AGAINST ALL ODDS (A Look Through the Eyes of a Survivor) is an autobiography written by Craig W. Meyers, M.S., which vividly details this author's experience being a comatose 18-year-old college freshman, his struggles during rehabilitation, efforts to overcome social bias and his inspirational recovery following traumatic brain injury.
The recognition I have received by the regional Pittsburgh, Pa. television, national magazine, and area newspaper medias after writing a critically acclaimed book about my one-of-a-kind recovery after sustaining a traumatic brain injury has been very flattering. My published book, Against All Odds (A Look Through the Eyes of a Survivor), an autobiography by Craig W. Meyers, M.S., is a true account of my experience being a comatose 18-year-old college freshman, struggles during rehabilitation, efforts to overcome prejudice/discrimination, and inspirational recovery following a severe head injury. Personally caught within the turbulence of this disability, I detail the rare cognitive, emotional, societal, and psychological disturbances one commonly experiences with the onset of a critical brain trauma insult.
Amongst a host of other symptoms, literally forgetting how to walk, talk, write (agraphia), climb up and down steps, sit down, chew solid food, swim, and process what was occurring in the world because much of what I learned during childhood was no longer remembered, I provide firsthand documentation of the effort required in order to overcome the seemingly infinite mental and physical hurdles faced when doing battle with the symptoms of a mind twisted of its ability to comprehend. Depicting how courage, strength, support, determination, and acceptance facilitate one’s outlook and restoration, I outline how these key elements are essential in order for progress to occur.
A survivor’s descriptive chronicle of the events associated with severe brain trauma not being a story readers are likely to encounter everyday, this author’s unique exploits confronting the ravages of a brain contusion would seem to have the potential for mass readership because of its exclusivity and enlightening qualities. Portions of my literary endeavor not being events I could possibly recollect directly because of my distress—an aspect of this work which can only enhance its interest, influence, and accuracy—the use of Allegheny General Hospital reports/Washington Police records, Harmarville Rehabilitation Center progress notes, my father’s daily memoirs, a neuropsychological interview, mom’s verification/interpretation, etc. contributed to the painfully accurate portrayal and precise dates presented in my printed venture Throughout different segments of my case bound book (publication date: January 2003), I believe the interplay utilizing the first and third persons serving as an index of my awareness level at the given time characterizes this project as one that is truly compelling. Although I am not certain of this claim, I may be the only author in the history of literature to have actually forgotten how to write at one time, but would later be invited to headline and participate in several book signings.
On a personal level, I thought my self-portrayal outlining how I went from being subhuman to establishing a little professional standing could be viewed as somewhat significant. In addition to youth who may be contemplating using drugs and/or alcohol because of peer pressure, my book not only could serve as a valuable commodity to people seeking rehabilitation services from a former patient who could provide an insider’s perspective, but also be an enticement for any reader wanting something that is fresh and compelling. Praising my accomplishments within rehabilitation where I have amazingly overcome numerous ordeals in order to reach previously unheard of heights and experience writing a meticulously detailed book, I have received television coverage in two states.
On May 25, 2006, this author appeared as one of the featured guests on Ch. 2/KDKA-TV’s morning show called “Pittsburgh Today Live,” as host Kristine Sorensen heaped praise on my book, using the words “powerful” and “very well written” to describe it. Televised March 30, 2006 on Pittsburgh, Pa’s Channel 2/KDKA-TV 6:00 PM News, veteran television reporter Dave Crawley highlighted in his regionally renowned “KD Country” segment of this CBS affiliated broadcast, the value of my therapeutic presentations to countless high school students, reviewed how my rehabilitation endeavors have proven to be invaluable to so many, and promoted my autobiography which vividly details my ordeals after sustaining a severe head injury (http://kdka.com/video/?id=14904@kdka.dayport.com). Broadcast September 16, 2004, this author appeared as the only guest on the television season premiere of a live, thirty-minute, Pittsburgh South Hills suburb Cable Access News Channel program called “Ask the Psychologist” where the hosts—Neuropsycholgist Dr. Heidi Neville and Licensed Psychologist Judy Holt, M.S.—questioned me about a variety of topics involving my closed head injury/rejuvenation process and the documentation of my once-in-a-lifetime recovery, which is timeless. Airing 7/3/03, I was a featured guest on a PCNC (Pittsburgh Cable News Channel) live television talk show. On this one-hour long WPXI-TV cable news station program— “Night Talk with John McIntire”—the host complimented my book’s quality as, “outstanding,” “excellent,” “great,” and “inspiring,” and praised my experiences within rehabilitation therapy as “amazing.” On 4/17/03 and 2/17/03, this author/survivor’s true story was featured on WTRF-TV Channel 7/Wheeling, WV’s 6:00 P.M. News’ “Survivor Series” with Jim Forbes and Pittsburgh, Pa’sWPGH-TV/Fox 53’s Ten O’Clock News’ “Cover Story” with Andy Briggs, respectively. Unlike James Frey’s infamous fantasy memoir, A Million Little Pieces, I have television-friendly videotape coverage verifying my accounts, for I was filmed a mere two weeks after I came out of my coma as a severely compromised, brain damaged, aphasic, rehabilitating patient. I use this tape of me as a tool during my high school presentations to students, warning teens of the dangers of drinking & driving.
Furthermore, recognizing my tome’s inherent beneficiary properties and interest value, as well as my positive role model stature whose inspirational message after being hurt by a drunk driver has impacted thousands of students in both the high school and community college educational facilities, the local and national print media have gratefully given my autobiography frequent mention and the type of literary exposure only reserved for the most appealing and well-written works. Because of the countless students who graduated from my alma mater and the quality of its instruction, I was honored to contribute an article about my trauma experience for the Summer 2006 West Virginia University Alumni Magazine. Under the heading, “A Remarkable Recovery,” I appeared in the “Expressions” segment of this WVU publication where noteworthy human-interest stories are shared. In addition to chronicling my amnesia as it pertained to the college, my achievement of authoring a book and working within the human services field are also documented in this widely circulated publication (http://www.ia.wvu.edu/~magazine). Also, I was featured in the local Washington, Pa. 1/13/05 Observer-Reporter newspaper, as senior writer/columnist, Byron Smialek, wrote about my regional television appearances highlighting my autobiography and how my presentations at local high schools have been so well-received/embraced by the community that the Washington (D.C.) Speakers Bureau has expressed interest having me participate in their organization as a professional motivational speaker. I have also received coverage in the 12/12/02 Observer-Reporter newspaper column advertising my written undertaking, Washington’s 1/8/03 Church of the Covenant “The Messenger” bulletin about my book, Morgantown, WV’s Dominion Post 6/28/02 newspaper article about this West Virginia University alumni’s comeback/autobiography, the 6/19/03 edition of the Observer-Reporter provided a brief synopsis of my ordeal, autobiography, and mentioned how to order my book, and the Access newsletter featured my recovery during my unpaid student internship. In the 5/10/05 Observer-Reporter, my background, extensive experience with rehabilitation recovery, and book are points of reference, as columnist Byron Smialek even wrote a column about how the Pittsburgh Steelers’ young, Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, should be counseled by me before he thinks about riding his motorcycle because of my experience with rehabilitation following head trauma.
When I was recovering from my traumatic brain injury as a rehabilitating patient at Harmarville Rehabilitation Center about 15 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1982, newspaper journalists even knew back then that my true story was special because my strong family background and individual personality were an impeccable combination that could provide me with a foundation in order to make an incomparable recovery, which is why an article appeared about my rejuvenation endeavor at the rehab center in the town of Harmarville’s 7/17/82 Valley News Dispatch newspaper. With God’s supervision leading the way, this parental support and the traits of courage/perseverance that I possess also led the experienced staff of Harmarville to recognize that my background was so unique and inspirational that a diagram for a miracle had been presented to them, which is why—within a five-month period from admission to discharge—the rehabilitation center did the heretofore unthinkable and videotaped my consequential progress from a time when I barely knew my own name while in a wheelchair to the day I walked out of the rehab center upon being discharged. In this video showcasing my triumphant journey battling the scourge of a treacherous disability, this filmed depiction of my healing and return to normalcy has been (1) used for ten years following my discharge from Harmarville as a public relations’ item promoting this rehabilitation center’s head injury program, (2) utilized as an educational tool for University of Pittsburgh Psychology graduate students, (3) shown for training purposes to Neuropsychology professionals in Europe, and (4) presented to high school students as a preventative measure to help teenaged youth make informed decisions when pressured by peers to drink alcoholic beverages.
Without a doubt, the neighborhood exposure about my book is encouraging because of my “hometown” standing, however, the coverage has extended beyond local borders. A national magazine with a circulation of 250,000 readers who want information about various aspects of traumatic brain injury—the Brain Injury Association of America’s TBI Challenge!, Vol. 7, Number 3, pg. 12—reviewed my book first amongst its six “Suggested Reading” titles in their Summer 2004 edition. Because I was hurt by a driver who had been drinking, the national publication of M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), Driven (located in Irving, Texas), had expressed interest developing a story highlighting the perils I have had to contend with being a victim of a driver who didn’t know when to stop drinking. Also, upon presenting my neurosurgeon a complimentary copy of my book as a small token of my appreciation for all his spectacular treatment, Dr. Prostko informed me that a prestigious national organization—The Society of Neurosurgical Medicine—would highlight my accomplishment of documenting the numerous ordeals I confronted as a patient and survivor of a traumatic brain injury in a forthcoming periodical.
Unfortunate enough to have personally experienced the resulting chaos of a traumatic brain contusion, I think that could put me in a position by itself to be somewhat knowledgeable of brain injury and the subsequent aftereffects. However, if possessing experiential qualities won’t be enough to assert being qualified to write a book of this nature, I would hope that my academic standing may suffice. In addition to my own personal travels involving disability and therapy, my attainment of a graduate degree from West Virginia University’s accredited Rehabilitation Counseling program and Bachelor of Arts Psychology Degree from W.V.U. AFTER being hurt so critically would probably lend credence to my knowing enough about rehabilitation subject matter to justify writing a word or two on this topic.
God having provided me with the colors to paint a masterpiece of opportunity following my tragedy, I feel indebted to touch dawn’s bright awakening with an effervescent spirit, and not gaze westward to mourn the day’s passing.
