Book Review: Iron Heart, The True Story of How I Came Back From the Dead

I was at a conference last week. It was an annual healthcare conference that I always attend. The last speaker on the last day is typically an inspirational speaker. This year I was really excited since our program said our final speaker was Brian Boyle. I wasn’t familiar with Brian Boyle, but the program description said he was in a terrible car accident when he was 18 years old and then went on to compete in the Kona Ironman.

His story blew me away! I was desperately trying to hold back tears as he told his story.

I bought his book after the conference and had him sign it. Cool! I am really kicking myself for not taking a picture with him for the blog (um, hello Tracy! Duh!). Sorry folks.

Here is the description from the book jacket:

“It was a horrific car crash. On the way home from swim practice, eighteen-year-old Brian Boyle’s future change in an instant when a dump truck plowed into his Camaro. He was airlifted to a shock-trauma hospital. He had lost sixty percent of his blood, his heart had moved across his chest, and his organs and pelvis were pulverized. He was placed in a medically induced coma.

“When Brian finally emerged from the coma two months later, he had no memory of the accident. He could see and hear, but not move or talk. Unable to communicate with his doctors, nurses, or frantic parents, he heard the words “vegetable” and “nursing home.” If he lived, doctors predicted he might not be able to walk again, and certainly not swim. Then, miraculously, Brian clawed his way back to the living. First blinking his eyelids, then squeezing a hand, then smiling, he gradually emerged from his locked-in state. The former swimmer and bodybuilder had lost one hundred pounds.

“Iron Heart is the first-person account of his ordeal and his miraculous comeback. With enormous fortitude he learned to walk, then run, and eventually, to swim. With his dream of competing in the Ironman Triathlon spurring him on, Brian defied all odds, and three and a half years after his accident, crossed the finish line in Kona, Hawaii. Brian’s inspiring journey from coma to Kona is brought to life in this riveting memoir.”

When I was waiting for my book to be signed, I was nervous about what I would say to him. I just hoped I didn’t burst into tears! I kind of rehearsed in my head that I would tell him that I was an aspiring marathon runner and found his story very inspirational. So finally it was my turn and I totally stammered over the word “aspiring” but I eventually spit it out!

He must get that a lot, people telling him they are going to run a marathon or do an Ironman themselves, because he nicely asked if I had done any 5Ks or anything? I told him that I had done four half marathons and his expression quickly changed to one of relief and he waved his hand and said, “Oh, you’re good to go!” He nicely chatted me up and wondered which marathon I was looking at. He was such a nice guy!

I read the book on the way home from the conference. I couldn’t put it down.

This book is so good! It immediately captures you and draws you in. I highly recommend!

Any books you can’t put down right now?