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When Jill met Jim Kelly, he was at the peak of his fame as Buffalo Bills quarterback. They got married, but because of busy schedules and her devotion to her kids, they never really connected.
Without a Word: How a Boy’s Unspoken Love Changed Everything is Jill Kelly’s story. It’s primarily about caring for her son Hunter, who was born with the fatal and rare condition Krabbe’s disease — the demands, her emotions, and the effect it had on her family, both positive and negative.
I liked how Kelly wrote honestly about her past and present troubles, which included an out of wedlock pregnancy, depression, marital troubles, and of course caring for a very ill child.
Without a Word is published by Hachette’s Faithwords imprint, and Jill Kelly does share about how her relationship with Jesus helps her through these trials.
Even though Kelly had to deal with issues that most of us (thankfully) never will, something about the way she tells her story makes it very relatable. We all have problems in our lives that impact our parenting and our marriages, and it’s in this way that I most often related with Kelly’s story.
I have one copy of Without a Word to give to one of you (U.S. and Canadian residents only).
Leave a comment if you’d like to win, and we’ll announce the winner right here on October 18.
Jody says
This book would be wonderful to read and share with my family whom I knnow would enjoy it, too.
Rebecca says
I would love to win this book!
Christine 'LiveLaughLoveCj' says
I would love to read her story, I remember reading something about this family in parade or guideposts(?). I would love to know more.
thank you for the opportunity
Kimberly says
I’d like to win this book.
Linda Kish says
I remember Hunter’s story. I would love to read Jill’s book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
LaVonne says
I’d love this book. It looks great.
Brenda Hall says
Wow – would love to read her story in hopes that it will help mine!! Thank you for the opportunity!!
Marj M. says
I know I would cry but I also know I would learn and like doing it.
tennille says
Break out the tissues! Sounds good and moving.
Krista says
Sounds like it would be a really good read. 🙂
sandra joseph says
Jim Kelly went to a rival school that my high school team played. We all knew about Jim Kelly as he beat our team in every game (including the championship football game). I would enjoy reading how God has worked in his life since I knew of him in high school.
5 Minutes for Books says
I didn’t know about that part of his life, but it’s a really powerful story.
Sarah says
I’ld love a copy!
DeAnn says
I would love to win this book. Reading about how others overcome difficulties is inspiring.
valerie smith says
I would love to read this book. Very timely topic for me as my husband and I are struggling with connecting right now.
Shawnee says
I remember living in Buffalo and seeing the Kelly family on the news deal with this horrible news. As a mom of a child with mito disease, I would love to read her story.
Mama Needs a Cosmo says
I remember reading about this in Parade a while back. Such an amazing story written and told by a phenomenal woman. Whenever I lose patience with my very healthy (and sometimes overactive) boys, I think of women like Jill and it puts life in perspective for me!!
Marni says
I’d love to win!
Shana says
Sounds like a book that will pull at the heart strings. That’s amazing she wrote about it and is letting others share in her life by reading it
Jill says
Sounds like just the kind of books I like!
Donna Lutjens says
Sounds like a powerful book–I’d love to read it.