Luissa Kiprono's memoir, "Push, Then Breathe" describes her remarkable journey from cherished childhood memories in Romania under Ceausescu's regime to enduring harrowing captivity and abuse by her father. She was able to escaped that marked the start of her path toward freedom, independence, and success. Steered by a resolved determination, hope and a positive outlook, Dr. Kiprono overcame her unimaginable circumstances. This memoir conveys a message of hope and empowerment to women, emphasizing one’s built-in worth. It also shows the importance of pursuing one’s goals without self-imposed beliefs or limitations. Achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist, a doctor that specializes in high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Kiprono now shares her experiences in a memoir that promises to enthrall and motivate readers.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the author Luissa Kiprono, MD for a digital copy of #PushThenBreathe in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a tragic story and difficult to listen to at times. Dr. Kiprono's resilience and the foundational love of family gave her enough hope to continue fighting against terrible circumstances when most people would have given up. The audiobook narrator did a great job putting lots of emotion into the reading. It's another one of those stories that seems too terrible to be real, but I have found that the truth is usually harder to imagine than fiction!

Push, Then Breathe is an amazing store of survival and overcoming unspeakable odds. Luissa Kiprono's life story is one that many of us cannot imagine. She just did not overcome and merely survive horrific trauma but she made something of herself and helps to make the world a better place.

Possible triggers: Domestic violence, parental abuse, sexual abuse, and fetal loss.

I received an ARC of this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.