Inspirational Story of The Day August 28, 2008 Living Proof

My name is Brian Boyle, and I am living
proof that miracles happen.

A month after I graduated high school in 2004,
I was coming home from swim practice and was
involved in a near fatal car accident with a dump
truck. The impact of the crash violently ripped my heart across my chest, shattering my ribs/clavicle/pelvis, collapsing my lungs, causing damage to every single organ, failure of my kidneys and liver, removal of spleen and gallbladder, resulting in the loss of  60% of my blood, severe nerve damage to my left shoulder, and leaving me in a coma where I was on life support for over two months at Prince Georges Hospital Center in Cheverly, MD.

I don't have a memory of the accident, or the few days before the day of the accident. The first thing that I remember after the collision, which is still so vivid in my mind even today, is being in this very large white tube. In this tube was a boy sitting to my left, and many other boys and girls on my right side (I use the term "boys and girls" because they appeared to be my age.)  I didn't know why I was there or how I even got there in the first place. The more I sat there, the more I was able to visualize my surroundings. The boy to my left had a cell phone, and he asked me if I needed him to call anyone for me. I told him "yes, can you call my parents and tell them that I love them." The next thing that I remember is waking up in a hospital bed, chemically paralyzed and hooked up to all these machines. Through all the buzzes and beeps going off from the medical equipment that was saving my life at that instant, I could hear my mom and dad telling me in between dramatic pauses of crying hysterically that I was going to be okay. Only moments before I believe I was waiting in line to meet my final judgment, but it must have not been my time. Moments later, I had come back to life. This was just the beginning of my suffering.

I died eight times while I was in the intensive care unit and even when I woke up from my coma, I couldn't talk or communicate. No one knew for sure if I would leave my room in a wheelchair or a body bag. As far as the future, it didn't exist. Walking was never going to happen again due to all the extreme injuries and because of the shattered pelvis. The thought of swimming was just that, only a thought. Just like my body, my dreams were shattered. But, I didn't give up because I knew that God had a plan for me.

After spending two months in a coma, 14 operations, 36 blood transfusions, 13 plasma treatments, I lost a total of 100 pounds and had to go to a rehabilitation center in Baltimore. I had to learn how to talk, eat, walk, shower, and live independently again. After that agonizing experience, I had to go to outpatient therapy in Waldorf, MD. After spending a few months in a wheelchair, I took baby steps to walk on my own. It was a miracle that I could walk again, but I wanted to prove the doctors wrong and not only walk, but run. After I accomplished that, I wanted to get back in the pool again. After a few lung tests, I was able to go in the pool a little bit each week.

Before the accident I had three goals: to go to college, swim on the team, and compete in an ironman triathlon one day. After a few months of swimming a few laps here and there with my training partner and good buddy, Sam Fleming, I decided that I was not going to let my injuries stop me from living my dream. Six months after that I began my freshman year at St. Mary's College of Maryland - and became a proud member of the swim team.

It's very easy to go through and list these facts and make it look like everything just seemed to easily fall in it's own perfect little place, but the truth of the matter is that it didn't. It wasn't easy, not then, and not now. The pain and the agony was real and it existed all the way through - in the good times and the very bad.

It was not an easy situation to be laying in a bed, staring at the ceiling, knowing that your life is over while you're looking at a priest give you the last rights. I thought to myself over and over, why did this happen to me. I was always a good kid, received good grades in school, and went to church. Why would something as horrific as this happen to me? Why would God allow this? I went on and on for days asking why? And, then it hit me. All that thinking and pondering on the what-if scenarios and the questionable doubt only stirred up another question - why was I saved? I didn't have anymore questions after that. I finally understood my purpose in life.

With the 50 year life expectancy I was given from the doctors, I am now just trying to live each day to the fullest and motivate and hopefully inspire other people in their lives and faith. Some people say I am like 'Lazarus' because God brought me back to life. All I know is that I want to take full advantage of the precious time we are given.

My story is about the recovery and the comeback, but I want to make it much more than that. I want to make a positive impact on the world. I want to motivate and hopefully inspire other people through my endeavors to never give up on their dreams and to never stop believing in their faith in God no matter how bad a situation may appear.

Update: Brian recently completed the Steelhead 70.3 half-ironman race in Michigan and was also given the inspirational athlete media slot to compete in the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship where his story appeared on NBC's  'Ironman' show as the main feature.

9:40 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Inspirational Story of The Day August 27, 2008 The Littlest Firefighter

The Littlest Firefighter

The 26-year-old mother stared down at her son who was dying of terminal

  leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a

  strong feeling of determination. Like any parent she wanted her son to

  grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible.

The  leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to

    come  true. She took her son's hand   and asked, "Billy, did you ever
think

about what you wanted to be once you

  grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?"



  "Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mom smiled

back  and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true," Later that

day  she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she
met

  Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's

  final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old

son  a ride around the block on a fire engine.



  Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your

  son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary

  fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat

with  us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! "And if you'll

  give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real

fire  hat - not a toy one - with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department
on

  it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all

  manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."



  Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire

  uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and

  ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer

it  back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire

calls  in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He
rode

  in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van and even the fire

  chief's car. He was also video taped for the local news program.



  Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was

  lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three

  months longer than any doctor thought possible. One night all of his

  vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed

in  the hospice concept that no one should die alone, began to call the

family  members to the hospital. Then she

  remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the fire

  chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman

  in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.



  The chief replied, " We can do better than that. We'll be there in five

  minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens

  screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA

  system that there is not a fire?" It's just the fire department coming

to  see one of it's finest members one more time. And will you open the

  window to his room? Thanks."



  About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the

hospital,  extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window and

  16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his

  mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much

  they loved him.



  With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said,

"Chief,  am I really a fireman now?" "Billy, you are," the chief said.

  With those words, Billy smiled and closed his eyes one last time.

8:42 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Inspirational Story of The Day August 26, 2008 I’m Just A Little Boy

Poem by Mark in Houston

I'm Just A Little Boy

9:58 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Inspirational Story of the Day August 8, 2008 The Greatest Hitter

..TR>

..TR> ..TABLE>..TABLE> 7:40 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then, he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down he swung again and missed. "Strike Two!" he cried out. The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike Three!" "Wow!" he exclaimed... "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!" Your attitude determines how circumstances impact your life. The little boy's circumstances hadn't changed, but his optimistic attitude prompted him to give an encouraging meaning to what had happened. What difficult time are you going through right now? Can you do something to change it? If you can, don't wait another day... make the needed changes. If you can't change the circumstance, however, change your attitude... you'll discover that circumstances won't have the last word. The world is so constructed that if you wish to enjoy its pleasures, you must also endure its pains. Like it or not, you cannot have one without the other. Success is not measured by what you accomplish. It's measured by the opposition you encounter and the courage with which you maintain your struggle against the odds. You'll find all things are difficult before they are easy. The greater your obstacles, the more glory in overcoming them. So, make up your mind before you start that sacrifice is part of the package. You've got to go through the negative before you get to the positive. The highway to success is a toll road.

Thursday, August 07, 2008 Inspriational Story of the Day August 7 08 True Listener Story I've listened to your show for quite awhile and I really enjoy the inspirational stories that you read. Here's one of my own. I'll try to make it short   I'm currently 21 years old and I just graduated from the University of Arizona. I come from pretty humble origins. I'm a first generation American, I was raised in the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, my mother had depression and schizophrenia, my brother was was born with cerebral palsy, but despite all that I'm truly lucky to be where I am today. I graduated with honors and I'm hoping to go to medical school next year. Though I faced a lot of challenges growing up, the one thing that gave me the most amount of confidence and self-esteem was sports. In the 7th grade, I went and tried out for the baseball team. I had never played organized sports so it was a long shot of me making the team. I went out there and I stunk. As you would guess, I got cut. The next year came along, and I decided to try out for the team again. Somehow I got even worse, but no matter what, I ran every ball out and I hustled in and out of the dug out. Before the team roster was posted, coach came up to me and said, "Moe, I only got one spot open and you realize you're pretty bad don't you?" I replied, "yes, sir." He said, "there are kids out there that are better than you, but you're the one that hustles the most and the one that never gives up on any play." I was put on the team and I thought coach was crazy, but after making my first team I learned a valuable lesson. Hustle, determination, and hard work can beat out talent, money, and ego. The funny thing is that year my batting average was .083. It was too awful to not forget. I only had two hits that season, and both of those hits were bunts. But, both of those bunts were for game winners (we performed a squeeze), and those were the only two games we won all season. There are some lessons that are meant to be taught on a sports field, I was lucky enough to have a coach who was willing to invest in me. The leadership, team spirit, and self-esteem I gained on that diamond were truly invaluable. Thanks.   Best,   Moe 9:20 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Wednesday, August 06, 2008 Inspirational Story of the Day August 6, 2008 The Rope The Rope A story is told about a mountain climber who liked to climb tall mountains for fun and to impress his friends. After years of preparation and training he felt he could handle any mountain terrain in the world, regardless of the degree of difficulty. During a climbing trip, with five other men, he decided he would make the final climb to the summit, solo, so he could get there first and claim the glory, while the others slept. After the rest of the climbing party turned-in for the night, he put on his climbing gear and headed toward the summit. As he started his climb, he was very glad there was a full moon to help him see where he was going. Although it was foolish to climb at night, alone, he did use a rope and put in good piton protection as he climbed. With the benefit of the full moon, he made rapid progress up the mountain, in spite of the fact he was climbing at night. His confidence soared as he neared the summit, but unfortunately, thick clouds were starting to build around the mountain, and visibility was deteriorating rapidly, as a winter storm developed. In just a few minutes visibility dropped to almost zero, as heavy clouds and fog surrounded him. It was now too late to turn back, so he continued to climb up the mountain, hoping the storm would blow by quickly. While moving along a narrow traverse, now in total darkness, he got into some "rotten rock," and slid down the side of the ridge and over the edge of a cliff. The good news is the protection he put in held, and he was still alive after the fall; although he now found himself dangling in the air, suspended from his rope, unable to see anything around him. The bad news is, he had loosely tied his outer heavy parka across the top of his backpack while he was climbing, and he now discovered he had lost it during the fall. Slowly the cold night air from the storm began to chill him to the bone through his lightweight inner jacket. After struggling to turn himself around in a circle, and not finding anything to grab onto, in desperation he cried out, "Oh dear God in Heaven, please help me!" Suddenly, from above he heard a strong deep voice boom out, "Cut the rope!" "What?!" As the climber listened over the wind, once again he heard a deep voice say, "Cut the rope!" Except for the wind, silence followed, as the climber continued to hang onto the rope, while hoping to be able to grab onto something that would enable him to climb to safety. Unable to see his true situation, the climber concluded, as most people would, that hanging onto the rope was his only hope. The following day, the rest of his climbing party discovered him frozen to death, still dangling from his rope -- only eight feet above a large out-cropping of rock. Had the climber cut the rope, he would have dropped down to a relatively safe area, where he could have built a fire, using some of the surrounding scrub brush, and probably survived the night. From this tragic, hopefully fictional story, we can learn about trusting God. Do you look for security in a "rope" of some form? Or, are you willing to trust God with the many things in life beyond your knowledge or control? Try to always remember: "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."  Isaiah 41:13. 7:57 AM - 0 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Thursday, March 27, 2008 JOSHUA RUCHOTSKE FUNDRAISING INFO Joshua is a 13 year old from Hanna City, IL.   He’s a cool kid...loves to play basketball and baseball.   Recently, he developed a strep infection that caused his organs to go septic.   Long story short, he was rushed to Denver, CO and the only way to save his life was to amputate his legs at the knees, his entire hand and the fingers on his other hand.   He and his family have an incredible attitude (both his brother and sister have Cystic Fibrosis.) Here is all the info for the fundraising events for Josh: If you’re in the area on April 5...please try to go to Shoot for Josh and the spaghetti dinner! JR – The Power of 10 BRACELETS can be purchased by emailing Tim Evans at JRThePowerofTen@aol.com...:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />   MONETARY DONATIONS can be made at any Heritage Bank of ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Central Illinois location.  Checks can be made to Josh Ruchotzke Fund.  Mailing address is:   Josh Ruchotzke Fund c/o Heritage Bank of Central IL 12223 Farmington Road Hanna City, IL 61536     SHOOT FOR JOSH FUNDRAISER – Sat. April 5, 2008 at Farmington Jr & Sr High SPAGHETTI SUPPER, AUCTION, RAFFLE & KID’S GAMES 4:00 - 7:00  -  Advance Tickets-$5 -available at any Heritage Bank, Bank of Farmington, Farmington Jr. High or anyone listed below.  $6 at the door. RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE starts at 3:00 – Contact Stephanie Dwyer at sdwyer@peoriacounty.org to schedule your donation time. BASKETBALL SHOOT OUT starts at 3:00 - Sponsor/Pledge sheets available at Farmington Jr. High & various locations in Farmington/Hanna City areas. LIVE AUCTION & RAFFLE ITEMS to include: CHICAGO BEARS Autographed Jerseys WHITE SOX Authentic Autographed Items donated by the White Sox FERGIE JENKINS Autographed Baseball UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Autographed Basketball (2008 season) PEORIA CHIEFS (Cubs farm team) Merchandise, Season Tickets, single game Tickets ST. LOUIS CARDINALS vs. Astros 4 Tickets (right behind home plate, rows 7 & 8, on aisle) CHICAGO CUBS Merchandise Handmade DUCK CALL NASCAR Merchandise Duck Blinds BOOMER GRIGSBY Autographed Football and Jersey JIM THOME Autographed Ball, Helmet and Photo INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Football Bocce Ball Set Flat Screen TV Wii Game System POLINI 50cc Racing Mini Bike Scooter Digital Camera Diamond Necklace & Earrings MAUI JIM Sunglasses HARLEY DAVIDSON Merchandise LIFE FLIGHT Merchandise CATERPILLAR Merchandise, Models & Toys GOLF Packages PAR-A-DICE Hotel & Casino Weekend for Two including Dinner TERRY REDLIN Painting MANY GIFT CERTIFICATES to fine restaurants, area attractions, theater, hotels, shops, and more Handmade Afghans Theme Baskets – Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Baby Items, Bath & Body, Books & more Reverse Osmosis System RED CARPET CAR WASH Certificates Wood Crafts Jewelry COLLECTIBLES – Isabel Bloom, Dolls, Batman, M&M’s and many more AND MUCH MORE! AUCTION BEGINS @ 6:30   Donations of Auction and/or Raffle items can be provided to Barb Staggs (telephone - 309-245-4349).   Any questions, contact:  Farmington Jr. High – 309-245-1000, ext. 2 Dione Anderson – 309-362-2478 Barb Staggs – 309-245-4349 Stacey Storms – 309-362-2122     10:08 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Monday, March 17, 2008 2008 BRACKETS This year in addition to The Good and The Evil and Seve’ and Vester’s Little Girl Kitten Tournament (yes, I’m a grown man) we have added The Sports Figures Who Would Make a Good President Tournament and The Play by Play Announcer Tournament.   There are some shockers in the tournaments and there are some snubs.  There are some who are going to be very tough to beat and there are some Cinderella stories who may be destined for upsets.   The selection committee (me) spent countless hours going through your nominations for each tournament.   There was a formula used though not followed to the letter of the law.   Our version of an RPI was added to several factors including, but not limited to the need to fill up each tournament. Parameters for choosing each entry were determined as follows: The Good Tournament:  The top 33 (with a play-in game) good people or stories from the past year in sports or that we didn’t use in last year’s tournament.   Just based on the number of uplifting and inspiring stories that we use on the show each night, there were snubs.  Eli Manning and the Giants improbable win in The Super Bowl didn’t make the field, but Josh Hamilton’s comeback from drug addiction did.   There was heavy weighting placed on young men and women who have overcome a disability to compete in high school or college sports such as Porter Ellet who stars on his high school basketball team with his one arm.     With all the negative publicity that dogs got this past year due to Mike Vick, the beagle who won Westminster made it into the play-in game.  Some of the field was chosen simply so we can talk about the story and create more awareness of how overcoming adversity is possible in everyone’s life. GOOD 2008 Let the screaming over seedings begin. J The Evil Tournament:  The top 33 (with a play-in game) bad people or stories from the past year in sports or that we didn’t use in last year’s tournament.  I know this doesn’t sound like something we would do on The Celebration of Life Through Sports, but the reason is clear…we just want to show the awful side of sports so we can fully appreciate all the blessings of the good side of sports.  As in The Good Tournament there were some snubs.   Imagine how bad a field it is if "The Wide Receiver in Dallas" doesn’t make the field.   Yes…he wasn’t even on the bubble.   Chris Henry and Tank Johson didn’t make it, but that doesn’t mean The NFL isn’t well represented by the likes of Vick, Pacman and Spygate.   The Evil Play in Game features the banning of double amputee Oscar Pistorius from The Olympics vs. NASCAR cheating. 2008 EVIL Let the screaming over seedings begin. The Play-By-Play Announcers Tournament:  The Top 33 (with a play-in game) play-by-play announcers of all-time.   Criteria for this bracket included whether or not we had audio clips of the guy.   We also based this one on nominations from Friends of The Show, longevity of the announcer and the uniqueness factor.   Hawk Harrelson and his "He Gone" was on the bubble, but lost out to Andres Cantor’s GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!  This will no doubt infuriate Sox fans and, well, me, because I love to say…He Gone. Other snubs include: Bob Costas, Al Trautwig and (please don’t tell him) Sporting News Radio co-worker, Tim Brando.  Also,  please don’t tell Tim that former producer of The David Stein Show and sometime PBP announcer for Northwestern U. Softball, Sweet T, did make the field…albeit the play-in game.   That play-in game, by the way, controversial in and of itself due to the low seeing and near snub of Raider’s announcer, Greg Papa. PLAY BY PLAY ANNOUNCERS Let the screaming over seedings begin. The Presidential Tournament:  The Top 33 (with play-in game) Sports Figures who would make a good President.  This was based completely on nominations coming in from Friends of The Show and in no way had to do with my personal preferences (as you can tell from Tiger’s non 1 seeding.)   You’ll be glad to know that there was no negative campaigning.  Race was not a factor.  Gender was not a factor.   There are no super delegates involved and Senator Obama’s former pastor blames none of the tournament entries for the downfall of America.  Look for some upsets in the early rounds and that 4-5 match-up in The John Wooden regional between Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Sr.  Snubs include Michael Jordan, David Beckham and Bud Selig.   The play-in game features two historical figures, soccer pioneer, Pele’ and Everest pioneer, Sir Edmund Hillary. SPORTS FIGURES WHO WOULD MAKE GOOD PRESIDENTS 8:38 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday, March 14, 2008 Vote for Favorite Talk Show Host... Hi Friends of The Show...I want to first say thank you for the shocking victory over Steven A. Smith in the first round of the www. sportsmediajournal. com Talk Show Host Tournament! As I mentioned before...I am humbled to even be on the list of all these wonderful hosts who are more well known and much better looking. Before anything, I would like to encourage you to vote for my co-workers at Sporting News Radio: Todd Wright, Arnie Spanier and Tim Brando. Now...here’s the reason to vote for me in the second round in my match-up: THE MESSAGE OF THE SHOW, A CELEBRATION OF LIFE THROUGH SPORTS...a show that is about you and not me. Wouldn’t it be a hoot if our show, that is all about goodness and positive things in sports and paying it forward and helping people with random acts of kindness, won this darn thing? I’m not concerned about my name getting out there...it’s the theme of the show and your participation that makes a difference in peopole’s lives. http://sportsmediajournal.com/2008/03/13/smj-sports-radio-madness-chris-myers-7-vs-david-stein-23/ www. sportsmediajournal. com Blessings to all. David 3:40 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Friday, February 29, 2008 Mary from South Bend RIP About a year and a half ago on Memorial Day , I looked at my computer that lists the callers on hold and there was one phone line that had "Mary from South Bend…and she's 84!" I thought…OK…I gotta find out what an 84 year old woman is doing up at this time of the day listening to this show….and find out we did. That night, Mary from South Bend came into our lives and into our hearts.   Mary became such a blessing in our lives.   Many a time, her view on an issue that we were talking about was perfectly crafted and simplistically accurate.   We loved her stories about her father and his friendship with Knute Rockne and her passion for football and all sports.   She told me once that the only time she ever saw her father cry was when "Rock" (as she called him) died in that plane crash.   What I admired most about Mary was that when she shared with us what sports was like before…she never sounded like she was preaching.  She just sounded like she was longing for a day when sports was just a little higher morally. Mary and I would talk on occasion off the air…usually on holidays.   I heard about her son and her husband who were no longer with us and who she missed terribly.  And though she called me her adopted grandson, I was touched most by how she moved others.   I often would get letters from friends of the show from all over the country who would tell me how Mary inspired them.  People were always asking me, "How's that lady in South Bend?"  Sometimes Mary would call a few times a week.  She always had something good going on in her life, even if it was just that a neighbor had shoveled her walk.  Mary served her country.  She was a Navy Aviation Specialist in World War II.   And, as a volunteer teacher for many years she was a light in the lives of so many families.  Peacefully and with God's arms around her, Mary went to be with her Husband and son Wednesday morning.  She had been sick for only a short time.   Her illness took her quickly, but not before she was able to tell me Monday that her times on the show and listening to all of you share your lives was such a blessing in hers.  Mary Capps was 85. We are a community on this show.   We care about each other.  We lift each other up and we have love for each other.  Mary…we hardly knew ye.  2:03 AM - 9 Comments - 18 Kudos - Add Comment