From the outside looking in, Jason Fisher had a perfectly ordinary life—a successful career, a loving wife and daughter, and a modest house on a quiet street. Not that any of it had come easily. Fisher and his wife’s long-distance courtship was anything but a straight line. And their daughter, Mackenzie, was born prematurely with a rare genetic disorder. Still, despite the numerous challenges, the Fishers refused to view themselves as anything but blessed. Unfortunately, that enduring sense of gratitude was dealt a devastating blow when Mandi passed away suddenly at the age of thirty.

The opening pages of Jason Fisher’s TO WHERE YOU ARE chronicle his wife’s final moments from a seemingly mild bout of back pain to being pronounced dead a few hours later. It’s a harrowing account that feels more like a climactic conclusion than an opening chapter. In an instant, Fisher became a widower and a single parent to a special needs child. The overwhelming weight of that responsibility was not lost upon the Alabama-based author: “I was now one accident or illness away from Kenzie being an orphan.” Fisher’s story may begin with him suddenly and unexpectedly losing the love of his life, but that nightmare of a day would ultimately prove to be only the first step of a long, life-altering journey.

While technically a memoir, TO WHERE YOU ARE is as much a tribute to his late wife as it is a chronicle of Fisher’s grieving. Following the opening chapter, Fisher wisely offsets the grief-filled aftermath of his wife’s death with hopeful reflections that speak to his resolve and perseverance. Given Mackenzie’s young age at the time, Fisher simply couldn’t afford to retreat into his grief no matter how much he may have wanted. To that point, TO WHERE YOU ARE isn’t a ‘self-help’ book, and there are no ‘how-to’ guides to be found within its pages. In place of hamfisted advice or self-serving platitudes, Fisher offers companionship and nothing more. Through an unflinching account of his journey, readers are offered an intimate look at the many ups and downs of grieving. Obviously, TO WHERE YOU ARE is an emotional rollercoaster, but Fisher somehow avoids dwelling on his misfortune. Instead, he finds solace in the present. In fact, given the heartbreaking subject matter, Fisher’s ability to infuse a thread of hope into this memoir is a truly remarkable accomplishment.

Wholeheartedly embracing the ‘one day at a time’ approach to life, Fisher eventually finds a sense of balance within his life and even winds up running for Senate. It’s a truly inspirational story made all the more remarkable by Fisher’s refined, eloquent writing. From the significant left turns to all the emotional baby steps in between, Fisher captures each and every detail, translating his experience into a story that’s as captivating as it is cathartic.

A gripping account of love, loss, heartbreak, and perseverance, TO WHERE YOU ARE is a must-read for anyone directly or indirectly dealing with loss.

~James Weiskittel for IndieReader