Author shares Covid-19 journey, hopes to inspire others to never quit

DEBUT author Joy Williams is hoping to inspire others through her book to not give up or quit when faced with a challenge. In her book, she shares her story of how she miraculously survived Covid-19.

Williams (60), formerly of Wentworth, will be having a breakfast launch of her book, Covid Diaries – God Still Does Miracles, at the Bluff Eco Park on August 26, at 10:00.

Williams, a women’s ministry pastor, said that through the book, she shares her own story of faith, hope, inspiration and fear, after contracting Covid-19 in August 2021.

“The book is a personal daily diary of my journey of fighting against the Covid-19 virus and the bad side effects it had on my life, but also my faith in God which did not allow me to give up,” she said.

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Williams said she was inspired to write the 109-page book following the responses she received after sharing her journey on social media.

“While I was very sick, I would post updates and prayer requests. People who were following my Facebook posts were so inspired by my story of faith, my hope in God and my lifestyle of prayer. They would say I should write a book because people need to know that God is still doing miracles today,” she said.

Williams, who currently lives in East London, said she started writing the book in February this year, and it was completed last month.

“It was the hardest book I ever had to write because I would break down and cry as those memories came flooding back. But I reminded myself that my goal was to encourage people not to give up in the midst of the worst challenges,” she said.

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The mother of two said that through her journey, she hopes to inspire people to have faith in God no matter how bad the situation is or how great the challenges are.

“In the book, I share one of my most terrifying moments. I recall a team of doctors gathered around my bed in September 2021 and told me that, medically, there was nothing more that they could do for me. The virus had completely damaged my lungs with scarring. I also picked up two more lung infections while in hospital. Further to this, they said I had regressed and gotten even worse than the day I was admitted. I had lost 30kg and I had also lost my ability to walk.

“They had decided to send me home because I might only live for six months at the most. My situation was absolutely terrible with this bad news. But I chose faith over fear. I chose to pray and trust God for a miracle. So, my message to the readers is: Don’t quit and have faith in God. God is still doing miracles,” she said.

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Williams, who also wrote four Christian inspiration e-books during this time, said she aims to keep writing more books to inspire others.

“I took to writing because the virus had caused my memory to be very slow, and I was often confused and forgetful. However, writing helped my brain to work better again. I have two other books, Identity in Christ and Notes to a Beautiful Woman, which I was writing at the time, but I put them aside to write Covid Diaries – I will be completing them now,” she said.

For more information about the launch or to purchase a copy of Covid Diaries, contact Williams at 074 065 4771 or email williams.joy41@gmail.com.

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