Refined by Fire: A Family's Triumph of Love and Faith

This is a wonderful book that details how this precious family relied on God's grace to sustain them as they were forced to walk down a road that none of us would choose to take. The technique of using both Brian and Mel to give their own personal perspectives and accounts throughout the book was quite effective. I read this book while flying to Charleston, SC, and was wiping away tears the entire flight. The guy next to me finally had to ask if I was "O.K.", to which I replied, "yes, it's just that this book is so moving - and so good!"

Many of the books written about the tragic events of 9/11 center on what happened at the World Trade Center or the field in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 crashed. Comparatively less has been written about the Pentagon. I always thought that this was because the Pentagon is a military installation and the levels of security there kept these stories quieter. The fire from the crash in D.C. found victims there without regard to age, rank and serial number just as it did in New York and Pennsylvania. REFINED BY FIRE is the story of one of these victims, LTC Brian Birdwell, who survived the plane's impact by chance --- he was not in his office when the plane hit, but rather in a hallway outside. His two co-workers died at their desks. The story is that of Brian's courage through thirty-plus surgeries, endless skin grafts and raging infection. While this was happening with great speed and accompanying stress, Mel was beside her husband, fighting for his dignity and sharing a strength and resolve to maintain both his honor and his position. The faith of the Birdwells is clear. God had His hand on their shoulders from the moment that fire hit. Both Mel and Brian turned to Scripture and prayer when many others might have collapsed from despair and anger. Scripture took on new meaning to Mel as she read passages and related them to their lives. Mel read Scripture to Brian even as he lay unconscious. Instead of questioning their misfortune, she focused them on moving toward healing. They could not run through it, they could not hide from it. Instead, they needed to draw strength for each new step from God and each other. I love the title of this book. These three words define so much about the Birdwells. They were refined. Their faith was refined. Their family spirit was refined. And through their battle they emerged not tarnished, but rather polished and shining in a new level. A few personal notes about this book. I had the opportunity to meet Brian and Mel in June at a publisher's conference. I was walking from aisle to aisle when I spotted them with their publicist, who is a friend. We started to chat without my knowing who they were, or their story. After this brief conversation, there was something about their quiet resolve and sense of mission that drew me to read this book. It was like they were personalizing to me the healing that this country has been going through since 9/11. I truly feel that we hurt more and needed to grieve more than we actually did for these events. Their horror was so overwhelming that the media backed off from the story, feeling people needed to move beyond it. But there are moments when I still wonder if much of the discord and polarization in this country right now comes from the way we were led to "move on" after these events when in reality the "safe" world we all knew came apart that day and its implications hurt more deeply than we may even know. While I saw Brian's scars when talking to him and Mel, their pride

I love the way the story is told from both Brian and Mel's experiences. I can underatand many of the descriptions of the military as my husband is an major in the USAF. What a testimony to God's love and sovereignty. Their story will help put life into perspective as to what is truly important. What a great gift the Birdwells have given us.

This is truly a heartwarming and awakening story of one family's quick and abrupt encounter with God. From the moment that tragedy struck The Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Brian and Mel Birdwell both knew that there was a reason he was spared while others lost their lives. This is a time-line recollection of the day of the attack and the weeks and months that follow but more so, it's a story of belief and faith and finally a story of their willingness to share their feelings, their anger and their experience with both the reader and with the world through their outreach and personal ministry to other burn victims and wounded military members whereever they go. This is a great buy. You will never be sorry you read this faith-oriented story.

This book is absolutely amazing! I knew a lot of the Birdwell's story, as I am friends with them (and a neighbor when this all happened). But of course I did not know a lot of the details. Mel and Brian both do a wonderful job relaying their story. This book really makes you think. Thank you Birdwells for sharing your experience and helping so many people. You are an inspiration, both individually and as a couple!