Genres: Biography & Autobiography, Memoir, Self-Help
Pages: 280
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
To honor her mother’s deathbed advice to head off breast cancer to be there for her boys, Krista Hammerbacher Haapala chose to trade healthy breasts for longevity and peace of mind. In Body 2.0, Haapala chronicles the personal research, medical process, bodily changes, and the emotional toll involved in the more than two-year odyssey of what she referred to as her Body 2.0 vision quest. Through it all, Haapala shares her insights for living awake during even the darkest times, and captures the raw ebbs and flows she and her family experience in the face of her wrenching decision. She takes on body image, the sexualization of breast cancer, motherhood, and maternal relationships, as well as how to sustain an intimate, loving partnership. An unflinching, irreverent take on preventative double mastectomy,Body 2.0 is a guide to reframing adversity, finding inspiration, and shaping your own life.”
I’m currently on the BookSparks Magic of Memoir Book Tour (aka #MagicOfMemoir), so when I saw this book listed, Body 2.0: FInding My Edge Through Loss and Mastectomy by Krista Hammerbacher Haapala, I was immediately blown away and wanted to read it. While I’ve never had breast cancer myself, I’ve lived with someone going through breast cancer and it’s not pretty. Of course, cancer never is pretty, but to affect our breasts? As women, it’s kind of who we are until we learn it’s not.
This real life story is told by Krista, an amazing mother of two boys and personal coach. She shares her walk of life making the decision to have her breasts removed in order to honor her mother’s deathbed advice to head off breast cancer and “be there” for her boys. In Body 2.0, Krista shares with readers as if they were her next door neighbors or perhaps good friends. As I read the story, I felt like I was almost walking this journey with her as I learned the steps she took in this more than two-year process. She writes about her personal research and the medical process itself. She shares not only the changes in her body but the emotional changes involved.
In every choice Krista makes, we readers see her determination to come out on the other side of this process stronger so she can be there for her family. She doesn’t hold back in this book either – we get to see the real deal as she proceeds with a double mastectomy. Surprisingly, me – the one with all the words – is at a loss to effectively relay my emotions having walked this journey after the fact through Krista’s book. She’s a strong woman with purpose and determination. She does the next thing in front of her and faces her fears head on. Placed in the same situation, I am not certain I would have the courage this woman possesses. She shares this story so that others in this same situation can go through the process perhaps just a little easier knowing she has walked the walk before them.
If you know someone struggling with breast cancer, with mastectomy issues, or with life generally, this book is for you. You will be a better person for having read this book as it inspires you to be the best “you” that you can be.
Who is Krista Hammerbacher Haapala? She is an incredibly amazing woman who is brave and courageous. (Tears in my eyes as I type that right now.) Here’s how her website describes her: Krista is a passion instigator. As a personal, relationship, and sexuality coach, she supports humans of every stripe in creating fiercely fulfilling lives.
Since writing after bedtime by the beam of her headlamp, she continues to live awake and break the rules with her writing. Krista finds her own edge daily as a mountain biker, CrossFitter, sailor, and a poet. Living in Maine a few steps from the woods, she is the mama of two sons and partner to her love, Brian.
You can find Krista on her Official Website, or connect with her on her or Twitter pages!
I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from BookSpark and the publisher as part of the #MagicofMemoir Tour!
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