Dr. Robert Yoho, is many things - a podiatric physician and 1985 graduate of College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM), Fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons, 2021 CPM Hall of Fame member, retired Dean of the Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine, husband, father, grandfather and now, published memoir author. “Tim”, as he’s known to colleagues and classmates, had been tossing the now published project around in his mind for several years before taking the plunge to release it to the world.
Life After Death: The Laura and Caralyn Yoho Story, tells the life story of his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, along with the legacy of selfless love and unconditional friendship that she carries for their family. The story takes the reader through Yoho’s time as a podiatry student, during which he became a father, into the life of his son and the twists and turns of his life. Their family story is best summarized by the Preface of the book itself:
"Laura and Nathan were looking forward to their wedding and the rich life they would have together. Both had a passion for health and fitness. Everyone agreed they were a perfect match. Like other young couples, they had dreams and aspirations. They talked about starting their own gym and having a family. Four months before their wedding, Laura suffered what was initially diagnosed as a stroke. After seeking a second opinion, she learned her symptoms were caused by a life-threatening form of brain cancer. Life After Death chronicles Laura and Nathan’s life together throughout Laura’s diagnosis, twenty-seven months of treatment, and the birth of their daughter, Caralyn, born through a surrogate four months after Laura’s death. It was Laura’s best friend since second grade, already a mother of two, who volunteered to grant the couple their wish of having a child."
The story is both tragic and inspirational. We witnessed Laura’s extraordinary courage, Nathan’s unwavering commitment to leave no stone unturned in seeking to save Laura’s life while giving her the life she deserved, and the meaning of unconditional friendship.
Organized into multiple short stories woven together, allows the reader to feel the emotions we experienced throughout Laura’s
treatment, her death, followed by the birth and raising of Caralyn.
"We are grateful for the various forms of support Laura and Nathan received during a very challenging time. This book is our way of saying thank you. At some point in time, everyone will be faced with a life-changing circumstance. I hope sharing Laura and Nathan’s story and what we learned from the experience will help others deal with difficult times. I encourage people to seek opportunities to bring comfort to someone, you will be rewarded with a feeling of goodness. True generosity requires nothing in return, other than serving as an example to follow."
Yoho believes that there is much for medical students to learn from his family’s story in the form of compassion, caring, and professionalism. His book, Life After Death: The Laura and Caralyn Yoho Story, is available by ordering online through Barnes & Noble and Amazon Books, including Kindle version.