A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, WAR & THE FIGHT TO LIVE
What If Facing Death Could Teach Us How to Truly Live?
When Douglas returned home from Afghanistan, he never imagined his hardest battle would still lie ahead.
Told through the alternating voices of Douglas and Heather, Hard to Swallow is their raw, deeply human account of confronting cancer, challenging a broken system, and choosing to keep living and loving through the unimaginable.
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.
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.
A GIFT FOR OUR READERS
Created to Support You Beyond the Story
Douglas and Heather wanted Hard To Swallow to offer readers more than a powerful story. These thoughtfully created bonus resources provide added comfort, practical value, and meaningful ways to carry the heart of the book into everyday life.
BONUS RESOURCE #1:
From the Beaven Kitchen Recipes PDF Guide
A heartfelt collection of Doug and Heather’s favorite recipes, many shared by the people they love. Each dish is full of flavor and made with ingredients selected to be gentler on the digestive tract, offering comfort, nourishment, and a little extra warmth at the table.
BONUS RESOURCE #2:
A Special Opportunity to Meet Doug Virtually
A select number of readers will be invited to join Doug for a personal, 1 on 1 virtual conversation. This meaningful opportunity offers the chance to hear more about the story behind Hard To Swallow, ask questions, and share personal reflections directly with him.
Availability is limited, and opting in does not guarantee selection.
How to Order the Book & Access Your Bonuses:
1.
Click the button below to order Hard To Swallow on Amazon.
2.
Copy your Amazon Order # and head back to this page.
Having trouble locating your order #? Please click HERE for more instructions on how to locate.
3.
Submit the form to unlock & access your bonuses!
“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.”
Everything Included with Your Book Purchase
A copy of Hard To Swallow, an honest look inside Douglas and Heather’s “horrifyingly beautiful year” and the unexpected lessons it revealed about presence, partnership, and making every moment matter.
Bonus Resource #1: From the Beaven Kitchen Recipes PDF Guide
Bonus Resource #2: A Special Opportunity to Meet Doug Virtually
We’re so glad you’re here. Our hope is that Hard To Swallow sparks honest conversations, deepens your appreciation for the people beside you, and reminds you to keep living fully, even when life takes a turn you never saw coming.
