Karen Newman - Just Three Words: Athlete, Mother, Survivor. How One Brave Women—Against All Odds—Wins the Race of Her Life

JUST THREE WORDS

ATHLETE, MOTHER, SURVIVOR.

HOW ONE BRAVE WOMANAGAINST ALL ODDS

WINS THE RACE OF HER LIFE

BY KAREN NEWMAN, MS, RDN

JUST THREE WORDS

Copyright 2016 by Karen Newman

FIRST EDITION

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

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Interior design by Mark Karis

Cover Design by Michael Short

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs have been provided by the author.

Author Photo: Sharland Blanchard

Cover Photo: William Taufic

Authors Intro: Steve Maraboli quote used with his permission

: Napolean Hill quote used by permission from the Napolean Hill Foundation

: Rick Warren quote from The Purpose Driven Life, p. 127. Used with permission from Zondervan Publishing.

: Corrie Ten Boom quote - The One Year praying the Promises of God by Cheri Fuller & Jennifer Kennedy Dean. Tyndale House Publishers, 2012

: Mahatma Gandhi quote, Originally from Harijan, a weekly publication in India. Also quoted in Nonviolent Liberator: A Biography by Richard L. Deats and Mary Jegen. New City Press, 2005. Used by permission of the Harijan Sevak Sangh , and by permission of New City Press.

: Gloria Gaither quote originally created for a calendar - For A Womans Heart: Thoughts By Women For Women. (Bloomington, Minn.: Garborgs, 1998, 1999).. Used by permission.

: Daily Thoughts from the Hill, December 2014. Used by permission from Hillside International Truth Center, Inc.

Before the world began, the Word was there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

JOHN 1:1

Your greatest self has been waiting your whole life; dont make it wait any longer.

STEVE MARABOLI: LIFE-CHANGING SPEAKER, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE ACADEMIC

And so it begins: my untold story, now told. Not because I want to tell it, but because I had to. If I have learned anything, it is that God, who spoke the universe into existence, loves us unconditionally. He is the true author of our stories, united in the most amazing promise: whatever your circumstances are, there is great hope and great love for youfrom God and those who are His hands and feet on earthif you will only open your heart to it.

My prayer is that this book ignites your faith and helps you realize that often the greatest trials in our lives are in fact our greatest opportunities to grow and be transformed. And as you stand victorious, may you find your God-given gifts, your purpose here on earth, and share love and your experience with the world.

I met Karen and her family at Trinity Church in 2007 before she was diagnosed with cancer. At that point, her story was still unknown to me, but God was at work in both our lives and our connection was instant. When Karen shared the devastating news of her diagnosis, my wife Kimberly and I were heartbroken. After reading this amazing book, I know cancer was not the most difficult challenge Karen had to face. I understand now how her experiences created her deep love, compassion, and acceptance for people in all walks of life.

As I read the story of Karens extraordinary life, I was inspired by her ability to turn challenges into blessingsnot just for herself but for everyone around her. Just Three Words speaks to all of us who have felt unworthy or unlovable at some stage in our lives. Karens vulnerability and transparency allow us to go not just on her journey, but to discover our own passage from brokenness to healing.

Witnessing Karen achieve her lifelong dreams as a world-class athlete and gifted inspirational speakerwhile courageously battling cancerwill touch your heart. Gods faithfulness pours from her words and I am inspired by the abundance of His love and restoration in her life. My prayer is that Karens storya true miraclewill inspire you to look for Gods grace, gifts and love in your own life.

Karen finds that Just Three Words changed the entire trajectory of her life, and she challenges us to find our own phrase that will do the same.

My three words?

Thank you Jesus.

CHRIS CLARKE, PRODUCER & PHILANTHROPIST, FOUNDER/CEO: PURE GROWTH PARTNERS, PURE GROWTH, PURE SUN DEFENSE, PURE MEDIA

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

REVELATION 21:4

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

MAYA ANGELOU

Rock bottom, thats where I was. Its only now that I realize I had to fall that far in order to be saved.

Dont do it again. Please, I am begging you, dont do it.

My three sons and husband were lost in conversation at the table, oblivious to the deathly war waging in my head. I wasnt truly present. Just pretending to be. My internal battle continued, the two opposing sides screaming for dominance. But at this point in my life, and especially today, the dark and tempting side kept winning.

I observed the four of them. Each one held a piece of my heart. But it wasnt enough love to stop me.

I rose from the dinner table; the demon had won again.

The smile on my face was an imposter. As the tormented mother morphed into Oscar-worthy actress, I animatedly informed my husband Peter and my three sons, Stetson, Chase, and Trentthe children I had longed for all my lifethat Mommy was going to be taking a well-deserved bubble bath. Could I please have twenty minutes of alone time? The voice in my head added, So you can do what you promised never to do again, you liar!

One last ditch effort from the redemptive side came:

How are you going to race for the United States in triathlon if you keep this up?

What about your upcoming lecture for National Nutrition month?

Your kids will never respect you!

I continued pushing my chair away, planning my casual exit so that no one would know how much urgency I actually felt. My fall from the cliff had happened months ago and I knew now that nothing could stop me. I was in a drag race at top speed, hurtling toward my demise, with no end in sight and no parachute to slow me down. Only a fiery crash and burn could end it all.