A Journey Through My Eyes

Robert Attenello pays tribute to his amazing wife, Lillian, in Her Journey through My Eyes. At first blush, they may have seemed like an odd pair: She was a real estate and immigration paralegal and he was a construction worker with rough edges. But opposites attract—and they were perfect together. They had lots of fun and enjoyed lots of romance, but their story took a tragic turn when Lillian was diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctors planned to perform a double mastectomy and remove the cluster of lymph nodes affected by the cancer. But further scans revealed bad news: Lillian’s cancer had spread to her bones. Doctors, however, were still hopeful that the cancer could be treated. Lillian put on her warrior face and steeled herself for what was to come. Some days, she barely had the strength to get out of bed or her recliner. But she always fought through those awfully long and difficult days. Join the author as he recounts the highs and lows of his time with his loving wife of twenty-three years and the three years of support, trials, and unwavering faith during her battle with breast cancer. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or have a loved one affected by the disease, you’ll be inspired by Lillian’s courage in Her Journey through My Eyes.

Meet Tim Tebow: He grew up playing every sport imaginable, but football was his true passion. Even from an early age, Tim has always had the drive to be the best player and person that he could be. Through his hard work and determination, he established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of college football and as a top prospect in the NFL. Now, in Through My Eyes: A Quarterback's Journey, he shares the behind-the-scenes details of his life, on and off the football field. Tim writes about his life as he chooses to live it, revealing how his Christian faith, his family values, and his relentless will to succeed have molded him into the person and the athlete he is today.

The inspiring story of Brad SnyderÕs journey from the Naval Academy to Afghanistan, from being blinded by an IED explosion to winning Paralympic gold Ê In Afghanistan, Lieutenant Brad Snyder had one of the worldÕs most dangerous jobs: to find and destroy enemy bombs, as an elite US Navy Special Operations warrior. On September 7, 2011, the former Naval Academy captain of the swim team stepped on an improvised explosive device while helping save the lives of his patrolÕs Afghan counterparts. The subsequent explosion left Snyder permanently blind. Through unrelenting pain, hard work, and dedication, Snyder qualified for the US Paralympic Team and on September 7, 2012Ñone year to the day after suffering his devastating injuryÑhe won a gold medal in menÕs swimming for Team USA in London. Brad SnyderÕs journey from darkness to light embodies the courage of AmericaÕs new ÒGreatest GenerationÓ and serves as an inspiration to all of us.

In the midst of the roller coaster of life, I was able to take moments to create a written journey. When life turns upside down, you are unsure where it will take you. For me, it was in a form of a poem. As the poems grew, it was overwhelming. I decided to put these poems in a book form and share them with you. What I found within my writing was a trigger to help with overcome stresses. As most would say "getting it off my chest". It was therapeutic.

Message from the Author I hope that you enjoy how I write and what I write. Some of the words and names will be foreign but the meaning should be evident as I write from the heart. Enjoy and one day I will write about the "butterfly cowboy, so until then draw your own conclusions. - Mel Leslie (Butterfly Cowboy)

Most nineteen-year-olds believe they are invincible. They wake up each day thinking they have all the time in the world to travel, to get an education, to fall in love. Ruby Sewell isn't most nineteen year olds. She wakes up every morning unable to see a thing, her only goal to make it to the west coast before her time runs out. Most twenty-six year olds don't live life in a self-destructive spiral. They don't engage in bar fights, scrape by on low-end jobs, or embroil in years-long battles with their parents. Cole Dixon isn't most twenty-six year olds. Still reeling from an unforeseen blast five years earlier, he is down to his last chance with nowhere to go and no inclination to get there. Against both their wills, they set off together on a journey that will define them both for the rest of their days.

"Imagine the heart-wrenching devastation that is experienced by a family when a parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease! Author Diane Currie shares her candid and personal reflections about her mother's struggle with this disease as she copes with the reality of the present but always honors the memory of her past. Through a series of moving vignettes, she remains connected with her mother in a creative way as the strong bond between them slowly dissolves as the disease progresses. From the first moment of her mother's diagnosis, Currie conveys in a captivating manner the intense feelings of loss and hopelessness one experiences when dealing with this dreadful disease. She is able to protray the subtle changes in her mother's behavior and personality throughout her decline, all in a deeply human way. While Before My Eyes describes one family's touching and painful journey, in essence Currie's reflective account may typify the Alzheimer's experience, while offering support and validation to all those who walk its arduous path"--Page 4 of cover.

This searing memoir of an American nun who was abducted and tortured in Guatemala--and continues to search for healing and justice--shows that the human spirit is a force stronger than violence and fear.