Sleep, Pray, Heal: A Path to Wholeness & Well-Being

by Donna Fado Ivery

When a two hundred pound glass partition fell on Donna Fado Ivery's head resulting in brain injury, disability, and chronic pain, she could no longer count on walking, speaking, or thinking. How would she care for her infant, her preschooler, her husband, and herself? How would she continue to serve as pastor? With humor and humility, this inspirational memoir speaks to Donna’s struggle through medical, social, and church prejudice with the abiding support of family and the Holy Spirit. Sleep, Pray, Heal charts the path through hardship and despair and offers a map—through scripture, theology, poetry, painting, and storytelling—to faith, healing, recovery and well-being. Sleep, Pray, Heal shares good news in a novel way.

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2019

Reviews

[Nancy Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very inspiring. Rev. Donna Fado Ivery, a Methodist pastor, was with her family at a casino buffet and, shortly after she sat down in a booth surrounded by thick glass partitions, the partition behind her fell and hit her in the head. Because she was not knocked unconscious, she was diagnosed with a concussion. However, her symptoms became worse and worse. She had severe chronic pain in her head. She could not walk across a room or ride in a car without getting dizzy and nauseated. She could not form words. She had two small children she was unable to take care of because of her inability to walk, talk, or move. Her doctors were telling her to be active and get up more. Finally, after a year of torment, she finally found the right doctor who listened and did further testing. He diagnosed her with medium brain trauma. (Severe is a coma). He explained to her that with that level of brain trauma, her brain needed rest in order to heal. He gave her medication for the pain and nausea, and told her to lie down one hour for every hour she was up. So, she would lie down for one hour and when she was able, get up for one hour. The story is not only a story of pain, but also an inspirational story of spiritual healing through prayer, the Holy Spirit guiding her, and through painting her pain.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

I have also suffered a brain injury, mine was mild especially in consideration of the injuries Donna sustained. I found this book to be a source of inspiration and a comfort that Donna's recovery was both slow and painful, as I feel mine has been, but also that she has found a strengthened faith and her way to a different way of life from the one she originally imagined. It's often hard to put into words how a brain injury can and does impact your life. Those who have experienced brain injury have to adapt to so many changes and it's often hard to accept that you are no longer the same person. Moving forward is often a dance of 2 steps forward and 3 steps back until you learn the new steps and adapt to the changing beat of the new music.
Thank you Donna for sharing your story and giving hope to others.

[Valeria Koopman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I cannot adequately paint a figure of pain because chronic pain is not of my making. It is other than me.”

Sleep, Pray, Heal is a calling for spiritual wisdom, clarity, and transformation.

It reminds us that joy and fulfillment are always available for those who are ready for self-exploration, spiritual insights, artistic expression, and most of all, commitment to healing. I love Donna’s work and message!

This is a healing book for anyone who is willing to see and feel what is beyond pain and suffering.

It was a wonderful experience to have had a conversation with Donna Fado Ivery during a podcast interview! Her loving presence, wisdom, and clarity reflected her commitment to changing lives!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising joy! I had some trepidation since memoirs are not a genre I generally choose, but the UMW Reading Program is good for pushing me to try something different and I enjoyed this. Partly because I related to the context of Fado Ivery’s story but I also I felt that the way she described her experiences were relatable and simultaneously taught me better ways to relate to persons with a disability or experiencing severe pain. Audiobook was well read by the author.

[Danice Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about healing. Donna tells her own story about learning to live with brain injury. The Holy Spirit teaches her one step at a time. Unable to express herself at first, she finds that painting gives her a way to show how she feels. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with the challenges of disability and healing.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

UMW book club choice for February.

[Nancy Oudith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith by Sight

Faith is very powerful it’s sometimes difficult to understand situations but taking it to the Lord in Prayers is awesome

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this yet how much I learned about art & chronic pain. Very inspiring!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written memoir by a woman who has dealt with a TBI suffered in 1994 when she was a young mother, wife and pastor. Her courage, pragmatism and spirituality combine to help her learn to manage her life and succeed through art.