For decades, Rory Londer battled crack addiction and homelessness. When he shared his story as a guest speaker in Sweta Patel’s high school class, she witnessed how moved her students were. Their struggles with homelessness, addiction, and toxic relationships mirrored Rory’s own past. His transformation ignited hope within them: If he could turn his life around, so could they.

He went from seeking refuge in a laundromat on cold nights to owning it, transforming it into a thriving million-dollar home improvement business. But Rory’s story isn’t just a rags-to-riches tale; it’s about emerging from the shadows of guilt and shame. 

Their collaboration resulted in Should’ve Been Dead, a book that captures Rory’s life lessons in a raw, bold narrative. Chapters like “If You Weren’t Thinking About Yourself So Much, Maybe Things Wouldn’t Be So Bad” and “You Bopping Your Head Up and Down Again? Why Don’t You Look at People?” have resonated deeply with readers.

Since January 2024, they have sold nearly 2,000 copies with glowing reviews, captivating readers with a story of addiction and recovery from the inside. But above all, the book celebrates how through genuine human connection, we can lift each other, and the belief that we each have the power to say, “This is not how the story ends.” And Rory proves it.

In 2020, Rory was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. Today, he’s determined to make a difference through his story, as living proof that it’s how we respond that defines our journey.