A Close Call with Death

Mark Haley, Survivor of a tragic hot rod crash that caught fire and burned Mark over much of his body and nearly leaving him dead in the cockpit. First responders sped to Marks aid to pull him unconscious and on fire from his wreck. Mark suffers a majority of his body having to be skin grafted back together, the loss of his left arm and all the fingers from his right hand and even facial burns and grafting to help him live. Mark was sedated into an induced coma for six months! He survived this fiery tragedy to come back and live out a life of getting back to his new normal and loving to rebuild hot rods again and spend time with family. It is a miracle that he survived this accident. We are grateful that he has come on the show. Thank you Mark! so glad you are alive to share your story. Your attitude is like your blood type B+ :) Be Positive!!

JR Celski, a phenomenal Olympic star and team mate to famous Apollo Ono has won many national and international competitions including winning the Bronze medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada. He has won many silver and bronze medals over this career and at the top of this game he had a terrible accident on the ice qualifying for the Olympics in 2010 when he fell on the last turn slashing his thigh muscles in half and nicking his femoral artery!

JR thought his Olympic dreams were over and he may never skate again. Despite this accident and set back JR pushes through and lets us in on how it all went down and how he worked his way back. Tune in on this heart touching story of resilience and perseverance that can give any of us listeners the drive to get back into life again no matter how hard or challenging. Thank you JR for this great story of reflection and heart. This was truly, A Close Call With Death!

Darren Ewell's life was spared when a fast action hero nurse came to his rescue and started immediate CPR on Darren after suffering cardiac arrest! Darren was playing softball one night in Murray Utah when suddenly he fell onto the playing field without a heart beat and unconscious. Darren had complete blockage to his heart and it stopped. Immediate and aggressive CPR was provided on scene by a Cardiac Nurse Danya Topham acting quickly and, with that bravery and technical training, saved Darren's life! Never really expecting Darren to live she provided CPR and kept going until Darren was transferred to a very close hospital just up the street. Miracles took place that day. The team of first responders including an off duty K9 police officer all were awarded hero awards from the city for their act of bravery and life saving from the City of Murray Utah. Tune into this inspiring story of a truly close call with death and we are grateful for Darren being alive to tell about it.

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Peter Vidmar!   Peter is one of the most decorated American gymnasts in Olympic History.  The winner of numerous national and international titles, he finished his successful career at the 1984 Olympic Games.  As the USA men's gymnastics team captain, he led his teammates to America's first ever team gold medal, with their stunning upset victory over the defending world champions, the People's Republic of China! Peter went on to win the silver medal in the individual all-round competition (the first American to have won an Olympic All-Around medial), and with a perfect score of 10, captured the gold medal on the pommel horse.  Peter is one of only three athletes inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame twice; first as an individual, then as a member of the historic 1984 USA Men's gymnastics team.  He is also the author of Risk, Originality, and Virtuosity; The Keys to a Perfect 10. Now, listen in on how this incredible athlete had his very own close call with death and nearly found his life end way too soon! Thank you Peter for being on the show! It was an honor.

Neal Middleton is our guest on the podcast series, A Close Call With Death,  and Neal comes to us from an intro from my daughter Adrienne who sends me some of the most amazing touching stories on the planet.  Adrienne knows Neal and his wife who he talks about very lovingly in the interview.  Adrienne said "You have to talk with Neal! He has a close call with death and his life is incredible!"  I connected with Neal and between performances he came and sat down with me to share his story.  I was so touched buy his incredible caring soul and kindness plus an unreal raspy baritone voice that I could listen to for hours. Neal is a long time member of a successful band called @Royal Bliss.  They have reached the top of the music charts with their albums and have toured with the likes of greats like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Buckcherry, Candlebox, Kid Rock, Brett Michaels and others.  Mixed in with Neals success has been trauma and tragedy.  We are very lucky to have him here to tell and sing his story.  I will for ever be inspired and moved by his spirit and story.  Thank you Neal for being on our show!

Session sponsored by @Rustico fine leather. Every guest is given a leather bracelet that has a scripture on it that indicates The Worth of Souls is Great In the Sight of God.  

This week we sat down with another miracle story of survival and A Close Call With Death for Lori Higbee.  Back in 1994 Lori was 16 years old and had plans to spend some fun in the sun on Utah Lake with her friends. While out Jet Skiing, a storm blew in and created dangerous conditions that ultimately stalled the craft her and her friend were on and engine stopped.  They were stranded on the lake for most of the day all through the afternoon into the night but most of that time Lori was in the 63 degree water separated from her friend and the craft.  All alone and waiting for rescue the experience challenged Lori's desire to survive. Tune in to this session to hear how Lori dealt with such an emotional blow and how she is alive today.  Thank you Lori for being on the show! 

Leslie Hubrich, what an inspiration of incredible power and upbeat attitude that came fiercely from this small super strong 5 foot nothing human being! Leslie Hubrich was out for the day doing what she loves and that is extreme sports with her husband Dan in southern California. Suddenly the Powerglider she was flying had mechanical failure and she plummeted 60 feet approximately to the ground! Leslie survived this near death experience but the impact broke her back and fractured her hips and pelvis into pieces leaving her very close to dying that day. Her shear will and upbeat desire to live brought her back and into the gift of life she enjoys today but with no small amount of pain and suffering daily she has overcome and defeated. Tune into this story of one of the most inspirational stories of a loving, kind, gift to us all.  Meeting Leslie, you have met an angel. 

Wayne Roberts. Miracle.  It was mind blowing to meet Wayne.  I was told he had a tragic ski accident just a couple of months prior to a meeting with him and he was walking, talking, and mixing with a group of people without much physical impairment or any mental impact.  Wayne looked normal as can be and yet, Wayne had wrecked while skiing at Solitude Ski area on an icy double black diamond run and even being a ski instructor, he went down hard! Wayne hit so hard on his face that it broke his neck and then slammed into a grove of trees head first where the damage continued.  Wayne guarded his head with his arm and when he smashed into the trees, it broke his arm completely and his back!  21 bones broke in total.  4-5 broken ribs and bruised lungs on top of that.  Wayne's son Dillon was by his side the whole time and remained stoic and brave at the age of 14.  This story resonates pain, healing, and bravery + love.  So happy Wayne is here today to tell us his story and is healing well. Tune in to hear his story. Thanks Wayne for your story!!

This episode is a true miracle where the Mathis family was engulfed in flames when the trailer they were sleeping in while camping and deer hunting had a slow propane leak and filled the space with explosive gas.  It took three clicks of Mike Mathis's lighter to cause a huge explosion that burned the whole family leaving Mike, Amie and their three children on fire and later fighting for their lives at the University of Utah Hospital Burn Unit for over a month in ICU.  Mike induced into a coma to survive.  Listen to this heart touching story of survival, love and gratitude.  Amazing family!  Remarkably, this Close Call With Death brought them all together even more.