Through These Doors: A True Story of a Family of Faith in Crisis

by Gail Tunnell and Dwight Alexander

One moment life is normal and in the next you have somehow stepped through a doorway and everything is in pieces. It was a beautiful summer day when Dwight Alexander received the news that his family... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595711252
• ISBN13: 9781595711250
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Word Association Publishers
• Length: 201 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Reviewed by Tameka Delaney Edwards

As a loner by nature and one that is big on family, I never considered the importance of friendships until I read Through These Doors by Dwight Alexander. This book is about a man--who compares himself to the Bible character Job--overcoming a major crisis through faith and friendships. Dwight, marketing professional and former dairy farm owner, shares his personal experience story of how friends, church folk, healthcare professionals, his employer, and the community supported him after a tragic car accident killed his wife and seriously injured his two young sons. Dwight Alexander was away at a business conference when he received word that his wife and two sons had been in a major car accident. This charismatic family man had to deal with the loss of his wife while caring for two young boys who were fighting to live. Dwight tells his story with such freshness as if the accident happened yesterday. He recalls almost every detail of losing his wife of 17 years, which places the reader right there with him. I could not stop crying through the first few chapters as I could remember the pain my mother suffered when my father died many years ago. It was also difficult getting through this book with dry eyes because my cousin, who feels more like a sister, recently lost her husband. However, the reading was worth the tears because this book served as a great learning tool. It taught me the importance of just showing up and being there for the widow or widower. The author explains that it does not matter if you do not know what to say or how to behave, just show up. People in crises need support from friends and family, regardless of the form. This book also reminded me never underestimate the power of prayer and positive thinking. Dwight believes the fervent prayers from friends and family kept his boys alive. He also explained how he practiced positive thinking and turned to God in prayer before entering unfamiliar doors, i.e., telling his sons about their mother's death, allowing people to help him, and making decisions about his sons' medical treatment. We see God's faithfulness in Dwight's life repeatedly as he cast his cares and clings to hope. This book will inspire anyone who has suffered a loss or know someone who has. It is different from the traditional books about dealing with death because the author speaks from personal experience. Aside from the inspirational aspect of this book, it was also a good read because it was well written and easy to follow. The only flaw was the oddly placed pictures in the middle of the book which somewhat spoiled the ending. As with the Bible character Job, in the end, God restored his family and life completely. When you read Through These Doors, you'll discover how God did the same for Dwight.

One man's travels through tragedy

The blink of an eye: that's all it took for a teenage driver to miss a stop sign and crash into a vehicle carrying a mom and her two sons. It's every family's worst nightmare, and yet it was a reality for the Alexander family. Tina Alexander, beloved wife and mother, was killed upon impact and her two sons sustained injuries that were so significant that it was unclear if they would survive for even twenty-four hours. The only member of the family who wasn't in that car was the husband and father, Dwight Alexander. It would be Dwight who would receive that dreaded phone call, and Dwight who would have to stand by the sides of his boys who were injured almost beyond recognition. How does one survive such a horrific experience? Through These Doors is the recounting of Dwight's journey through these most bitter of circumstances. From page one, this memoir grips the reader's heart and doesn't let go until the last sentence. The writing is raw and transparent. Because of this, Through These Doors will resonate with all who have endured loss. Yet, this book isn't primarily about loss. This book is about surviving loss and finding hope. Alexander writes firsthand about how his faith allowed him to endure this extreme pain and to find joy on the other side. In his own words, Alexander says, "Joy is just around the corner. Life is good. There is always a better tomorrow. Never give up!" It's hard to imagine that a man who has lost so much is able to feel joy again. It's deeply encouraging, and well worth reading the book to understand how he was able to do it. Armchair Interviews says: Powerful telling of tragedy.

Inspiring story

I read this book in 2 days and found it inspiring. I am amazed by Dwights faith and love. I think this book will help anyone because we all face hard times and Dwight reminds us of the importance of faith in God and the need for a positive outlook.

inspirational true story

His mother called Dwight Alexander while he was in Tulsa attending a business seminar five hours from his Texas home with the stunning news of the car wreck. His wife Tina died on impact and their two young sons are critically injured. Grant was flown to the East Texas Medical Center with a head injury; Collin was flown to Mother Frances Hospital with traumas from the neck down. He had no time to grieve for his spouse or leave roses as his first priority is his children. As his sons live in surgery rooms, he prays that God will provide two miracles. This is true account of the Alexander tragedy and ordeal with prayer being the father's solace even with loved ones and hospital staff rallying around him and his kids. Throughout his personal horror, Alexander never lost faith in the Lord though he did not understand why his wife so young had to die and perhaps his sons too. THROUGH THESE DOORS is an inspirational true story that will turn cynics into believers with its low keyed journal of turning to God though never knowing whether his boys will live. Harriet Klausner