at a local public meeting. But the book was full of
surprises. All that I had known was the medical details.
Indeed, this book is more about her internal life, and I
found my eyes tearing several times.

I recommend this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing but not always enthralling story of recovery, April 14, 2009

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Go Back and Be Happy: A Devastating Brain Injury Left Julie at the Gates of Heaven . . . (Paperback)

Go Back and Be Happy by Julie Papievis and Margaret McSweeney is the memoirs of Papievis who suffered a traumatic brain stem injury and was not expected to live, but made a miraculous recovery. Papievis was making a simple left turn when a teenager ran a red light and slammed into her. Four weeks later she awoke in a rehabilitation hospital. The last thing she remembered was going to heaven and seeing her grandmothers who told her that her body would be healed, so she needed to "go back and be happy." The injury was so devastating, her family was told not to expect her to survive; her pupils were completely dilated, and she was gasping her last breaths. Her mother and father refused to give up on her getting her physical therapy and praying over her. Papievis went from complete paralyzation on her left side to eventually competing in triathalons. She credits her recovery to faith in God. After suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, she had to run her body over to Him. It was hard for her to accept the new life in front of her, she wanted to return to her old life of athleticism, hard work, and the hope of having children. Once she surrendered herself to God and started to trust that He only wanted good for her, she started to make major strides toward recovery, including running in races and triathalons today. This is an incredible story of recovery and faith, but the writing isn't as compelling and moving as it could be. I never felt completely engaged by the story nor did I connect with Papievis.