Author Lorenzo Sierra releases a new book titled ‘Fight like Hell’

Former Arizona legislator Lorenzo Sierra shares his deeply personal journey in his new memoir “Fight Like Hell,” released on Oct. 14. The book recounts his near-fatal battle with COVID-19 and his wife Rhonda’s fight against late-stage breast cancer, reflecting on their resilience, devotion, and public service through unimaginable challenges.

Sierra joined “Arizona Horizon” to talk about his story of perseverance, faith, and love in the face of hardship.

After days of not feeling well, Sierra was advised to go to the ER where he was put on a ventilator. Sierra was expected to be on a ventilator for weeks, and in the ICU for months; however, after taking high doses of convalescent plasma, things turned around and he was able to go without a ventilator after just four days.

According to Sierra, it is not just the power of science that helped him to overcome him battle with COVID-19.

“When I’m doing a speaking engagement, I say ‘I come before you, a man reborn of science and prayer,'” Sierra said. “I had world class medical professionals who were taking care of me at John Hopkins hospital, and I literally had prayer throughout the world.”

The inspiration for the title “Fight Like Hell,” comes from Rhonda. Before Sierra was put on a ventilator, he only had a moment to call his wife, and talk about the situation at hand.

“She said, ‘I need you to make me a promise,’ and mind you, my wife is a widow,” Sierra said. “She says, ‘I need you to fight like hell to come back to me,’ and I said ‘that is a promise I’m going to make you.'”

For Sierra, every day is a gift as he remembers what he’s overcome, but it’s difficult to think about how many others did not have as fortunate of an ending. People have gone to Sierra with their own anecdotes of overcoming COVID-19 and stories of loved ones they’ve lost due to the illness.

“I’m happy that they’re telling me this, that I was inspiring to them, but at the same time, having to deal with the guilt that I’m here and your loved one isn’t,” Sierra said.

According to Sierra, it was difficult to relive such hard memories, but everyone has a story worth sharing.