Moving Mountains

by Jan Haas

After the birth of her third daughter, Jan Haas finds herself back in the hospital fighting an invasive strep A infection, with less than a 20 percent chance of survival. Thirty days and five abdominal surgeries later, she awakens in the ICU attached to a ventilator. Scared and confused, Jan must dig up the courage to breathe and walk again, regain her health, and trust in the community around her. The droning rhythm of "two steps forward, one step back" is a constant as Jan moves through her illness. Journals, prose and verse tell the story of how Jan and the community of love around her move the mountain of illness, one stone at a time.

286 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2011

About the author

As an author, speaker and balance coach, Jan Haas shares her message that faith, love and community can help you move mountains, one stone at a time. Jan’s passion is to inspire others to embrace the divine power within and to allow love to transform our lives. Now, as a storycatcher, she encourages people to capture and share their own stories in order to heal the past, and give strength to future generations. Jan lives in Denver, CO with her best friend and husband of twenty-five years. They have three daughters and enjoy spending time in the mountains.

Reviews

[Dottie Liston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story you won't soon forget. Courage and perseverance come to mind as I read this remarkable story told by the author. Soon after giving birth to her third daughter, Jan contracted a Strep A infection and toxic shock. Her many months of hospitalization and the painful and challenging healing process are shared with candid accounts of the daily struggle, multiple surgeries, and slow recovery. Her monther's journal provides the facts of the daily problems, setbacks, and small improvements which eventually lead to a successful outcome. Throughout the story we learn of the strength of her husband and the support of her family. Particularly noteworthy is the support of a church community who provided meals, babysitting and other services. Jan shares her life and heart, her pain and struggle to live, with raw honesty in prose and poetry. She moves her mountain of recovery one small stone at a time.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Christmas gift book: A memoir tale of a young mother's survival from a viral infection that nearly claimed her life and the year of recovery following. This book is deeply spiritual containing the author's poetry, her mother as well as her husband's diary accounts. I found it redundant in many areas, and for lack of a better word "syrupy" with gratitude. Obviously it was the author's need to find reason and purpose as well as gratitude for life.

[Andrea Costantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving Mountains is one of those books that makes you question, "How on earth do some people find the strength to overcome these obstacles?" But as the author takes you on her journey and her path to recovery, you find the answers and then you start asking, "How can I face my own obstacles in the way she has?" And that is when you find the strength, the beauty, the magic of this book. Well written, beautifully inspiring, the kind of book that you've just got to pass along to a friend.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read about the power of faith and love. What an amazing woman. This book is for anyone facing a challenge and will put it all into perspective. You CAN move mountains one stone at a time!

[Lisa J Shultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a miracle! I was moved by Moving Mountains by the strength and faith that helped Jan and her family during that challenging year of their life.