“It is not as important as what happens to us, as how we respond to what happens to us.” Craig J. Phillips
“Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add specifically your own creation.” Bruce Lee
“Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Albert Einstein
Overview
I am 67 years old. I was in an automobile accident and sustained an open skull fracture with right frontal lobe damage, a severe brain bruise, with brain stem involvement in 1967 at the age of 10. I was not expected to live the night of the accident. I remained in a coma for 3 weeks.
I obtained my master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in 1990 from the University of Kentucky. I created Second Chance to Live on February 6, 2007 to answer a call that never came. I have been engaged in answering this call for the past 17 1/2 years.
My mission and vision is to encourage my readers and listeners to not give up by pursuing their goals and dreams. Pursuing their goals and dreams through creating hope in their ongoing brain injury recovery process through their mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
Holistic Brain Injury Recovery
Second Chance to Live is a website that provides information and resources to encourage hope in the lives of individuals who are living with the impact of a brain injury. This information and the resources can benefit anyone who may be facing any kind of adversity in their lives. We believe that a brain injury or any adversity is an event, not a destiny. The event does not define them. We focus on an ongoing holistic approach (body, soul, spirit, mind and emotions). An approach that encourages the individual to own their power by taking systematic and deliberate steps to create. Steps to create hope in their lives through creating new neural pathways and brain reorganization.
What is shared through out Second Chance to Live is forged through lived experience over the past 57 years. My open skull fracture occurred in 1967 at the age of 10. After my external wounds healed the impact of my traumatic brain injury became invisible. Because little was known about brain injuries and invisible disabilities, I grew up navigating life apart from guidance and direction. What I have created through my articles, video presentations, keynote presentations and eBooks comes from my “boots on the ground” lived experience. What I share and model has given me the ability to achieve far beyond what I dreamed possible in my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
Resources to Create Hope
May what I share through my articles, keynote presentations and eBooks inspire you to create to achieve far beyond what you dream possible in your brain injury recovery.
Second Chance to Live added to Brain Injury of America’s Speakers Bureau
Presentations to Encourage and Empower Brain Injury Recovery Support
To Schedule Mr. Phillips to Present to your Group or Event
Second Chance to Live 18 eBooks available on Amazon
Testimonies and Endorsements for Second Chance to Live
Impact of Second Chance to Live
During 17 1/2 years Second Chance to Live has benefited lives in the following Countries
United States, European Union, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Russia, China, Hong Kong, India, France, Finland, Denmark, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czechia, Croatia, Indonesia, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Philippines, Japan, Serbia, Slovenia, Portugal, Morocco, St. Lucia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Switzerland, Thailand, Israel, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Netherlands, Ghana, and South Africa
Among the places spoken and will be speaking at publicly
Cleveland Clinic, Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Hospital, Overland Park Rehabilitation Hospital, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital, Inova Loudon Outpatient Specialty Rehabilitation Hospital, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Carolinas Rehab, Colorado Department of Education, University of North Dakota, University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill, Harvard University Synapse, University of California at Berkley Synapse, Columbia University Synapse, Synapse National Conference, NeuroRestorative-Charlotte, Brown University Synapse, Temple University Synapse, University of Michigan Synapse, University of California – Irvine Synapse, University of Pittsburgh Synapse, University of California – Davis Synapse and Johns Hopkins University Synapse and various State Brain Injury Associations
Among the 168 Groups and Organizations using Second Chance to Live over 17 1/2 years
Brown University Synapse
Temple University Synapse
University of Michigan Synapse
University of California – Irvine Synapse
University of Pittsburgh Synapse
University of California – Davis Synapse
Johns Hopkins University Synapse
Covid-19 Research Involvement Group
Brain Injury Association of Louisiana/United Spinal Louisiana Chapter
Inova Loudon Outpatient Specialty Rehabilitation Hospital
Brain Injury Association of Virginia
Cleveland Clinic Brain Injury and Long Covid-19 Support Groups
Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital Brain Injury Support Group
Penn Presbyterian Hospital Brain Injury Support Group
Overland Park Rehabilitation Hospital Brain Injury Support Group
Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital Brain Injury Support Group
Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Brain Injury Support Group
Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital In Service for Support Staff and Brain Injury Support Group
Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital Brain Injury Support Groups
Carolinas Rehabilitation Hospital In Service for Support Staff
Charlotte Area Brain Injury Network (CABIN) Brain Injury Support Group
Colorado Department of Education Kaleidoscope Conference for Educators and Students
University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill Brain Injury Support Group
University of California at Berkley Synapse Brain injury Support Group
Columbia University Synapse Brain Injury Support Group
Harvard University Synapse Brain Injury Support Group
Synapse National Future Leaders in Brain Injury Conference Panelist “Navigating the Healthcare System as a Person with a Brain Injury”
Alamo Head Injury Association Support Group
Brain Injury Association of New York State Support Group
Brain Injury Association of Iowa Support Group
Chattanooga Area Brain Injury Association Brain Injury Support Group
Gateway Clubhouse Brain Injury Support Group
Brain Injury Association of Mississippi Brain Injury Support Group
Brain Injury Association of Georgia Veteran Brain Injury Support Group
Fayetteville North Carolina Brain Injury Support Group
Beacon Clubhouse Brain Injury Support Group
Brain Injury Services Adapt Clubhouse Communication Support Groups
Brain Injury Association of Colorado Headstrong Publication
Brain Injury Network of Dallas (BIND) Brain Injury Support Group
The Bridgeline Brain Injury Clubhouse Brain Injury Support Group
Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Brain Injury Support Group
The Empower Brain Injury Clubhouse Brain Injury Support Group
Brain Injury Association of Indiana Brain Injury Support Group
Beechwood NeuroRehab Community-Integrated Brain Injury Specialty Programs Support Groups
Seminole Spirit Speech and Language Brain Injury Support Group
18th Annual IBICA — International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance Virtual Conference
Brain Injury Association of Tennessee Brain Injury Support Group
Shadyside Brain Injury Support Group
SOAR — Empowering Individuals with Differing Abilities Brain Injury Support Group
Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts Support Groups
Rehab without Walls Brain Injury Support Groups
Brain Injury Association of South Carolina Brain Injury Support Group Leaders Annual Workshop
Brain Injury Association of Vermont Brain Injury Support Group
Council on Brain Injury CoBI ReDiscoverU Sessions Brain Injury Support Groups
Head Injury Association of Northern Nevada Brain Injury Support Group
North Dakota Brain Injury Network Webinar Wednesdays
Brain Injury Association of North Carolina Statewide Support Groups
Brain Injury Association of Louisiana Support Group
Southeast Brain Support for TBI and Stroke
European Brain Injury Society Publication
Intute in the United Kingdom Publication
Center for Disability Services at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa Publication
Brain Injury Association of Canada Publication
Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses’ Association Publication
American Association of Neuroscience Nurses Publication
United Brains — A Network of Self-help and Self-advocacy and support groups for people with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) throughout Victoria
Empowering Veterans.org
Science blogs.com – Neurophilosophy
Synapse – Reconnecting Lives, Queensland, Australia Publications
Resiliency Center.comhttps://secondchancetolive.org/about-second-chance-to-live/
Thrive — The Geoffrey Udall Centre Beach Hill Reading RG7 2AT Growth Point Journal
Support for Change
Accord Services – Excellence in Health Care For Case Mangers, Adjusters, Clients and Caregivers Helpful Links
Google’s Custom Search for Suggested Websites for Brain Injury Information
Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns
NRI Neurologic Rehabilitation Institute at Brookhaven Hospital — An inspiring project and great tools for recovery and life Rolf Gainer Ph.D.
Texas Brain Injury Alliance – Caregiving Resources
Brain Injury Connection — Connecting Survivors, Caregivers, Providers and Community
Kids Thank a Veteran.com
WorldNews.com — A Leadership And Life Model Based On Humility
No Limits to Life Blog
American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN)
Mivzak On Israel
San Juan Center for Independence – Gallup, New Mexico
Southern Maryland Brain Injury Support Blog
American Association of People with Disabilities AAPD
Missouri Developmental Disability Center
Able Data — Your Source for Assistive Technology Information
NYS Independent Living Council, Inc.
Mental Health Foundation, UK
Every Patient’s Advocate — A blog about patient empowerment, advocacy, safety, consumerism and tools to navigate the dysfunction of American health care.
Broken Brilliant – Brilliant Mind Blog
New Horizons Un-Limited: Community and Internet Resources
Aphasia Hope Foundation Blog
Craig Hospital – Caring exclusively for patients with spinal cord and brain injuries Resources and other Websites of Interest
Psychiatric Weekly: psychiatric news, information, education
Accord Services Healthcare Excellence Resources
Fred’ Head Companion – American Printing House for the Blind
Brain Injury Association of Niagara Blog
Hinds Feet Farm – Huntersville, NC
Brain Injury Association of PEEL & HALTON
Brain Injury Association of Texas Blog
Central Florida Brain Injury Support Group — Brain Injury and Other Organizations
Brains – On the Philosophy of Mind and Related Matters
A Soldiers Perspective Blog TBI Encouragement Blog
Wounded Warriors 2nd Verse — Heroes Overcoming Obstacles — Cav Mom
Support for Change Newsletter
Carry the Flame, Inc. Blog
Brain Injury Directory Promoting Brain Injury Survivor Self-Advocacy and Collective Advocacy — Motivational Speakers
The Bone Daddies Road to Recovery Useful Links
Brain Injury.com
Colterworks Missing Pieces – Mending the Head Injury Family Blog
Neuroeconomics Center for the Study of Neuroeconomics at George Mason University
Supporting Recovering American Soldiers – Laura Benjamin
Access Ability – Gathering of Resources for Traumatic Brain Injury
Arizona Sunshine TBI Blog – Traumatic Brain injury and Comfort
Wisdom of Healing – Blog Archive – Carnival of Healing #96
FirstPost — http://www.firstpost.com/topic/disease/brain-injury-neuroplasticity-muscle-memory-coordination-agility-and-cr-video-rvf-Wz1msSY-50859-1.html
The Dragon Slayers Guide to Life: Carnival of Change
Iraq War Veterans Service – Iraq War Veterans Organization — Fermin Jiminez
We Must Support Our Injured Veterans – E-zine Articles
Brain Injury Resource — Links and Publications
Watergate Summer
Northeast Center for Special Care
TBI Residential and Community Resources
Brain Trust Canada – Serving People with Brain Injuries
Harbor Speech Pathology Resources
Brain Injury Association of Texas
Abandonment Recovery.com – Links
Renown Health Resources
The Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association
Independence, Inc. Resources
Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin
Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon
Brain Injury Handbook, Rehab UK
Synapse – The Official Journal of the Brain Injury Associations of Australia
Brain Injury Association of Canada
Acquired Brain Injury Network News
The Official Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses’ Association
Euroacademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumatologica — EMNe.V- Links.
The Warrior Transition Command U.S. Army AW2 Community Support Network
The Center for Disability Studies at the University of Hawai’I at Manoa
Intute — comprised of a consortium of universities in the United Kingdom
The European Brain Injury Society
The Brain Injury Association of Australia
Headway – Tasmania. Australia
Alaska Brain Injury Network
Alaska Peer Support Consortium
CDC Heads Up – Brain Injury Awareness – Atlanta, GA – Government
The Trust — The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
Albritton Disability Consulting Services Southwest Conference on Disability 2013
The CSA Blog — Society of Certified Senior Advisors
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