Rise Above: My 500 Days of Faith, Forgiveness, and Fighting Back

There is Life After the Storm

A broken leg nearly ended Steve Zakuani’s career. But he came back stronger than ever.

Before joining the Seattle Sounders, Steve Zakuani grew up in one of London’s toughest neighborhoods. He battled injury, apathy, and alienation along the way, but through the help of a mentor he found purpose and God’s call on his life.

Yet his early challenges began to look small when Steve suffered an even more severe injury that shattered his leg—and, it seemed, his career. That injury—and his 500 long days of recovery—forced him to grapple with who he was when his identity in soccer and his personal goals were taken out of his hands.

This book, drawn from journals written during his recovery, will give you a raw, honest look into Steve’s story. Let him coach you on how to face tragedy with a positive mindset, how to set goals that are bigger than your adversity, how to remain hopeful in your darkest moments, and how to help others in your life overcome their own greatest challenges.

Rise Above: My 500 Days of Faith, Forgiveness, and Fighting Back includes a study guide for personal reflection or group discussion.