From Knock Down to Comeback is a very personal story of how one woman, Juliet Lamin used her personal tragedy to find her purpose and passion. Juliet’s darkest days in 2013 came when she got the devastating news that her only son Philip had collapsed on 5th February. She went to hospital just to witness the lifeless body of her 16-year-old. She hoped that this was a nightmare and that she would wake up to find it was a dream. She hoped she could get connection with him again. Philip had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
A project emerged from the pain. Juliet facilitated bridge building between young people and the police. PL9 was born on 10 May 2013. PL stands for Philip Lamin. The number 9 was the number of the shirt he wore. Number 9 is the most advanced offensive position on the pitch and the footballer is often the highest scorer in the team. This position has freedom to drop deep from the forward position into midfield and create space for the midfield or wide players to run into. Creating space reflect the life of young Philip who touched the lives of those around him on and off the pitch.
If there had been a defibrillator in Philip’s school when he collapsed there is a 75% chance, he would have survived. Juliet took assemblies in various local schools to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and the need to place defibrillators in local schools.
It takes far more time for emotional wounds to heal those physical ones. Juliet assures us that wounds do heal. We can get through bad times and good can come out of situations when life is not fair.
How we choose to respond to adverse effects can make a difference. Juliet quotes late former South African President Nelson Mandela
“As I walked out of the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in a prison.”
Juliet received an outstanding achievement award. She is a coach at John Maxwell Team, a trainer, a key note speaker, a trained community drug and alcohol educator and a licensed grief recovery specialist.
She continues to be an inspiration. You can listen to the podcast review of this book