The Boy Born Dead by David Ring with John Driver & David Wideman

This is an extraordinary memoir. It is a story of God's grace and power in a young man's life when he was so discouraged he no longer wanted to live.

David Ring was born dead. He remain dead for eighteen minutes. His mother cried out to Jesus and finally, a nurse noticed movement.

But the time without oxygen to his brain left David with cerebral palsy. His life was harder than I can imagine. His parents separated when David was still young. Then his mother died when he was fourteen. The youngest of his seven siblings, only one sister would take him in.

The book opens with David having arrived in Liberty, Missouri, and his new school. On his first day at the bus stop, he's made fun of. David Wideman came to his rescue and that was the beginning of a life long friendship.

This book is an amazing account of David Ring's high school years. We experience the trials and the victories he had. While living in his sister's house, he was terribly mistreated by his sister's friend. He became so depressed he attempted suicide. Because of his friend David, there came a time when he entered a church and found the truth that gave him a reason for living.

This book is so well written, it feels like a novel. John Driver wrote the book as David Spring's limitations in verbal and motor skills precluded writing it himself. Driver writes, “this book is a work of nonfiction with ribbons of fictitious elements running throughout.” (250) The basic framework of David's teenage experiences were augmented with added minor characters and events. That serves to make a very readable and inspiring story.

This account of David Spring rising above his disabilities through the power of God is amazing. Upon hearing his story while still a teen, his high school psychology teacher said, “I guess for the first time in my life, I see something in someone else that makes me want to believe in something bigger than myself.” (226) That first telling of his story was the beginning of a speaking career that has inspired thousands.

I highly recommend this book. It is such an inspiring story and it is very well written. I didn't want it to end.

Watch this video to get an idea of the inspiration contained in this book.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

David Ring has been an internationally known speaker since 1973, sharing his story with over 100,000 people each year at churches, conventions, schools and corporate events. He is frequently featured on national television. He and his wife life in Nashville, Tennessee. They have four children and three grandchildren. You can find out more at http://www.davidring.org/.

John Driver is an educator turned pastor and ministry leader whocreated Ignition 7, a global initiative of resources crafted to equip people to be sustained in their faith. He is the author or co-author of more than a dozen books. He and his wife and daughter live in Tennessee.

David Wideman has been a pastor at Christ Journey Church in Coral Gables, Florida, since 1983. He is the executive pastor of campus operations. He and his wife have two adult children and live in Florida.

Baker Books, 255 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher fort he purpose of an independent and honest review.