Item: The Boy Born Dead
Rating: 4.00
Author: sstaley

by David Ring, David Wideman, and John Driver

In 1953, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, a baby boy was born--dead. The attending physician set his little body aside and tended to his mother for eighteen minutes. Now, more than sixty years later, that boy leads an internationally known ministry that encourages hundreds of thousands every year. The Boy Born Dead tells his incredible story from the perspective of his best friend, David Wideman. As a teenager in the small town of Liberty, Missouri, in the late 1960s, David Ring grew up with the challenges that come with cerebral palsy, a result of his eighteen minutes of newborn silence. Along with his physical limitations, Ring was orphaned and shuffled from home to home, finally landing in an abusive situation that made him feel unworthy of love and, eventually, unworthy of life. But God had a purpose for Ring's life, and sent an agent to help him achieve it. Through the friendship of David Wideman, a boy he met in the halls of Liberty High School, Ring found strength he didn't know he had and went on to face his demons, marry the love of his life, and start an international speaking ministry. Full of hope, this moving story illustrates how friendship and love triumph over adversity.
Anyone who faces tough times will treasure this story of hope and courage.

One of my fellow reading buddies told me about a book her sister bought her. She said this story was very powerful. She said she thought I should read it. I'm so glad that I did! David Ring's life at first glance reads like a movie. It's fascinating to watch, but you're almost positive it can't really be true. The more you read the more horrified you are that this happened to someone and amazed this person was able to rise above the ugliness.

David Ring's life has not been easy. From the very first he was born dead and his mother was grieving his passing. David's poor mother had lost several babies before this. My heart went out to her with me also being a mother to an angel baby. David was born with disabilities and from many heart wrenching things that happened to him, he was a very angry person. There were those who took advantage of him in a very terrible way. The things that changed his life were good people, friendship, love, and bringing God into his life. This book was uplifting to me as I saw the dramatic transformation that a few changes in his life could bring. Whether or not you are religious, this book can still bring a good feeling to you seeing how someone's life became happier. It showed me how choice of actions and feelings from both boys' named David changed both of their lives for the better.

The Boy Born Dead

by David Ring, David Wideman, and John Driver

Reviewed by sstaley on Jun 7, 2018

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