MORE THAN A CONQUEROR LEGACY
A BOOK BY BILL HAHN
REVIEWED BY JAMES MYERS
Available at Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546992391
ISBN-13: 978-1546992394
ISBN-10: 1546992391
I recently had the great pleasure of reading a book by my good friend and colleague, Bill Hahn. Spiritual, emotional, personal, revealing, this is a good read, even if you are not interested in kidney/organ donation. This book is about one man’s journey from life-altering loss, to near death, to rebirth and making the journey a blessing to others. In his Forward to the book, Congressman Posey’s message says it best: Despite all odds that Hahn encounters, Bill is a tireless advocate for organ donation, and just from his tone, you realize that the Surfpro is a guy that get things done; a bottom line overachiever.
Bill takes great care in telling us his story. This book with its spiritual confessions, videos, poem and even music tells the story in detailed, heartfelt honesty and precision. This is a story about a professional surfer, fit, healthy, competitive, who suffers from kidney failure and subsequent loss. Bill’s pro surfing career was cut short by diabetes. He has been a diabetes warrior for the last 26 years.
During that time period, Bill that he has overcome much in his journey; total blindness, comas, seizures, heart attacks and cancer.
It is in the Christian way that he responds to the drastic changes in his life that makes this book special. Imagine one day your ripping up waves in Florida, and 26 years later you’re in the hospital getting a fistula installed and placed on dialysis due to diabetes followed quickly by End Stage Renal Disease.
Time passes, once, twice he is called for a new kidney, only to be turned away. But the third time, Bill gets THE CALL!
In Bill's own words,
"My first CALL I said NO. The reality that some had passed hit me as I needed both a kidney and pancreas transplant. By the second CALL I realized God has a plan for each of us so I said YES but the organs had been compromised and my gift of life was put on hold. Call number three was the miracale. GODS PLAN."
His New Year’s Miracle came at the age of 52, and he became a Kidney/Pancreas Warrior, advocating in God’s name and his donors name. He is reborn, transplanted, given back to us. 9 years and counting, Bill has been given new life. He calls this his New Year’s Eve Miracle, a gift from God. Prayers answered, Bill has become a world class Kidney/Organ Donation Advocate. He has done much to honor his New Gift of Life, Including:
• The Annual Footprints in the Sand Kidney Walk for the National Kidney Foundation of Florida;
• The Starfish Donor Mom Tribute Dinner;
• Helping Dialysis Patients Understand They are not Alone;
• Inspiration for Those That Have Just Received a Donated Organ;
• Establishing May 13th as Florida Living Donor Day;
• Building Sand Castles of Hope with pediatric kids and families;
• Writing the Song, Surfer’s Story, Now in the Library of Congress;
• Bill’s Mother and Father are responsible for the Dedication of the Hahn House Museum in Wisconsin, Bill continues to protect that legacy;
• Bill’s Mom and Dad are responsible for the Dedication of the Great Sauk State Trial and having it placed on the National Registry of Historic places, Bill continues to protect that legacy
• Bill is responsible for the creation of Life River Walk to be completed in 2018, that is adjacent to the Hahn House.
Bill has dedicated his life to others. This book, much like the man, is an amazing testament to his determination, hard work and faith. It is sensitive and inciteful. Just check out all the You Tube videos that go with each and every chapter of this book. Prayers, music, interviews, poems, and live events, showing the heart and soul of this Christian Kidney/Organ Donation Advocate. The strength, selflessness and sensitivity to the needs of others are the essence of Bill Hahn.
Bill teaches us,
"Godspeed to all those waiting. Gods grace to all who receive the Call."
This book is a vivid reflection of this great man.
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