Some time ago, I happened across a blog written by a woman who had a baby some time after her husband died. It was an intriguing story, and I read several posts on her blog to figure out what had happened. Then, I chanced to find From Depths We Rise, and when I started reading it I soon realized that this was the same story!
Sarah Rodriguez tells an amazing story. Infertility, in vitro fertilization, cancer, new motherhood, cancer again, and the loss of her husband would have been enough for almost anyone, but God had even more for her. Very few women would have the chance to have another child with their husband after his death, but Sarah had that opportunity—and took it. This led to another incredible rollercoaster, another time of giving everything up to God.
I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it. I found myself crying at times, as I identified with Sarah's mother-heart, and rejoicing with her when God was kinder to her than any of us deserve. What a loving, miracle-working God we serve! If you enjoy stories of real people, or stories of mothers, or stories of how God works in people's lives, you will enjoy this book.
I received a free ecopy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

From Depths We Rise by Sarah Rodriguez is an amazing journey of faith and hope amidst the depths of disappointment, disease, and despair. A journey that taught the author of joy being interrupted by sorrow and yet recognition that joy can overcome sorrow. As infertility, and cancer rear their ugly heads in their lives, Sarah and her husband, Joel, continue to trust in God and rest in the hope of healing. Through the yo-yo like emotions, their 'normal' was a "constant state of wait and see." As the journey continues through the valley of the shadow of death, Sarah knows that her life has changed forever and yet she still is able to cling to the One who is changeless. She was told she was brave, but she calls herself blessed. She thought her faith was gone and yet she realized at her core she still believes. This is a wonderful story that can bring encouragement and hope to those who are struggling with disheartening and dreadful circumstances beyond their control. From Depths We Rise is a testament of faith in a God of miracles.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing. A favorable review was not required and the opinions are my own.

Sarah and Joel are two of the strongest people they endured more then any person should, but they endured it with such amazing faith! Milo and Ellis are both miracles but Ellis Claire what an amazing miracle! She will change the world with her story she will be up on that stage here on earth like her daddy is in heaven, telling the world how good God is and how she was a miracle from the very start and how God healed her & What an amazing father He is full of miracles and healing! Reading their story broke my heart, restored my faith and moved me beyond words.

From Depths We Rise
A Journey of Beauty from Ashes
by Sarah Rodriguez
Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Shiloh Run Press
Biographies & Memoirs, Christian
Pub Date 01 Oct 2016  

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of From Depths We Rise through the publisher and Netgalley:

This is Sarah Rodriguez, a woman who drew up in the midwestern gal who falls in love with Joel, a New Yorker, who is a guys guy. Joel proposed to her on October.16.2004, she accepts and they were married on July.02.2005. After the wedding they move to a little apartment in the Bronx.

After years of Invitro vertilization the couple is still not pregnant, and soon her Husband Joel is believed to have a bladder infection, but when he begins urinating clots, even after he is on anti-bodics they realize something is definitely wrong with Joel. After more testing they discover he has kidney cancer. The cancer had been undiagnosed for years, and had completely engulfed one of his Kidneys.

After treatments he is in remission. After a couple of more months of IVF treatments, Sarah finally becomes pregnant, and Pregnant with twins. Soon she discovers one of the babies is no longer there. She is relieved when the remaining baby is born and all seems to be well, but she is worried about her husbands results. They are heartbroken to learn shortly after Milo is born her husband's cancer returned.

While in surgery to remain the tumor for Cancer, her husband Joel has a stroke. Joel indures time in rehab hospital, but while there has another stroke. On Friday July,23,2013 at 9;36 a.m her husband is pronounced dead.

Sometime after her husband's death, they are able to place a part of her huband in her, when they implant two frozen embryo in her. Before long she discovers she has having a girl just like her husband had said before he died.

After her baby is born she discovers that her daughter Ellis has Menningitis, and it affected her brain. Her daughter is put into a medically induced coma when her brain starts swelling, and her body becomes wracked with seizures. The doctors arent sure she will make it, and if she does they fear there is a good chance she may never walk or talk.

Eliis does survive, and even thrives.

This is the story of incredible tragedy and loss, but it is a story of hope and love, and miracles as well.

I give From Depths We Rise five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.

Wow. I had heard about Sarah's story in the news, as I also live in Oklahoma, but to read it long-form is breathtaking.

From Depths We Rise by Sarah Rodriguez is a story where the author recounts her husband Joel's battle with cancer, their struggle to conceive, his eventual death, and her attempts at IVF afterward.

Sarah was writing about incredibly emotional experiences but rather than allowing the reader to see her emotion, she told the reader that she was sad, angry, etc. As a reader I did not feel that I was able to experience the emotions with the author.

This book is about a man of faith named Joel and his baby girl Ellis; both of their names mean ‘Jehovah is God’. Joel’s hope was that as a result of every crisis, others would come to believe in Jehovah. It is also about Joel’s wife Sarah, mother to Ellis as well as their son Milo. Sarah and Joel Rodriguez believed that the Lord’s hand was on their family; they never imagined how many and how severe trials could be in their lives. Sarah is a young woman whose life after she married Joel Rodriguez became a roller-coaster ride, from despair to joy, from joy to mourning, from mourning to beauty. She could only have endured through close communion with her Savior and the support of family and close friends. This book may be appreciated by those who are going through severe trials as they may find encouragement. It can also be appreciated by those whose loved ones are going through trials as they may find a way to encourage them. The Lord showed Sarah how to see beauty each time she rose through the ashes of intense pain which speaks volumes for her choice of tenacious faith.

Sarah met the love of her life, Joel Rodriguez, in NYC in 2004, and they were married just over a year later. They were both Christians and had similar hopes as they grew their marriage. This included their desire for children; the natural step they saw toward that goal was to move to Sarah’s home state of Oklahoma. Pregnancy was not something easily obtained by the couple, however, and after various tests, surgery, and medications, they agreed to submit to in vitro fertilization. Before they could begin the IVF process they learned that Joel had cancer, a football-size tumor that engulfed one of his kidneys. Prior to his treatments and surgery, they began IVF procedures so she could have healthy embryos implanted at a better time.

Each step along the way, God was preparing them for the next crisis. They endured what many couldn’t by doing the next right thing, even when their cries were interspersed with screaming, weeping, and asking “why”. The author speaks from her heart with raw vulnerability and authenticity. She doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges in their lives, nor does she seek pity. She has determined to tell their story.

This very well-written story of the Rodriguez family will inspire and encourage readers, although one might keep a box of tissues nearby. I highly recommend ‘From Depths We Rise’ to readers and church libraries. Whatever one is going through, this book will ultimately bring hope in the God who brings us beauty from the ashes of our lives.

I received this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc. and Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review