Signed Book with SHIPPING INCLUDED! Just Keep Swimming: a crash, a quest, and waves of hope
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$21.95
$18.95
$18.95
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This second edition is available everywhere books are sold. I'm mailing signed books out the same or next day by media mail. Amazon is able to deliver books faster.
Books also may be purchased or ordered wherever books are sold. List price is $21.95.
- Order SIGNED paperback books from me on this page.
The $18.95 price of a signed paperback book INCLUDES SHIPPING ($4.16) by media mail! I had hoped to set a lower price, but my cost per book is higher than I anticipated.
Product details: 422 pages, 1.36 pounds, 6 x 0.94 x 9 inches. There are few changes between my first memoir and this second edition.
This second edition of my memoir, Just Keep Swimming: a crash, a quest, and waves of hope, shares a mom's crisis, a daughter's paralysis, and a road of serendipity—from a small town in Ohio to Harvard and around the world. It includes a Foreword by Dr. Ariana Vora, Asst. Professor at Harvard Medical School, titled, "Change and Reinvention." It also includes Beth's Letter to Readers. If you never give up? Hope wins.
**IMPORTANT NOTE** I will sign a book to the first name of the person who orders it. Please leave me a note in the comment box at checkout if you would like it signed differently, or if you order more than one book.
Questions? Feel free to email me: cindy@cindykolbe.com.
Thank you for helping me share the power of hope — and serendipity! 🔆 Cindy
Professional endorsements follow this listing.
ENDORSEMENTS
“Just Keep Swimming is a breathtaking story of grit and the power of possibility. Cindy presents her story with an impressive level of vulnerability and determination. This book is a must read on how we can all better serve as champions to help people realize their full potential. Just Keep Swimming inspired me to write my first book, Pure Grit, and it changed my life: as a mother, author, and sports executive.”
Kara Buckley, Co-Author, Pure Grit: Stories of Remarkable People Living with Physical Disability and Senior Advisor, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee
“In the wake of any tragedy, it's tempting to ask Why? But Cindy and Beth Kolbe chose instead to ask How? How could they move forward? How could they heal? How could they find meaning and purpose in their agony? With unflinching honestly, Cindy Kolbe offers readers both an intimate look at the answers that she and Beth found AND a universal roadmap for navigating adversity. This is a beautifully written book, and one that the world very much needs right now!”
Jeff Bell, Author of When in Doubt, Make Belief, Founder of the Adversity 2 Advocacy Alliance
“Just Keep Swimming is a fantastic story of achievement and success in the midst of insurmountable challenges. Cindy and Beth Kolbe detail the incredible life they’ve lived, the sacrifices made along the way, and the joy they’ve shared in Beth’s successes. I’m honored to know Cindy and Beth personally and to have shared in some small part of Beth’s swimming career. I can’t recommend this book enough!”
Julie Dussliere, Chief of Paralympic Sport, United States Olympic Committee
“We can live without many things, but living without hope is damn near impossible. Cindy and Beth’s story reminds us that no matter the circumstances or diagnosis, with hope and love, joy is possible and life is worth living. I am simultaneously challenged and inspired by their shared journey.”
Terry McGuire, Founder of Giving Voice to Depression
“Christopher Reeve once said, ‘A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’ Cindy’s fierce dedication to her daughter Beth is nothing short of heroic and her story, Just Keep Swimming, captures the honesty and reality of having a loved one face a possible lifetime of paralysis. There is no greater power than a mother's love for her daughter. It is truly unbreakable. And, it is with love that Cindy and Beth find the joy inside the hardship and seize a new future full of hope and possibilities. Cindy's daily selfless acts, which benefit our entire community, reminds us that it is possible to persist and thrive no matter the circumstances.”
Peter Wilderotter, Former President and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
“This is a remarkably honest and important book. Cindy Kolbe’s teenage daughter Beth was left with quadriplegia after Cindy fell asleep at the wheel of her car. Cindy doesn’t sugarcoat or maximize her daughter’s struggle with disability or her own battles with guilt and depression. Cindy is not a ‘victim;’ her daughter is not a ‘super-heroine.’ This is an honest and meticulous account of how they both move forward to create successful lives not defined by tragedy or disability. It’s an intimate true story that’s a privilege to read.”
Thea Flaum, President of the Hill Foundation and Founder of Facing Disability
“As a mother, I imagine there's nothing stronger than a mother’s love except, perhaps, a mother’s guilt. In Just Keep Swimming, Cindy so beautifully illustrates her family's trauma. What I think I love most about her story is that it is, in fact, her story. She did not hijack her daughter Beth’s story but instead, provides the important perspective of a caregiver and how truly intertwined our stories really are. This story is the epitome of transforming pain into passion.”
Danni Starr, Author of Empathy and Eyebrows: A Survivalist's Stories on Reviving Your Spirit After Soul-Crushing Sh*tstorms
“Just Keep Swimming shares Cindy's unique experience as a mom after a tragedy. The relationship between Cindy and her daughter Beth is a celebration of motherhood and the healing power of love. Their incredible challenges and adventures inspire readers to be the best they can be. You'll be glad you read this book!”
April Perry, Founder of Power of Moms
“Want a grand perspective on life? Befriend someone with a disability. I’ve learned more about life and what it takes to be successful from Beth Kolbe than she ever learned from me, her swimming coach. Beth’s story is one of tragedy and misfortune, but her potential and upward trajectory never wavered. I found her tenacity, her resourcefulness, and her bond with her family stronger than anyone before. Cindy and Beth took initiative and found solutions for a new way of life. If you want to see what a mother and daughter’s love for life can accomplish, this book is a must read.”
Peggy Ewald, retired Swimming & Diving Head Coach at Ohio Northern University and Team USA Coach for 2008, 2012, and 2016 Paralympic Games
“Cindy’s story grabs you by the heart and holds on tight. It is a story of grace and forgiveness. Her daughter Beth’s heroic, gentle optimism is a fitting tribute to Cindy and her ability to not only hang on but to steer the course of setting a perfect example for her child—and for all of us. As a mother of a child with a spinal cord injury and an advocate for this community, I can say I am truly honored to know Cindy. Even as Beth inspires and motivates people living with the injury, Cindy keeps it real for the moms and families learning to live a joyful life beyond our broken hearts.”
Debbie Flynn, Founder, QUAD Foundation
“Cindy is a passionate mother, advocate, and talented writer who is not afraid to tackle the hard topics. Writing like this requires courage and commitment.”
Kay Ledson, Author of Warrior Mom
“Everything about this story is beyond belief, and yet it's all true. How could one small mistake result in such calamity? How could a teenager possibly respond with calm confidence when faced with lifelong paralysis? How could any mother ever find the strength to deal with her child's needs and her own pain under these circumstances? Cindy Kolbe and her daughter Beth are made of the same astounding stuff. They do not whine, they do not ask for pity, they do not wait in helpless despair for miracles to happen. Minute by minute, day by day, stroke by stroke, word by word, they do the work before them with courage and determination. They create their own miracles, and this book is one of them. Just Keep Swimming is a gift to all of us. I recommend it with gratitude and awe.”
Sandy Asher, Author and Playwright
Kara Buckley, Co-Author, Pure Grit: Stories of Remarkable People Living with Physical Disability and Senior Advisor, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee
“In the wake of any tragedy, it's tempting to ask Why? But Cindy and Beth Kolbe chose instead to ask How? How could they move forward? How could they heal? How could they find meaning and purpose in their agony? With unflinching honestly, Cindy Kolbe offers readers both an intimate look at the answers that she and Beth found AND a universal roadmap for navigating adversity. This is a beautifully written book, and one that the world very much needs right now!”
Jeff Bell, Author of When in Doubt, Make Belief, Founder of the Adversity 2 Advocacy Alliance
“Just Keep Swimming is a fantastic story of achievement and success in the midst of insurmountable challenges. Cindy and Beth Kolbe detail the incredible life they’ve lived, the sacrifices made along the way, and the joy they’ve shared in Beth’s successes. I’m honored to know Cindy and Beth personally and to have shared in some small part of Beth’s swimming career. I can’t recommend this book enough!”
Julie Dussliere, Chief of Paralympic Sport, United States Olympic Committee
“We can live without many things, but living without hope is damn near impossible. Cindy and Beth’s story reminds us that no matter the circumstances or diagnosis, with hope and love, joy is possible and life is worth living. I am simultaneously challenged and inspired by their shared journey.”
Terry McGuire, Founder of Giving Voice to Depression
“Christopher Reeve once said, ‘A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’ Cindy’s fierce dedication to her daughter Beth is nothing short of heroic and her story, Just Keep Swimming, captures the honesty and reality of having a loved one face a possible lifetime of paralysis. There is no greater power than a mother's love for her daughter. It is truly unbreakable. And, it is with love that Cindy and Beth find the joy inside the hardship and seize a new future full of hope and possibilities. Cindy's daily selfless acts, which benefit our entire community, reminds us that it is possible to persist and thrive no matter the circumstances.”
Peter Wilderotter, Former President and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
“This is a remarkably honest and important book. Cindy Kolbe’s teenage daughter Beth was left with quadriplegia after Cindy fell asleep at the wheel of her car. Cindy doesn’t sugarcoat or maximize her daughter’s struggle with disability or her own battles with guilt and depression. Cindy is not a ‘victim;’ her daughter is not a ‘super-heroine.’ This is an honest and meticulous account of how they both move forward to create successful lives not defined by tragedy or disability. It’s an intimate true story that’s a privilege to read.”
Thea Flaum, President of the Hill Foundation and Founder of Facing Disability
“As a mother, I imagine there's nothing stronger than a mother’s love except, perhaps, a mother’s guilt. In Just Keep Swimming, Cindy so beautifully illustrates her family's trauma. What I think I love most about her story is that it is, in fact, her story. She did not hijack her daughter Beth’s story but instead, provides the important perspective of a caregiver and how truly intertwined our stories really are. This story is the epitome of transforming pain into passion.”
Danni Starr, Author of Empathy and Eyebrows: A Survivalist's Stories on Reviving Your Spirit After Soul-Crushing Sh*tstorms
“Just Keep Swimming shares Cindy's unique experience as a mom after a tragedy. The relationship between Cindy and her daughter Beth is a celebration of motherhood and the healing power of love. Their incredible challenges and adventures inspire readers to be the best they can be. You'll be glad you read this book!”
April Perry, Founder of Power of Moms
“Want a grand perspective on life? Befriend someone with a disability. I’ve learned more about life and what it takes to be successful from Beth Kolbe than she ever learned from me, her swimming coach. Beth’s story is one of tragedy and misfortune, but her potential and upward trajectory never wavered. I found her tenacity, her resourcefulness, and her bond with her family stronger than anyone before. Cindy and Beth took initiative and found solutions for a new way of life. If you want to see what a mother and daughter’s love for life can accomplish, this book is a must read.”
Peggy Ewald, retired Swimming & Diving Head Coach at Ohio Northern University and Team USA Coach for 2008, 2012, and 2016 Paralympic Games
“Cindy’s story grabs you by the heart and holds on tight. It is a story of grace and forgiveness. Her daughter Beth’s heroic, gentle optimism is a fitting tribute to Cindy and her ability to not only hang on but to steer the course of setting a perfect example for her child—and for all of us. As a mother of a child with a spinal cord injury and an advocate for this community, I can say I am truly honored to know Cindy. Even as Beth inspires and motivates people living with the injury, Cindy keeps it real for the moms and families learning to live a joyful life beyond our broken hearts.”
Debbie Flynn, Founder, QUAD Foundation
“Cindy is a passionate mother, advocate, and talented writer who is not afraid to tackle the hard topics. Writing like this requires courage and commitment.”
Kay Ledson, Author of Warrior Mom
“Everything about this story is beyond belief, and yet it's all true. How could one small mistake result in such calamity? How could a teenager possibly respond with calm confidence when faced with lifelong paralysis? How could any mother ever find the strength to deal with her child's needs and her own pain under these circumstances? Cindy Kolbe and her daughter Beth are made of the same astounding stuff. They do not whine, they do not ask for pity, they do not wait in helpless despair for miracles to happen. Minute by minute, day by day, stroke by stroke, word by word, they do the work before them with courage and determination. They create their own miracles, and this book is one of them. Just Keep Swimming is a gift to all of us. I recommend it with gratitude and awe.”
Sandy Asher, Author and Playwright