On his ninth wedding anniversary in October, 1995, Bob Violino received a special gift from his wife Renee—a kidney. The life saving transplant, which only coincidentally took place on the Massapequa Park couple’s anniversary prompted Violino, a journalist, to write a book about other transplant recipients. Following six months of research and writing, the book, New Life: Lessons in Faith and Courage from Transplant Recipients, is now in publication.

Violino, a veteran business and technology journalist provides a dramatic and inspirational look at the lives of 17 organ transplant recipients in the book, published by iUniverse, Inc. It is available in print and electronic versions.

New Life is a collection of heartwarming and compelling stories that will encourage not only transplant candidates, recipients, and their families, but anyone who is facing any kind of adversity. Through uplifting accounts of human achievement, readers are left with a deep sense of admiration for the accomplishments and triumphs of the individuals profiled. The stories illustrate how people can overcome the most difficult of circumstances and go on to lead active, generous, and in many cases, remarkable lives.

"Each story has a lesson about life for all of us," says Violino. "As I interviewed people for the book, I was constantly inspired by what these individuals have done in the face of serious illness and other hardships. They would never call themselves heroes. But they certainly provide examples of heroism, faith, patience, and strength."

"I recommend this book for all audiences because it explores relationships and describes all that is unsurpassable in human behavior," says Dr. Khalid Butt, director of transplantation and vascular surgery services at Westchester Medical Center, who wrote the foreword of the book. "It is particularly recommended for the families of any people who are about to embark upon transplant therapies. And medical students would benefit from the perspective of transplantation from the patients who have lived it."

New Life will inspire and encourage readers who are faced with health problems or any other major challenges. It will also educate readers about the benefits as well as possible difficulties with transplantation. The book covers issues such as the increasing length of time it takes to receive an organ transplant, the need for antirejection drugs and possible side effects of these medicines, and the importance of faith and family support.

Violino is founder and editorial director of Victory Business Communications, a company that provides articles, newsletters, and other print and online materials for businesses and organizations. He and his wife have lived in Massapequa Park since 1987. The couple have two children, Andrew, 16, and Timmy, five.