Welcome to 2TheHeart!
"Set yourself free from anything that might hinder you in becoming the person you want to be. Free yourself from the uncertainties about your abilities or the worth of your dreams, from the fears that you may not be able to achieve them or that they won't be what you wanted."
~Edmund O'Neill
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They're here! 2TheHeart's BRAND NEW shirts, mugs, mousepads and more! We are thrilled to present our new product line, showing off our wonderful new logo! Take a peek! www.cafepress.com/2theheart
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Michael's stories of hope and determination have made him greatly loved by our 2theheart family. His story of survival and how he uses his life to teach and inspire is truly what I think God intends for each of us. Michael, you are an inspiration!
"Recipe for Recovery"
by Michael Jordan Segal, MSW
"I love my job!" Rather I should say, "I love my jobs."
I am a Social Worker at Memorial Hermann Hospitai (where ABC is filming their prime time real life drama entitled "Houston Medical"), working with families in the Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit (NTICU). I also work as a motivational speaker and lecturer, as well as writing inspirational stories for publication in books and on the Internet. I enjoy and love everything I do.
If someone would have told me 25 years ago that I would have made that statement, I would have laughed. I thought, and knew, that I was going to be an Orthopedic Surgeon. I was making high grades in college at the University of Texas. However, I was at the wrong place at the wrong time in February of 1981.
I was studying with my girlfriend, Sharon, for an Organic Chemistry exam that I was supposed to take the following evening. However, Sharon stated that it was getting quite late and she had to go back to her dormitory. Being a gentleman, I offered to take her home and we headed for her dormitory in my car. However, being a "college male", I had no gas in my tank nor any money in my pocket, so I borrowed two dollars from Sharon and pulled into a nearby convenience store.
"I'll be back in a second," I yelled at Sharon as I entered the convenience store to pay for the gas. Unfortunately, the store was in the midst of a robbery. One of the three thieves forced me into the cooler, where he followed me, pushed me down, and shot me in the back of the head--execution-style. He thought I was dead, otherwise he would have shot me again and again. However, I was not dead. I was barely hanging onto life.
I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance where very few of the medical staff thought I would be alive in the morning. However, they failed to take into consideration my spirit, my background, my support system and my faith.
It was not easy. However, obviously, I survived. True, I still have some disabilities and limitations, but I am alive. After a lengthy rehabilitation, I returned to college where I graduated at the top of my class four years after my return to classes. Following that, I enrolled in Graduate School at the University of Houston where I received a Masters Degree in Social Work.
One night at the Memorial Hermann Hospital where I was working, I was leading a support group for families who had loved ones in the NTICU. Their loved ones had suffered brain or spinal injuries such as strokes, aneurysms, brain tumors or injuries, or broken necks.
That night I was telling the group "my story" and a "recipe for recovery." I shared my formula for recovery with those in attendance and told them that it consisted of 4 ingredients:
1. Good medical staff,
2. Good support system,
3. Belief in yourself,
4. Belief in a higher being.
Throughout my talk, I related an anecdote with each of my "ingredients."
After my lecture, I asked for comments or questions. I'll never forget one of the comments that was made by the husband of a patient suffering from a brain aneurysm.
He stated that his wife had suffered an aneurysm and, "Thank God, was doing much better after surgery by Dr. Kim." (Dr. Kim is an eminent neurosurgeon who specializes in aneurysms.)
The husband went on to say that he too had a recipe for recovery that consisted of 4 ingredients. He stated that his ingredients were slightly different from mine.
His 4 ingredients were:
1. The Father,
2. The Son,
3. The Holy Ghost, and ...
4. Dr. Kim
People laughed; however, I believe that the man was very sincere. He truly expressed HIS recipe for recovery. The husband was obviously Christian; however, I believe that no matter what one's religious preference is, a belief in a higher being is vital. In times of crises or stress no matter whether one is Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Moslem or any other religion, a belief in a higher being is crucial. We are ALL God's children. I believe that God created ALL people, (including Dr. Kim). In so doing, I feel that God "uses" human beings to do his work.
For that family, and many, many more, "Thank God for Dr. Kim."
Michael Jordan Segal, MSW copyright 2002
msegalhope@aol.com
Michael Segal is a social worker, writer, and well sought after motivational speaker. He married his high school sweetheart, Sharon, and together they have a daughter, Shawn. Mike has had national recognition about his "miraculous" comeback after being shot in the head as an innocent witness to a robbery. He has many stories in the 2theheart's archives and is currently looking for a publisher for his autobiography, "IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE--THE BULLET THAT CHANGED MY LIFE." Please visit his webpage at http://www.2theheart.com/mikesegal
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The Letter Box,
Dear susan,
I tried to email Tammie Soots about her story, but it came back, saying her mailbox was full. I just wanted to tell her what a beautiful story it was and how it motivated me to never give up - no matter what the odds.
Thank you,
Jenni Hall
Dear Tammie,
Your story is awesome! I too had a baby with very small odds of making it. God always is in charge, as He shows us over and over! Today my little guy is a whopping 190 lb, 6'2 high school senior and I thank the Lord for him every day. He is a good boy and I am proud of him in every way. He beat the odds and is living a good life.
Thankyou,
Janice
Hi Susan,
Normally I write to express appreciation for a story shared by one of your wonderful writers. And, believe me, I enjoy them all! Today, I'd like to share a thought I've had many times when reading letters in the Letter Box: 2theHeart members are so very kind and encouraging! These ladies, especially, stand out to me - Deb Simmons, Sue Henley, Pat Lowe, and Mary-Ellen Grisham. These women surely have the gift of encouragement! Thank you to all those who take time to let the authors know that their stories have made a difference ("one story at a time!"). Their letters make a difference, too!
God bless,
Karen DeLoach
kdeloach@frontiernet.net
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