Introduction:

Today marks 23 years since my last motorcycle ride — a moment that felt like the beginning of a downward spiral. I didn’t know that April 13, 2003 would become the dividing line between the life I once lived and the life I never imagined I’d have to rebuild from the ground up.

At 29, I was fully active, fully physical, and constantly in motion. At 30, I was learning how to live again after a traumatic brain injury that changed everything — my body, my abilities, my confidence, and my identity.

What many people don’t know is just how severe those early hours and days were.

The Medical Reality of What I Survived

When I arrived at the hospital, my initial Glasgow Coma Scale score was 4, which is considered a severe brain injury. I had a seizure during transport, and although the first brain imaging showed no abnormalities, I was later diagnosed with diffuse axonal injury — one of the most serious forms of TBI.

My early recovery was complicated by:

• Pneumonia
• Severe bleeding from my tracheostomy site
• Pancreatitis

These weren’t small setbacks. These were life-threatening complications layered on top of a life-threatening injury.

And yet… I’m still here.

Not just alive — but living with purpose.

What 23 Years of Adaptive Achievement Looks Like

I spent nine months in a wheelchair. I lost sensation, strength, and the physical freedom I once took for granted. But I also learned something powerful: I didn’t lose my life. I stepped into my purpose.

Since then:

• I learned to walk again — unassisted.
• I earned my MBA seven years post‑TBI.
• I earned my CDL and Microsoft Certification eight years post‑TBI.
• I found my life partner in 2009, and we’ve been happily married for 16 years.
• I built a mission, a company, and a platform rooted in lived experience, faith, and resilience.

Most people don’t accomplish all of that without a TBI. I did it while carrying one every day.

Being My Best Matters, LLC — Purpose in Action

Today, I’m doing something I never foresaw myself doing: building a survivor-centered enterprise designed to empower others the way I had to learn to empower myself.

Being My Best Matters, LLC was born from the belief that:

• All good things come to those who wait with faith.
• Purpose outlives plans.
• Survivors deserve tools, community, and dignity.

My company has two for‑profit arms:

1. DPA — Digital Personal Assistant (Canvas App)

A survivor-friendly, low-cognitive-load daily planner and routine builder designed to help people rebuild structure, confidence, and momentum.

2. FCP — Family Caregiver Planner (Model‑Driven App)

The backend system that supports caregivers, family members, and clinicians with scheduling, notes, shared access, and coordinated care — all built on a secure Dataverse foundation.

Together, DPA and FCP form a unified platform that supports both sides of the recovery journey:

• Survivors who need simplicity, clarity, and encouragement
• Caregivers and families who need structure, communication, and oversight

And on the nonprofit side, I’m building:

The Being My Best Matters Clubhouse

A survivor-centered space modeled after the proven clubhouse approach — a place where survivors can practice skills, rebuild identity, and reconnect with purpose in a supportive community.

My dream is to implement DPA and FCP inside the clubhouse, giving survivors hands-on access to tools built by someone who understands their journey from the inside.

Why This Year Matters

In May, I’ll be presenting my enterprise application and UX work at the BIF Education Conference. This is my chance to put DPA and FCP in front of people, gather feedback, and understand when the product is ready for launch.

This isn’t just a demo. It’s a milestone. It’s the moment where purpose meets opportunity.

What I Know Now

I didn’t choose this path. I didn’t plan this purpose. But I’m walking in it — fully, faithfully, and without apology.

Twenty-three years later, I’m still becoming my best. And if my journey shows anything, it’s this:

You may not get the life you planned, but you can still build a life with purpose, impact, and joy.

If you’re a survivor, or someone rebuilding after loss, injury, or disruption, I hope my story reminds you that:

• You are not done.
• You are not disqualified.
• You are not behind.
• You are becoming.

And becoming takes time, faith, and the courage to keep moving — even in adaptive mode.

Keep fighting survivors!