Learning to Breathe Again: Choosing Life and Finding Hope After a Shattering Loss

by Tammy Trent

Follow Christian singer/songwriter Tammy Trent as she tells of her beautiful love story turned tragic, still pointing to God as the source of all life and hope. Theirs was a fairy-tale romance. Her husband, Trent, was Tammy's best friend and business manager. While vacationing in Jamaica in 2001, a routine free diving excursion in the Blue Lagoon turned drastically tragic when Trent never resurfaced. Unfortunately, the following day's events of 9/11 would create an incredible obstacle to Tammy's and her family's efforts to connect and handle these horrendous events. Tearful prayers pleading with God to make Himself real have been answered, and God is slowly restoring Tammy's joy and hope, as she begins to sing and dance again for Him.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Grief, Biography

215 pages, Hardcover

First published February 29, 2000

Reviews

[Donna Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed the book. I loved hearing about their love story and getting to know their families. But there wasn't enough substance about how she healed after her loss, and so I felt the title was misleading. She talked only a little of taking time off from her career (which most of us can't go) and spending time with those closest to her. But then it was just over. Did she go to therapy? Do special things in her church? How did she recover? I was disappointed with that; it is the main reason I chose to read the book, to learn from it for my personal loss.

[CC. Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most heartbreaking and inspriational stories I have read in a long time. It is a Christian inspiration memoir but you don't have to be a Christian to appreciate the story. While I don't normally read this kind of book, the story of her experience was so fascinating.

Tammy's life growing up was no fairy tale. Abandoned by her father, she desperately yearned for affection from her stepfather but he was often cold and distant and her mother just didn't seem to care. Tammy turned to Christianity and met a young man at a Bible study class. The book chronicles how Tammy and Trent (she took his first name for her stage name) fall in love.

Tammy and Trent had a fairy tale romance love-affair and ending...but no happily ever after. Just when their life was going so great, they decide to go on a tropical vacation. Trent liked to scuba dive so he and Tammy went for a dive in a ceyote. Trent dove down but he never came back. Tammy's story of waiting for him, the panic and ultimate realization that he isn't coming back, is heartbreaking. When his body is found the next day, Tammy tries to fly back home, but the date is September 11, 2001.

While much of the story focuses on Tammy's career as a gsopel star and Trent's job as her manager, the real strength of the book was for was seeing how she endured in the light of which seems so unendurable. A beautiful, tragic story worth reading.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe I haven’t put this on my list yet!!!
I think around 2003 Tammy Trent came to our church and gave us her testimony. I immediately dashed off to the library to get this book and was wrapped up in it. I read it one afternoon. (It usually takes me FOREVER to read a book)
Such a beautiful story of faith, love, and hope. When she didn’t know where Trent was but knew something awful had happened, she did what she was always trained to do. She sang and cried out to the Lord like a soldier going through training day after day… there always comes a time when your mind won’t know what to do but your body does.
Really beautiful story of how she met the love of her life, got married, lost him, and rejoices now that he is a part of her future.
Lovely story.
If you need something uplifting, check this one out!!

[Penelope Keepers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very good!! It is also very sad!!!

[Hope Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read. A story from a strong and faithful woman of God. She leans in on the strength of God to overcome unthinkable tragedy.

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is seriously amazing!!! It shows that no matter what happens you can get through anything with God. Just seeing how Tammy can go from loosing her husband then to 9/11, and then not having her family therw with her, shows how God has a plan for everything. This book will make you cry and laugh!

[K Loh-Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book after hearing Tammy Trent's moving testimony at Women of Faith. It inspired me to cherish my loved ones more. I was impressed by her response to tragedy...not a fake, happy all the time response, but a real grief and leap of faith.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book! She is very inspirational. The heartache this woman has gone thru and the faith she had to help her thru the days to come was very powerful. You can feel it as you read it. Took me one day to read this.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mother in law gave me this book. It was intriguing because it was the story of her husband's death...And he went missing on the day before 9/11. It was written very simply and not necessarily good literature, but it kept me captivated.

[Julie Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago and decided to pull it out and read it again. Tammy gives a beautiful tribute to her amazing husband Trent and shares her unwaivering faith in God. This book is a true gem! A must read!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story of love, loss, and hope. I really connected with Tammy and her story.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - excellent book especially after hearing about her story from a friend who heard her speak at a conference (Amy Maze)

[Sheree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, difficult, heart-wrenching, inspiring read.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Tammy Trent's story many many years ago at a Woman of Faith conference - oh my goodness, I have rarely cried so hard - such a deeply sad story - yet she will inspire you! A must read!

[Gjerilin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for me right now.

[D. Sun · Rating 1 out of 5]

The full title sounds like a " how to book" but it is not . It is a story of Tammy Trent's loss.

[Tina Sartor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has helped me a little with the recent loss of my husband. Tammy’s tragic story and how she remained strong in both her life and her faith is inspiring to me as I struggle with my recent loss. I truly enjoy hearing about how Trent and Tammy met and about their beautiful relationship.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very emotional book about the tragic death of Tammy Trent's husband during a diving accident and the stages of her healing.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great autobiography. Tammy Trent Christian singer whose husband and best friend was killed in Jamaica in a diving accident.

[Rinsemphy Sasah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that made me cry so hard but never enough....I love it

[Juliana Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most heart-touching book I have read in a while. Tammy's story is truly a gift.