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The Light from a Thousand Wounds: A Mother's Memoir of Finding Beauty in Life's Darkest Moments
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
2 days and 13:55:11
100 copies available
U.S. only
AMAZON BESTSELLER
Corey Hatfield never imagined that motherhood would lead her through such extraordinary depths of joy and suffering.
In her poignant and unflinchingly raw memoir, this mother of five navigates the overwhelming challenges of raising a violently autistic child and grappling with her oldest son’s heartbreaking substance abuse. When a devastating rollover accident leaves her son in a coma, she and her husband are thrust into a foreign world of traumatic brain injuries and their child’s slow, uncertain recovery. The cumulative weight of one harrowing event after another threatens to destabilize their marriage and everything they cherish.
Yet, amid relentless trials and grief, Corey discovers an ancient tradition of faith that inspires her to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. After years of drowning in despair, she encounters goodness, beauty, and resilience where she least expects it—obscured within the darkness. Corey gently invites her family to journey alongside her as she heals, and their gradual rebuilding proves that even the deepest wounds can give rise to abundant light and life.
The Light from a Thousand Wounds is a lifeline of solidarity for anyone who has felt broken beyond repair. It is a powerful testimony to hope, love, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure and grow through—and perhaps even because of—adversity.
Corey Hatfield never imagined that motherhood would lead her through such extraordinary depths of joy and suffering.
In her poignant and unflinchingly raw memoir, this mother of five navigates the overwhelming challenges of raising a violently autistic child and grappling with her oldest son’s heartbreaking substance abuse. When a devastating rollover accident leaves her son in a coma, she and her husband are thrust into a foreign world of traumatic brain injuries and their child’s slow, uncertain recovery. The cumulative weight of one harrowing event after another threatens to destabilize their marriage and everything they cherish.
Yet, amid relentless trials and grief, Corey discovers an ancient tradition of faith that inspires her to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. After years of drowning in despair, she encounters goodness, beauty, and resilience where she least expects it—obscured within the darkness. Corey gently invites her family to journey alongside her as she heals, and their gradual rebuilding proves that even the deepest wounds can give rise to abundant light and life.
The Light from a Thousand Wounds is a lifeline of solidarity for anyone who has felt broken beyond repair. It is a powerful testimony to hope, love, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure and grow through—and perhaps even because of—adversity.
- GenresNonfiction
Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2025
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1445 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 29, 2025
The entire time reading this book I just wanted to jump in and give Corey a big hug and a shoulder to lean on. The struggles that not only she lived through but her entire family. I can’t pretend to know an inkling of what she had to endure. But as a mom you want to do what you can to protect your babies. Sometimes one needs more protection than the others. Sometimes we don’t realize after the damage is done what has happened. Reading this book put me through the wringer with emotions but it gave me a glimpse of what families go through when dealing with struggles and obstacles with their children. A def must read just to get a glimpse of what some go through on a daily basis. This is why when I see an adult struggling in public with their child I try not to judge because at the end of the day you don’t know what they are going through.
May 24, 2025
This was a hard book for me to get through. It is filled with unrealized dreams and so much trauma. Perhaps, because I am not a mother, I see the story differently. After marrying the love of her life and having 5 children in quick succession, Corey starts to feel as if her life isn't her own. Their 4th child is violently autistic and due to first, their religion, then to Arin trying to support the family, raising the children is mainly left to Corey.
Handling a violent, autistic child is almost all consuming. When Arin takes a job that keeps him away for weeks at a time, and still keeps his mind away even when home, Corey's life is, to her uncontrollable. All her parenting efforts go into the autistic child, mostly leaving the other 4 to raise themselves. Living her life to be the perfect wife and mother, she doesn't convey to Arin that she needs help.
All 5 of the kids end up severely affected by her parenting or lack of it. Failing school, alcohol and drugs, and cutting are some of the issues encountered as they enter their teenage years. Although I felt sorry for Corey with what she went through, I felt even worse for the emotional trauma inflicted on her non-spectrum kids. How could the parents not see what was happening?
The story is well written, with a lot of self reflection. One can easily see the damage that religion, as opposed to faith, can have on a person, a marriage, and a family. It's easy to see, from this side of things, that holding everything in is never the answer. To me, this was not a feel good book. From the outside, it's easy to see thee mistakes made, but I am sure as they are happening, it's impossible to identify them, especially when you are just trying to get through the day.
Handling a violent, autistic child is almost all consuming. When Arin takes a job that keeps him away for weeks at a time, and still keeps his mind away even when home, Corey's life is, to her uncontrollable. All her parenting efforts go into the autistic child, mostly leaving the other 4 to raise themselves. Living her life to be the perfect wife and mother, she doesn't convey to Arin that she needs help.
All 5 of the kids end up severely affected by her parenting or lack of it. Failing school, alcohol and drugs, and cutting are some of the issues encountered as they enter their teenage years. Although I felt sorry for Corey with what she went through, I felt even worse for the emotional trauma inflicted on her non-spectrum kids. How could the parents not see what was happening?
The story is well written, with a lot of self reflection. One can easily see the damage that religion, as opposed to faith, can have on a person, a marriage, and a family. It's easy to see, from this side of things, that holding everything in is never the answer. To me, this was not a feel good book. From the outside, it's easy to see thee mistakes made, but I am sure as they are happening, it's impossible to identify them, especially when you are just trying to get through the day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
“For I am a life constructed of moments—the JoyfulSorrows, the PainfulBeauties—all flip sides of the same coin. In so many ways, I am a walking contradiction.”
Corey Hatfield’s memoir is at once a beautiful and painful memoir of the challenges of motherhood. In these pages, she describes her journey through her son’s autism, another son’s addiction issues, and her own emotional struggles.
The book is nothing short of beautiful. It’s a book any mother can relate to. From the long hours of motherhood to the stresses of misbehavior, this book rings true in every word.
I really appreciated the psychological and theological thought interspersed throughout the book. Hatfield managed to relay the ways that lived experience and motherhood truly are holy. It made for a gorgeous read.
I took off one point just because the ending of the book felt a little abrupt.
A very good memoir.
4 stars.
Corey Hatfield’s memoir is at once a beautiful and painful memoir of the challenges of motherhood. In these pages, she describes her journey through her son’s autism, another son’s addiction issues, and her own emotional struggles.
The book is nothing short of beautiful. It’s a book any mother can relate to. From the long hours of motherhood to the stresses of misbehavior, this book rings true in every word.
I really appreciated the psychological and theological thought interspersed throughout the book. Hatfield managed to relay the ways that lived experience and motherhood truly are holy. It made for a gorgeous read.
I took off one point just because the ending of the book felt a little abrupt.
A very good memoir.
4 stars.
June 9, 2025
I received this book as a 카지노싸이트 Giveaway. This is my honest review.
I really did like this book and it was very well written. Corey Hatfield bares her soul as she relives so many family memories and emotions. As a mother to a severely autistic child, I empathasized and felt many emotions as she shared about her autistic’s son’s challenges with elopement and running away as well as aggression. She also shared a lot about her oldest son who struggled with substance abuse and later a horrible truck accident. Through it all she shared how previously she stuffed or repressed emotions but is later healing and processing through it all. Her relationship with God and her husband are there throughout even though at times both felt distant and detached. This book is emotionally heavy but also hopeful.
I really did like this book and it was very well written. Corey Hatfield bares her soul as she relives so many family memories and emotions. As a mother to a severely autistic child, I empathasized and felt many emotions as she shared about her autistic’s son’s challenges with elopement and running away as well as aggression. She also shared a lot about her oldest son who struggled with substance abuse and later a horrible truck accident. Through it all she shared how previously she stuffed or repressed emotions but is later healing and processing through it all. Her relationship with God and her husband are there throughout even though at times both felt distant and detached. This book is emotionally heavy but also hopeful.
May 14, 2025
I won this book through a 카지노싸이트 giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Greenleaf Book Group for choosing me.
I have always thought mothers are invincible, this book solidifies that belief. This is a beautifully written memoir of a woman facing quite a bit of obstacles and how she persevered and was able to keep on going. Every. Single. Time. Even when she felt like all she could do was give up (when most would give up) she always found a way to keep going. For her children. For her husband. For herself. Whatever the reason was she always kept going. It was inspiring to read and I'm sure I will be thinking of her and her family for a long time.
I have always thought mothers are invincible, this book solidifies that belief. This is a beautifully written memoir of a woman facing quite a bit of obstacles and how she persevered and was able to keep on going. Every. Single. Time. Even when she felt like all she could do was give up (when most would give up) she always found a way to keep going. For her children. For her husband. For herself. Whatever the reason was she always kept going. It was inspiring to read and I'm sure I will be thinking of her and her family for a long time.
May 15, 2025
This book captivated me. It's beautifully written and my favorite kind of memoir. Corey Hatfield writes in a way that allows you to picture each moment with such detail. That is equally matched by her authenticity. It will both break your heart and have you cheering on this beautiful family. I appreciated her candor of her deep bond with her autistic son along with the challenges of raising him, their lives being uphended by substance abuse, a near tragedy and other life events along the way while raising five kids. Woven throughout is her search for meaning found through her faith and becoming awake to the beauty in and around her. I highly recommend it!
June 11, 2025
Corey Hatfield’s The Light from a Thousand Wounds is a haunting and beautifully crafted novel that delves into trauma, resilience, and the long shadows cast by personal and generational pain. With raw, lyrical prose, Hatfield captures the emotional fractures of his characters while weaving a narrative that is both intimate and universally resonant. The storytelling is unflinching yet compassionate, offering no easy answers but plenty of insight.
June 23, 2025
Corey did a good job writing this book and she shared so many raw emotions. Her life must have been so difficult many times but she found ways to fight through the adversity and shared her story with us. It must have been very emotional reliving all those painful times. Thankfully, the family seemed to grow stronger from this and all seem to be doing well now. I enjoyed reading this and felt a lot of sympathy for Corey.
Thanks for the free book.
Thanks for the free book.
May 14, 2025
This book is a must read and page turner! I couldn’t put it down! It is so beautifully written and is about a mother’s love, struggle, and journey to find the light amidst the darkness. I laughed, cried, and felt my heart leap with compassion. I feel inspired and changed from reading - buy this one!!!
June 4, 2025
Beautiful and Gut-wrenching
I thought this book was so beautifully written. Although I am not a mother myself, I thought this book truly embodied what it felt as a mother to deal with both the constant struggles of motherhood, wife hood, and overall livelihood.
I thought this book was so beautifully written. Although I am not a mother myself, I thought this book truly embodied what it felt as a mother to deal with both the constant struggles of motherhood, wife hood, and overall livelihood.
May 11, 2025
Amazing!!! This book is so raw, real, and relatable. It is a book that will be read over and over in my house.
June 2, 2025
An inspirational book to enjoy.
June 4, 2025
🍮🍮🍮🍮🍮
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2025
This book was amazing and such a great read. If you’ve ever dealt with special-needs kids, tough behavior stuff, your own depression, or questions about spirituality, so much of it really hits home. It was super relatable and honestly hard to put down. To me, it wasn’t just a memoir—it was one of those books you just get completely pulled into
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