Defiant: A Broken Body Is Not a Broken Person

“As I looked back over the landscape of my life, and the many setbacks I had endured, I saw that every loss also offered a gift, even if I didn’t recognize it at the time. Whenever I was called upon to loosen my grip on some cherished part of my life, I was consequently given the opportunity to start again, to create anew something of value . . . every ending carried the seeds of possibility, a chance to start over.” —Janine Shepherd
 
Defiant chronicles the remarkable life of Janine Shepherd, an elite ski racer whose bid to represent Australia in the Olympics was cut short by a tragic accident. She recalls the ten days she hovered between life and death, faced with the difficult choice to let go or return to a body that would never be whole again. After six months in hospital battling to rehabilitate her permanent disabilities, she not only taught herself to walk again—she earned her wings as both a pilot and an aerobatics instructor.

Happily married and raising three children, her life was again upended when she was forced to face a painful divorce, the loss of her home, and financial ruin. Undaunted, Janine persevered in managing her again-reinvented life as a single mom, as well as celebrated author and international speaker.

Janine Shepherd shares with candor and compassion the practical lessons she has learned throughout her continuing journey. Defiant offers hope and encouragement for anyone facing a life challenge, sharing the author’s hard-won wisdom and priceless advice for navigating one’s way from loss to healing.
 

Janine Shepherd is a renowned inspirational speaker and writer whose books have become classics in the survivor genre. She is an ambassador of SpinalCure Australia and Red Bull’s “Wings for Life,” and a contributor to Deepak Chopra’s workshops. Janine’s TEDx talk has been viewed by millions worldwide, and her story has been featured on 60 Minutes as well in the film Never Tell Me Never. She lives in Wyoming, USA. For more, visit janineshepherd.com.