To Heaven and Back Book Review

A Doctor's Extraordinary Account 

of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again

A True Story

SUMMARY:  A kayak accident during a South American adventure takes one woman to heaven - where she experienced God's peace, joy, and angels - and back to life again.

     In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, orthopaedic surgeon, devoted wife, and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident.  While cascading down a waterfall, her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged.  Despite the rescue efforts of her companions, Mary was underwater for too long, and as a result, died.

     To Heaven and Back is Mary's remarkable story of her life's spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life, and back again.  Detailing her feelings and surroundings in heaven, her communication with angels, and her deep sense of sadness when she realized it wasn't her time, Mary shares the captivating experience of her modern-day miracle.

     Mary's life has been forever changed by her newfound understanding of her purpose on earth, her awareness of God, her closer relationship with Jesus, and her personal spiritual journey was suddenly enhanced by a first-hand experience in heaven.  To Heaven and Back will reacquaint you with the hope, wonder, and promise of heaven, while enriching  your own faith and walk with God.

REVIEW:  This book was very easy to follow and easy to read.  Dr. Neal talks about her faith before the accident, saying she was a Christian but not deeply spiritual or religious, letting the reader know she was not someone special that God had spoken to before.  You also see how her experience helped her during difficult times losing some close family members.  Dr. Neal also is open and honest about dealing with depression during her recovery over having to return to Earth because she wasn't through with the work God needed her to do.  She is a believer in miracles, which her full recovery after her death attests, and recounts many miracles she has experienced since her accident. 

This is an interesting book.

This book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah for review without compensation.

Mary C. Neal, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon.  She studied at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, completed her orthopaedic residency at the University of Southern California and is fellowship-trained as a spinal surgeon.  She is the former director of spine surgery at the University of Southern California and is a founding partner of Orthopaedic Associate of Jackson Hole.  Her after-life experience has been featured on national media including WGN, Dr. Oz, and Fox and Friends.  She has served as a church elder, on several non-profit organization boards, and created the Willie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund.  Dr. Neal lives with her family in Jackson Hole, WY.