An elite ski racer and Olympics hopeful from Australia recalls the accident that nearly ended her life and required months of rehabilitation, describing the disabilities and odds she overcame to relearn to walk, to have children and to become a pilot and aerobatics instructor.
The author shares the lessons she has learned from a life upended by a disabling accident, a painful divorce, and financial ruin, and how she navigated her way to healing.
It was a miracle she survived the accident on May 31, 1986. She wasn’t supposed to walk again. She wasn’t supposed to have children. Fly a plane? Impossible. Yet Janine Shepherd did all of these things—and today stands as an inspiration to millions of people across the globe. Defiant brings readers everywhere Janine Shepherd’s captivating memoir on the dance of perseverance and acceptance that we enter as we navigate our greatest trials.
Defiant chronicles the remarkable life of Janine Shepherd, an Australian elite ski racer who was the victim of a tragic accident just before competing in the Winter Olympics. Her story begins with her “death experience” and subsequent paraplegia. Leaving her wheelchair at the hospital, she not only learned to walk again—she became a pilot, later marrying and raising three children. In the face of a painful divorce, losing her home, and financial ruin, she persevered to succeed not only as a single mom but also as an author and internationally sought-after speaker.
Defiant brings readers everywhere Janine Shepherd’s captivating memoir on the dance of resilience and acceptance faced by anyone navigating life’s trials. Infused with her signature humor, humility, and compassion,Defiant offers a collection of life lessons for those facing the physical, emotional, and spiritual hurdles associated with recovery from traumatic injury or illness.
• The captivating true story of unstoppable perseverance and the power of acceptance in the face of overwhelming odds
• Janine Shepherd’s TED Talk, “A Broken Body Isn’t a Broken Person,” has received more than a million views
• Internationally renowned speaker endorsed by corporate, nonprofit, and personal development organizations
