I decided to write and publish this as an encouragement to someone who might need to know that it is OK to start again and again.
This is a personal letter written to those that may have given up, those that no longer believe in second or third chances, and as a thank you to my family, friends, business partners, and treating physicians.
At the age of 25, I was stopped at a red light and struck by an uninsured motorist. I was working in the film industry, creating marketing campaigns for international hotels, driving BMW's, wearing custom made Brooks Brothers suits, and living the American Dream of business ownership. This car crash left me with multiple spinal injuries, head injuries, and more. I had to pretty much learn how to read, write, walk, and talk again. The person that I was - was gone. The person that was me was taken and I had to learn to live in a body that I did not recognize.
I spent five years creating a whole new me; Physically, Personally, and Professionally. One of my treating physicians told Teresa, who was not my wife at the time, that I would never recover, and he had someone he wanted to introduce her to.
On April 9th, 2013, around 5:00 my heart decided to have what was categorized as an "electrical failure". I was in the ICU for about 24 hours trying to get it under control.
In August of 2020, my heart stopped, I fell and fractured my nose. The fall also created a severe cerebral injury. Two weeks later, there was a repeated incident. I was given a 30% chance of surviving the next 6 weeks.
In addition, I have been battling skin cancer for over 25 years. Quarterly visits and surgery have kept it under control.
One may ask why I am sharing this. Sometimes it is a kind word that helps someone else get through their day or a story like this one that gives someone else the notion that they too can recover and move on.
For those that know me, you know what my days are like, for those that don't, I have a twenty five percent full body impairment. Now, I can add this life-threatening heart concern to the former on-going physical concerns. My day consists of working with over 200 students teaching them Financial Literacy, researching social and political trends, working with small businesses to keep their doors open and employees paid, and working in the political arena.
One of my driving factors is the legacy that I want to leave for my children: dependency or personal responsibility. The other reason is that we live in the greatest country that God ever blessed; a country of opportunity where the right to pursue happiness is written into our Declaration Of Independence. Never give up on your goals. Just think about how much I would have missed out on if I chose the dependency route.
My friends, I thank you for your support.
Never give up, Never forget to give back, and be thankful that you woke up today in the USA.
Observed annually in October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices. In recognition of the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce, the theme for NDEAM 2022 “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.”
©Intellectual Property Rights Reserved - Robert W. Sutton 2021
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