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Everest Strong: Reaching New Heights with Chronic Illness
From the time Rob Besecker was a little boy, he was strong. The youngest child in a dysfunctional family, he threw himself into sports at an early age--and found he excelled at them. Athletics became his world, and by his junior year, his mailbox was stuffed with scholarship offers from university football programs from across the US. And then his body started to unravel--and everything changed.
First, Rob fractured his back, ending his college football career before it could even begin. Next, at twenty-six, he began to experience life-threatening heart issues. By twenty-nine, he had to be implanted with a defibrillator/pacemaker device. Then, when he began to experience aches and fatigue that even his faulty heart couldn't account for, he discovered he had rare form of muscular dystrophy.
With each new health challenge, Rob was devastated--but not defeated. He had always been strong, and he refused to let his ailing body limit his existence. So he set out to see what he could do--and as he neared forty, he set his sights on the challenge of a lifetime: hiking to the base camp of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
First, Rob fractured his back, ending his college football career before it could even begin. Next, at twenty-six, he began to experience life-threatening heart issues. By twenty-nine, he had to be implanted with a defibrillator/pacemaker device. Then, when he began to experience aches and fatigue that even his faulty heart couldn't account for, he discovered he had rare form of muscular dystrophy.
With each new health challenge, Rob was devastated--but not defeated. He had always been strong, and he refused to let his ailing body limit his existence. So he set out to see what he could do--and as he neared forty, he set his sights on the challenge of a lifetime: hiking to the base camp of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
266 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2017
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25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 17, 2018
Everest Strong is a motivating story about overcoming the most difficult and challenging obstacles that life throws at each of us. This story is not just about Rob Besecker, it is about each and every one of us that has the courage to get up every day and face life with courage and perseverance. Rob is truly and extraordinary individual that refuses to let life’s trials get in the way of his dreams. He is driven by goals and determination that are fueled by a love for life. I felt like Rob took me with him on his entire journey. There is nothing like hearing someone else’s story to remind you that we all have mountains to climb, detours to take and our own journey to walk. Everest Strong will inspire you to be forever strong.
Rob Besecker
Everest Strong: Reaching New Heights with Chronic IllnessEverest Strong: Reaching New Heights with Chronic Illness
Rob Besecker
Everest Strong: Reaching New Heights with Chronic IllnessEverest Strong: Reaching New Heights with Chronic Illness
August 31, 2018
We are proud to announce that EVEREST STRONG: Reaching New Heights with Chronic Illness by Rob Besecker is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
June 21, 2018
I met Rob by chance at PNC Park when my beloved Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburg Pirates on Memorial Day. He asked me what I was reading lately and handed me his card while explaining he had written a book about his journey to Mount Everest. Having never heard of Rob, I said thanks and simply put the card in my purse. A few days later I pulled it out and searched for the book on Amazon. After reading the back cover, I decided to buy it. As soon as the book arrived, I couldn’t seem to stop reading it. Having spoken to Rob, I could hear his voice in my head as I read along, and it felt like he was personally telling me his life story. Rob shares ALL of the struggles he has gone through with honesty and candor. He is truly an amazing human being!! Reading this book has inspired me to make changes in my own life.
April 3, 2018
Inspiring
Rob never gave up. I also live with MD and am encouraged to keep challenging myself. Rob also gave useful information about his health and procedures he had done.
Rob never gave up. I also live with MD and am encouraged to keep challenging myself. Rob also gave useful information about his health and procedures he had done.
May 29, 2018
Rob Besecker's Everest Strong is a gripping story of perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit. Living his adult life with the effects of Myotonic Dystrophy, Rob has had to endure numerous heart surgeries, and other symptoms that would test anyone's resolve. In life, we really have two ways of handling such adversity - we either rise to the challenge or crumble under the pressure. Rob has chosen to rise to the challenge.
What makes Rob's story so compelling however is that, although he has risen to the challenge, it hasn't been easy. He does not hide the difficult moments, and shares his fears and frustrations with the reader that allows you to get in his mind and fully appreciate his journey. And it was a long journey indeed. He has had to endure several heart surgeries, trips to the emergency room, and lengthy hospital stays. He has watched as other symptoms began to manifest, leading to uncertainty about his future.
Yet, instead of giving up on his future - and it certainly was a temptation - Rob decided to push himself beyond the limitations of his circumstances, which put him on a collision course with one of the most daunting physical challenges in the world - climbing to Base Camp of Mount Everest. The second half of the book goes into detail of his journey on the trip, and the surreal turn of events that took place while in the mountains of Nepal.
Everest Strong is a must read for anyone dealing with adversity of any sort - physical or emotional. We all need role models in life, and I know that after reading this book, Rob Besecker will be one of yours.
What makes Rob's story so compelling however is that, although he has risen to the challenge, it hasn't been easy. He does not hide the difficult moments, and shares his fears and frustrations with the reader that allows you to get in his mind and fully appreciate his journey. And it was a long journey indeed. He has had to endure several heart surgeries, trips to the emergency room, and lengthy hospital stays. He has watched as other symptoms began to manifest, leading to uncertainty about his future.
Yet, instead of giving up on his future - and it certainly was a temptation - Rob decided to push himself beyond the limitations of his circumstances, which put him on a collision course with one of the most daunting physical challenges in the world - climbing to Base Camp of Mount Everest. The second half of the book goes into detail of his journey on the trip, and the surreal turn of events that took place while in the mountains of Nepal.
Everest Strong is a must read for anyone dealing with adversity of any sort - physical or emotional. We all need role models in life, and I know that after reading this book, Rob Besecker will be one of yours.
March 4, 2018
This is a great combination of both the authors health and journey. The real life ups and downs make the story relatable. An inspiring and easy read.
May 7, 2020
Everest Strong, by Rob Besecker is an autobiography about setbacks and resilience. Besecker introduces himself as what you might think as your average person, but that doesn’t last for long. Part 1 of Besecker’s book outlines his childhood and struggles. Besecker explained that he came from a very dysfunctional family and was pretty well known because of this. A Hickory Hills native, Besecker attended Stagg Highschool and was a star football player. He received a countless amount of scholarships his senior year and was ready to commit to the next level when tragedy struck. One by one Besecker’s offers disappeared. As the story progresses, Besecker tells you that he has Muscular Dystrophy and a varying amount of heart problems. He experiences a great amount of difficulty with each of these and just when things seem to be getting better, life slaps him in the face with more complications. As all of this is going on, Besecker also has to balance a healthy social life, work, and the pressures of finding a girlfriend. As the book progresses, Besecker feels that he needs to show the world that he can overcome his struggles and conditions and sets out to complete a task that is even difficult for someone that is healthy - hike to Mount Everest Base Camp. Besecker wanted the world to know that he was stronger than his illnesses (obstacles) and that he wouldn’t let them hold himself back. After about a year and a half of careful training and long discussions with his doctors (who weren’t very big fans of this), Besecker started his trek to Everest base camp on April 10th, 2015.
Everest Strong is very deserving of a 5 star review. Besecker does a great job of letting readers jump right into his life and he tells you every emotion that he’s feeling at any given moment. Besecker’s strong and resilient demeanor made him a very inspirational person to me. I personally enjoyed reading about Besecker’s trek of getting his doctors to clear him to start his real trek to base camp. I also loved the prevalent message that Besecker gave readers, to never give up no matter what obstacles are in your path. This was very uplifting for me and made me feel that if Besecker, a man with almost every possible heart condition out there and someone who has muscular dystrophy, can train for over a year and a half and climb up to Everest base camp, then I can do anything. No matter what was thrown in Besecker’s path, he never gave up. Besecker had a very humble approach to life and viewed every heart problem and side effect as an obstacle that he was willing to take down, rather than a setback.
If you are someone looking for an uplifting and inspirational story, then Everest Strong is definitely the book for you! Unfortunately, this is Besecker’s only book at the moment but, once you read this book, you and I will both know that Besecker isn’t stopping here. I personally cannot wait to see what Besecker takes on next and I’m sure that his next book will also be just as deserving of a 5 star rating as this one.
Everest Strong is very deserving of a 5 star review. Besecker does a great job of letting readers jump right into his life and he tells you every emotion that he’s feeling at any given moment. Besecker’s strong and resilient demeanor made him a very inspirational person to me. I personally enjoyed reading about Besecker’s trek of getting his doctors to clear him to start his real trek to base camp. I also loved the prevalent message that Besecker gave readers, to never give up no matter what obstacles are in your path. This was very uplifting for me and made me feel that if Besecker, a man with almost every possible heart condition out there and someone who has muscular dystrophy, can train for over a year and a half and climb up to Everest base camp, then I can do anything. No matter what was thrown in Besecker’s path, he never gave up. Besecker had a very humble approach to life and viewed every heart problem and side effect as an obstacle that he was willing to take down, rather than a setback.
If you are someone looking for an uplifting and inspirational story, then Everest Strong is definitely the book for you! Unfortunately, this is Besecker’s only book at the moment but, once you read this book, you and I will both know that Besecker isn’t stopping here. I personally cannot wait to see what Besecker takes on next and I’m sure that his next book will also be just as deserving of a 5 star rating as this one.
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December 10, 2019Wow! My husband and I met Rob in Christchurch, New Zealand, at a motivational talk. Rob was just so normal, up on stage. It was hard to believe that he was the person he was talking about. He was, of course. The talk was great, inspiring, but the book was better - truly hard to put down. My husband read it in a weekend. I did too, along with other's we loaned it to. And it should be loaned too!
Rob's an amazing guy, who's had significant issues in his life, from its very start. How he has such strength is beyond me - but he does, without which he wouldn't be the person he is today. Nor would he have achieved the journey, to Everest Base Camp, as the book's cover describes. The book is more than that, much more, revealing the challenges throughout Rob's life journey . On a personal note, my husband found the book to be particularly inspiring in his own health journey.
As a great read, for inspiration or both, this book is well worth the read. :-)
Rob's an amazing guy, who's had significant issues in his life, from its very start. How he has such strength is beyond me - but he does, without which he wouldn't be the person he is today. Nor would he have achieved the journey, to Everest Base Camp, as the book's cover describes. The book is more than that, much more, revealing the challenges throughout Rob's life journey . On a personal note, my husband found the book to be particularly inspiring in his own health journey.
As a great read, for inspiration or both, this book is well worth the read. :-)
October 26, 2019
This is an absolutely fantastic book. Rob’s story is truly inspiring. I found it really hard to put down as it was so good! Highly recommend!
March 11, 2021
Truly an inspirational book on a guy that developed an immense amount of mental strength to overcome a great many of obstacles
November 4, 2023
Stinky man
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews