Books & Speaking

Books

Parting the Waters: Finding Beauty in Brokenness

Available at Amazon

When a tragic drowning accident leaves fifteen-year-old Jacob in a coma, the faith of his family and community is shaken. Medical experts used phrases like persistent vegetative state and said Jacob would never wake up. Without sugar-coating the realities of pain and suffering, Parting the Waters presents the heart-warming, true story of what can happen when a community rallies around one wounded family. While Jacob’s parents struggle to preserve their faith and family, the prayers and innovative efforts of community members result in Jacob’s gradual awakening. Each dramatic milestone in Jacob’s recovery creates a new ripple, touching and changing many lives forever.

eBook

Amazon Kindle • Barnes & Noble’s NOOK

Audiobook

Amazon • iTunes

Don’t miss these Parting the Waters special features:

✜ Book Trailer created by Andrea McCarthy, Drive Home Productions

✜ Jacob’s Song  by Debbie Boatright-Camacho; performed by Jeanne Damoff

You and Me, Sister (Howard Publishing, 2004) is a gift book Jeanne co-authored with Dee Appel. Filled with heart-warming stories, tributes, quotes, and photographs, the book makes a perfect gift for a cherished sister.

Available online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Book Cover
Book Back cover

Parting The Waters Photo Gallery

Spring 1982. Jacob and Jeanne in the back yard. p. 10 "Jacob and I were worlds away from glaring lights, white uniforms, broken bodies, and wounded souls."
Spring 1982. Jacob and Jeanne in the back yard. p. 10 "Jacob and I were worlds away from glaring lights, white uniforms, broken bodies, and wounded souls."
Spring 1983. Jacob 2 years old
Spring 1983. Jacob 2 years old
Spring 1986 Jacob, 5, in soccer uniform p. 117 "Jacob looked out the car window at the other kids running around the field kicking balls. He watched for a minute, then leaned back in the seat and refused to get out of the car."
Spring 1986 Jacob, 5, in soccer uniform p. 117 "Jacob looked out the car window at the other kids running around the field kicking balls. He watched for a minute, then leaned back in the seat and refused to get out of the car."
July 1994 Luke, Grace & Jacob on family vacation in Colorado p. 35 “Family vacations or outings of almost any kind would be rare, if not impossible.”
July 1994 Luke, Grace & Jacob on family vacation in Colorado p. 35 “Family vacations or outings of almost any kind would be rare, if not impossible.”
November 1995. The Damoffs and Dowds celebrate Pam Dowd's birthday. p. 19 “A fun-loving extrovert, Abigail entertained Jacob. But it was Natalie, the more reserved twin, who became one of his best friends.”
November 1995. The Damoffs and Dowds celebrate Pam Dowd's birthday. p. 19 “A fun-loving extrovert, Abigail entertained Jacob. But it was Natalie, the more reserved twin, who became one of his best friends.”
May 1996. Jacob on ropes course p. 64, “Only a few weeks earlier, Jacob had been running, skateboarding, even completing a ropes course in which he had climbed to a high platform and jumped through the air to catch a trapeze.”
May 1996. Jacob on ropes course p. 64, “Only a few weeks earlier, Jacob had been running, skateboarding, even completing a ropes course in which he had climbed to a high platform and jumped through the air to catch a trapeze.”
May 23, 1996. Jacob in ICU p. 9 “Tubes, wires, and monitors crowded the space around the bed, engulfing Jacob in an antiseptic jungle.”
May 23, 1996. Jacob in ICU p. 9 “Tubes, wires, and monitors crowded the space around the bed, engulfing Jacob in an antiseptic jungle.”
May 1996. Jeanne and Pam beside Jacob's ICU bed. p. 21, “Pam and Natalie Dowd put their own lives on hold, staying by our sides for hours each day, proving their love by their presence.”
May 1996. Jeanne and Pam beside Jacob's ICU bed. p. 21, “Pam and Natalie Dowd put their own lives on hold, staying by our sides for hours each day, proving their love by their presence.”
May 1996. Luke and Dr. Jimmy Day in ICU. p. 23, “From the corner of Jacob’s ICU room, Jimmy watched the comings and goings of hospital staff and Jacob’s visitors . . . ‘There’s something very beautiful going on here.’”
May 1996. Luke and Dr. Jimmy Day in ICU. p. 23, “From the corner of Jacob’s ICU room, Jimmy watched the comings and goings of hospital staff and Jacob’s visitors . . . ‘There’s something very beautiful going on here.’”
May 1996. Jimmy Day at nurse's station calling Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation. p. 24 “Jimmy called . . . to begin the process of securing Jacob a place.”
May 1996. Jimmy Day at nurse's station calling Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation. p. 24 “Jimmy called . . . to begin the process of securing Jacob a place.”
June 1996. Yellow Ribbon Campaign p. 39, “The kids have stapled them all over Marshall on telephone poles and trees . . .”
June 1996. Yellow Ribbon Campaign p. 39, “The kids have stapled them all over Marshall on telephone poles and trees . . .”
June 30, 1996. Jeanne and Grace on her 13th birthday. p. 53, “I would spend the whole day with Grace, taking her out for lunch and shopping . . . and her first makeover.”
June 30, 1996. Jeanne and Grace on her 13th birthday. p. 53, “I would spend the whole day with Grace, taking her out for lunch and shopping . . . and her first makeover.”
August 1996. Grace & new puppy, Tipper. p. 122, “She was frisky and cute, but . . . sorrowful thoughts intruded. Tipper’s brain works better than Jacob’s.”
August 1996. Grace & new puppy, Tipper. p. 122, “She was frisky and cute, but . . . sorrowful thoughts intruded. Tipper’s brain works better than Jacob’s.”
Fall 1996. Barton Ballard & Natalie Dowd p. 96, “Barton listened in silence, sorrow in his eyes. He couldn’t supply the answers, and he didn’t try.”
Fall 1996. Barton Ballard & Natalie Dowd p. 96, “Barton listened in silence, sorrow in his eyes. He couldn’t supply the answers, and he didn’t try.”
Fall 1996. Natalie, Abigail, & Lindsay Dowd in Jacob's Merritt Plaza room. p. 84, “Jacob’s visitors continued to come, week after week, month after month.”
Fall 1996. Natalie, Abigail, & Lindsay Dowd in Jacob's Merritt Plaza room. p. 84, “Jacob’s visitors continued to come, week after week, month after month.”
Fall 1996. Sue and Adam Werner with Jacob at Merritt Plaza. p. 19, “Sue was Jacob’s youth minister, a vibrant, godly woman, who had led the young people in our church to greater depths of faith and discipleship.”
Fall 1996. Sue and Adam Werner with Jacob at Merritt Plaza. p. 19, “Sue was Jacob’s youth minister, a vibrant, godly woman, who had led the young people in our church to greater depths of faith and discipleship.”
Fall 1996. Luke, Jacob, and Nathan Miller p. 86 “Luke became designated jester . . . When Jacob laughed, it almost seemed chains had been broken and joy had been set free.”
Fall 1996. Luke, Jacob, and Nathan Miller p. 86 “Luke became designated jester . . . When Jacob laughed, it almost seemed chains had been broken and joy had been set free.”
November 8, 1996. Dedication of the Jacob Damoff Rehabilitation Center at Merritt Plaza. p. 89 “Pat planned a public dedication ceremony . . ., invited the mayor to speak, and even asked her to proclaim the day ‘Jacob Damoff Day.’”
November 8, 1996. Dedication of the Jacob Damoff Rehabilitation Center at Merritt Plaza. p. 89 “Pat planned a public dedication ceremony . . ., invited the mayor to speak, and even asked her to proclaim the day ‘Jacob Damoff Day.’”
December 1996. Family Christmas photo. p. 104. “In early December, we began bringing Jacob home. . . snapped a family portrait to send out with our annual Christmas letter.”
December 1996. Family Christmas photo. p. 104. “In early December, we began bringing Jacob home. . . snapped a family portrait to send out with our annual Christmas letter.”
December 1996. Jacob and George on the beach. We drove from Texas to visit George's family. p. 105, “ . . . the trip to Florida had planted a new seed in our minds.”
December 1996. Jacob and George on the beach. We drove from Texas to visit George's family. p. 105, “ . . . the trip to Florida had planted a new seed in our minds.”
February 1997. Amanda Wynne and Natalie Dowd walking Jacob. (Both these young women became nurses.) p. 125, “For physical exercise, we escorted Jacob through the neighborhood.”
February 1997. Amanda Wynne and Natalie Dowd walking Jacob. (Both these young women became nurses.) p. 125, “For physical exercise, we escorted Jacob through the neighborhood.”
Spring 1997. CNA Kelly Owen, Jacob, and Amy Barron (college student living with us) in our den. p. 119, “While George, Grace, Luke, and I were gone during the day, Kelly stayed at our house with Jacob.”
Spring 1997. CNA Kelly Owen, Jacob, and Amy Barron (college student living with us) in our den. p. 119, “While George, Grace, Luke, and I were gone during the day, Kelly stayed at our house with Jacob.”
April 1997. Jacob & George on the trampoline p. 125, “Amy said, ‘Jacob, if you want to jump some more, say “Mom.”’”
April 1997. Jacob & George on the trampoline p. 125, “Amy said, ‘Jacob, if you want to jump some more, say “Mom.”’”
May 10, 1997. Jacob's 16th birthday. p. 122 “As Jacob’s sixteenth birthday and the first anniversary of his near-drowning approached, I ached remembering how he used to be . . .”
May 10, 1997. Jacob's 16th birthday. p. 122 “As Jacob’s sixteenth birthday and the first anniversary of his near-drowning approached, I ached remembering how he used to be . . .”
May 1997. Jacob and Ronnie Foster. p. 131, “The first day Jacob spoke while riding, Ronnie admitted he went home and cried.”
May 1997. Jacob and Ronnie Foster. p. 131, “The first day Jacob spoke while riding, Ronnie admitted he went home and cried.”
July 2007. Grace and Jacob on family vacation in Colorado. He loves to hate being tormented by his sister.
July 2007. Grace and Jacob on family vacation in Colorado. He loves to hate being tormented by his sister.
August 2007. Natalie, Lawson Jacob Grubbs, & Jacob p. 167, “She named him Lawson Jacob, keeping a promise she’d made to her best friend more than a decade ago.”
August 2007. Natalie, Lawson Jacob Grubbs, & Jacob p. 167, “She named him Lawson Jacob, keeping a promise she’d made to her best friend more than a decade ago.”
August 2007. Jacob and Lawson Jacob
August 2007. Jacob and Lawson Jacob
January 2008. Philip Jones' ordination as bishop. He was the one who found Jacob on the bottom of the lake. From Philip's testimony, p. 182, “I know it changed me.”
January 2008. Philip Jones' ordination as bishop. He was the one who found Jacob on the bottom of the lake. From Philip's testimony, p. 182, “I know it changed me.”
May 10, 2008. Natalie Dowd Grubbs and Jacob on his 27th birthday. From Natalie's testimony, p. 197, "I'll never forget Jacob."
May 10, 2008. Natalie Dowd Grubbs and Jacob on his 27th birthday. From Natalie's testimony, p. 197, "I'll never forget Jacob."

Today is the greatest day I and I am in it

The original that Jacob posted above his bedroom door. It’s now framed and sits on our bookshelf.
The original that Jacob posted above his bedroom door. It’s now framed and sits on our bookshelf.
Jacob and Susie Sanders
Jacob and Susie Sanders
Painted for Jacob by Susie Sanders, 
Ft. Worth, TX
Painted for Jacob by Susie Sanders, 
Ft. Worth, TX
Sent by Wendy & Katelyn Slater, 
Huntsville, TX
Sent by Wendy & Katelyn Slater, 
Huntsville, TX
Card created by Deb in Ontario, Canada to place in random locations
Card created by Deb in Ontario, Canada to place in random locations
Placed in a mailbox by Deb in Ontario, Canada
Placed in a mailbox by Deb in Ontario, Canada
Deb’s hope: that every ripple matters!
Deb’s hope: that every ripple matters!
Placed in a library by Deb in Ontario. (Also in books written for hurting people.)
Placed in a library by Deb in Ontario. (Also in books written for hurting people.)
Placed in a phone booth by Deb in Ontario, Canada
Placed in a phone booth by Deb in Ontario, Canada
Sent by Kirsten Thomas, Tempe, AZ
Sent by Kirsten Thomas, Tempe, AZ
Made by Wendy Slayter as a wedding gift for Sara and Eric Smith’s
Made by Wendy Slayter as a wedding gift for Sara and Eric Smith’s
Sent by Debby Ritter in Marshall, TX
Sent by Debby Ritter in Marshall, TX
Sent by Stephanie in New England
Sent by Stephanie in New England
Made for Madie Skinner’s hospital room by her Aunt, Debby Ritter
Made for Madie Skinner’s hospital room by her Aunt, Debby Ritter
Sent by Kimberly and Laura in
Marshall, TX
Sent by Kimberly and Laura in
Marshall, TX
Sent by Chloe in Marshall, TX
Sent by Chloe in Marshall, TX
T-shirt by Hannah Slayter of Marshall, TX
T-shirt by Hannah Slayter of Marshall, TX
Jodi Woods’ 3rd Grade Class, Gladewater, TX
Jodi Woods’ 3rd Grade Class, Gladewater, TX
Wedding Plaque for Scott and Katelyn Moss
Wedding Plaque for Scott and Katelyn Moss
Scott and Katelyn’s plaque on display
Scott and Katelyn’s plaque on display

Speaking

Endorsements:

To inquire about scheduling a speaking engagement, contact

jeanne.damoff@gmail.com

Scroll to Top
Scroll to Top