Long thrives under pressure, but during the tokyo paralympics, despite winning six medals, she struggled mentally with the absence of her family and closest supporters. Throughout the book, long touches on reframes she's made around perspectives and situations in her life, insights from her therapist, and lessons from the work of trauma researcher and. Born to a teenage mother in the siberia cold, burdened by congenital defects in her legs requiring double amputation, and placed for adoption at 13 months old, jessica was able to persevere.