A Close Call with Death

On a ten year anniversary of a near death incident my niece Elizabeth Howard said on this last Father's Day, that she had a desire to share her story and give thanks to her Dad Phil Howard, my brother, for the life saving action he provided to save Elizabeth from plummeting off a 50 foot cliff in Southern Moab Utah National Park. This will be the youngest interviewee I have had on the show and it is short in duration but a great reflection and tribute to a Dad on Father's Day of all days. Very timely and cute. Thanks Elizabeth for being on the show!

Kyle Rivera is an action packed character who has sky dived, BASE jumped and Wingsuited hundreds of times from airplanes, hot air balloons, cliffs, buildings, everything you can imagine that test a persons nerves and bravery. On one recent flight, Kyle had a scary malfunction of his equipment causing the lines that operate his Shute to wrap around his leg in decent and nearly cause him to crash land. Tune in and listen to what Kyle's experience has done to promote a great appreciation for the rest of his life that was nearly taken away!

This interview is with Peter Ballentine, a guy who lives life large!!! We get into a terrible crash in his 911 Porsche in San Francisco, Near Death Hypothermia on the Snake River, and a Firey Crash on his BMW Motorcycle when he went through a Black Angus Cow in the dark coming home from Jackson Hole Wyoming!!! Peter is an action hero and should have been a stunt man in the movies. Here, is Peter B ....Enjoy!!

Our interview is with the lone survivor Stein Rosvquist, a flight Nurse Medic whose helicopter went down one night in a dense fog over Salt Lake City's western border near Salt Lake City International Airport. Stein suffered a severed lower back and other life threatening injuries and yet survived. The pilot and other medic on board did not make it. This story is of that fateful night and how Stein has found life through his close call with death. Thank you Stein for your story and brave grit filled ambition to take life on and live a full life despite such loss. You are one of the many brave heroes that help all of us in so many ways!

This episode is with guest Ben Gunn who 20 years ago experienced a tragic plane crash into the frigid waters of the ocean in Alaska on his way with his family to Anchorage for go fishing. Ben and his five family members went down into 42 degree ocean waters losing four of his family that day and only he and his brother in law survived. Tune into this heart felt testimonial of an experience that left Ben with great grief but at the same time, great lessons in survival, love, and appreciation for the gift of life he has as a take away from this tragic event. Thank you Ben for your story. This episode is a rather long one and a story you will want to hear the whole story in its entirety.

This episode we re-launch episode #31 with David Osmond who wrote the new music for our podcast series A Close Call With Death, with the song "Last Day" from the Reflected Album. David's lyrics in this song truly reflect the meaning of the podcast series with looking at our survival stories with the eye of living life like it just may be the last day of our lives. Thank you David for your beautiful song and dedication of it to this series. With the launch of the new music, it seemed perfect to have it launch on your episode.

John Knab, "Life is Moving At A 2x Pace: not sure how to slow it down!" John comes to the show with a close call with death due to a change in physical condition impacted by long corporate travel internationally reaching a status of Diamond Medallion 2.7 million miles in the air and with that plus work stress and weight gain, John experienced many negative health risks such as obesity, high blood pressure, blood clots, spots of cancer, etc. sending him to die in the hospital from a terrible blot clot in his head was told by doctors that he had hours / minutes until he passed away. But, he didn't die. John was tremendously blessed by the faithful and his own faith to overcome his death sentence and turns his life over to doing as much as he could to get in shape, manage is stress, and get on a Peloton to become one of the worlds highest ranking rider in the world on Strava. His life changed as he set his mind to becoming an athlete again like when he was younger. Now, in his 70's John is living his best life with his wonderful wife Robyn being like a kid again and loving his new life. John has now rode over a million miles on his bike and looking forward to inspiring all those who dream of a better life and want an amazing second half of life. Thank you John for being on the show! You are such a great mentor and inspiration!!!

Moka Best. Super cool name to go with someone who has been the best in many athletic events. Moka accomplished many goals in sports and actually reached a level of professionalism in the world of triathlon and became an Olympic hopeful for the United States. But, a deadly disease fell upon Moka called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) where the blood doesn't circulate properly and connective tissues fail. Leaving muscles, tendons, and organs all at risk of failing to work or return to a natural shape and function, bringing on overall system failure. Moka has suffered major surgeries that repostured organs and systems, kidney autotransplant, Gallbladder removal, etc etc. Now, fighting for normal, days are filled with pain. Moka smiles through it all most of the time finding life is worth fighting for and her family is worth staying alive for. Listen in on Moka's story of survival and goals for her life.

Thank you, Moka, for your positive attitude and sharing your story with us all. You are a warrior with a smile! One tough woman!

For more info on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome:

https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/

https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549814/#:~:text=Ehlers%20Danlos%20syndrome%20(EDS)%20is,and%20fragility%20of%20blood%20vessels

Mark Webb, active guy, sports enthusiast, golfer, motorcycle enthusiast, family man with a wife and four kids, and fighter....

Mark suffers with Stomach Cancer and this month celebrates a two year period of fighting for his life. Mark has found over the last two years more about life, what is life, how fragile it can be, and what next? How is Mark dealing with his condition and battling for more time? Listen in on how Mark has changed and how we views life going forward. He is not giving up and in fact, doing his best to get the very most out of life and never let a day go by that he hasn't done everything he can to enjoy his family and friends around him. As he says in the interview, we "need people " and Mark will tell you why. Thank you Mark for being on the show!