Author and career coach Dean Waggenspack will speak about his forthcoming book The Ledge and The Abyss: Near Death, Rescue, & The Search for Meaning, and raise funds for a hospital that saved his life.

A series of unforeseen events leaves the author trapped in a small, pitch-dark cavern surrounded by a volcanic rock wall with no way out. Waves batter him against the volcanic rock, leaving him bloodied and gasping for breath. Above ground, his wife (and co-author) sees her husband disappear underwater. After no sign of him for ten minutes, she makes the difficult decision to leave the harsh surf to call 911 and hope for the recovery of his body.

This is a story of resilience in the face of long odds. Of ordinary people making the decision to step in to help when there is no hope. A miraculous set of events leads to an odds-defying, daring rescue. The skills of rescuers, US Coast Guard personnel, and healthcare workers combine to remind us of the goodness of people and of our ability to work together when the moment requires it of us.