This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was based on the problem statement; it was not known how some doctoral students pursuing their online doctoral program, overcame negative life events or setbacks to complete their doctoral program. The study examined doctoral completion from the angle of an added layer of complexity resulting from unexpected negative life events such as the deaths of family members, hospitalization of child, house fire, financial stress resulting from loss of income, and grave illness. Seven underlying research questions addressed the nature of unexpected negative life events, the processes and influences that facilitate doctoral completion, how resilience leads to doctoral completion and the resiliency factors characterizing the doctoral student, how salutogenesis, coherence, student integration, and student involvement contribute to doctoral completion, and whether the doctoral program facilitated recovery from negative life events. The sample comprised nine American graduates who completed their doctoral program between 2018 and 2022 and were recruited from Facebook doctoral groups. Data, collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom, were analyzed using Moustakas modified van Kaam method. Findings of this study indicate that strategies for doctoral completion under normal circumstances are effective for the doctoral pursuit under adverse conditions: A student-Chair relationship, family support, research topic, desire for completion, self-care, time management, and positive thinking. Resilience was enhanced through goal setting, memories of coping with difficult past situations, and faith. Recommendations for future research on doctoral completion are presented. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]