The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph over Cystic Fibrosis by Isabel Stenzel Byrnes and Anabel Stenzel

I have been glued to my desk for the last three days, unable to separate myself from this wonderful account of medical illness and the amazing story told by these two remarkable sisters. I have just finished the last page with tears filling my eyes. [The Power of Two] is one of the best accounts of illness and coping with it that I have come across this is a splendid addition to the literature of personal medical experience. -- Dr. Allen B. Weisse, Author of "Lessons in Mortality"

Isabel and Anabel's memoir of their extraordinary battle with cystic fibrosis is at once uplifting and frightening, touching and tough, but always powerful and filled with life and spirit, alike. It is a story that we all must be moved by, grateful that these two sisters shared their agony and love with us. -- Frank Deford, Author of "Alex: The Life of a Child"

It is the unfortunate habit of books on illness and recovery to rely heavily on sanitized clichés. The downs are very down, the ups sky-high. This honest and carefully observed account avoids preconceived notions of the complicated path toward an organ transplant. Describing the stages of the affliction in detail, it makes you feel you were there, suffering a pain you had heard about but never really visualized, aware that death is no longer just a concept but could come at any time, and experiencing the complex emotions that come with being saved because someone else died. For readers who have not been close to a wasting disease, it will be an eye-opener, horrifying but in the end inspiring, a tale of courage being tested all day and every day. -- Reg Green, Author of "The Nicolas Effect: A Boy's Gift to the World"

One of the hardest and earliest lessons we learn is that life isn't fair. Perhaps for that reason I don't usually take to inspirational books, which often attempt to portray a particular example of misfortune as a special gift, to be appreciated for its character-building qualities, or failing that, for an advantage so mysterious that no mere mortal can discern what it might be. Fortunately, that genre is transcended by The Power of Two, an astonishing account by twin sisters born with a genetic disease that should have killed them in infancy, and almost did. But they survived that and numerous other close calls and are now in their 30's, with degrees from Stanford University, newly transplanted lungs, and a gift for writing that takes us directly into their lives. This is an intimate, brutally honest and compelling memoir. -- Jeffrey Wine, PhD., Professor of Psychology, Pediatrics and Director, Program in Human Biology, Stanford University

This is an inspiring story of how two twins Isa and Ana are thriving with cystic fibrosis and double lung transplants. The story shares how CF can be an aggressive and cruel disease, but with resilience, good family and health care compliance, they were still able to lead very productive, active, and social professional lives. A book of HOPE and a must-read for any parent of a CF child or a person living with CF. -- Boomer Esiason, NFL Pro Football Player, President, Boomer Esiason Foundation, Parent of CF Child

Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
As a person with cystic fibrosis, I have always shied away from CF memoirs. My attitude has been "I have CF, why do I need to read about your CF?" I can not tell you how thankful I am that I did not shy away from this extraordinary story of struggle, strength and love. Ana and Isa are twins of Asian descent who both have cystic fibrosis. Statistically, the chances of this genetic combination is 1 in 1.8 billion. The uniqueness of these two women does not stop with their genetics. Ana and Isa immerse the reader in the world of their mother's Japanese culture mixed with that of their German father. This alone makes the story fascinating. Add to it the bond between twins and the brother who sometimes stood on the outside looking in, and you have all the makings of a complex family drama. But the story is so much more than this reader could ever put into a few sentences. Throughout their childhood, across the seas in Japan and Germany, on into their time studying at Stanford and into adulthood, there is another character that is a constant: cystic fibrosis. I, too, have struggled with CF but after reading this book, I feel as though my "fight" pales in comparison. Never have I been witness to such an intense will to live and to thrive. There are many authors who might try to convince a reader to believe "life is precious" or to "seize the day." For these twins, no such statements were necessary. I was inspired to live harder and better only by their example. These strong individuals rarely felt self-pity and I never felt their tales to be histrionic. I so appreciated the clean, simple and honest way they allowed this breathtaking story to unfold. In addition to feeling humbled by these women, I also felt a little bit jealous. As the only child in my family with CF and as a person who had no friends with CF during the younger years, I could not help but to wish I had my own Ana or Isa by my side. The devotion these twins had for each other was astounding and, in all likelihood, life-saving. In times when there was no one else, they gave each other the strenuous therapy needed to clear their sickly lungs and provided the emotional support and understanding that could only come from someone who has "been there, done that." All in all, this is a book about "A Twin Triumph over Cystic Fibrosis" but it is also so much more. Many books about CF leave the reader feeling sad and overwhelmed. I am happy to say, this book left me rejuvenated and excited about life. I am a member of this club--the cystic fibrosis club. Ana and Isa's wisdom, strength and resilience make me eternally proud to be a member to which such amazing people belong. I can not wait to read this book again and again. This is a book for everyone, inside the club or not! Tiffany Christensen author, Sick Girl Speaks!