Forged Through Fire...Book Review

Forged Through Fire: A Reconstructive Surgeon's Story of Survival, Faith and Healing

by Mark D. McDonough, MD

4.5 star read.  Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.  Mark did an amazing job sharing his story with the reader.  His story starts August 13, 1976 with a house fire, in which Mark, his brothers and mother are engulfed in flames at their family home.  His father was away on business. Mark being the oldest of boys was left in charge while his father was gone for business.  I wondered if this "charge" put Mark in the position to undergo the severity of burns he experienced due to his responsibility to ensure all were safe.  This story is truly honest, raw, and does not hold back.  Mark's experience post fire is pretty graphic at times and I wonder if some readers would be turned off by the details or if they or a loved one had experienced past trauma, like Mark, would it turn them away from reading.  I luckily have never experienced this horrific of an event in my life.  I so appreciated Mark's trusting the reader with his story which didn't hold back.  He talks about his road to recovery, the pain and suffering he endured post fire, the dysfunction and challenges of his family and self.  I was amazed with Mark's perseverance and resilience despite many challenges throughout his life.  I also appreciated his ability to weave in his "faith journey" and relationship with God throughout the pages of this book.  His words made me want to talk to God more- if that makes sense.  Lastly, I have always wondered where God is in times of trial, tribulations and utmost suffering and pain.  Mark's answer to this question I have wanted was really helpful in moving me in my own "faith journey". Thank you Mark for the answer to this hard question.  Here is his answer in paragraph form...

page 254-255  "In the wake of a horrific event..., it's common to feel dumbstruck in confusion and anger, or to be left questioning our faith.  Given the magnitude of our pain and the senseless loss of life, we feel spiritually bankrupt.  At such times, I believe the best and only recourse is to surrender.  We surrender to win, bolstering our faith that God will see us through the storms of life and ultimately cultivating light and goodness from darkness and evil.  Though we live in a fallen world, he has not abandoned us.  ... While we may not be privy to his complete plan and will, there are signs and evidence of his omnipresence and omnipotence."

Lastly this is one of my other favorite lines from the end of Mark's story...

pg 263 "Contrary to the beliefs of many, nowhere in the Bible does it say that God won't give us more than we can handle.  But much is written about how God will provide the strength we need to survive those things we fear handling.  All things are possible in his world."