Before February 18, 2000



Sometime after February 18, 2000

Lying in a hospital bed - Barrow’s Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ - I am completely paralyzed on the right side of my body, even the right side of my tongue feels nothing. I am unable to remember what was said to me or what I said five minutes prior to any moment, but I know why I am here.

I was the restrained driver of a Mazda Protege, waiting in the intersection of Cave Creek and Grover in Phoenix. Waiting to make a left-hand turn.

The light turned yellow: wait for the cars.
The light turns red: all clear.

Or so I thought.

My car was t-boned by a red-light runner who was driving a pick up truck and traveling at 55MPH. She never applied her brakes. Less than eighteen inches of space left in the car. My head hits both doors. I’m unconscious and go into a comatose state from the head trauma. My 17-month old son, Blake, is killed from the impact. He is in the correct car seat in the correct position in the back seat. The crash is too much.



I learned a lot about who I really was, lying in that bed, a few weeks after the crash.

I learned I use humor as a survival mechanism. (And I am really funny.)

I can write and I am a great public speaker.

What do you know about WHO You Are?