Stephanie Nielson: A Story of Courage and Hope Parade Magazine

Daily French Roast

Anne is reading …

Stephanie Nielson’s NieNieDialogues

What a powerful story for Easter! No one brings more tears to my eyes than Stephanie Nielson, whose life changed upside down on Aug. 16, 2008 in a plane crash that could have killed her spirit — but didn’t. I’ve been unable to let go of Stephanie because she represents the best of humanity and the human spirit.

I heard from Stephanie recently — just a few words and a quick thank you for following her story. In many respects, we are different women and yet we are bound by that simple fact.

Stephanie and I are separated by religion, political party, and the crowds we run with. And yet, Stephanie Nielson represents the best of American womanhood and I am thrilled to both celebrate her and share her story with my audience. Stephanie’s bravery and fortitude inspire me every day to move out of my own private space and into the larger issues that matter to all American women: family, educating our children, insuring human rights and integrity, fighting back against hardships and yes — sensuality and love.

Most of us pale next to Stephanie Nielson who has not only survived the crash, intense pain and months of reconstructive surgery with rarely — if ever — a ‘poor me’

This Easter weekend, Stephanie Nielson, her husband Christian and her family are featured in Parade magazine. Not present in the video is the newest member of the Nielson family, baby Charlotte. When I read that Stephanie Nielson was pregnant, I cried my eyes out. What a profound symbol of rebirth from her parents’ devastating plane crash is Charlotte Nielson.

I can’t think of a more profound gift to AOC readers than Stephanie Nielson’s story of sorrow and tragedy transformed into joy and new life. Happy Easter and Happy Passover weekend to all our readers and friends. Anne

“Baby- lil peanut -Charlotte “lottie” enjoying her first shower” NieNieDialogues.com

Stephanie Nielson Story

NieNie’s Stephanie Nielson Is Pregnant & Tears Flow at AOC

In a story I thought couldn’t get any more emotional and inspirational, Stephanie and Christian — who three years came into our lives in a fiery plane crash in Arizona, that took the lives of their good friend Doug who was piloting the plane — are about to have their fifth child.

Through the pain, anguish and disfiguring recovery — Stephanie more so than Christian — the Nielsons have lifted a lamp of hope to humanity on not only recovering from tragedy but dealing with physical disfigurement in our flawless obsessed pursuit of beauty.

NieNie’s Stephanie Nielson Faces ‘Flawless’ Beauty Head-on

Fashion bloggers and the Daily Mail UK in particular have made ‘flawless’ the descriptive word du jour, the dividing line between the beautiful people and the rest of us. She is flawless; her makeup is flawless; the Photoshop job is flawless. Applause, please. We are witnessing the magnificence of ‘flawlessness’, a beauty standard that eludes the majority of us.

Love to NieNie’s Stephanie & Christian Nielson from New York

No one has caused me to reflect on life, physical beauty, tragedy, courage, resilience and love more than Stephanie Nielson.

It was this brave Arizona-mother’s courageous fight to live and recover from her devastating injuries in a plane crash, that inspired my reflections on the meaning of love, relationships and physical image in America and my own life.

The NieNie Dialogues: New Connections in a Digital World

NieNie Lovers: Stephanie Nielson’s Marriage Before the Crash