Mocha with Linda: Halo Found Hope

Monday, March 23, 2015

Halo Found Hope

Halo Found Hope:
A Memoir
Helouise "Halo" Matzelle
(Dog Ear Publishing)
ISBN: 978-1457531330
October 2014/228 pages/$16.95
Machines beeping, the blur of medical staff running, a crash cart whizzing into an ICU room—was there any hope?

A young woman lay, packed in ice, as doctors attempted to somehow stop the swelling in her brain that threatened to take her life… and her family waited.

Six days turned into eight weeks. She awoke to discover that she was not the same. She saw two of everything, couldn’t feel half of her face, couldn’t hear from one ear, and could not speak. She couldn’t even tell anyone that she felt hopeless… or could she?

Halo Found Hope is the story of a beautiful, busy wife, and mother of three whose life changes instantly with the diagnosis of a rare brain tumor. An exceptional ENT, a brilliant neurosurgeon and a dedicated medical team tackle the tumor, setting off a series of unbelievable miracles. Helo’s story is not one of survival, or of salvaging a life through a broken body. It is not about endurance through pain, but victory because of it. While the family heard her silence, God heard her prayer. Helo’s story is simply this: Wherever you are and whatever you are going through, God is right there. He doesn’t need to be re cognized by you to be there for you. He can replace fear with courage and discouragement with determination, if you let Him. Helo did, and that is how she found hope.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Helouise “Halo” Matzelle led a charmed life until receiving a shocking diagnosis in 2011 of a rare brain tumor sitting over the main artery in her brain. Matzelle’s passion is helping those who face various challenges and afflictions discover where true hope is found. She resides in Redmond, WA, with her husband and their three children.

Find out more about Helo at http://halofoundhope.com/.

MY THOUGHTS
I read the first pages as a preview when offered the opportunity to review this book, and I was immediately captivated by this story. As a nurse, I was fascinated by the medical details, of course, but Helo's (pronounced Halo) testimony was even more gripping. She describes her experience of being diagnosed with a brain tumor and walks the reader through the days following that lead up to her surgery as she and her husband wrestle with the potential ramifications this could mean for her life. The book continues to document her surgery and long, arduous recovery. Honest and frank, Helo shares her fears and how she learned to trust that God would never leaver her or forsake her, no matter the outcome, and prayed, "Please make something beautiful out of this." This book will inspire and encourage anyone facing difficult times.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Helo Matzelle and Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This story of hope and faith in the midst of great physical and medical adversity is sure to encourage you in your faith. Helo Matzelle's Halo Found Hope is a must-read. Machines beeping, the blur of medical staff running, a crash cart whizzing into an ICU room—was there any hope? Halo Found Hope is the story of a beautiful, busy wife and mother of three whose life changes instantly with the diagnosis of a rare brain tumor.

Halo is offering a Kindle Fire to one lucky reader to celebrate the release of Halo Found Hope!