Personal Life
Expecting to spend his retirement selling insurance in Overland Park, Kansas, in 1992 Hearn was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Hearn would immediately undergo a kidney transplant and would be required to take several types of medication on a daily basis. Due to the debilitating effects of the disease, and mood swings caused by the medication, in 1993 Hearn almost committed suicide, but was able to fight his way past it through faith and a chance request for him to give a motivational seminar. Finding a renewed strength, Hearn would struggle on despite being treated for skin cancer twice, undergoing two more kidney transplants, and being diagnosed with sleep apnea (requiring mechanical assistance to breathe while sleeping) - all of which forces him to take more than fifty types of medication on a daily basis.
Hearn currently works as a motivational speaker. In 2001, Hearn was awarded the prestigious Certified Speaking Profession (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association. He is the first and only professional athlete to receive this designation (only 8% of speakers throughout the world have received this distinguished honor).
Hearn also operates two charities: the NephCure Foundation, which raises money for researching kidney diseases, and the Bottom of the Ninth Foundation, which is a mentorship program for children.
Hearn has written an autobiography entitled Conquering Life’s Curves – Baseball, Battles & Beyond He resides in Shawnee, Kansas with his wife, Trish and son, Cody.
Read more about this topic: Ed Hearn (baseball)
Famous quotes containing the words personal and/or life:
“I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general: he would be crowned.
How that might change his nature, there’s the question.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“There is a delicate balance of putting yourself last and not being a doormat and thinking of yourself first and not coming off as selfish, arrogant, or bossy. We spend the majority of our lives attempting to perfect this balance. When we are successful, we have many close, healthy relationships. When we are unsuccessful, we suffer the natural consequences of damaged and sometimes broken relationships. Children are just beginning their journey on this important life lesson.”
—Cindy L. Teachey. “Building Lifelong Relationships—School Age Programs at Work,” Child Care Exchange (January 1994)