When Brian Rizzo denied entry to an unstable man at a Portland strip club where he worked as a bouncer, he couldn't have known those seconds would forever divide his life into before and after. Moments later, that same man returned with a pistol and shot Brian in the head at point-blank range.

What followed defies medical explanation. Given less than a 1% chance of survival, Brian not only lived but emerged from a 31-day coma to begin a remarkable journey of recovery. The bullet had missed his brainstem by "the width of a hair," a margin so impossibly small it challenges our understanding of luck, fate, or divine intervention.

In this raw and powerful conversation, Brian takes us through his transformation from a man who once dealt drugs and steroids to someone who found profound purpose through faith. He describes the humbling reality of relearning basic functions, losing his independence, being denied disability benefits despite clear brain trauma, and eventually finding himself homeless and living in his truck during the pandemic.

Yet what resonates most is Brian's perspective on suffering. "God puts a mountain in front of everyone," he explains. "This is the mountain that was set in front of them. It's the one that He knows they can climb." He rejects the comparison of traumas, insisting that claiming "my mountain is harder than your mountain" helps no one. Instead, Brian now dedicates his life to inspiring others facing PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or depression—showing them they're not alone on their climb.

Whether you're struggling with your own seemingly impossible mountain or simply seeking perspective, Brian's extraordinary journey reminds us that sometimes our deepest purpose emerges from our darkest moments.

Follow Brian on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/brizzo995

Out Of The Blue:

For more: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org

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