A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, WAR & THE FIGHT TO LIVE
Hard To Swallow Is Coming Soon, Join Us for the Journey
Douglas and Heather Beaven are preparing to share the story of the year that changed everything, including the fear, fierce devotion, hard questions, and unexpected beauty they discovered when the future they imagined was suddenly rewritten.
Join the early-access list to receive exclusive book updates and launch announcements, plus get immediate access to a complimentary bonus resource.
What You’ll Discover Inside Hard To Swallow…
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Why Living Cannot Wait
Discover a powerful new perspective on being fully present, finding meaning in uncertainty, and refusing to let the fear of dying overshadow the life still waiting to be lived.
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What It Takes to Face the Unimaginable Together
Explore how honesty, humor, vulnerability, and unwavering devotion can carry two people through circumstances neither of them was prepared to face.
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Why the System Must Be Challenged
See the human cost of toxic exposure, medical bureaucracy, and unanswered questions, and why speaking up, demanding accountability, and advocating for others matters.
Before It Became a Book, It Was Their Life Unfolding in Real Time
Woven from journals, voice recordings, medical records, and public documents, Hard To Swallow captures Douglas and Heather’s experience as it unfolded.
Through both perspectives, it reveals the deeply human moments behind the facts and how uncertainty can reshape a life without taking away its humor, meaning, or love.
Join the Pre-Launch List & Receive:
Exclusive book updates, personal reflections, and insights from Douglas and Heather
Launch updates so you’re among the first to know when Hard To Swallow launches
Immediate access to a bonus resource thoughtfully created by Douglas and Heather
“We may not get to choose how the story changes, but we can choose to keep living, loving, and finding meaning in every page we’re still given.”
YOUR COMPLIMENTARY BONUS
Created to Support You Beyond the Story
As a thank-you for joining the pre-launch community, Douglas and Heather created this bonus resource to offer practical value, everyday comfort, and a meaningful extension of the heart behind Hard To Swallow.
BONUS RESOURCE:
From the Beaven Kitchen Recipes PDF Guide
A curated collection of Douglas and Heather’s favorite recipes, including dishes shared by family and friends. Each recipe uses ingredients selected to be gentler on the digestive tract, without losing the simple enjoyment of a meal made and shared with people you love.
MEET THE AUTHORS
Douglas & Heather Beaven
After 9/11, Heather, a former U.S. Navy Cryptologist, supported Douglas as he enlisted in the U.S. Army and deployed to Afghanistan with the 993rd Transportation Company. Together, they built a thriving educational support organization in Florida, raised two bold daughters, Olivia and Bella, and created a life shaped by service, resilience, and adventure.
In 2025, as they entered an empty nest and awaited the arrival of their first grandchild, Douglas was diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer linked to toxic exposure in Afghanistan. From their home in Flagler Beach, Douglas and Heather began documenting what they call their “horrifyingly beautiful year,” a season of devastating uncertainty, fierce devotion, and unexpected joy.
Through Hard To Swallow, they invite readers into their most personal mission yet, sharing what it means to keep living, loving, and embracing every chapter, even the ones no one would choose.
Join the Hard To Swallow Pre-Launch List
Be among the first to hear when Hard To Swallow launches, receive exclusive updates from Douglas and Heather, and get instant access to a complimentary resource created for the pre-launch community!