At twenty years old, Steve Gentile lost more than his health — he lost his colon, his rectum, and the body he thought he would live in for the rest of his life. What he did not lose was his will. After life-saving surgery left him with a permanent ileostomy bag, Steve was told — by implication and by silence — that his future would be smaller. Safer. Limited. But instead of stepping back, he stepped forward… into one of the most demanding professions on earth. Firefighting. From call volunteer to full-time firefighter, from Lieutenant to Deputy Chief, and finally to Fire Chief, Steve spent more than three decades running toward danger while quietly carrying a private battle no one could see. He fought fires, led crews, comforted grieving families, and commanded a department — all while managing a body forever changed by illness. Built After the Burn is not a story about disability. It is a story about identity, endurance, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going when life rewrites your future. Raw, honest, and deeply human, this memoir will resonate with firefighters, first responders, veterans, people living with chronic illness, and anyone who has ever wondered if they were still allowed to be strong after being broken. Some lives are forged in fire. Some are rebuilt after it.