Flipped: How One Man's Tragic Fall Became a Story of Surrender, Faith, and Hope

by Mark Saviers

TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY!
When Tommy Van Zandt fell from a ladder, it didn't just flip his world--it flipped the world of everyone around him.

In an instant, a 49-year-old man who seemed to have it all--a loving wife, two wonderful sons, a thriving business, a beautiful home, and a close-knit extended family--found himself immobile on the ground, his neck broken, and his next breath very much in doubt. He was certain death was at his door.

Flipped tells the story of how God helped Tommy survive and then thrive, while also working in and through the lives of Tommy's friends and family. What they found was something unexpected--that the greatest blessings of life aren't always delivered as the answer you sought in deep, sincere prayer.

Flipped explores: How to trust God in the most uncertain and difficult circumstances; How to experience the blessing of surrendering to God rather than fighting for the illusion of control; How to overcome feeling chained by the effects of a disability or illness in your life or the life of a loved one.

This is truly a story of faith, family, friends, and community coming together to create triumph over tragedy.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2017

Reviews

[Talya Boerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an ice storm in 2009, Tommy Van Zandt fell from a ladder while cutting tree limbs in his back yard. The accident that nearly took his life left him a quadriplegic. Flipped is the story of Tommy’s survival and recovery written by his brother-in-law, Mark Saviers, with reflections from Tommy and (wife) Robyn. This honest, raw account flings opens the door to life turned upside down by catastrophic accident. Flipped is a story of deep faith and love and family/friends who step up in a big way. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Van Zandt Family Trust to help with the ongoing staggering expenses for Tommy’s care.

This Book Made Me: want to be a better person and wonder how I would react in a similar circumstance.
Favorite Line: Quitting was never an option. God never let that creep into my mind.

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to give up on this book. Although the central character of the story, Tommy, was a pillar of faith throughout his experience, I found the book to be a constant onslaught of bad news.

[BEth Coulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2009 Tommy VanZandt was trimming trees in his back yard and fell backwards off his ladder paralyzing him from the neck down at the age of 49. It flipped his world and everyone's around him. Beginning from the day of the fall his brother-in-law, the author, chronicled the journey from the hospital to rehab to home. It is a very detailed description of the good, the bad and the ugly of being a quadraplegic but the story is about God and how he helped Tommy and his family survive.
The author did a great job covering every angle because not only does he write he also adds thoughts and updates from Tommy and his wife and friends.
This is a real story about faith, family and friends and how God takes tragedies and turns them in to blessings