Without a doubt, 2020 has been a strange and difficult year for many around the world. The timing of the pandemic and subsequent shutdown of businesses and large events impacted many people in a variety of ways. One example was the release of a moving memoir by a determined, self-made woman named Jacky Costello, “How Far I Have Risen – Coming Clean About God, Cancer and My American Dream”.
Jacky’s story is not unlike many immigrant success stories of hard work and determination to take advantage of opportunities in America she did not have before. It is also the story of a cancer survivor and how her faith, her husband, her friends, and a stray dog from Greece all gave her the support she needed to persevere.
When the book was published in March, it rose to #2 in new releases in Christian biographies in the US and #1 in religious biographies in Germany.
Readers can follow her journey as Jacky struggled to recover from a devastating cancer surgery in Germany, recognizing she needed help at home for her young son and devoted husband. Through the kindness of a local church and friends, she realized, “God gave me a second chance,” I had to learn to find a way to pay it forward. It would be a while before I would get that chance, but I planned to make the most of it.”
Today, seven years later, Jacky Costello is the owner of Custom Cleanups, a house cleaning service in Lithia, Florida. She started with a simple red bucket and, through word-of-mouth referrals, consistently grew her business. To make good on her promise to “pay it forward”, she partnered with Cleaning for a Reason, a nonprofit organization that provides free house cleaning for cancer patients.
“My greatest hope is that by sharing my story, I will inspire others to know that no matter what you face in life, you can overcome it and achieve all your dreams, even if you don’t quite know what those dreams are yet,” Jacky explained.
A portion of the proceeds from every book sold will be donated to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, where Jacky received her follow-up care. “How Far I Have Risen - Coming Clean About God, Cancer and My American Dream” by Jacky Costello. It is available on Amazon, small bookstores nationwide, and other online locations.
