Customer Reviews

Go Back and Be Happy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

[...]

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.

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.

Good, solid book, about a good solid person and her struggles to overcome the results of a life threatening car accident. I think she had a 3% chance of survival, and much less than that to become a walking, talking, upbeat person. Her sole ambition is to help others who have been injured, plus convey her experience and knowlege with lessons of prevention. The book has all the ingredients of a fall to some of the deepest depths of what life can provide back to a much higher point (in many ways) than before the accident. Good family, good doctors, solid religion, near death experience, coupled with struggles to return to basic human functionality (needs) and eventually the 'wants' that most of us take for granted.

While I found the book a little slow in some spots, the overall theme made it interesting to stick with. Julie has an incredible story to share and her courage to persevere should inspire us all.

Length:: 2:10 Mins

I had a dear friend who sustained a similar brain stem injury and know firsthand the courage recovery takes--to any extent. Julie was a highly successful career woman and athelete whose life purpose was forever altered in an instant. From the accident, Julie honestly recounts her recovery journey, from learning to brush her teeth to rediscovering a purpose for her life. She is a woman of faith and it is evident what a defining difference her faith made. Julie's account is full of many heroes who went beyond the expected. Her tale is bound to inspire.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is well written, easy to follow, and makes a powerful point. As one who is handicapped myself, I found Julie's account of her experiences to be painfully honest and easy to relate to. Anyone who wants to understand the physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational challenges of being handicapped would benefit from reading her story.

Brief Summary: (Non-fiction)

This book is a autobiography of Julie Papievis. She writes of her experiences as a survivor of a car accident where she has sustained a serious brain injury, which leaves in a coma for a month. While she is in this comatose state, she believes she visited heaven but was told by her grandmother's to "go back and be happy." However, the road to happiness was filled with heartache as she faced the long road back to recovery. Julie shares her personal, physical and spiritual battles she needed to face and still faces today after that one incident which changed her life forever.

Positive Elements:

Papievis is very open with her struggles. I appreciated how by the end of the book she's come to the place where she realizes God has a purpose for her life even in the midst of troubled circumstances. I also was inspired by her willingness to help others who are struggling with brain injuries now. It reminded me of the Bible verse about how we are to bear one another's burdens.

Negative Elements:

The beginning of her story seemed very "self" focused and how she used her own strength. (However, if you read on you come to the place where she reconciles herself to God.)