A Close Call with Death

Abigail Ward, Abby, survived a terrible fall while climbing to Lisa Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah with her 15 year old brother. Abby survived this 70 foot fall down the granite lined spout into only 6 inches of ice cold glacier water and rock resulting in afterwards being in a coma for nearly three months! This is only the epic most tragic close call with death as Abby has also been hit by a distracted driver at age 5, again hit by a car in her early teens, and having a bout with cancer at age 16, then falling from a horrific and terrifying height of 70 feet at age 18.  Abby agreed to talk on this podcast Labor Day Weekend and like a cat with nine lives, on Monday leading up to the record date, she was struck by a drunk driver totaling her car and she walked away from it to be here with us.  Her story will include her mother Janie Ward by her side.  Janie drove her to the interview because her car is totaled! Janie will chime in from a mothers perspective and validation of her story.  What you are about to hear is the truth and real.  I am so grateful for Abby's story and have been able to meet such an angel. Thank you Abby and Janie for your story and your incredible lives!  Welcome, to A Close Call With Death!

This episode is interesting sitting down with a young man age 22 Ulrick Humes who was in Utah for just a week and then going back to his homeland Belize where he grew up as a boy with 8 siblings and a single Mother who had to leave them in an orphanage to gain the care they needed to live.  Ulrick is a shy, happy, kind young man who had the determination to get out of a crime infested country and find a new life here in the USA.  Ulrick is turning his life around and looking for a very bright future and someday wants to help his siblings find there way out too.  Thank you for enlightening me and our audience Ulrick of the dangerous places on the earth, escaping death every day, and looking to the light with God and friends to play basketball and get an education.  If anyone is going to do something to survive, it has to start with you and you are doing just that!

This episode is an incredible conversation with Kacey McCallister who is a 32 year old Spartan Athlete and international motivational speaker who, as a 6 year old, was struck down by a semi truck resulting in him losing both of his legs. Kacey has proven to himself and all those who come to know him, that he can do anything he puts his mind to. Kacey's mother always told him that he can do everything and anything he ever wants to and he didn't need legs to live and thrive.  Kacey helps us understand just how important having a purpose is and doing something to help others around them. He is a motivator and inspirational leader that helps us realize just how valuable life is and how we should take advantage of every moment of it.  Check out Kacey's book he has authored  "Rise Up". Also his website www.riseupwithkacey.com.

Thank you Kacey for spending time with our podcast and we wish you the very best going forward you are truly an inspiration!

Isaac Childs sits down with me to discuss his recent as well as a past survival of cancer and then a heart attack that nearly took his young life. Isaac shares with us a very vulnerable story of battling a cancer time of his life then, when working hard to be top physical shape of his life and staying on top of a very demanding schedule as CEO of Rustico, INC., he suffered a near fatal heart attack that caused him to take life a bit differently in priority to focus on what is most important and, he unfolds that for us in this session. I am grateful this wonderful, kind, human being is alive still to tell about his journey and how that story can effect us for good.  Thank you Isaac for this great story and for staying alive to tell about it!

In this episode my wife Karrie and I were traveling overseas to Ireland to hike the "Dingle Trail" along the gorgeous cliff, beaches and farmland of Ireland.  We stayed in Bed and Breakfast Inns along the way between hikes navigating between little villages.  On our stay in Dingle Ireland, we stayed at the Brosnan B&B. that is where we met John Brosnan a retired fisherman at the age of 75.  John told me of his being washed out to sea overboard into the raging sea 6 times and on the last incident he broke both of his legs! He also shared with us a story of him being saved by miracle with a person who just happened to walk by his home and make a connection with John that resulted in John having surgery on his heart saving his life.  I had to capture this touching story on this podcast because people all over the world have close calls with death.  His story is one I wanted to share with you all and more to come as I will ask always, have you ever had a time you almost died and didn't and the experience after was life changing.  Tune into John.  He's an incredibly cool old Irishman I will love for ever after just spending a little while with him.  Thanks for listening!

JB Ellison.  One lucky young man who in his teen football hero days of high school, was engulfed by a homecoming bon fire along with friends, and survived. JB was always the epicenter of unintentional mischief and things going bad, and this time, he experienced a "Close Call With Death".  Tune into this episode and see how this type of experience can literally change a persons outlook on life.  Thank you, JB, for being on the show!  We are grateful you are still here to tell about it!!

David Osmond, amazing talk with him discussing how cool life can be coming from a famous family of musical artistry and decades of fame being the son of Alan Osmond of the Osmond brothers who performed all over the world and, nephew to Donny and Marie Osmond. David has been a performer at an early age and professionally very busy with music industry and corporate work.  Fighting the result of being diagnosed with MS has been the burden and challenge of his life and we talk about how David deals with that and consistently stays upbeat and positive!!  This is a touching story of a wonderful human being.

Noelle Pikus Pace, US Silver Medalist Olympic Champion in the Sochi Russia 2014 Winter Olympics.  Noelle experienced a tragic accident when a bobsled left the track and hit Noelle on the right leg resulting in a compound fracture that took her out of the sport for a period of time and nearly ended her carrier.  Noelle has come so far developing her skills as an athlete in track and field leading her to have the skills to compete on the world tracks.  She went to the 2010 Olympics representing the USA and again in 2014 bringing home the silver medal!  

Noelle has a wonderful family inclusive of her supportive husband Janson who  actually designed her winning Skeleton sled.   Noelle has incredible energy and influence as a mentor, leader, and friend.  She lets us in on how she views life now and takes advantage of every moment she has to help others. Tune in and listen now to her story.

Terry Grant is our guest in this episode of A Close Call With Death.  Terry is a well known dynamic professional in the Salt Lake City Community and currently President of Alta Bank and former President of Key Bank where I first met Terry.  Terry and his wife Janet were traveling along a southern route in Utah on a vacation outing when their rear tire blew and caused them to launch into the median of the highway and caused a tragic result of Janet suffering a brain injury leaving her in an unresponsive state for two years and Terry providing care for her 24/7.  Terry's wife at the time of the accident, Janet Grant, passed away as a result of the accident and we talk with Terry about how to live on and survive and help others. Listen in as Terry shares his story of life again with family and friends.  What a bright light in this world despite a dark time in Terry's past.

Landon Pitcher was this cool guy with a huge smile and smart looks that was introduced to me by another friend at an open house for ISO Talent here in Utah.  Austin Miller, Owner and President of ISO Talent said, "Meet Landon, he's a high energy business development executive for us and you will like this guy".  It only took a moment of business talk to dig a little deeper into life and what makes life interesting.  When Landon found out about my podcast and the subject of being close to dying and how that changes ones perspective, Landon said, "You might like what happened to me."  I did.  His story is touching and inspiring to me and I hope you all feel the impact of this event, the gravity, and how life can be so delicate.  Thanks Landon for this capture of life from your experience.