I was told that I had broke my neck on July 13, 1985. My life flashed before me. A nurse in the E.R. said to me, "You're not going to die, but your life will be very different." From that minute forward I swore I would never take my life for granted & that I would make a difference in peoples lives. As a public speaker, I find comfort in sharing my experiences with my peers & the public at large as a survivor of spinal cord injury. Children diagnosed quadriplegic are my favorite support peers.

This is me & my wife Lisa, the woman whom I have loved for over 21 years. Lisa stood by me when I had my spinal cord injury. She came everyday at the hospital to visit me, 186 1/2 days. She worked full time while I went back to college to earn a Finance/Computer Science degree. Now, I am an investment professional with a large U.S. firm & business owner.
Lisa is a saint.

I can share my story for people with spinal cord injuries. But they must feel the desire & passion for life in the face of devastation to live life to its fullest. I have spoken to hundreds of people over the years but one I'll share here. A young man who broke his neck in the Army & knew he would never walk again. I asked him, if he thought this injury may break his spirit? He said to me, "Ed, I'm an Amer-I-Can not an Amer-I-Can't!".

Never give up.

Very truly,

Edward Gangemi