After experiencing the devastation of losing one of our identical twin boys, I was exposed to a world of sorrow formerly unimagined. With new eyes opened to the heartbreak of the women surrounding me, I undertook the daunting task of researching the universality of suffering, primarily by documenting the stories of 50 women concentrated in a five-mile radius. These accounts of tragedy and hope are intermingled with scriptural accounts, the words of modern-day apostles and prophets, psychological and sociological views, as well as my own experiences. This book is a tapestry of vast human experience, covering a wide array of challenges including infertility, loss, abuse, mental and physical health issues, suicide, financial stress, divorce, addiction, and more. And yet, despite the myriad of trials and accompanying grief, these women exemplify testimonies of faith, resilience, and love. As they move through the three phases of a grief to a growth mindset (victim to survivor to contributor), I document helpful tools for embracing, moving through, and learning to assist others because of our sorrows.

Emily holds a bachelor's degree in English education, was a former writer for Outlier HQ, and the Second Place Winner in Nonfiction for the 2019 Storymakers First Chapter Contest. She is the creator of Ministering Moms of Missing Multiples, a bereavement support group for LDS mothers who have lost one or more of their multiples. She also began an organization called My Motherhood Matters to encourage mothers in finding joy in their motherhood. Emily is an advocate for exploring the world and embracing diversity, and spent time living in South Central Mexico teaching English with International Language Programs, as well as volunteering in Southern India with Rising Star Outreach to help those afflicted with leprosy. She lived briefly in Paris, France while her husband finished his MBA. In 2019, she gave a filmed speech at TEDx Cedar City where she explored aspects of the lessons learned from this project. Besides writing, she loves to sing, hike, read, and spend time with her four living children and husband.