Overwhelming Odds

This inspirational story is written by Susan and Denny O'Leary, who find themselves inside any parent's worst nightmare. On an ordinary wintry day in a quiet St. Louis suburb, their son John is engulfed by flames after a gasoline explosion. John, just nine years old, critically injured and begging to die, is transported to St. John's hospital where he remains for more than four months, with 98% of his body severely burned.

This inspirational story is written by Susan and Denny O'Leary, who find themselves inside any parent's worst nightmare. On an ordinary wintry day in a quiet St. Louis suburb, their son John is engulfed by flames after a gasoline explosion. John, just nine years old, critically injured and begging to die, is transported to St. John's hospital where he remains for more than four months, with 98% of his body severely burned. Against all odds, John lives. Along the arduous road to recovery he meets and is helped by a cast of fascinating and sympathetic characters: Jack Buck, announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals; Gino Cavallini, dynamic member of the St. Louis Blues hockey team; Glenn Cunningham, motivational speaker and former Olympic champion; and a host of family, medical providers, friends, and strangers, who share themselves, their talents and their God to help John first survive and eventually thrive. ... John and Beth O'Leary are proud parents of three young boys and live in Webster Groves, Missouri. Because of the poignant response from this book, John has established himself as an international speaker. Each year, John consistently shares his message with over 160 organizations within the fields of healthcare, sales, marketing, financial services and education.

In the winter of 1987, Susan and Denny O'Leary found themselves in their worst nightmare: their nine-year-old son John was burned severely on 98% of his body and was not expected to make it through the night. Through the love, support and guidance of family, friends, community members and God: their little boy not only survived but thrived. Susan and Denny wrote this book to share gratitude with those that helped their son and family turn this tragic experience into a blessed one. And, most importantly, to help readers take back their life, ignite their possibility and change their world through understanding the power of the human spirit. Because of the poignant response from this book, John has established himself as an international speaker. Each year, John consistently shares his message with over 160 organizations within the fields of healthcare, sales, marketing, financial services and education.