He Heard Hannah: The 911 Call That Saved the Dispatcher's Life

by Lynnette Kraft, Courtney Becker

Lynnette Kraft hoped she’d had her share of suffering with the death of two infant sons and a complicated congenital diagnosis for her daughter, Anna. But six years later, Anna, too, is called home, and Lynnette is, once more, thrust into a world of grief, wondering if she’ll ever be able to reconcile God’s purpose in her heartache.

When she receives an unexpected letter from Courtney Becker, the 911 dispatcher who took the call that fateful morning, Lynnette is given a chance to see, firsthand, the transformative power of suffering.

A divinely orchestrated tale of trial and perseverance—hopelessness and restoration.

Genres: Nonfiction

262 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2008

About the author

Lyn­nette Kraft loves a good story—real or imaginary, inspiring or hilarious. She uses her own stories to entertain, to illustrate lessons, and to celebrate individuality, crediting God as the giver of all inspiration. When she’s not writing (or telling) stories, she’s likely chewing on herbs and wild plants, doing yoga in the sunshine, admiring pieces of nature, reading something light, or watching movies and playing games with her family. When she’s doing regular stuff, like cooking dinner and sorting laundry, she’s also dreaming about living on the beach, because she’s a sensible dreamer.

Reviews

[Emma Filbrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. I could hardly put it down. There are several chapters that I cried through, as I could feel so well the emotions that Lynette experienced after Anna died. Having lost a child myself, I could identify with every one of those emotions. It was very encouraging to see with Courtney, Kyle and Lynette, as well as in our own life, how God brings good out of tragedy, pain, and loss. I loved watching Courtney‘s story unfold as God kept working in his heart through everything that happened. This is one of my top ten books for this year.
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

[Susan Kendrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Idk just didn’t connect really!

[Patty Pacelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and touching story that should give hope to anyone, especially those who have experienced loss of loved ones or other difficult circumstances. It was very effective to go back and forth between Lynnette and Courtney's stories are I really felt a connection to both of them. Definitely worth reading for anyone!

[Stephen Kronmuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book has helped me begin healing in ways I never knew I needed!

This is an absolutely wonderful book. I read it in its entirety in just 3 sittings, because just couldn't out it down. I spent just shy of 30 years in emergency services as both a volunteer and career firefighter/EMT, and like Courtney, I have seen just about everything you could imagine. This book has helped me realize that Mathieu read my devotions and pray daily, I have never truly opened myself to God's true love and healing. There are a few incredibly terrible tragedies that I was involved in through EMS that immediately came back to mind, in vice detail, while reading this, and I came to realize that K have never allowed myself to "feel" anything about what I saw/experienced at these incidents, and I believe they have troubled me deep down for many years. This book has helped me set those feelings at the feet of our Lord and let him help me heal. Thank You so very much for sharing this story. Anna had helped me open my heart to God's love in ways I never dreamed possible!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the root of the story with how God worked to bring light through a great trial. There was more peripheral information and peripheral background and follow-up than I preferred. Having both viewpoints also meant that later chapters when both were writing about the same events could feel repetitive, so I did some skimming

[Lisa S. Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

In a world where we read about so much negativity, it’s great to be reminded of God’s love for us. He places His precious and loving followers in the paths of others to share His love.
What a wonderful reminder that we are to walk in the light of His word so that many more will come to know Him. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

[Rachel P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very OK book

While I appreciate the sentiments of faith and redemption expressed in this book, I found the writing style to be very elementary. The story was not as compelling as I thought it would be, and it got a bit boring in places.

[Cecily Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Heard Hannah is a remarkable story. About hope during a time of grief!

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author gave excellent thought for those who have lost a special needs child.
Telling a story from a person who works 911 calls and how to keep feelings in check
when it involves a child. The book was good, two conversation was a bit long.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was presently surprised by the depth of this book. It was fairly well-written, too. I typically dislike non-fiction, but I do love true stories, so I decided to give it a try. The title is also very fitting, because if Courtney hadn't heard Hannah when the father said Anna, the story may have turned out differently. I found myself engaged in the story and tearful on a number of occasions, but in a good way.

This book shows the way God works in just one vivid example of how our lives are not our own and how each and every one of us is precious to God. This story made me think of other people who just wanted the lost to know Jesus. It was the cry of their hearts. Many of them ended up being martyred or dying from some unexpected situation, but people found the Lord as a result, so you never know what God intends to do with our pain. We just have to trust Him through it.

My favorite scene in this book was right before Anna passed away and how she acted toward her family while on vacation. I also adored the part where she wanted to know Jesus, because her child-like faith and remorse made me cry. What a precious situation, and how privileged the author must have felt to share that experience with her child. I thought about Lynette's life and how she could have given up raising children after the first tragedy, or the second, but because she persevered, God gave her Anna. This story is a testimony of how trusting God even though the most painful situations in our lives can often cause the greatest blessings. Great book!

[Natalie Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I told Lynnette when I saw her recently, the first time I picked this book up at a friend’s house, I skimmed the beginning of it, but didn’t make it past the few references to country living. Not being much into goats and chickens myself, I didn’t make a point to get a copy for myself. However, when she contacted me to ask if I would consider reviewing it for her, I agreed. I took it on our family trip during Thanksgiving, thinking it would provide some good reading for the bulk of the trip. I was wrong. Instead of lasting for the whole trip, as soon as I picked it up to start reading one night, I couldn’t put it down, so it only lasted one night! Guess she’ll have to keep writing more books! :-) With that lengthy intro out of the way…He Heard Hannah is an incredible story of God at work in two different families through unique experiences that eventually led to them crossing paths. Their first encounter centered on the traumatic occasion of the death of the Kraft’s daughter, Anna, and Courtney Becker’s role as the 9-1-1 operator who took the call. The book beautifully weaves together both stories, and documents so many remarkable parallels that readers can’t help but see the Sovereignty of a loving God constantly in motion orchestrating the details of our lives for our good and to accomplish His eternal purposes.

[JennaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great book. It was a great story about how two separate lives became intertwined because of one event. It was very emotional, and I could not hold back the tears as I read the chapters about Anna's death. It was great to read both Lynnette's side of the story and how her daughter Anna had such an effect on her life and that of her family. It was also great being able to read Courtney's story of how receiving the 911 call from Anna's dad changed his life, and how after meeting the Krafts, his life was changed for the better. I hope to someday be as great an influence on others through my life, as Anna was in her short six years.

[Brenda Wharton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story told in every other chapter format... The odd number chapters were told by mom who lost her 6yr old daughter to congenital heart disease. The even numbered chapters were told by the 911 dispatcher who took the call and he told the story of how his life was changed forever by that one call. Awesome book!!

[Tammy Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful touching story of how God brought His people through pain.

[Bethany Pagel · Rating 3 out of 5]

touching