"Nothing Is Impossible" (The story behind the book)

In February 2017, in the aftermath of my grandmother's 80th birthday party, with kids powered by cake running around the room and adults happily chatting with each other, my Aunt Kathy Baird told me she loved the life story book I had written about the birthday girl. "In fact," she said, "I should hire you to do a project for me. You know my friends from South Korea, the Kim family?"

Yes, sort of. Over the years I do remember seeing an Asian family sitting with Kathy's family at our Baird clan Thanksgiving get-togethers. I didn't know any of their names or how in the world they were connected to my aunt and uncle. I figured they didn't have any family around so it was nice of Kathy and her husband Russ to invite them to our Thanksgiving. I remember there was a boy in a wheelchair who appeared to have quite severe disabilities. Every other year, there they were again at Thanksgiving, but I had never actually spoken to any of them.

"They have the most incredible story and it has been weighing on my for years that we need to get it written down. Their grandchildren and my grandchildren need to know about what they have gone through."

I was elated and honored to be enlisted to help with such an important project. I had just experienced a big disappointment in my career; a promising opportunity with a hospice company unexpectedly fell through and I was doubting my abilities and the viability of my life story business. After talking with Kathy, everything seemed to make sense. The hospice contract likely would have taken up all the time I had to work on life stories, preventing me from doing the Kim's book, or at least not giving it the full effort and attention it deserved.

As the incredible story began to unfold through my interviews with Kathy and the Kims, I had the distinct thought that in my entire career as a life story writer, this may be the most important book I ever write.

Suddenly I found myself entrenched in the most heart-wrenching and sacred experiences of people who were practically strangers to me. I learned that Jang Ho and Kang Sook Kim were living with their ten-year-old daughter, JiSoo, in their home country of South Korea when their son Young Wan was born in February 1993. Prior to Young Wan's birth, the Kims had experienced years of infertility and a life-threatening miscarriage. After such a long wait, they were overjoyed at Young Wan's arrival, but they quickly learned that he was born with a severe form of spina bifida and would not likely survive. As their determination to save their son pushed them to desperate limits, they made a miraculous connection with Kathy Baird, a patient advocate living in Kaysville, Utah, USA. That connection was the start of hope and a chance to save Young Wan.

But that was just the beginning of their story. What follows is a real and raw glimpse into the life of a family trying to immigrate to the United States to save their son, to adjust to a new life in a new country, and continually care for a child with special needs. Despite moments of heartache, fear, and frustration, there are miraculous and faith-filled victories that lead us to believe in the title of the book: "Nothing Is Impossible."

I have said it before and I will say it again: I have the most amazing job in the world. As I write peoples' stories, I am inspired, changed, and blessed. Thank you, Baird and Kim families, for allowing me to help bring your story to life. I am a better person because of it.

_____________________________________________________________________

*If you would like to purchase a copy of Nothing Is Impossible, please follow the links below. Please note that these books are not being sold for profit, but simply for the benefit of those who read. The cost of the book is just to cover printing and shipping.*

Paperback Copy of Nothing Is Impossible

Hardcover Copy of Nothing Is Impossible