No Bad Days: JT Mestdagh on Faith, Resilience, and Turning Struggles Into Strength

JT Mestdagh, motivational speaker, endurance athlete, philanthropist, and author, releases a new edition of his powerful memoir, No Bad Days: Turning Your Biggest Challenges into Your Greatest Opportunities.

No Bad Days chronicles JT's remarkable life-from being born with VACTERL syndrome and undergoing hundreds of surgeries, to living with severe dyslexia, and ultimately becoming a source of inspiration for thousands. Against all odds, JT not only survived but thrived, embracing a life of faith, adventure, and purpose.

In this updated edition, JT invites readers to reflect on their own journeys and discover how adversity can become a catalyst for growth. Through faith, mindset, and an unshakable belief in purpose, JT has transformed his greatest struggles into tools for transformation.

Q: You were born with VACTERL syndrome and have undergone hundreds of surgeries. Can you take us back to those early years and share what kept you grounded and resilient through such overwhelming adversity at such a young age.

Being born with VACTERL syndrome, I have found it to be a blessing because of how much I have been able to learn from it.

My faith has been one of the biggest factors of overcoming these adversities at a young age along with my parents to guide me, I have been incredibly blessed with amazing medical professionals who have taken care of me. Having a positive mindset even in my most challenging days has kept me grounded.  A big factor for me was the Tattum Reading Program, allowing me to learn how to read and write. This was the initial turning point in my life to be able to share my story to understand not only myself but others better and help share their biggest struggles with me. 

Q: From summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro to the Benedict 100, your life has been marked by adventure. What lessons have you learned about perseverance, purpose, or even failure through those extreme challenges?

One of the reasons I love adventure is because it is what I like to call, my time, in God's country. Escaping the challenges that I have faced and persevering through new adventure. I have found a way to make these even more fulfilling by using this passion to help others through my Foundation. 

Q: You've founded the JT Mestdagh Foundation and raised over $500,000 for children's causes. What inspired you to start the foundation, and how has giving back shaped your own healing and growth?

I've always felt that I've wanted to help others whose shoes I was once in. By starting the JT Mestdagh Foundation, we have been able to help so many individuals through our two pillars of support with medical supplies and educational programming. I was afforded access to great medical care and educational opportunities, and I want to ensure that these patients are given the same quality of life.  

Q: For young people facing learning differences, disabilities, or chronic illness, what would you say to encourage them when life feels impossible or unfair? What practical steps helped you keep moving forward?

Whatever the challenge at hand it is important to have a tribe of people around you to learn to fall and pull you back up in your time of need. It's important to make sure that your tribe encourages you to remember that there are no bad days, only hard ones. 

Q: Your faith plays a key role in your story. How has your relationship with God influenced your outlook on suffering, identity, and what it means to live a "no bad days" life? 

My relationship with God is the most important part of my life. By keeping Him so close, I have been allowed to see past the challenges and the suffering to continue to want to live a life of no bad days. I know God will only ever give me the challenges that I can handle, so I put my best foot forward every day.  

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