Just Wait; There's More. When I couldn't die, I learned to live

When life collapses and every reason to keep going fades, what remains?

In Just Wait; There's More, Carina Francis opens her heart with searing honesty, revealing a journey through pain, loss, and rediscovery that is as devastating as it is redemptive. This is not just the story of one woman's struggle to survive depression and trauma - it is a universal testament to the power of hope, healing, and human connection.

Born and raised in South Africa, Carina grew up surrounded by a vibrant culture and close-knit family. But when she immigrated to Canada, her world changed in ways she couldn't have imagined. What should have been a new beginning slowly became a silent unraveling. Cut off from her roots, her identity, and the people who once grounded her, Carina began to lose herself - piece by piece - to the darkness of depression, anxiety, and disconnection.

As she faced wave after wave of emotional pain, Carina began to question everything: her worth, her faith, her relationships, even her will to live. Yet amid the isolation, she found herself drawn to moments of stillness - where she could feel, however faintly, the whisper that her story wasn't over. There was more.

Through the haze of hopelessness, Just Wait; There's More captures the fierce, fragile, and profoundly human act of survival. Carina recounts her breakdowns and breakthroughs with vivid honesty, taking readers to the heart of what it means to fight for one's own life. Her story does not shy away from the shadows - it walks through them, showing that healing isn't linear or neat, but raw, messy, and absolutely real.

In a world that often glorifies perfection and hides pain behind filtered smiles, Carina dares to tell the truth. She speaks for those who cannot yet speak for themselves - for the silent sufferers, the misunderstood, the ones who have smiled through their tears and carried the unbearable alone. Her words are a hand reaching into the darkness, offering compassion, understanding, and the reminder that no one is truly alone in their struggle.

Every chapter of this memoir carries a message of faith and resilience. It is about finding meaning in suffering, rediscovering your voice, and reclaiming your identity after loss. Carina's reflections illuminate the smallest moments - a kind gesture, a quiet prayer, a shared conversation - as reminders that light is always present, even when it feels unreachable.

Ultimately, Just Wait; There's More is about transformation. It is about learning to breathe again after the storm, to forgive yourself for breaking, and to recognize that even shattered pieces can reflect beauty. It is about the courage to begin again - not because everything is fixed, but because you finally believe you are worth saving.

Written with emotional depth, poetic rhythm, and unflinching sincerity, this memoir will resonate with readers who have faced their own battles with identity, belonging, mental health, and faith. It's a story for survivors, seekers, and anyone who has ever wondered whether their life could hold meaning beyond the pain.

More than anything, Carina's story reminds us that healing is not the end of the journey - it is the beginning of becoming who we were always meant to be.

Just Wait; There's More is not just a title. It's a promise. A promise that even in the darkest valleys, there is still more love, more light, more life waiting for you on the other side.

Content Warning: This memoir includes references to depression, suicidal ideation, and trauma. Readers who may be affected are encouraged to seek support and approach with care.