What do you think?
Rate this book
Called for Life: How Loving Our Neighbor Led Us into the Heart of the Ebola Epidemic
Dr. Kent and Amber Brantly (with David Thomas) tell of Dr. Brantly's near-death encounter with the Ebola virus in Liberia. The first American diagnosed during the 2014 outbreak, Dr. Brantly's ordeal--including his controversial evacuation to and hospitalization in the United States--received worldwide media attention. Interspersed in the account is the full story of how both Kent and his wife, Amber, sought to serve others in the name of Christ in Liberia. Then, when tragedy struck--as thousands, perhaps millions of people worldwide prayed for his life--miraculous events unfolded that resulted in Dr. Brantly's flight to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta...and an eventual clean bill of health.
Special edition that includes a letter from Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse.
Special edition that includes a letter from Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse.
225 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2015
34 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
August 10, 2016
It's one thing to read a book about real life events surrounding some random person, but it's another thing altogether to read about the true, heart-wrenching, life-threatening struggles of someone you actually know. And, as a guy (albeit an emotional guy), it probably wasn't a good idea for me to try to read that book while sitting in a crowded Culver's at lunchtime...or a busy Denny's at dinnertime. This book had me on edge throughout, even though I knew many of the details, and obviously the outcome. The tears leaked from my eyes, and I had multiple occasions of struggling to hold back even more obvious bouts with my emotions. No one seemed to notice, but so what if they did!
This book is incredibly well-written and quite spiritually and morally challenging. As someone who knows Kent and his family, I am personally inspired by the faith and determination that both he and his wife, Amber have displayed, and I appreciate so much the humble approach by which they have done so.
I highly recommend this book. Read it. If we could all adopt the same approach to loving our neighbors, the world would be so much a better place.
This book is incredibly well-written and quite spiritually and morally challenging. As someone who knows Kent and his family, I am personally inspired by the faith and determination that both he and his wife, Amber have displayed, and I appreciate so much the humble approach by which they have done so.
I highly recommend this book. Read it. If we could all adopt the same approach to loving our neighbors, the world would be so much a better place.
September 7, 2019
Wow! This is a powerful story. If you don't like medical detail, don't read this book. I have to say that there was one moment that brought me to tears. At the lowest point, Amber was on her knees praying and found out that Frankin Gramh spent an hour laying on the floor, pleading for Kent's life. That the highest person in an organization would shove all his stuff aside and pray for an hour for one of the workers is a testament to this organization and to their faith in God.
September 2, 2015
I admit to some surprise, and then surprise at my surprise, that Kent Brantly's story is in book form already. Oh, it was only a matter of time, but I suppose there's a part of me that wishes the publishers had waited until the Ebola crisis is over—there's something uncomfortable about a book talking about how lucky they were when Ebola's still a threat in parts of West Africa.*
In any case...here we go. Well done as a book, though sometimes with that stilted 'ghostwriter' tone. I would have liked a clearer timeline—I struggled to piece together things like how long he was in Liberia after diagnosis and how long he was in hospital in the U.S. But I'm more interested in some of the insights on working in a hospital full of patients with Ebola:
Brantly was, when he and his family went to Liberia, relatively untried as a doctor. I do not mean unqualified—only that he'd gone from med school to residency to a post-residency spot, and then straight into missionary work in Liberia. It must have been tremendously difficult to accept the lack of power the doctors had to save their patients from Ebola; of all those Brantly and his colleagues treated, only one survived. One. I know other areas have had lower mortality rates, so I don't know why these rates were so high or if they later went down at that hospital—was it a particularly violent strain? Was the hospital under-equipped in a way that made a difference? Brantly doesn't speculate. He does say this:
Fair enough—sometimes death with dignity is all you can do. But still, yes, must have been hard.
And on mission work, and his faith, he says this (well, and a lot more, but let's leave it at this for now):
I highlight that first quotation because the mind boggles. I mean, yes, it's good that they didn't consider themselves divinely protected. What surprises me is that that made it into the book—that enough people might have thought they did think themselves divinely protected that they addressed it. (I wonder how that came about—did the ghostwriter ask? Had others?)
The second two quotations I pull out for a different reason. The one on page 78 relieved me, if I'm honest; the one on 79 made me think...well, that his view might be a bit rose-coloured. Appropriate boundaries, hurray. But not everyone has them. (I'm reminded of a conversation I heard a few years ago in which one of the participants was a hospital director from Sudan. It's a long story, longer than I want to write out here and tangential anyway, but the upshot was that he viewed the primary purpose of treating non-Christians at his hospital to be to convert them.)
But I digress. Some other interesting tidbits: I believed that if I did have Ebola, I would feel worse than I did, he says (104) while waiting for test results. I found this quite funny, in a way, because as a doctor, he knew better: he'd earlier commented (62) that a patient who had tested positive for Ebola seemed to think the same way—it hadn't hit home because he felt okay. (Doctors, they're just like us!) And then the mention of logistics with getting out of Liberia—that the insurance company didn't want to deal with a patient with Ebola, and that Countries in both North Africa and Europe had refused to grant clearance for a plane with me on board to fly through their air space. If our plane needed to make an emergency landing or crashed, the did not want someone carrying Ebola on the ground (137). Especially interesting in the context of the hysterics when the Ebola crisis first hit the news big-time. Won't get into that further, except to say that looking up crash statistics is very reassuring for a nervous traveller.
At any rate—interesting enough read, though one that probably didn't take enough advantage of his role/background/knowledge as a doctor.
*I do understand how publishing works, and that they would have wanted to strike while the iron's hot, not delay publication indefinitely.
In any case...here we go. Well done as a book, though sometimes with that stilted 'ghostwriter' tone. I would have liked a clearer timeline—I struggled to piece together things like how long he was in Liberia after diagnosis and how long he was in hospital in the U.S. But I'm more interested in some of the insights on working in a hospital full of patients with Ebola:
Brantly was, when he and his family went to Liberia, relatively untried as a doctor. I do not mean unqualified—only that he'd gone from med school to residency to a post-residency spot, and then straight into missionary work in Liberia. It must have been tremendously difficult to accept the lack of power the doctors had to save their patients from Ebola; of all those Brantly and his colleagues treated, only one survived. One. I know other areas have had lower mortality rates, so I don't know why these rates were so high or if they later went down at that hospital—was it a particularly violent strain? Was the hospital under-equipped in a way that made a difference? Brantly doesn't speculate. He does say this:
When I reflect on patients like Korpu, Serena, and Francis, I do not feel like my care was a failure. Even though they died, I feel that I did something more for them than treat their sickness. I did everything I could to save their lives and could not, but I also had compassion on them. I entered into their suffering with them. I tried to offer back to them the dignity that Ebola was taking away. (76)
Fair enough—sometimes death with dignity is all you can do. But still, yes, must have been hard.
And on mission work, and his faith, he says this (well, and a lot more, but let's leave it at this for now):
We didn't believe that because we were there as medical missionaries we would automatically be divinely protected from getting Ebola. (21)
As a follower of Jesus... I am to show compassion and mercy to everyone... But the doctor-patient relationship is not one of equal footing. There is a power differential. And just like any other relationship, the one in a position of power must respect the vulnerability of the one seeking help. It is wrong for a doctor to use the position of power over a patient to impose religious teachings on someone who may not feel like he has any choice but to listen and agree. (78)
There are people who have serious grumbles against medical missions, because they think its purpose is to leverage that power in patients' moments of vulnerability to coerce them into a religion. But there is nothing coercive about Jesus. (79)
I highlight that first quotation because the mind boggles. I mean, yes, it's good that they didn't consider themselves divinely protected. What surprises me is that that made it into the book—that enough people might have thought they did think themselves divinely protected that they addressed it. (I wonder how that came about—did the ghostwriter ask? Had others?)
The second two quotations I pull out for a different reason. The one on page 78 relieved me, if I'm honest; the one on 79 made me think...well, that his view might be a bit rose-coloured. Appropriate boundaries, hurray. But not everyone has them. (I'm reminded of a conversation I heard a few years ago in which one of the participants was a hospital director from Sudan. It's a long story, longer than I want to write out here and tangential anyway, but the upshot was that he viewed the primary purpose of treating non-Christians at his hospital to be to convert them.)
But I digress. Some other interesting tidbits: I believed that if I did have Ebola, I would feel worse than I did, he says (104) while waiting for test results. I found this quite funny, in a way, because as a doctor, he knew better: he'd earlier commented (62) that a patient who had tested positive for Ebola seemed to think the same way—it hadn't hit home because he felt okay. (Doctors, they're just like us!) And then the mention of logistics with getting out of Liberia—that the insurance company didn't want to deal with a patient with Ebola, and that Countries in both North Africa and Europe had refused to grant clearance for a plane with me on board to fly through their air space. If our plane needed to make an emergency landing or crashed, the did not want someone carrying Ebola on the ground (137). Especially interesting in the context of the hysterics when the Ebola crisis first hit the news big-time. Won't get into that further, except to say that looking up crash statistics is very reassuring for a nervous traveller.
At any rate—interesting enough read, though one that probably didn't take enough advantage of his role/background/knowledge as a doctor.
*I do understand how publishing works, and that they would have wanted to strike while the iron's hot, not delay publication indefinitely.
May 29, 2020
This was a fabulous book that has touched my heart! I love that Dr. Brantley was so willing to serve God and others! Thank you for your service and your example to me!
“Our calling is to be faithful wherever we are, to be good stewards of opportunities, to be responsible with what we have been given, to try to do good, and to serve those whose paths we cross.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
“Our calling is to be faithful wherever we are, to be good stewards of opportunities, to be responsible with what we have been given, to try to do good, and to serve those whose paths we cross.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
January 23, 2022
This is an awesome book about an Dr who sounded alot like my husband who endured the Ebola epidemic. It was an amazing story about courage, love, and perseverance during an epidemic.
August 21, 2019
While it is impossible for a book about Ebola to be easy to read but this one has a sense of hope throughout. Kent and Amber’s faith in and reliance on the Lord is very encouraging. It doesn’t just cover his time treating Ebola and suffering from it. It also covers their early lives, meeting, marriage, and move to Liberia. The whole book is organized more like a series of journal entries that alternate from his to her perspective than a continuous narrative.
The vast majority of this book is taken up with the details of Dr. Brantly’s personal fight against Ebola, both his fight on other’s behalf or his own. That doesn’t really leave much room for a discussion of his beliefs. He does, however, take the time to explain his call to be a doctor and not a preaching/teaching ministry. I thoroughly respect his choice to minister medically at the risk of his own life. It is also abundantly clear that God has used him to bring Him glory. But I was still a little surprised by the lack of a clear gospel message in the book.
The vast majority of this book is taken up with the details of Dr. Brantly’s personal fight against Ebola, both his fight on other’s behalf or his own. That doesn’t really leave much room for a discussion of his beliefs. He does, however, take the time to explain his call to be a doctor and not a preaching/teaching ministry. I thoroughly respect his choice to minister medically at the risk of his own life. It is also abundantly clear that God has used him to bring Him glory. But I was still a little surprised by the lack of a clear gospel message in the book.
June 26, 2015
I recently received an Advance Reading Copy of Called for Life: How Loving Our Neighbor Led Us into the Heart of the Ebola Epidemic by Kent and Amber Brantly (with David Thomas). I was super excited to read this book - I followed Kent's story when it was in the news and prayed for his recovery. I remember watching live on TV, with tears in my eyes, as Kent walked into the hospital in America. I was anxious to hear the whole story surrounding his life as a medical missionary and the inside view of the ebola epidemic from someone who lived it firsthand. The back cover reads:
"“When I knelt next to Teresa on that rainy June night outside our hospital, I told myself that everything was about to change. I had no idea the extent of that truth. But one thing has not changed: our desire to live faithful to God’s calling.”
—Dr. Kent Brantly, in Called for Life
Just months after Dr. Kent Brantly arrived in Liberia with his wife, Amber, and their two children, the Ebola virus erupted in West Africa. Kent and his colleagues began to fight one of the most horrifying, incurable diseases on earth, only to see patient after patient die. Then, after six weeks of intense battle to help others survive, Kent woke up one July morning with a fever. Three days later his diagnosis was confirmed: Ebola.
Kent knew his life was at stake. He also knew Amber, family members, and friends were praying desperately. What he didn’t know was that his case would make international headlines as he was evacuated to Atlanta, becoming the first person with Ebola ever treated in the United States. He didn’t know he would be the center of a media firestorm of debate, questions, and fears. And he didn’t know that his faith would inspire people around the world to trust in a faithful God.
“Kent, bud. We got your test result. And I’m really sorry to tell you that it is positive for Ebola.”
--From the Prologue, Called for Life
Dr. Kent and Amber Brantly moved with their children to war-torn Liberia in the fall of 2013 to provide medical care for people in great need—to help replace hopelessness with hope. When, less than a year later, Kent contracted the deadly Ebola virus, hope became what he and Amber needed too.
When Kent received the diagnosis, he was already alone and in quarantine in the Brantly home in Liberia. Amber and the children had left just days earlier on a trip to the United States. Kent’s personal battle against the horrific Ebola began, and as thousands of people worldwide prayed for his life, a miraculous series of events unfolded.
Called for Life tells the riveting inside story of Kent and Amber’s call to serve their neighbors, as well as Kent’s fight for life with Ebola and Amber’s’ struggle to support him from half-a-world away. Most significantly, Called for Life reminds us of the risk, the honor, and the joy to be known when God and others are served without reservation."
I sat down and read this book basically in one sitting. It was pretty riveting hearing the firsthand account of what I'd been glued to on the news last summer. Kent and Amber tell their story in the first person, alternating back and forth between them. The book itself was very compelling and interesting. I've always been interested in missionary work, medical missions in particular, so it was great learning more about their medical missions work in Liberia. My only complaint about this book is the way the timeline of the story is presented. It jumps back and forth quite a bit, especially in the beginning, and is kind of disjointed and confusing until the story really gets going. Also, I would have loved a photo section - although I received a paperback ARC, so there may be a photo section in the final print hardcover edition. Otherwise, this was an excellent book. I highly recommend it to anyone who followed the ebola outbreak and wants to learn more about it. Kent and his family's sacrifices and challenges encouraged me. It was wonderful reading about someone who lives their faith out so boldly.
I received an ARC of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
"“When I knelt next to Teresa on that rainy June night outside our hospital, I told myself that everything was about to change. I had no idea the extent of that truth. But one thing has not changed: our desire to live faithful to God’s calling.”
—Dr. Kent Brantly, in Called for Life
Just months after Dr. Kent Brantly arrived in Liberia with his wife, Amber, and their two children, the Ebola virus erupted in West Africa. Kent and his colleagues began to fight one of the most horrifying, incurable diseases on earth, only to see patient after patient die. Then, after six weeks of intense battle to help others survive, Kent woke up one July morning with a fever. Three days later his diagnosis was confirmed: Ebola.
Kent knew his life was at stake. He also knew Amber, family members, and friends were praying desperately. What he didn’t know was that his case would make international headlines as he was evacuated to Atlanta, becoming the first person with Ebola ever treated in the United States. He didn’t know he would be the center of a media firestorm of debate, questions, and fears. And he didn’t know that his faith would inspire people around the world to trust in a faithful God.
“Kent, bud. We got your test result. And I’m really sorry to tell you that it is positive for Ebola.”
--From the Prologue, Called for Life
Dr. Kent and Amber Brantly moved with their children to war-torn Liberia in the fall of 2013 to provide medical care for people in great need—to help replace hopelessness with hope. When, less than a year later, Kent contracted the deadly Ebola virus, hope became what he and Amber needed too.
When Kent received the diagnosis, he was already alone and in quarantine in the Brantly home in Liberia. Amber and the children had left just days earlier on a trip to the United States. Kent’s personal battle against the horrific Ebola began, and as thousands of people worldwide prayed for his life, a miraculous series of events unfolded.
Called for Life tells the riveting inside story of Kent and Amber’s call to serve their neighbors, as well as Kent’s fight for life with Ebola and Amber’s’ struggle to support him from half-a-world away. Most significantly, Called for Life reminds us of the risk, the honor, and the joy to be known when God and others are served without reservation."
I sat down and read this book basically in one sitting. It was pretty riveting hearing the firsthand account of what I'd been glued to on the news last summer. Kent and Amber tell their story in the first person, alternating back and forth between them. The book itself was very compelling and interesting. I've always been interested in missionary work, medical missions in particular, so it was great learning more about their medical missions work in Liberia. My only complaint about this book is the way the timeline of the story is presented. It jumps back and forth quite a bit, especially in the beginning, and is kind of disjointed and confusing until the story really gets going. Also, I would have loved a photo section - although I received a paperback ARC, so there may be a photo section in the final print hardcover edition. Otherwise, this was an excellent book. I highly recommend it to anyone who followed the ebola outbreak and wants to learn more about it. Kent and his family's sacrifices and challenges encouraged me. It was wonderful reading about someone who lives their faith out so boldly.
I received an ARC of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 18, 2015
Dr. Ken Brantly and his wife Amber, were serving in Liberia as medical missionaries. It was a dream come true, for they felt they had a spiritual calling to serve there. Little did they know within months of their arrival, they would be in the middle of a global crisis. The virus Ebola.
"When the going gets tough, the tough go back to their calling". I knew I had to write those words into my journal as soon as I heard them.." "and it was Liberia that Amber and I had been called, to serve some of God's most beautiful people suffering in a nation with wounds still obvious from not one, but two civil wars within the last generation."
"It was Wednesday night, June 11, 2014. Our hospital had the only Ebola Treatment unit in Liberia's capital city of Monrovia, and the phone call had come earlier in the evening from the country's Ministry of Health. Two suspected Ebola patients were being transferred to us from a hospital in the northern suburb of New Kru Town."
"This is it. Everything is about to change".
This book is a first hand account of the journey of a young doctor trying to save the lives of patients diagnosed with Ebola, a deadly virus. With little in the way of proper equipment, medicine and room, he and the team he worked with in Liberia fought the Ebola virus. He knew they had to prepare for the worst case scenario when the first cases came in to their hospital. Isolating the people who they suspected had the virus, was their first main concern. "We brainstormed where we could create a safe space to isolate a patient. That place wound up being our chapel, a small freestanding building in the courtyard of the horse-shaped hospital." "Dr. Brown and Dr. Fankhauser received pushback on their decision to isolate Ebola patients in the chapel. Some were upset the chapel would be used for such a dirty job and that we would be bringing death into a sacred place. Jerry and John explained the move by asking, historically, in times of war, where had people gone for refuge? They went to churches, Jerry and John said, what better place could we offer than a chapel to bring sick patients who were in search of life?"
Dr. Brantly ends up with Ebola himself. How can any one who watched tv, read the paper, been on the internet, not know about the global health crisis in the spring and summer of 2014. I remember vividly watching the arrival of Dr. Brantly to the hospital in Georgia, getting out of the ambulance, everyone covered with protective gear.
This is a great read, both to understand what Ebola is and how it is contracted, but also about the brave people who were in the heart of the crisis. The book is their story, Ken and Amber's. In their words, you hear how much they love the Liberian people and how heartbreaking the need is for better health facilities and education in this country, especially in the rural areas.
This is a First Reads Advanced Reader copy that I was given in a book giveaway on Goodreads. This review is an honest review of how I liked the book. I thought the book could have been enhanced by photographs; visually, it would bring more impact to their story for the reader.
"Compassion was a core motivation for my becoming a doctor and a missionary. It was for the sake of showing compassion to people in need that I went to medical school. And it was compassion for people that led our family to Liberia.
The English word compassion derives from the Latin "to means to suffer with." It means to insert yourself into someone's situation, to come alongside them in such a way that you actually share in their suffering.
Choosing to have compassion means opening yourself up to take on hurt that you would not otherwise have to take on."
"When the going gets tough, the tough go back to their calling". I knew I had to write those words into my journal as soon as I heard them.." "and it was Liberia that Amber and I had been called, to serve some of God's most beautiful people suffering in a nation with wounds still obvious from not one, but two civil wars within the last generation."
"It was Wednesday night, June 11, 2014. Our hospital had the only Ebola Treatment unit in Liberia's capital city of Monrovia, and the phone call had come earlier in the evening from the country's Ministry of Health. Two suspected Ebola patients were being transferred to us from a hospital in the northern suburb of New Kru Town."
"This is it. Everything is about to change".
This book is a first hand account of the journey of a young doctor trying to save the lives of patients diagnosed with Ebola, a deadly virus. With little in the way of proper equipment, medicine and room, he and the team he worked with in Liberia fought the Ebola virus. He knew they had to prepare for the worst case scenario when the first cases came in to their hospital. Isolating the people who they suspected had the virus, was their first main concern. "We brainstormed where we could create a safe space to isolate a patient. That place wound up being our chapel, a small freestanding building in the courtyard of the horse-shaped hospital." "Dr. Brown and Dr. Fankhauser received pushback on their decision to isolate Ebola patients in the chapel. Some were upset the chapel would be used for such a dirty job and that we would be bringing death into a sacred place. Jerry and John explained the move by asking, historically, in times of war, where had people gone for refuge? They went to churches, Jerry and John said, what better place could we offer than a chapel to bring sick patients who were in search of life?"
Dr. Brantly ends up with Ebola himself. How can any one who watched tv, read the paper, been on the internet, not know about the global health crisis in the spring and summer of 2014. I remember vividly watching the arrival of Dr. Brantly to the hospital in Georgia, getting out of the ambulance, everyone covered with protective gear.
This is a great read, both to understand what Ebola is and how it is contracted, but also about the brave people who were in the heart of the crisis. The book is their story, Ken and Amber's. In their words, you hear how much they love the Liberian people and how heartbreaking the need is for better health facilities and education in this country, especially in the rural areas.
This is a First Reads Advanced Reader copy that I was given in a book giveaway on Goodreads. This review is an honest review of how I liked the book. I thought the book could have been enhanced by photographs; visually, it would bring more impact to their story for the reader.
"Compassion was a core motivation for my becoming a doctor and a missionary. It was for the sake of showing compassion to people in need that I went to medical school. And it was compassion for people that led our family to Liberia.
The English word compassion derives from the Latin "to means to suffer with." It means to insert yourself into someone's situation, to come alongside them in such a way that you actually share in their suffering.
Choosing to have compassion means opening yourself up to take on hurt that you would not otherwise have to take on."
August 13, 2015
I received this book courtesy of Christian Audio for the purpose of writing a review.
Narrator thoughts: While this was not an author read book I did like the voices that they got to dramatize this book. The readers did an extremely good job of displaying the emotions that were written. I also enjoyed the two voices that played Amber and Dr. Brantley. They both did a great job capturing the spirit of this book.
Book thoughts: Definitely this book is not for the faint of heart. Becuase you are talking about Ebola there's a lot of medical jargon and plenty of tough subjects discussed.
But the heart and the story behind this audiobook is fantastic. I admire both Dr. Brantley and his wife for the sacrifice that they made in going to a foreign country and serving no matter the cost. They continued to believe in the mission that God called them to. I've admired their faith and the heart with which they served out the mission that God gave them. I enjoyed reading about their story. I enjoyed reading about their perspective. Like many so from around the world I had seen the reports of an American doctor working with Samaritans Purse that it come down with the Ebola and had heard a lot of different things about the doctor. But it's all it was great hearing it from Dr. Brantley's and his wifes perspective. You hear what really happened, not just with the media told us. It was definitely neat to hear about how God brought him through and how God saw them through not only that but through the recovery process.
As a hospital volunteer I'm accustomed to hearing some of the medical information, but it was still a little tough in places reading this book. Mainly because Ebola is a very nasty disease.
The neat thing that comes out of this is God saw him through. I think that's one of the things that comes out very clearly in this book is you see God's hand at work. Even in the little things. Even in the tough things. It worked for the good. To bring about Dr. Brantley's recovery.
I would definitely recommend this book to friends but I would tell you that you should use some caution because it does go into a lot of the specifics about Ebola. Still, it's a fantastic book.
You can get a copy of Called For Life by going to www.Amazon.com or at Christianaudio.com
Narrator thoughts: While this was not an author read book I did like the voices that they got to dramatize this book. The readers did an extremely good job of displaying the emotions that were written. I also enjoyed the two voices that played Amber and Dr. Brantley. They both did a great job capturing the spirit of this book.
Book thoughts: Definitely this book is not for the faint of heart. Becuase you are talking about Ebola there's a lot of medical jargon and plenty of tough subjects discussed.
But the heart and the story behind this audiobook is fantastic. I admire both Dr. Brantley and his wife for the sacrifice that they made in going to a foreign country and serving no matter the cost. They continued to believe in the mission that God called them to. I've admired their faith and the heart with which they served out the mission that God gave them. I enjoyed reading about their story. I enjoyed reading about their perspective. Like many so from around the world I had seen the reports of an American doctor working with Samaritans Purse that it come down with the Ebola and had heard a lot of different things about the doctor. But it's all it was great hearing it from Dr. Brantley's and his wifes perspective. You hear what really happened, not just with the media told us. It was definitely neat to hear about how God brought him through and how God saw them through not only that but through the recovery process.
As a hospital volunteer I'm accustomed to hearing some of the medical information, but it was still a little tough in places reading this book. Mainly because Ebola is a very nasty disease.
The neat thing that comes out of this is God saw him through. I think that's one of the things that comes out very clearly in this book is you see God's hand at work. Even in the little things. Even in the tough things. It worked for the good. To bring about Dr. Brantley's recovery.
I would definitely recommend this book to friends but I would tell you that you should use some caution because it does go into a lot of the specifics about Ebola. Still, it's a fantastic book.
You can get a copy of Called For Life by going to www.Amazon.com or at Christianaudio.com
January 7, 2016
So conflicted. So very, very conflicted. About 25% of my way into this book, I wanted to abandon it. I felt like I was listening to an Good Morning America interview -- many parts of this book didn't read like a story and had that disjointed feeling that I often find in my student's writing when they attempt to write a paper by just answering a list of question prompts. This disjointed reading experience was heightened by the decision to move back and forth between Kent and Amber's point of view. While I do think some readers will find Amber's experience to be interesting and may want to hear her thoughts, it felt like a distraction to the story -- kind of like -- okay, now it is time to hear from the wife. Obviously this would have been a terrifying experience for her and their children, but it didn't add enough to the story line to warrant the pages dedicated to it. I was also frustrated and a little bored with the need for us to hear their falling-in-love story. Yes, it helped make the book get to 200 pages, but I would have liked to have heard more about Liberia, the culture, the people, the medical situation there. There were also some timeline issues and I found myself lost in time more than once. Fortunately I was reading a hard copy of the book so I could flip back to sections to reread portions to orient myself to the exact order of events.
That's the bad. On the other side of this I have a high level of respect for Kent and others like him. Their willingness to serve in areas that many people would run away from inspires me. I appreciated his willingness to allow the world into his private suffering from an illness that humiliates the body. His vulnerability with his readers is admirable. He did not have to share this with us, but I am grateful that he did. I just wish greater care had been taken with the telling of his story. This could have been a five star book for me -- and instead I found myself at moments wanting to give it only one.
That's the bad. On the other side of this I have a high level of respect for Kent and others like him. Their willingness to serve in areas that many people would run away from inspires me. I appreciated his willingness to allow the world into his private suffering from an illness that humiliates the body. His vulnerability with his readers is admirable. He did not have to share this with us, but I am grateful that he did. I just wish greater care had been taken with the telling of his story. This could have been a five star book for me -- and instead I found myself at moments wanting to give it only one.
July 23, 2015
When I'm reading an ARC, I keep a sharp mind. I figure out my favorite parts of the book, and form a draft of what to say about it. Called for Life was unforgettable, and cannot think of words that would describe it adequately. It is a story very close to my heart.
Called for Life takes place last year, at the center of the largest Ebola outbreak in world history.
Last year was the craziest year of my life, but that craziness was multiplied tenfold for Dr. Brantly and Amber. I cannot even imagine just how hard last year was for Kent and Amber. This book gave me an understanding of their pain and joy. Called for Life is a story of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is a story of pain and love and the outbreak that devastated three countries.
I've held a belief, for the past year, a belief that this stunningly heartbreaking tale of the Ebola outbreak confirms. There's always a question when you're a kid. Who is your hero? I've never really had a hero. But I do now.
Kent Brantly is my hero. With God, he conquered the virus that threatened to kill him. The awareness brought by his sickness saved hundreds of lives. He was brave, and scared. I think what I'm trying to say is that Kent Brantly is a hero.
And his book brings his heart-tearing tale to print.
Five stars and a a very, very good high-five.
Called for Life takes place last year, at the center of the largest Ebola outbreak in world history.
Last year was the craziest year of my life, but that craziness was multiplied tenfold for Dr. Brantly and Amber. I cannot even imagine just how hard last year was for Kent and Amber. This book gave me an understanding of their pain and joy. Called for Life is a story of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is a story of pain and love and the outbreak that devastated three countries.
I've held a belief, for the past year, a belief that this stunningly heartbreaking tale of the Ebola outbreak confirms. There's always a question when you're a kid. Who is your hero? I've never really had a hero. But I do now.
Kent Brantly is my hero. With God, he conquered the virus that threatened to kill him. The awareness brought by his sickness saved hundreds of lives. He was brave, and scared. I think what I'm trying to say is that Kent Brantly is a hero.
And his book brings his heart-tearing tale to print.
Five stars and a a very, very good high-five.
January 6, 2017
Wow...this was excellent. This book is not only about how Dr. Brantly contracted, suffered thru, and recovered from Ebola, it is also about how he knew the missionary life was his calling, how he used medicine as his vehicle to serve others and love his global neighbors, and the difficulties of practicing modern medicine as a Western-trained doctor without the resources we are used to having at our hands. Even before Ebola came to visit, this was a hard situation...losing a 12 year old boy to diabetic ketoacidosis because there was no ability to check his blood gases and electrolytes regularly, losing multiple people because there weren't enough nasal cannulas for oxygen in the hospital, etc. The book really makes clear why Ebola spread so rapidly due to cultural practices and limited hospital resources, as well as political issues. Plus learning about his experience treating, and having Ebola, as well as where the ZMapp came from, and how he helped others with the disease in the US is fascinating. Great book...I want to know more!
August 20, 2015
I have never met Kent and Amber Brantly, but my job had taken me to Liberia and I knew and loved a number of people who served with SP Liberia. When ebola broke out in Liberia it felt personal as I prayed alongside my friends there on the frontline. When Kent, and then Nancy, got sick it was a huge shock and throughout my days this situation was constantly there in my thoughts and my prayers.
This book is an amazing testament to God's faithfulness even in the midst of a war being waged in Liberia (and in Guinea and Sierra Leone). During the height of the ebola epidemic and during the time when Kent and Nancy particularly were sick there was a lot being said in the media, though not all of it accurate.
This book tells the story from both Kent and from Amber's perspectives. It is encouraging and challenging in equal measure and was a book I just could not put down.
This book is an amazing testament to God's faithfulness even in the midst of a war being waged in Liberia (and in Guinea and Sierra Leone). During the height of the ebola epidemic and during the time when Kent and Nancy particularly were sick there was a lot being said in the media, though not all of it accurate.
This book tells the story from both Kent and from Amber's perspectives. It is encouraging and challenging in equal measure and was a book I just could not put down.
January 3, 2016
Excellent testimony from the Brantley's who faced and experienced Ebola first hand as they served God on the mission field in West Africa. Kent Brantley was the first person in then US to be treated for Ebola. I loved this quote from the book: "Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We live in a global community, and we must recognize our neighbors in this community. And we must not allow fear to overcome our sense of compassion for our neighbors who are in need." p. 206
Great message for the new year!!!!
Great message for the new year!!!!
January 24, 2016
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I identify with so many parts of his journey through sickness and out the other side. I also understand so much about working in a hospital in West Africa that I wanted to keep telling my friend about it who was sitting next to me. An easy read but a teary one.
August 24, 2017
The tense, memorable, and heartwarming tale of Kent Brantley's willingness to risk his life to help those dying of Ebola. I cried with Amber as she waited to find out what would happen to her husband. I wondered if I could trust God through such a time. A good story that made me think.
July 1, 2017
As I may have mentioned eight or nine times before, missionaries are my heroes. Missionaries are never happy to hear me say that, and I'm sure Dr. Kent Brantly doesn't think of himself as a hero. Nor, I am sure, did he imagine finding attention focused on himself when he and his wife, Amber, accepted an assignment as medical missionaries in Liberia in October 2013.
Although the war-torn western African nation was a challenging field when the Brantlys entered it, there was no hint that within a year it would become besieged by the deadly Ebola virus. But when it did, Dr. Brantly suddenly was medical director of the only Ebola treatment unit in southern Liberia.
In spite of extraordinary precautions, Brantly eventually contracted the Ebola virus himself. It's apparent from reading "Called for Life" that he almost certainly would have died while still in Liberia had he not been the first human being given the experimental drug known as ZMapp. That allowed him to rally enough to be evacuated to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where he became the first person with Ebola to be treated in the United States.
Although he was able, barely, to walk from the ambulance to the hospital -- a walk repeatedly shown on TV -- Brantly's condition still was grave when he first arrived at Emory. But eventually he fully recovered, living to tell his story
Dr. Brantly comes across in this account as humble and grateful. There's also a bit of a detached sense of Brantly the doctor telling other doctors about an interesting case.
He's refreshingly apolitical. When reporting on a brief post-Ebola meeting he and Amber had with President Obama in the White House, Brantly mentions that he has no dislike for either Republicans or Democrats but isn't a fan of politics. His assessment of Obama was that the then-president was very personable and nice -- and not as tall as he expected.
Although I well-remember the hysteria in this country during the time of the West Africa Ebola outbreak, the reaction of some people to Amber and the couple's young children still surprised and dismayed me. Some musicians and even some family members canceled out of a family wedding Amber and the kids expected to attend during the time Kent was being treated. Amber and the kids had left Liberia before Kent caught the virus and couldn't possibly have been infected themselves. But people didn't let facts get in the way of their fears.
Kent Brantly responds succinctly to the Ebola hysteria, writing:
We saw public health policy guided by fear rather than by the best available science. We saw some victims of Ebola -- and even some healthy individuals who volunteered to fight against the virus -- treated not like victims or heroes, but like criminals and dangerous public threats. These attitudes toward Ebola fighters and victims break my heart.
A few sentences later he adds, pointedly, "Our neighbor, Jesus says, is anyone whose path we cross, anyone who is in need."
Kent and Amber Brantly tell their story in a simple way, with no embellishment. The story speaks powerfully enough on its own.
Although the war-torn western African nation was a challenging field when the Brantlys entered it, there was no hint that within a year it would become besieged by the deadly Ebola virus. But when it did, Dr. Brantly suddenly was medical director of the only Ebola treatment unit in southern Liberia.
In spite of extraordinary precautions, Brantly eventually contracted the Ebola virus himself. It's apparent from reading "Called for Life" that he almost certainly would have died while still in Liberia had he not been the first human being given the experimental drug known as ZMapp. That allowed him to rally enough to be evacuated to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where he became the first person with Ebola to be treated in the United States.
Although he was able, barely, to walk from the ambulance to the hospital -- a walk repeatedly shown on TV -- Brantly's condition still was grave when he first arrived at Emory. But eventually he fully recovered, living to tell his story
Dr. Brantly comes across in this account as humble and grateful. There's also a bit of a detached sense of Brantly the doctor telling other doctors about an interesting case.
He's refreshingly apolitical. When reporting on a brief post-Ebola meeting he and Amber had with President Obama in the White House, Brantly mentions that he has no dislike for either Republicans or Democrats but isn't a fan of politics. His assessment of Obama was that the then-president was very personable and nice -- and not as tall as he expected.
Although I well-remember the hysteria in this country during the time of the West Africa Ebola outbreak, the reaction of some people to Amber and the couple's young children still surprised and dismayed me. Some musicians and even some family members canceled out of a family wedding Amber and the kids expected to attend during the time Kent was being treated. Amber and the kids had left Liberia before Kent caught the virus and couldn't possibly have been infected themselves. But people didn't let facts get in the way of their fears.
Kent Brantly responds succinctly to the Ebola hysteria, writing:
We saw public health policy guided by fear rather than by the best available science. We saw some victims of Ebola -- and even some healthy individuals who volunteered to fight against the virus -- treated not like victims or heroes, but like criminals and dangerous public threats. These attitudes toward Ebola fighters and victims break my heart.
A few sentences later he adds, pointedly, "Our neighbor, Jesus says, is anyone whose path we cross, anyone who is in need."
Kent and Amber Brantly tell their story in a simple way, with no embellishment. The story speaks powerfully enough on its own.
August 6, 2017
When I was growing up, I enjoyed flipping through Reader's Digest and one of my favorite ongoing features in that magazine was the "Drama in Real Life" articles. These pieces usually featured the story of some individual who had survived a horrendous ordeal (e.g. being lost alone at sea or having their arm chopped off by a piece of farm equipment) and lived to tell about it. Called for Life is essentially a book length version of the same concept.
Dr. Kent Brantly was a young physician who felt called to travel as a medical missionary to West Africa to work with under-served populations. He and his wife Amber haven't been in Liberia long before an ebola outbreak begins to sweep through the country. The first part of the book chronicles the the battle against the disease by Kent and the other medical professionals at the hospital where he served. They wrestle not just against having inadequate amounts of supplies and personnel, but also against local customs and stigmas that increase the risk of the infection spreading. Eventually, Kent contracts ebola himself and is moved into quarantine. The second half of the book details his treatment and struggle to survive against a disease that can have a mortality rate of up to 70%.
Despite the gruesome topic and the sometimes graphic descriptions of medical situations, the book doesn't overly sensationalize the situation, instead presenting a matter-of-fact view of the crisis in a step-by-step way. The book alternates between Kent's reflections and Amber's, although the ratio of pages devoted to their points of view is probably two to one in favor of Kent. The young couple and their children rely on their faith in God and a strong network of friends and family, both in Liberia and the US, to pull them through.
I found this book surprisingly readable and suspenseful, especially given the fact that - like those old Reader's Digest stories - the outcome is never in doubt. The biggest takeaway I had though was that Kent's survival probably had a lot to do with the fact that (a) he was white, (b) he was a physician and (c) he was a US citizen. These layers of privilege allowed him access to treatments that he could not offer his suffering patients, a heartbreaking fact. As U2 once sang, "Where you live / should not decide / whether you live or / whether you die." But in fact, it does.
If you want a "you were there" documentary view of the ebola crisis, this book will give it to you. It may also cause you to reflect on the things that many of us in more industrialized countries take for granted.
Dr. Kent Brantly was a young physician who felt called to travel as a medical missionary to West Africa to work with under-served populations. He and his wife Amber haven't been in Liberia long before an ebola outbreak begins to sweep through the country. The first part of the book chronicles the the battle against the disease by Kent and the other medical professionals at the hospital where he served. They wrestle not just against having inadequate amounts of supplies and personnel, but also against local customs and stigmas that increase the risk of the infection spreading. Eventually, Kent contracts ebola himself and is moved into quarantine. The second half of the book details his treatment and struggle to survive against a disease that can have a mortality rate of up to 70%.
Despite the gruesome topic and the sometimes graphic descriptions of medical situations, the book doesn't overly sensationalize the situation, instead presenting a matter-of-fact view of the crisis in a step-by-step way. The book alternates between Kent's reflections and Amber's, although the ratio of pages devoted to their points of view is probably two to one in favor of Kent. The young couple and their children rely on their faith in God and a strong network of friends and family, both in Liberia and the US, to pull them through.
I found this book surprisingly readable and suspenseful, especially given the fact that - like those old Reader's Digest stories - the outcome is never in doubt. The biggest takeaway I had though was that Kent's survival probably had a lot to do with the fact that (a) he was white, (b) he was a physician and (c) he was a US citizen. These layers of privilege allowed him access to treatments that he could not offer his suffering patients, a heartbreaking fact. As U2 once sang, "Where you live / should not decide / whether you live or / whether you die." But in fact, it does.
If you want a "you were there" documentary view of the ebola crisis, this book will give it to you. It may also cause you to reflect on the things that many of us in more industrialized countries take for granted.
December 4, 2017
Called For Life made me seriously think about my faith life. It has made me wonder if Kent Brantly can get through Ebola and still serve God through helping people in need, then I can do the little things like going to church every Sunday. Kent and Amber Brantly persevered through unimaginable hardships, even when the odds of Ebola were against them they came through, God came through. After a couple days in Liberia he was to be transported to the U.S. by a special quarantined airplane to keep Kent Brantly, the patient, contained. He would be the first American Ebola patient on U.S. soil. Kent's recovery is indeed amazing in itself but what is more astonishing is way that this journey has brought him and his family closer to God and has strengthened their trust in Him. This book truly demonstrates what it is to live out the principles of catholic social teaching. The book shows us the importance of the human life and its dignity through Kent helping every patient that he can and trying to save as many as he can because he understands that every life matters. Another principle the book demonstrates is the call to family and community. Before Kent contracts Ebola he felt the call to help those in need, but after he contracts it too he developed a bond with his close friends, doctors and his wife Amber who were with him all the way. God kept Dr. Brantly alive, he has more work to do for God and His children. This book makes me smile because we see the teachings of Christ being lived out and even when the stakes were low, Kent made it through, shares his story to this day, and he carries on with his missions working for the Samaritan's Purse. He even has to children to love and take care of. After I read this book I realized something important; that I hope one day to be as strong, determined, and loving as Kent Brantly is, and that I can one day use my skills to help others as well to put a smile on God's face.
November 17, 2017
As missionaries in West Africa, we were watching the Ebola story with great interest and, I must confess, a fair bit of fear. What if it spread to our country? What would we do? We were travelling during that time and I remember wondering what if I sat next to somebody who had it? Then I heard that one of the missionaries in our organization (Nancy Writebol and then later Rick Sacra) had contracted it. While Kent Brantley was with World Medical Mission (Samaritan's Purse), he worked at our mission hospital. So this story was very real to me.
Having experienced hospitals in impoverished settings, I can just see what is happening and the stressfulness of working with less than ideal conditions. Some of these hospitals are unpleasant under the best of circumstances and in a crisis of a contagious disease, I can imagine how horrible it would be to deal with such desperately ill patients all day long. While I am not medical, I have a pretty good idea of the stress doctors in Africa face under "normal" conditions because of the large number of patients who die.
I was encouraged by Kent Brantley's faith and his willingness to stay in the face of a horrible and difficult situation. He quotes a missionary I know personally: When things get tough, the tough go back to their calling." Remembering that it is God who has called us is sometimes the only thing that can keep us doing what He wants us to do.
I thought this was a well-told story and I love Dr. Brantley's honesty. Sometimes the transitions between when he was narrating and when his wife was narrating were a bit choppy, but I appreciated hearing how she faced the fear and anxiety of having her husband so sick.
Having experienced hospitals in impoverished settings, I can just see what is happening and the stressfulness of working with less than ideal conditions. Some of these hospitals are unpleasant under the best of circumstances and in a crisis of a contagious disease, I can imagine how horrible it would be to deal with such desperately ill patients all day long. While I am not medical, I have a pretty good idea of the stress doctors in Africa face under "normal" conditions because of the large number of patients who die.
I was encouraged by Kent Brantley's faith and his willingness to stay in the face of a horrible and difficult situation. He quotes a missionary I know personally: When things get tough, the tough go back to their calling." Remembering that it is God who has called us is sometimes the only thing that can keep us doing what He wants us to do.
I thought this was a well-told story and I love Dr. Brantley's honesty. Sometimes the transitions between when he was narrating and when his wife was narrating were a bit choppy, but I appreciated hearing how she faced the fear and anxiety of having her husband so sick.
October 23, 2017
Called for Life, written by Dr. Kent and Amber Brantly, is an inspiring story of compassion and courage. The Brantly’s first-hand account of serving as medical missionaries in post-civil war Liberia is an eye opening account, both personally and professionally, of their experience with the deadly Ebola epidemic which struck Liberia and other parts of the world in 2014. The Ebola virus was basically a death sentence for those who tested positive for the disease.
Dr. Brantly relates that he entered the medical profession in order to serve God by serving others. Of the Ebola virus, he writes, “No hope. No friends. No familiar faces. No human contact. With no cure, no hope.” He was determined to let go of his fear and show compassion to his patients. His strong faith in God and in the Catholic Church gave him the strength that he needed to live out his belief that all human life is a sacred gift from God and that the dignity of the human person, regardless of their situation, should be protected and valued. Dr. Brantly quotes the Bible when he writes, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
In the second part of the book, Dr. Brantly openly details his own personal battle with the disease. Again, through his faith in both God and in the medical profession, he was able to overcome his affliction with the Ebola virus. Called for Life is an inspiring and informative book for anyone wanting to know more about the Ebola epidemic and the depth of courage and compassion needed to treat patients afflicted with the disease.
Dr. Brantly relates that he entered the medical profession in order to serve God by serving others. Of the Ebola virus, he writes, “No hope. No friends. No familiar faces. No human contact. With no cure, no hope.” He was determined to let go of his fear and show compassion to his patients. His strong faith in God and in the Catholic Church gave him the strength that he needed to live out his belief that all human life is a sacred gift from God and that the dignity of the human person, regardless of their situation, should be protected and valued. Dr. Brantly quotes the Bible when he writes, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
In the second part of the book, Dr. Brantly openly details his own personal battle with the disease. Again, through his faith in both God and in the medical profession, he was able to overcome his affliction with the Ebola virus. Called for Life is an inspiring and informative book for anyone wanting to know more about the Ebola epidemic and the depth of courage and compassion needed to treat patients afflicted with the disease.
July 4, 2017
Such an inspiring story. I finished this book just two days before my husband is scheduled to leave for what will be his 7th or 8th mission trip to Honduras.
You might not remember his name, but you probably remember him as the American doctor who contracted Ebola while serving in Africa. I can remember so much talk about his choice to put himself in harm's way when news broke about him being brought back to the U.S. to be treated. Most of this talk wasn't very positive. The chapter titled Praying for Dengue Fever really got since my husband's was hospitalized with Dengue after returning from Honduras one year. The next year he was hospitalized for a bacterial infection after returning. Although his condition wasn't nearly as severe as Kent Brantley's, I remember our choice also being questioned when the second year in a row he returned from Honduras and was admitted to the hospital. Not questioned by my he or myself, but by others who did not understand.
As I was reading Called for Lif, I read the following and felt as if I could have written it myself, "...growing up in church and hearing missionaries speak, what I'd heard them say most concerned preaching, teaching, and planting churches in foreign countries. I did not consider myself skilled as a preacher or teacher- getting up to speak in front of people was not in my comfort zone. But I did know that I could show compassion to people in need."
I identified so much with Kent and Amber's story. Mission work is so much more than teaching and preaching the gospel. It is about compassion and loving our neighbors.
You might not remember his name, but you probably remember him as the American doctor who contracted Ebola while serving in Africa. I can remember so much talk about his choice to put himself in harm's way when news broke about him being brought back to the U.S. to be treated. Most of this talk wasn't very positive. The chapter titled Praying for Dengue Fever really got since my husband's was hospitalized with Dengue after returning from Honduras one year. The next year he was hospitalized for a bacterial infection after returning. Although his condition wasn't nearly as severe as Kent Brantley's, I remember our choice also being questioned when the second year in a row he returned from Honduras and was admitted to the hospital. Not questioned by my he or myself, but by others who did not understand.
As I was reading Called for Lif, I read the following and felt as if I could have written it myself, "...growing up in church and hearing missionaries speak, what I'd heard them say most concerned preaching, teaching, and planting churches in foreign countries. I did not consider myself skilled as a preacher or teacher- getting up to speak in front of people was not in my comfort zone. But I did know that I could show compassion to people in need."
I identified so much with Kent and Amber's story. Mission work is so much more than teaching and preaching the gospel. It is about compassion and loving our neighbors.
December 7, 2017
Called for Life by Kent and Amber Brantly demonstrates the need for God in the midst of suffering and crisis. As Christian medical missionaries, Keith and Amber answered their call to serve the sick and dying and moved to Liberia in 2013 with their two children. Kent Brantly was one of the many doctors working in West Africa when the Ebola virus broke out. He treated his patients with dignity and respect especially during their most weak and vulnerable moments. He and his fellow doctors had a responsibility as Christian medical missionaries to treat the patients that came to them with Ebola simply because the people could do nothing about it. Despite their poor hospital condition, he and his staff worked with little supplies and tried to help those who were suffering in any way they possibly could.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The beginning started off a bit slow, and I had a hard time getting started. But soon, I could not put it down. By the end, I was surprised with how much I liked the book, considering I am not much of a reader. Some parts were a bit hard to read, because it is truly heartbreaking to read about how Kent and his patients slowly deteriorated from the Ebola virus and how his wife’s was half a world away and the only thing she and their family could do was pray. Reading their story opened my eyes to how precious life is and that people should not take it for granted. Readers everywhere will be moved by the Brantly’s faith, love, determination, and perseverance through their struggle.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The beginning started off a bit slow, and I had a hard time getting started. But soon, I could not put it down. By the end, I was surprised with how much I liked the book, considering I am not much of a reader. Some parts were a bit hard to read, because it is truly heartbreaking to read about how Kent and his patients slowly deteriorated from the Ebola virus and how his wife’s was half a world away and the only thing she and their family could do was pray. Reading their story opened my eyes to how precious life is and that people should not take it for granted. Readers everywhere will be moved by the Brantly’s faith, love, determination, and perseverance through their struggle.
December 7, 2017
I really enjoyed learning the struggles and hardships that Dr. Kent Brantly went through and how he saw God through the many people that prayed and cared for him. Dr. Kent worked in Liberia, Africa where he helped patients who had contracted Ebola which is a deadly disease that took the lives of many. On July 31, 2014 Dr. Kent started showing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue and was later diagnosed to have contracted the deadly Ebola virus. He was rushed to the Emory hospital in Atlanta, Georgia where doctors were willing to take care of the first Ebola patient on U.S. soil. The many prayers that were sent to him within his community and around the globe helped him fight the virus and survive the deadly disease.
He thanks his community for praying for him and always keeping him in their hearts while undergoing the suffering of Ebola. The many doctors and nurses that took him into their loving hands is where he saw God the strongest. Dr. Kent says that if it wasn’t for the people at the Samaritan’s Purse and his fellow Christian neighbors that he wouldn’t be here today. Dr. Kent also stresses that people in Africa are still suffering with this disease and that we need to show the attention that he got over to them. This book really opened my eyes on how God shows himself through the action many people take in a severe time and to always love your neighbors.
He thanks his community for praying for him and always keeping him in their hearts while undergoing the suffering of Ebola. The many doctors and nurses that took him into their loving hands is where he saw God the strongest. Dr. Kent says that if it wasn’t for the people at the Samaritan’s Purse and his fellow Christian neighbors that he wouldn’t be here today. Dr. Kent also stresses that people in Africa are still suffering with this disease and that we need to show the attention that he got over to them. This book really opened my eyes on how God shows himself through the action many people take in a severe time and to always love your neighbors.
December 1, 2018
Kent and Amber responded to a call to serve in Liberia as medical missionaries with Samaritan’s Purse in 2013. It was during the summer of 2014 that the Ebola health crisis first broke out in Western Africa. The hospital where Kent was working was one of the first treatment centers. Sanitary procedures were put in place and followed carefully and Kent believed himself as he treated the patients who came for care. Unfortunately, after several weeks of long hours, Kent somehow contracted Ebola and was quarantined in his house, cared for by his co-workers. He was able to be flown back to the U.S. – being the first patient treated here in the States – and made a full recovery.
Incredible read of a couple that was obedient to the call to serve and the faith that carried each of them through. I can remember following the news at the time and remembered that there were individuals who had been flown to hospitals here in the States for care. So to read about it from the perspective of those who lived through it is interesting.
Incredible read of a couple that was obedient to the call to serve and the faith that carried each of them through. I can remember following the news at the time and remembered that there were individuals who had been flown to hospitals here in the States for care. So to read about it from the perspective of those who lived through it is interesting.
August 15, 2020
Been meaning to read for years. Definitely brings some perspective to the COVID pandemic that has shut down the world! I remember when the Ebola outbreak hit. We were to visit Dallas while there had been a small amount of spread in a Dallas hospital a few blocks away. We opted to go but with a bit of hesitancy.
This story tells how Kent ended up in Liberia as a doctor with a nurse wife. He details his first encounters with Ebola there and then a bit of the spread before he too succumbed to it. A couple of things struck me. One, his willingness to show kindness and compassion even when he was tired. (Not new but convicting nonetheless). And a huge overarching theme is as how God prepared and provided for him long before he ended up with Ebola. Several situations equipped him and prepared him to be thinking of Ebola before it became an issue. And he even quoted someone at the end who said that Gods miracles
Sometimes occur over decades (meaning He prepares the details ling in advance). I have seen this in my own life.
Good book but not great.
This story tells how Kent ended up in Liberia as a doctor with a nurse wife. He details his first encounters with Ebola there and then a bit of the spread before he too succumbed to it. A couple of things struck me. One, his willingness to show kindness and compassion even when he was tired. (Not new but convicting nonetheless). And a huge overarching theme is as how God prepared and provided for him long before he ended up with Ebola. Several situations equipped him and prepared him to be thinking of Ebola before it became an issue. And he even quoted someone at the end who said that Gods miracles
Sometimes occur over decades (meaning He prepares the details ling in advance). I have seen this in my own life.
Good book but not great.
December 7, 2017
Called for Life was an inspiring book that taught many life lessons. It was interesting learning of Kent Brantly found God even through all the struggles going on in life. He realized how much everyone really cared for and loved him. Ebola was a deadly disease, but not many people were getting it because of how it was being treated. Dr. Kent would help those who had the deadly disease until one day he began showing signs of this disease. While Dr. Kent was in the hospital he began to realize that people around the world were trying to do anything to help cure this disease.
When Brantly was cured of Ebola he thanked everyone who prayed and kept a positive attitude throughout this rough time. There were a lot of doctors that were risking their own lives just to make sure that Dr. Kent lived because without them he would have died of the deadly disease. Called for Life made me realize how God expresses himself through other people’s actions.
When Brantly was cured of Ebola he thanked everyone who prayed and kept a positive attitude throughout this rough time. There were a lot of doctors that were risking their own lives just to make sure that Dr. Kent lived because without them he would have died of the deadly disease. Called for Life made me realize how God expresses himself through other people’s actions.
November 6, 2018
In beginning reading this story, I found it somewhat boring due to the narration style of what I consider just listing facts. But, as I became invested in the story, it was more interesting. Ken survived a horrendous bout with Ebola. He gives the glory to God for His sustenance and healing. He gives thanks to all of the help he received from others--their prayers and their hands on help. Being connected with Samaritan's Purse, he received great help from them and from the US government. Also, receiving an experimental drug that was developed against all odds was instrumental in his recovery.
I will watch the DVD Facing Darkness: a true story of faith to further my interest in him, his work, and his family.
I will watch the DVD Facing Darkness: a true story of faith to further my interest in him, his work, and his family.
April 1, 2022
This is an excellent biography of Dr. Brantly. In his own words, and those of his wife Amber, we read about what brought them together, took them to Liberia, and pushed them to stay on the mission field. The speed with which they were immersed in the epidemic sounds eerily familiar with the recent worldwide pandemic, as does the distrust of authority and difficulty in breaking through miscommunication. It was a fascinating read, detailing the faith that surrounded and upheld Dr. Brantly and his family through what is unimaginable. Published only a year after the incident, this is a raw and emotional read that will affect you. I highly recommend this look at the life of a missionary doctor and his family through the lens of a deadly disease.
November 8, 2017
An incredible story of the lives of medical missionaries in Liberia who were thrown into an epidemic of Ebola virus and how they dealt with the incredible human misery that resulted from it. They offered so much to people who would almost certainly die horrible deaths under less than ideal conditions. They sacrificed to the point of the physician, Kent Brantly,0 contracting the disease himself, and then coming to know firsthand what a devastating disease Ebola is. Through significant effort by the medical staff in Liberia, and then again in the US, as well as the successful use of an experimental drug never before used in humans, Kent Brantly survived. A worthy read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews