Retired director of Choices Pregnancy Care Center pens book about personal health crisis, healing

Ann Gainey, the retired Executive Director of Choices Pregnancy Care Center in Hall County, has written her very first book, The God Chair, the true story of her healing from a debilitating illness.

Gainey said her journey to the book began following a simple medical procedure in 2015. When she came home, she found herself unable to take a deep breath, a condition that persisted until she was diagnosed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

"After working Mayo's treatment plan for six months, God healed me and then told me I had to write a book about all he taught me along the three-year health journey," Gainey said. "I promptly told Him I did not know how to write a book."

Despite her initial resistance to writing the book, Gainey said God continued to push her.

"He said to my heart 'Ann, do you think that I taught you all those things in 1,000 days just for you?' So, I accepted 'His assignment' and wrote the book," Gainey said.

The title of the book came from part of her treatment plan, Gainey said. She said she had to find a counselor who would help her retrain her brain to breathe correctly. 

"One of my homework assignments from the counselor was to find a place to be with God each day with no Bible, no devotional, no Bible study workbook and no agenda," Gainey said. 

That place turned out to be what she called her "God chair."

Gainey will share more details of her story at her book launch on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the showroom of Milton Martin Toyota in Oakwood. The event begins at 2 p.m., and Gainey will sign her book following the launch and prayer of dedication. (See details below.)