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The doctor told him he would never walk again. The news would be devastating to anyone, but to the active nine-year-old in the hospital that day, the words seemed to signal the end of his childhood. A rare disease had destroyed his hip bone and socket. Medically, his case appeared hopeless, but he had never been a quitter. Leg braces, crutches, painful physical therapy, and surgical procedures followed, but after almost eighteen months of agony, frustration, and pushing himself harder than anyone might have imagined, the boy began to sense a difference in his pain. The journey to recovery was still a long way off, but nothing was going to keep him from traveling that path.
Bisher's story about overcoming personal adversity through the help of God and an indomitable will is truly inspiring. Divided into three sections, his book starts off by chronicling his struggles as a boy determined not to be classified as a cripple, a teen in constant pain who chooses to prove himself on the basketball court, and a young adult who must deal with the deaths of two teachers: one a mentor, the other an enemy. The second section tells of Bisher's unwavering drive that eventually earns him a place with the Navy SEALs, as well as a parachute accident that almost takes his career away. The last section is written from the perspective of his role as mentor to professional sports teams, SEAL candidates, etc.
Almost every event in this well-written memoir serves as an encouraging reminder of the importance of not giving up, even when the road ahead appears too rocky to traverse. Engaging discussion questions at the end of each chapter also ensure that Bisher's points hit home. Thought-provoking and ultimately uplifting, this story, helped along by author Jon Land, is a journey worth savoring and will inspire all.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review