Hero of Hope: Ramona Pierson

The Story:

Ramona Pierson has quite an impressive résumé. She has a Masters degree in education from the University of San Francisco and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford and Palo Alto University. During the first Gulf War, she successfully built complex algorithms to improve the quality of MRIs in the battlefield and help doctors treat soldiers who sustained traumatic brain injuries. From 2003 to 2007, Ramona developed software called The Source to connect parents, teachers, and students in the Seattle public school system. The Source was a resounding success and is still in use today providing critical information and data on the performances of students and teachers. Next, Ramona took what she learned in Seattle and founded an educational startup called Synaptic Mash. After only 3 years, her company was acquired for $10 million. Most recently, she is the co-founder of a tech start-up called Declara, which currently has $5 million in funding and is backed by Peter Theil, a co-founder of PayPal and an early Facebook investor. While only a year old, Declara has shown promise in accomplishing its goal of creating an interactive social network to increase collaboration between everyone in an organization.

The Inspiration:

While Ramona’s accomplishments can speak for themselves, considering all she has had to conquer make them even more impressive. Ramona was 22-years-old when she was hit by a drunk driver while jogging with her dog. The injuries she sustained were horrific. Ramona suffered 104 broken bones, severe brain trauma, punctured lungs, and was rendered blind. She endured 18 months in a coma and over 100 surgeries.

Although Ramona had survived, defying the doctors’ expectations, she had a long and grueling recovery ahead. When she awoke, she had to relearn to speak, walk, get dressed, and navigate with a seeing-eye dog. Almost two years after the accident, she began rehabilitation at a senior citizens home in Kremmling, Colorado.  The seniors did all they could to help Ramona get better. As she reflects on her time there, “It was bittersweet, they were declining every day, and I was getting better because of them.”

Unfortunately, Ramona’s family was not in the picture and her friends had either moved on in life or had no idea where she even was. Without this crucial support network, she had to provide her own motivation, hope, and comfort while conquering the obstacles. “I just kept moving forward,” says Ramona. After 3 years in the senior citizens home, Ramona finally set out on her own. Driven by an intense fear that the world had passed her by, she enrolled in community college and began her impressive journey.

Learn More:

To learn more about Ramona Pierson and how she defied the odds, check out her amazing TED talk and some of the articles below…

Julie Bort, Business Insider: “Startup Founder Ramona Pierson Has Survived Worse Things Than Most People Can Imagine.”

Ashlee Vance, Bloomberg Businessweek: “Declara Co-Founder Ramona Pierson’s Comeback Odyssey.”

David Duran, Advocate.com: “Venture Out: What This CEO Says Can Only Be Learned From Experience.”

Hero of Hope: Gabby Giffords

The Story:

Elected in 2007, Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords was a likeable, hardworking United States Congresswoman for Arizona’s 8^th district. Mark Kelly, Gabby’s husband, describes her as, “…all at once an intellectual, a business woman, a community advocate, a cowgirl, a biker chick.” She was a devoted Congresswoman so committed to her constituents she would “put on her tennis shoes and start walking around the district 10 hours a day, meeting every single person.” The morning of January 8, 2011, Gabby was hosting one of her “Congress on Your Corner” events in Tucson when a gunman attacked. A bullet struck Gabby in the forehead and passed through the left side of her brain, leaving her in critical condition. On this January morning, Gabby Giffords’ life changed forever. 

The Inspiration:

Having suffered such severe trauma, Gabby was given less than a 10% chance of survival. When Gabby awoke from the coma weeks after the attack, she did not know where or who she was. Her doctors weren’t sure that she would ever be able to speak again. Despite these overwhelming odds, as Colleen Curry of ABC News writes, “Gabby not only survived, but has come farther than anyone could have imagined in the months since, fighting her way one breath and one hard-fought word at a time.”

In order to focus on her recovery, Gabby stepped down from Congress in January of 2012. In the same video announcing her decision to give up her congressional seat, Gabby declared, “I’m getting better. Every day, my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country.” Gabby has in fact lived up to her promise. Fighting for gun safety measures, Gabby’s recent efforts are helping prevent others from being injured in similar tragedies. She has made several appearances arguing in favor of gun safety controls and even spoke in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in January 2013. “You must act. Be bold. Be courageous,” she told the Senators, “Americans are counting on you.”  She and Mark have even started an organization called Americans for Responsible Solutions to encourage elected officials and the public to come together and develop common-sense gun control measures.

The success Gabby has achieved in her recovery so far is encouraging. Her hard work and determination make her truly inspirational. The selflessness and care for others she has shown through it all make her a hero.  

6 people were killed and 12 others wounded in the same attack. Along with Gabby, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. To conclude with Mark's words, “Optimism is a form of healing and hope a form of love.”

Learn More:

The first video below is the beginning segment of Diane Sawyer’s 20/20 special on Gabby and Mark. In the second video, from January 2012, watch as Gabby makes the promise mentioned above that she will return to an active life of public service.

Also, their book, “Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope,” is definitely on our MFM reading list. If you do read it, or have read it in the past, post a comment to let us know what you think!

Click the picture below to purchase on Amazon.

Articles on Gabby and Mark:

Giffords for Congress, "About Gabrielle"

ABC News Articles

NPR News, "Life with 'Gabby,' Before and After the Shooting."

Hero of Hope: Kevin Pearce

 Kevin, lying down, and the other members of the Pearce family (Photo courtesy of KevinPearce.com)

The Story:

Kevin Pearce was a 22-year-old professional snowboarder on the verge of achieving his ultimate goal of competing in the Olympics. All that changed on December 31, 2009, only 5 days before the Olympic tryouts, when he hit his head on an icy half pipe during a practice run. Kevin sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and after months in the hospital, had to relearn to talk and walk.

The Inspiration:

At first, Kevin, the extreme athlete used to taking risks, was determined to continue competitive snowboarding despite his doctors’ dire warnings. However, the true inspiration from Kevin’s story comes not from his return to snowboarding, but his ability to walk away from it. Through his difficult road to recovery, Kevin began to see that although he might no longer have the talents to be a professional snowboarder, he does have the talents to help others suffering from TBIs. Under the umbrella of the Vermont Community Foundation, Kevin and his family started the Kevin Pearce Fund to help others suffering from TBIs and Down syndrome, which Kevin’s brother Dave lives with. On top of his work with the foundation, Kevin is also a sports commentator and a spokesman for international awareness of TBIs. Kevin lost the only lifestyle he knew but he had the courage to keep fighting and find a new way to inspire and engage those around him.

Learn More:

Kevin’s story is the subject of HBO’s new documentary, “The Crash Reel.” This is a captivating rendition of Kevin’s struggles and triumphs and is a good watch (NOTE: movie contains strong language, please watch before showing children). 

Click here to visit The Official Web Site of Kevin Pearce to read more about Kevin's story and his return to an active life 

Heroes of Hope: Dick and Rick Hoyt

Dick and Rick Hoyt (Photo Credit: TeamHoyt.com)The Story:

Rick Hoyt was born in 1962 to his parents Dick and Judy. Due to complications during his birth, Rick’s brain was deprived of oxygen and he became a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. According to one medical specialist, Rick should be sent to an institution since he would never lead a “normal” life in society. Dick and Judy refused to believe this. The way that Rick’s eyes would follow them around, they knew that there was an intelligent person hidden by his inability to walk or speak. Dick and Judy treated Rick just like any other child; they took him sledding and swimming, taught him the alphabet, and fought administrators to accept him into the public school system. When Rick was 10, a team of engineers at Tufts University built him a specialized computer that allowed him tap a head piece to choose a letter and carefully spell out his words. With his new ability to communicate, Dick and Judy’s belief in their son’s intelligence was confirmed.

The Inspiration:

Dick and Rick Competing in their First Boston Marathon in 1981 (Photo Credit: TeamHoyt.com)In the Spring of 1977, when Rick was only 15, he told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile run to benefit a college student recently paralyzed in a lacrosse match. Through the Race for Doogie, Rick wanted to prove that life goes on after a disability. With Rick secured in a rudimentary wheelchair, Dick pushed his son all 5-miles to complete the race. Although they finished second to last, their accomplishment was life changing; as Rick carefully typed out, “Dad, when I am running, I don’t even feel like I am handicapped.” So began the journey of Team Hoyt.

Now, nearly four decades later, Team Hoyt has completed over 1,100 races including not only 5Ks and 10Ks, but also half marathons, marathons, triathlons, and Ironmans. In 1992, Rick and Dick biked and ran 3,770 miles across the U.S. in only 45 days. Together, they have given hope to those living with disabilities and have inspired millions of people across the world.

Neither Rick, now 51, nor Dick, now 73, show signs of slowing down. In fact, according to Rick, “Stopping now is not an option, I’m not ready to throw in the towel and I pray to God every day that Dad is not ready either. Birds are free to fly anywhere they want at anytime, which is how I feel when we race. There are so many people who want to see us out there. I love the spotlight…I have shown disabled people that they don’t have to sit back and watch the world go by…To this day, I don’t know what kind of vegetable I’m supposed to be.”

Learn More: 

To learn more about Team Hoyt and the Hoyt Foundation, check out the video below to see them in action and browse these links. 

Team Hoyt’s Website

Gary Smith, Sports Illustrated Vault: “The Wheels of Life.”

Also, for even more, check out these books: 

“One Letter at a Time,” by Rick Hoyt with Todd Civin

“Devoted—The Story of a Father’s Love for his Son,” by Dick Hoyt with Don Yaeger

Hero of Hope: Eric LeGrand

Picture courtesy of Team Fight to Walk (www.TeamFightToWalk.com)

The Story:

Eric LeGrand was on track to become a football star. Ranked the 21^st best middle linebacker in the nation and 13^th best player in New Jersey, LeGrand was a highly sought after recruit and eventually settled in at Rutgers. In 2008, as a freshman, he saw action in almost every game and started racking up his tackles as well as scoring his first tackle for a loss. On October 10^th, 2010, LeGrand was playing his sixth game of the season against the West Point Black Nights. It was the fourth quarter and he went in for a routine tackle. The next thing he knew, LeGrand was flat on his back on the field and couldn’t move anything from his neck down. That injury, although ending his football career, would not dissuade him from doing what he wanted.

The Inspiration:

A month after the injury, LeGrand lasted an hour and a half off his ventilator despite the doctor’s warnings that he would only last a few minutes. By Thanksgiving, the football player was able to breathe on his own. His dedication is exemplified in his saying “it’s not even whether you keep breathing; it’s whether you keep breathing how you want to breathe.” By January 6^th of the next year, LeGrand regained movement in his shoulders and feeling throughout his body and just a year after the accident, he memorably returned to the Rutgers field in a snow storm and helped toss the coin.

LeGrand’s story is one of determination and mental strength. He returned to his studies by the spring semester of 2011 and even visited practices. When his former Rutgers coach became the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he famously signed his college star on to his team so he could be a part of the NFL. LeGrand resigned in July of 2012 and decided to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. He has started speaking about his experiences and is a strong advocate of spinal cord injury research. One day, Eric LeGrand plans to walk again and in the meantime continues to “breathe how he wants to breathe.”

Learn More:

In September of 2012, LeGrand published his book titled Believe: My Faith and the Tackle that Changed my Life.

You can follow him on twitter at @EricLeGrand52, as well.