From Brain Injury to Second Chance to Live: Answering the Call That Never Came
For over five decades, I searched for where I fit in a world that could not see me. After years of being told I was unemployable, I created Second Chance to Live – answering a call that never came.
Early Years: Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury
At the age of 10, in 1967, I sustained an open skull fracture and severe brain bruise with right frontal lobe damage and brain stem involvement. I remained in a coma for three weeks and was not expected to survive. Upon awakening, I faced intense challenges. Although I returned to school after my injury, I struggled with various unknown difficulties.
I experienced difficulties with learning disabilities, social integration, and sensory processing. Teachers, peers, and even family members did not understand what I was going through.There was little knowledge about brain injury recovery at that time, and I felt isolated within myself, while being blamed, shamed and scapegoated for what no one understood.
Facing Educational and Vocational Barriers
I worked hard academically, graduating high school and later college with a BA in Theology and then went on to obtain my Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Despite these milestones, my struggles continued. Neuropsychological evaluations documented deficits in processing, learning, and executive functioning.
I pursued multiple vocational paths, gaining jobs only to lose them due to misunderstandings, fatigue, or the invisible barriers. Getting and losing jobs occurred over a period of more than 20 years, leaving me baffled and confused. How could someone with both an undergraduate and graduate degree not be able to maintain employment?
Nevertheless I continued to take interest inventories, career assessment, the Myers-Briggs test 2 times, but could not figure out why I could not keep a job or where I fit, in traditional employment. While working as a Vocational Rehab Counselor with the Florida Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, I had difficulty on the job. As a result I was made a client while still working as a counselor. I was later terminated as a counselor, but remained as a client, only to be terminated as a client in a year.
After Being Fired as a Counselor and Terminated as a Client
After being fired as a Counselor with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and terminated as a client, I worked several other jobs there in Florida, all resulting in my being fired. I found out that North Carolina was hiring Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (which I still had my certification), so I sent resumes and cover letters to places in North Carolina.
The result was that I was recruited up to North Carolina to work for an Insurance Company in Worker’s Compensation. Four months later I was fired. I looked for other work unsuccessfully and then applied the 2nd time for Vocational Rehabilitation services. After the evaluation process was completed, I was told that I was unemployable by my vocational rehab counselor.
This began a period in my life where I felt like someone all dressed up with no where to go. No one wanted the skill sets that I brought to the table. What complicated matters was that I was still in denial as to the impact of the open skull fracture, right frontal lobe damage with brain stem involvement from the age of 10, in 1967. Nevertheless, I still had a desire to contribute.
Being Declared Unemployable
In 1998, after nearly 20 + years of employment instability, my second Vocational Rehabilitation evaluation in Charlotte, North Carolina, resulted in my being declared unemployable. This pronouncement, while providing some comfort, reflected how systems could not see beyond my neurological barriers to the gifts and resilience within me. But it was not time.
In 1998 after 3 applications for SSDI (2 applications in Florida and the 3rd in North Carolina, I was finally approved. I began receiving a small Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) check each month at the beginning of 1999. For the next seven years, I searched for a way to use my gifts, talents and abilities in ways that would work for me.
Answering the Call That Never Came
Despite finally receiving SSDI, a deeper calling stirred within me. I realized that if no job would welcome my skills and life experience, I would create a way to use them myself. On February 6, 2007 I created Second Chance to Live. I did so in response to answering the call that never came. An answer that no one in Vocational Rehabilitation could answer.
A way in which I could learn how to use my gifts, talents and abilities in ways that would work for me for the people who wanted what I had to give. Wanted what I had to give that no one seemed to want up until that time. I do not fault Vocational Rehabilitation for not being able to answer the “How”, because I was the only one who could find my purpose.
In October 2009 I wrote an article, Answering the Call that Never Came. In October 2013 I wrote an article, Backstory of Second Chance to Live. I wrote these article to outline the path and process to creating and crafting a medium that would house my life’s work. I wrote these 2 article to encourage those struggling to not give up in their process of purpose.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” – Lao Tzu
This reminded me daily to keep taking small steps forward, even when I felt stuck.
To find their purpose through using the gifts, talents and abilities that a loving God has given to them. Below is a quote that I often share during in my brain injury keynote presentations from 30 presentations that I have created to encourage hope and courage. Encouraging Brain Injury Recovery: 30 Presentations to Inspire Hope, Purpose, and Self-Advocacy
“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
The Birth of Second Chance to Live
In February 2007, I launched Second Chance to Live to share insights from my brain injury recovery journey.
Over the past 18+ years, it has grown into:
✅ A global platform offering hope, empowerment, and practical tools
✅ 19 published eBooks
✅ 147 presentations across the United States
✅ Articles, posters, videos, and teachings on trauma-informed care, neuroplasticity, and invisible disability recovery
What Began as an Answer
What began as an answer to “the call that never came” became a beacon for thousands seeking understanding, validation, and guidance. National and International groups, organizations and countries impacted by Second Chance to Live over 18 years.
My Continuing Mission
Today, I continue to share from my lived experience to encourage others:
💡 That life is possible beyond rejection
💡 That purpose exists beyond employability labels
💡 That each of us can answer the call within our hearts, even if systems do not see our value
Explore My Full Story in Greater Depth
If this brief overview of my journey resonates with you, my eBook shares my story in greater depth, along with brain injury recovery tools and reflections from over five decades of lived experience. You can find it on Amazon here:
Second Chance to Live Autobiography and Brain Injury Recovery Resources eBook
Final Reflection
Thank you for reading my story.
🕊️ You are not alone. Your value exists beyond any label or system.
If you are searching for hope, purpose, or a way forward in your journey, please know I am here to walk with you through Second Chance to Live.
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