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(More customer reviews)As a person with cystic fibrosis, I have always shied away from CF memoirs. My attitude has been "I have CF, why do I need to read about your CF?" I can not tell you how thankful I am that I did not shy away from this extraordinary story of struggle, strength and love.
Ana and Isa are twins of Asian descent who both have cystic fibrosis. Statistically, the chances of this genetic combination is 1 in 1.8 billion. The uniqueness of these two women does not stop with their genetics.
Ana and Isa immerse the reader in the world of their mother's Japanese culture mixed with that of their German father. This alone makes the story fascinating. Add to it the bond between twins and the brother who sometimes stood on the outside looking in, and you have all the makings of a complex family drama. But the story is so much more than this reader could ever put into a few sentences.
Throughout their childhood, across the seas in Japan and Germany, on into their time studying at Stanford and into adulthood, there is another character that is a constant: cystic fibrosis. I, too, have struggled with CF but after reading this book, I feel as though my "fight" pales in comparison. Never have I been witness to such an intense will to live and to thrive. There are many authors who might try to convince a reader to believe "life is precious" or to "seize the day." For these twins, no such statements were necessary. I was inspired to live harder and better only by their example. These strong individuals rarely felt self-pity and I never felt their tales to be histrionic. I so appreciated the clean, simple and honest way they allowed this breathtaking story to unfold.
In addition to feeling humbled by these women, I also felt a little bit jealous. As the only child in my family with CF and as a person who had no friends with CF during the younger years, I could not help but to wish I had my own Ana or Isa by my side. The devotion these twins had for each other was astounding and, in all likelihood, life-saving. In times when there was no one else, they gave each other the strenuous therapy needed to clear their sickly lungs and provided the emotional support and understanding that could only come from someone who has "been there, done that."
All in all, this is a book about "A Twin Triumph over Cystic Fibrosis" but it is also so much more. Many books about CF leave the reader feeling sad and overwhelmed. I am happy to say, this book left me rejuvenated and excited about life. I am a member of this club--the cystic fibrosis club. Ana and Isa's wisdom, strength and resilience make me eternally proud to be a member to which such amazing people belong. I can not wait to read this book again and again.
This is a book for everyone, inside the club or not!
Tiffany Christensen
author, Sick Girl Speaks!
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The tragedy of cystic fibrosis has been touchingly recounted before, but this is the first book to portray the symbiotic relationship between twins who share this life-threatening disease through adulthood. Isabel Stenzel Byrnes and Anabel Stenzel tell of their struggle to pursue normal lives while grappling with the realization that they might die young. Their story reflects the physical and emotional challenges of a particularly aggressive form of CF and tells how the twinsbicultural heritage Japanese and German influenced the way they coped. The Power of Two is an honest and gripping portrayal of day-to-day health care, the impact of chronic illness on marriage and family, and the importance of a support network to continuing survival. These two remarkable sisters have much to teach about the power of perseverance and about the ultimate power of hope.
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