“The doctor said it had never been done. He said, ‘I’ll be the first.’”
Montaigne Medal Finalist · Pacific Book Review Notable Book · Kirkus Reviews · Featured in USA Today and Reader's Dige
Synopsis
Facing Adversity Head On
At seventeen, Jim Stavis was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and told he'd be lucky to see fifty. He built a steel company instead.
Then his kidneys failed. Then his heart. At forty-two, a heart attack in the San Bernardino Mountains — CPR for over twenty minutes, an artery ninety-five percent blocked. When doctors told him he needed a heart, a kidney, and a pancreas, they said the surgery had never been done.
He told them he'd be the first. He was. He is seventy-one years old.
This is the story of what that actually costs — and of Brice, a seventeen-year-old football kicker whose heart now beats in Jim's chest, and whose mother still leans in to listen to it.
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Testimonials
"I bought this book during a very dark period in my own medical journey, and it completely changed my mindset. Jim doesn't just share a survival story; he gives us a practical plan to endure and thrive. This has become my new bible for hope."
—Kai Weber (London, UK)
★★★★★
"Jim's incredible story of resilience is a powerful blueprint for facing adversity head-on. Seeing how he transformed immense pain and uncertainty into an unwavering purpose is nothing short of a miracle. I couldn't put it down."
—Harry Norman (Texas, US)
★★★★★
"This book demonstrates an unbelievable triumph of spirit, hope, and courage against all imaginable odds. It is beautifully written, incredibly raw, and left me in absolute tears. Every person facing a life challenge should read this."
—Miller Neal (Frankfurt, Germany)
★★★★★
"Reading about Jim's journey through a triple transplant and a partial foot amputation taught me a vital lesson: never take a single day for granted. His positivity is contagious and provides a literal roadmap for strength and empowerment."
—Hank Cohen (Washington, US)
★★★★★
"This book transcends the typical memoir by showing that dynamic, purposeful hope is an active choice we make every day. Jim's voice is so authentic, full of wisdom, and deeply comforting. It completely reframed how I look at my own life."
—Kye McKinney (Ontario, Canada)
★★★★★
“I loved this book. Jim is a very strong and inspirational man. Although he was faced with great adversity he remained positive throughout, and is blessed with a wonderful support group of family and friends. This book is an autobiography of his life to date, what was wonderful about this book also was that throughout telling his story he provides reflective questions for the reader to look at in there own life, it helped me greatly. Thank you Jim for a very inspiring book, thank you also to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.”
—Michelle Murray, NetGalley
★★★★★
"I just finished your book. I want to say that the way this book is written gave me perspective and clarity of my own life. I have had my own trials and tribulations, which I certainly can’t compare to yours, but I hope I handled my adversities with grace and hope for the future as well as you did. I cried on many pages, particularly when you describe your recovery from your surgeries. I know this book will be wildly successful. It is not only a book of your story, but inspiration to anyone who has been through trials and tribulations."
—Karen
★★★★★
Triple Transplant Patient Defies Early Prognosis
When Jim Stavis was 17, he was told he'd be lucky to live past his 50th birthday. At that time, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Doctors expected him to be plagued by kidney and heart disease, blindness and amputation before succumbing to diabetes at a young age. In December 2017, Stavis—who received three transplants at Cedars-Sinai—celebrated his 63rd birthday.
