Jan
06
2009
Lost Password? No account yet? Register
| Mixed bag of wintry weather on the way | Upstate business executives say conditions are getting worse | Alma Avenue home heavily damaged in morning fire | Bookkeeper charged with stealing $50,000 from Elma firm | Bus fare hike will cost schools -- but not now | Bills' Edwards sent for 'routine' MRI on shoulder | Buffalo man gets five years for DWI death of friend | Wegmans offering free antibiotics | Sabres defensemen Lydman, Numminen battle flu | Good morning, Buffalo | Manhattan edges Canisius | Niagara men dump Loyola | Rivet to return to Sabres lineup; Connolly aims at weekend | Robber hits Key Bank on Bailey Avenue | Falconer driver dies in rollover crash | Coulter: Drudge got NBC's Today show to rebook me | Colbert welcomes Fox token liberal as 'new sidekick': video | Obama pledges intel chiefs will break controversial tactics | Obama vows 'plenty' to say on Mideast after swearing-in | Doctor: Israel intentionally targeting civilians | Airstrike hits UN school | Tanks storm Gaza | Group: Israel targeted journos | Olbermann: 'Fatuous, lunatic' Cheney failed to prevent 9/11 | Burris avoids Senate confrontation | $240,000 awarded to blogger forced to cover Arab T-shirt | Video shows cop shooting helpless suspect in the back | Franken win official; 'I work for you now' | RNC hopefuls asked: worst GOP president? | Group: Over a dozen lies in Coulter book | Ambulances can't reach Gaza wounded | Palin figure's arrest politically timed? | Sources: Kaine to be new DNC chair | Correction: Gaza video misdated | Richardson with- draws cabinet bid | Israel army moves into Gaza, toll 500+ | Another Palin power abuse? | Bush looks forward to President Jeb | Rice cancels China trip over Gaza | Franken likely Senate winner | African high court gets out gay judge | CNN host uses expletive live on air | 'Financial 9/11' cost US trillions | Iraq assumes control of Green Zone | Bailouts averted 'financial collapse' | Gonzales: I'm a terror war casualty | Neo Nazi videos on YouTube draw fuss | Madoff meets asset deadline | UN resolution calls for Israeli ceasefire | GM to get $4 billion in gov't aid | Czechs take over EU presidency | Slovakia latest to adopt the Euro | Bangkok nightclub inferno kills 60 | A subdued New Year's worldwide | Ex-cop debuts first 'KopBusters' trailer | RNC mulls 'socialism' charge against Bush | US jobless claims dip in holiday week | Economy 'could spark military intervention' | GOP fractures over 'magic Negro'
  • Advertisement
  • Advertisement
  • Advertisement
Life Without Lisa PDF Print E-mail
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 
Friday, 29 July 2005
Reeling from shock and grief, Rich barely clung to his own life after wife Lisa died from cancer. The pain and suffering that ensued was almost intolerable. Only his love for his five- and six-year-old sons kept him from surrendering to the pain and collapsing in a hopeless heap.

Rich’s poignant and heartfelt story of love, love lost, all-consuming grief and pain, visitations from Lisa after her death, and his triumphant recovery is told in his new book, Life Without Lisa: A Widowed Father’s Compelling Journey Through the Rough Seas of Grief.

Thanks to the author’s professional status as a freelance writer, Rich’s instincts were to record his feelings and day-to-day existence on paper in the aftermath of his monumental loss. His journal later served as the basis for the book.

Life Without Lisa gives the reader a rare and intimate view of how a man faces loss that defies words and comes out the other side whole, happy and enjoying life again despite his certitude that he would never smile again.

Few men, if any, have publicly revealed their innermost thoughts, feelings and fears in the compelling way Rich Ballo has. Most men, instead, present a stoic face to the outside world and reject expression of their personal grief and experience. But Rich Ballo simultaneously shows his courageous and vulnerable side in his book that offers hope and understanding to all who suffer a cataclysmic loss. And since death touches all, chances are exceedingly high that all who read Life Without Lisa will benefit from the reassurances the book offers.

The book opens on the day of Lisa’s death, with the author saying he thinks the only thing that will save him are his two little boys. Chapter one ends with a memorable scene in which Rich puts little Nick and Victor to bed, and the three of them hug, clinging together, not wanting to let go. Rich writes that they are like “...three weary swimmers adrift in a sea of shock and grief.”

Life Without Lisa enables readers to walk a mile in Rich’s shoes for five years following Lisa’s death. Readers are allowed glimpses of Rich’s utter despair and aching loneliness as he puts his new life together day by day following his monumental loss. The pages of Life Without Lisa reveal Rich’s painstaking recovery. Readers sob when he sobs and cheers him on when hope glimmers on the horizon. But most of all, readers see him or herself in his journey because ultimately love and loss unite us all.

Moments of humor punctuate the true story and bring us to the other side where the impossible has happened: Rich is once again happy and fulfilled! This up-close-and-personal story offers hope and healing for every reader who finds him or herself lost in a sea of grief and affirms the eternal nature of the soul.

Life Without Lisa confirms that life goes on both on the earth plane for the one left behind as well as in the spirit realm for the one who has gone on.

Published by Quality of Life Publishing Co. (1-877-513-0099) • ISBN: 0-9675532-4-5 Distributed to North American bookstores by Biblio Distribution Life Without Lisa: A Widowed Father’s Compelling Journey Through the Rough Seas of Grief by Richard Ballo

Book Review

Life Without Lisa: A Compelling Account of Life after Death for the Loved One Left Behind on Earth and the One Who Returns to Spirit

As expected as the proverbial “death and taxes” are, nothing can adequately prepare anyone for the loss of a beloved one – especially if that loved one dies at an early age. Author Rich Ballo simply was not ready on any level when his treasured 38-year-old wife Lisa died, even though both Lisa and Rich firmly believed in life after death.
Add as favourites (6) | Quote this article on your site | Views: 2916

RSS comments

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

powered by AkoComment Tweaked
Last Updated ( Friday, 14 March 2008 )
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
 
48 queries executed
1
SET sql_mode = 'MYSQL40'
2
SELECT folder, element, published, params
 FROM jos_mambots
 WHERE published >= 1
 AND access <= 0
 AND folder = 'system'
 ORDER BY ordering
3
SELECT template
 FROM jos_templates_menu
 WHERE client_id = 0
 AND ( menuid = 0  OR menuid = 67 )
 ORDER BY menuid DESC
LIMIT 1
4
DELETE FROM jos_session
 WHERE (
 ( time < '1231285100' )
 AND guest = 0
 AND gid > 0
 ) OR (
 ( time < '1231285100' )
 AND guest = 1
 AND userid = 0
 )
5
SELECT COUNT(*)
 FROM jos_stats_agents
 WHERE agent = 'Unknown'
 AND type = 0
6
UPDATE jos_stats_agents
 SET hits = ( hits + 1 )
 WHERE agent = 'Unknown'
 AND type = 0
7
SELECT COUNT(*)
 FROM jos_stats_agents
 WHERE agent = 'Unknown'
 AND type = 1
8
UPDATE jos_stats_agents
 SET hits = ( hits + 1 )
 WHERE agent = 'Unknown'
 AND type = 1
9
SELECT COUNT(*)
 FROM jos_stats_agents
 WHERE agent = 'Unknown'
 AND type = 2
10
UPDATE jos_stats_agents
 SET hits = ( hits + 1 )
 WHERE agent = 'Unknown'
 AND type = 2
11
SELECT *
 FROM jos_menu
 WHERE id = 67
12
SELECT a.*, u.name AS author, u.usertype, cc.name AS category, s.name AS section, g.name AS groups,
 s.published AS sec_pub, cc.published AS cat_pub, s.access AS sec_access, cc.access AS cat_access,
 s.id AS sec_id, cc.id as cat_id
 FROM jos_content AS a
 LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc ON cc.id = a.catid
 LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s ON s.id = cc.section AND s.scope = 'content'
 LEFT JOIN jos_users AS u ON u.id = a.created_by
 LEFT JOIN jos_groups AS g ON a.access = g.id
 WHERE a.id = 431 AND ( a.state = 1 OR a.state = -1 )
 AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2009-01-06 18:53' )
 AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2009-01-06 18:53' )
 AND a.access <= 0
13
SELECT a.id
 FROM jos_content AS a
 WHERE a.catid = 4
 AND a.state = 1
 AND a.access <= 0 AND ( a.state = 1 OR a.state = -1 )
 AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2009-01-06 18:53' )
 AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2009-01-06 18:53' )
 ORDER BY a.ordering
14
SELECT ROUND( v.rating_sum / v.rating_count ) AS rating, v.rating_count
 FROM jos_content AS a
 LEFT JOIN jos_content_rating AS v ON a.id = v.content_id
 WHERE a.id = 431
15
UPDATE jos_content
 SET hits = ( hits + 1 )
 WHERE id = '431'
16
SELECT folder, element, published, params
 FROM jos_mambots
 WHERE access <= 0
 AND folder = 'content'
 ORDER BY ordering
17
SELECT a.id
 FROM jos_components AS a
 WHERE a.option = 'com_podcast'
18
SELECT *
 FROM jos_components
 WHERE id = '22'
19
SELECT ms.id AS sid, ms.type AS stype, mc.id AS cid, mc.type AS ctype, i.id as sectionid, i.id As catid, ms.published AS spub, mc.published AS cpub
 FROM jos_content AS i
 LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s ON i.sectionid = s.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS ms ON ms.componentid = s.id 
 LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS c ON i.catid = c.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS mc ON mc.componentid = c.id 
 WHERE ( ms.type IN ( 'content_section', 'content_blog_section' ) OR mc.type IN ( 'content_blog_category', 'content_category' ) )
 AND i.id = 431
 ORDER BY ms.type DESC, mc.type DESC, ms.id, mc.id
20
SELECT COUNT(*) AS favourite FROM jos_akocomment_favoured WHERE id_content = '431'
21
SELECT hits FROM jos_content WHERE id = '431'
22
SELECT count(*) FROM jos_akocomment WHERE contentid='431' AND published='1'
23
SELECT a.*
 FROM jos_components AS a
 WHERE ( a.admin_menu_link = 'option=com_syndicate' OR a.admin_menu_link = 'option=com_syndicate&hidemainmenu=1' )
 AND a.option = 'com_syndicate'
24
SELECT id, title, module, position, content, showtitle, params
 FROM jos_modules AS m
 INNER JOIN jos_modules_menu AS mm ON mm.moduleid = m.id
 WHERE m.published = 1
 AND m.access <= 0
 AND m.client_id != 1
 AND ( mm.menuid = 0 OR mm.menuid = 67 )
 ORDER BY ordering
25
SELECT name, link, numarticles, cache_time, id
FROM jos_newsfeeds
WHERE published='1' AND checked_out='0'
ORDER BY ordering
26
SELECT id
 FROM jos_menu
 WHERE link = 'index.php?option=com_search'
 AND published = 1
27
SELECT m.* FROM jos_menu AS m WHERE menutype='mainmenu' AND published = 1 AND access <= 0 ORDER BY ordering
28
SELECT * FROM jos_sections WHERE id = 1 ORDER BY title, id
29
SELECT cat.* FROM jos_categories AS cat, jos_sections AS sect WHERE section = 1 AND cat.section = sect.id ORDER BY title, id
30
SELECT catid FROM jos_content WHERE id = 431
31
SELECT m.*
 FROM jos_menu AS m
 WHERE menutype = 'leftmenu'
 AND published = 1
 AND access <= 0
 ORDER BY parent, ordering
32
SELECT a.id, a.title, a.sectionid, a.catid
 FROM jos_content AS a
 LEFT JOIN jos_content_frontpage AS f ON f.content_id = a.id
 INNER JOIN jos_categories AS cc ON cc.id = a.catid
 INNER JOIN jos_sections AS s ON s.id = a.sectionid
 WHERE ( a.state = 1 AND a.sectionid > 0 )
 AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2009-01-06 18:53' )
 AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2009-01-06 18:53' )
 AND a.access <= 0 AND cc.access <= 0 AND s.access <= 0
 AND s.published = 1
 AND cc.published = 1
 ORDER BY a.created DESC
LIMIT 6
33
SELECT ms.id AS sid, ms.type AS stype, mc.id AS cid, mc.type AS ctype, i.id as sectionid, i.id As catid, ms.published AS spub, mc.published AS cpub
 FROM jos_content AS i
 LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s ON i.sectionid = s.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS ms ON ms.componentid = s.id 
 LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS c ON i.catid = c.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS mc ON mc.componentid = c.id 
 WHERE ( ms.type IN ( 'content_section', 'content_blog_section' ) OR mc.type IN ( 'content_blog_category', 'content_category' ) )
 AND i.id = 545
 ORDER BY ms.type DESC, mc.type DESC, ms.id, mc.id
34
SELECT ms.id AS sid, ms.type AS stype, mc.id AS cid, mc.type AS ctype, i.id as sectionid, i.id As catid, ms.published AS spub, mc.published AS cpub
 FROM jos_content AS i
 LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s ON i.sectionid = s.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS ms ON ms.componentid = s.id 
 LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS c ON i.catid = c.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS mc ON mc.componentid = c.id 
 WHERE ( ms.type IN ( 'content_section', 'content_blog_section' ) OR mc.type IN ( 'content_blog_category', 'content_category' ) )
 AND i.id = 544
 ORDER BY ms.type DESC, mc.type DESC, ms.id, mc.id
35
SELECT ms.id AS sid, ms.type AS stype, mc.id AS cid, mc.type AS ctype, i.id as sectionid, i.id As catid, ms.published AS spub, mc.published AS cpub
 FROM jos_content AS i
 LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s ON i.sectionid = s.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS ms ON ms.componentid = s.id 
 LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS c ON i.catid = c.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS mc ON mc.componentid = c.id 
 WHERE ( ms.type IN ( 'content_section', 'content_blog_section' ) OR mc.type IN ( 'content_blog_category', 'content_category' ) )
 AND i.id = 543
 ORDER BY ms.type DESC, mc.type DESC, ms.id, mc.id
36
SELECT ms.id AS sid, ms.type AS stype, mc.id AS cid, mc.type AS ctype, i.id as sectionid, i.id As catid, ms.published AS spub, mc.published AS cpub
 FROM jos_content AS i
 LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s ON i.sectionid = s.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS ms ON ms.componentid = s.id 
 LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS c ON i.catid = c.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS mc ON mc.componentid = c.id 
 WHERE ( ms.type IN ( 'content_section', 'content_blog_section' ) OR mc.type IN ( 'content_blog_category', 'content_category' ) )
 AND i.id = 542
 ORDER BY ms.type DESC, mc.type DESC, ms.id, mc.id
37
SELECT ms.id AS sid, ms.type AS stype, mc.id AS cid, mc.type AS ctype, i.id as sectionid, i.id As catid, ms.published AS spub, mc.published AS cpub
 FROM jos_content AS i
 LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s ON i.sectionid = s.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS ms ON ms.componentid = s.id 
 LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS c ON i.catid = c.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS mc ON mc.componentid = c.id 
 WHERE ( ms.type IN ( 'content_section', 'content_blog_section' ) OR mc.type IN ( 'content_blog_category', 'content_category' ) )
 AND i.id = 541
 ORDER BY ms.type DESC, mc.type DESC, ms.id, mc.id
38
SELECT ms.id AS sid, ms.type AS stype, mc.id AS cid, mc.type AS ctype, i.id as sectionid, i.id As catid, ms.published AS spub, mc.published AS cpub
 FROM jos_content AS i
 LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s ON i.sectionid = s.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS ms ON ms.componentid = s.id 
 LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS c ON i.catid = c.id
 LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS mc ON mc.componentid = c.id 
 WHERE ( ms.type IN ( 'content_section', 'content_blog_section' ) OR mc.type IN ( 'content_blog_category', 'content_category' ) )
 AND i.id = 540
 ORDER BY ms.type DESC, mc.type DESC, ms.id, mc.id
39
SELECT MONTH( created ) AS created_month, created, id, sectionid, title, YEAR(created) AS created_year
 FROM jos_content
 WHERE ( state = -1 AND checked_out = 0 AND sectionid > 0 )
 GROUP BY created_year DESC, created_month DESC
LIMIT 99
40
SELECT *
 FROM jos_banner
 WHERE showBanner=1 
 AND cid IN ( 1,2,3 )
 ORDER BY RAND()
41
SELECT *
 FROM jos_banner
 WHERE showBanner=1 
 AND ( cid=5 )
42
UPDATE jos_banner
 SET impmade = impmade + 1
 WHERE bid = 8
43
SELECT *
 FROM jos_banner
 WHERE showBanner=1 
 AND ( cid=6 )
44
UPDATE jos_banner
 SET impmade = impmade + 1
 WHERE bid = 5
45
SELECT *
 FROM jos_banner
 WHERE showBanner=1 
 AND ( cid=8 )
46
UPDATE jos_banner
 SET impmade = impmade + 1
 WHERE bid = 6
47
SELECT *
 FROM jos_banner
 WHERE showBanner=1 
 AND ( cid=7 )
48
UPDATE jos_banner
 SET impmade = impmade + 1
 WHERE bid = 7