HERMISTON, OR – In 1987, John O’Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his garage and was burned on over 99 percent of his body. He was given a one percent chance to live!
This epic story of survival was first showcased in his parents’ book, Overwhelming Odds, in 2006. Originally printing 200 copies for friends and family, his parents have sold 60,000+ copies, most in back-of-room sales at John’s speaking events. It was a book that first invited John to embrace his miraculous recovery and share it with the world.
John inspires 50,000+ people at 100+ events each year – one of which, the Healthcare Service Excellence Conference in Long Beach California, eighteen Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) front line staff, and administrators were privileged enough to hear John’s presentation. “I was in awe as John shared his story of survival,” recounts GSHCS Chief Operating Officer, Jim Schlenker, who continued, “what struck me the most about John’s experience was how much of an impact each of the healthcare workers made in his life. He recounts the story of everyone from the janitor to the physicians and a chance encounter with a hero that would change the rest of his life. I know each of our employees who attended the conference were so inspired that we wanted to invite John to share his story with all of our employees and with our community.”
Likewise, GSHCS Quality and Customer Experience Coordinator and Service Excellence Initiative Process Director, Devin Goldman expressed, “John’s presentation in Long Beach was so moving. His story touched me deeply and one thing he said has stuck with me and is something that I carry with me and want each of our employees to be compelled to ask, ‘What more can I do?’, simple words that have a deep meaning. What more can we do in our jobs, for our co-workers, our patients, our community, our spouses and our children – it’s a mantra I encourage you to ask yourself each day.”
On August 23, at 6 PM GSHCS will be hosting LIVE INSPIRED, featuring John O’Leary at the Hermiston Conference Center, located at 415 South Highway 395 in Hermiston. This family friendly presentation is free and open to the whole community. For more information please visit, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-inspired-tickets-35763566791 or call 541.667.3509. Once expected to die, now John teaches others how to truly live!
Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) is a progressive non-profit community health system located in Hermiston, Oregon founded in 1954 by a group of well-minded community members wanting to make an impact on the community by providing health care services in the form of a fully functioning acute care hospital. Accredited by Det Norske Veritas, GSHCS has grown to provide inpatient care, emergency services, same-day surgery, health education classes and events, and a wide range of outpatient imaging and lab services. Additional services include primary and specialty care offered by the Good Shepherd Medical Group, Good Shepherd Clinic Pharmacy (with locations in Hermiston and Boardman), Home Health/Vange John Memorial Hospice, Home Medical Equipment retail outlet, and the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation.
