I posted an add on Craigslist with more soul then my past adds. When Rebecca Dunn walked through my door, everything began to change. I was broken in so many ways I really had no idea what to do with myself. All Rebecca ever saw was me and it seemed to be enough. I’ll never understand why or how she was so willing to let me into her life the way she did, but it awoke something inside of me. She made me want to try, she made me want to pursue something greater again.

I always loved being myself as I have been blessed with many incredible people and experiences that made my life worth living. For whatever reason, I got away from that. When I broke my neck I let the chaos define my identity and I got lost in the madness. When the dust settled almost everyone and everything was different. I didn’t have any idea what I was looking at around me and it made life tough to navigate.

When I met Rebecca, everything just was. How corny right? It’s what all people that fall in love say. The circumstances melted away any other options. This fancy little woman saw me. From the moment she walked through my front door I had this buzz, almost anxiety, that I needed to be doing fun things with this woman. That feeling has never left me and I don’t think it ever will.

That’s why it was the biggest no brainier decision that I ever had to make when I asked her to marry me. With such an important announcement all of you must be wondering why it took so long to post this news to my website (other then my overall general laggar-ness). Well I asked her the day after Thanksgiving at the football tournament then it seemed like Christmas turned into New Years, we both got sick a few times, Jordan (Rebecca’s badass 18 year old daughter) left for the Navy, completed boot camp and we saved pennies to visit her when she graduated, in a blizzard, in great lakes Illinois. Rebecca was fired from the position she held at the clinic I helped create and I was told that I was merely a client participating in a trial program. Following this we were evicted from our house and moved to a condo in Laguna Niguel.

The idea I’ve been working on is very complex which is the reason I’m having such a tough time getting it going. There is a great deal of money to be made as these concepts will offer much needed resolution to the ailing health care system. For 2 years I have been experimenting with different laser protocols and we have uncovered some ground breaking new findings that will maximize recovery potential. (please see the ‘about me’ section for the latest details regarding my recovery)

Everyone in the spinal cord community is pushing for similar goals, and in my opinion, the race for the cure has made medical integrity obsolete in some circles. Since the goal of One Way Wellness has always been a quest to get better together, the last 2 years of my journey have offered me vital clues on how to find success in both personal and business endeavors. I now have a better understanding of myself and the business landscape which should put One Way Wellness in a very good position moving forward.

The craziest part of all of this is considering all the business drama, multiple sicknesses, an eviction, full scale betrayal of integrity and financial resources along with helping Rebecca send off her first child to the Navy, I’ve never been happier. Ever! I have found my purpose, my life partner, my family is closer then we have ever been, my true friends are right by my side as they have been my whole life and the light that Faith has blessed my every breath with just keeps getting brighter and stronger.

I will continue to pursue the wellness business and my pursuit to walk again because each day continues to bring me closer and closer to these very realistic, very attainable goals. Every person that has offered their well being and charity has blessed me with the opportunity to pursue these goals. Money, greed and politics have currently made the blueprints I had been working with tainted so I can no longer offer my full undivided attention to this cause. The result of this is that I now have to put my recovery and dreams of helping others on the back burner while I try to find a way to pay my bills.

Nothing will stop me from pushing towards what I know one day I will accomplish. But for now I must plan a wedding, get a job (I am entertaining coaching opportunities with either Santa Margarita or JSerra’s football team) and enjoy being happy. Each person’s effort at being a part of this with me has been the reason I have been able to focus on the One Way Wellness effort for so long. My choices to date have given me the opportunity to diversify. This means more Good people on the party train when it arrives. This train I speak of has serious momentum and all the doubters that plan to get in the way, this is your warning. Move! Because we ALREADY have changed the world for the better, together. My plan is to keep sharing the wealth because there is plenty of it.

It wasn’t therapy, or money, or housing, vehicles, supplies, parties, girls, a job, vacation, food, drugs or VIP access that brought me true Happiness. It was YOU reading this and actually CARING! Unconditionally from the bottom of your hearts. In the beginning we all thought that the glory in this opportunity would come in the form of a broken man walking, and it probably will end up that way. But our efforts together yielded results that were much better then that. YOU all taught a broken man how to LIVE. Thank you everyone, what an incredible gift! I shall continue 2 pay it forward for the rest of my days.

I was at a concert once with a bladder infection. Long story short I didn’t make it to the bathroom in time and I peed all over the place. My options were: 1. Go home all upset and miss Muse, Modest Mouse and The Killers -or- 2. Put my hat on my lap and take life as it comes. Be happy, watch the show and enjoy the bands that I came to see. Good company, good music and pee everywhere. That’s life and I made it a good time. There is no control, the plan is just 2 Big!

So I’m learning to take life as it comes, but opportunities like the concert offer invaluable lessons in how to live life to it’s fullest. I’ve used these lessons to make me a better person, but that’s not why I chose this topic for an update. My current opportunity to learn has come in a package that I find to be much more uncomfortable.

I love people. Better yet, I am blessed to have many incredible people in my life that offer me courage, strength and most importantly hope. When I was first hurt I received a lot of very hopeless, faithless medical jargon. It was tough to sift through all the statistics and predictions because due to our current lack of accessible, reliable information, we don’t know too much about how the nervous system heals. Most of the stuff I heard was crap and all I needed was a glimmer of hope when I woke up from a 10-day coma.

There was all kinda drama and hearsay from doctor to doctor in the hospital. Then, my prayers were answered in a very peculiar fashion. ANOTHER white coat walks into my room, clipboard in hand and closes the door behind her. Right away I think I’m goin loony because I look at her name tag and it reads ‘Dr. Ann Vasile.’ Vasile is my mom’s maiden name and Beverly Vasile (my grandmother), is the fanciest lady I’ve ever met and I miss her dearly. The comfort Doctor Vasile graced my life with in a time when I needed it the most, brought my heart the same type of warmth that I received from my late grandma.

She told me that nobody knows what the future will bring and that the sky is the limit. She told me to keep the faith and to never give up hope. All the other doc’s in numerous hospitals told me I was totally screwed. Here’s your chair and some pills. See ya later buddy, good luck. When I was airlifted to Craig hospital in Colorado I tried my best to forget everything about the horror flick I had been living for the last month in intensive care. After spending another 3 months in an extended care facility I got on a plane back to California 4 months after breaking my neck, still wet noodle status.

Scared and depressed I scrambled to find a doc that I not only trusted, but also one that knew what they were talking about. Frantic and desperate I picked up the phone and tracked down Dr. Vasile’s rehab practice. When I arrived at my appointment I learned just how fancy this lady really was when I met Eileen the magnificent, the personal secretary of “Dr. Ann Vasile.” Turns out this modest doctor travels the globe lecturing and treating people in need. So appointments can be tough to come by. Eileen the magnificent can work stone cold gangster magic if you play your cards right. Just be real and act grown and she might be able to get you in.

Anyhoo, long story less boring, these incredible people have been quietly by my side for this entire roller coaster.  When people ask me about my experience with western doctors I always have something crappy to barf up. That is just not fair. If it weren’t the random few Doc’s and nurses that gave me hope, I don’t know where I would be. Things need to change. The majority needs to be filled with hope and strength, not the minority. In order for this to happen it’s time we own up to the image we see in the mirror.

We spend so much time covering things up that we forget to give way to what’s right in front of us. It’s time we take responsibility for our actions. I’ve been so caught up in working this so called purpose that I got caught in the chase. So this entry is to thank people like Eileen the magnificent and fancy doctors like Dr. Ann Vasile. There are many more very important ‘little’ big people that also get a quite shout out in this section. You people know who you are. I love ya, and we’re rallying here people. Were gaining some serious momentum. Things are happening and there is Good everywhere I turn. How exciting. Thank you.

Year 1

Shock: Holy Moly I broke my neck. What am I going to do? Will I be able to find Happiness? Will I be able to find True Love? I can’t see past my nose and even if I could I can’t reach up to scratch it. I don’t remember if the summer was hot, or if the winter was cold. I didn’t listen to music. I couldn’t even see the beauty in a sunset and I love sunsets.

Year 2

Denial: I’ll be alright. I’ve got this. I’ve got some funding, I’ve got great people behind me, everyone believes in me. I’ll have this wrapped up by the end of the year.

Year 3

Depression/Despair/Grieving: This is hard and it’s not magically going away like I thought it would. Everything I’ve worked for my whole life is in shambles. My family needs me and I can’t be there for them because I haven’t learned how to be there for myself. I’m incomplete and I don’t know where to begin. This is really hard.

Year 4

Anger: This sucks. I’m still in a wheelchair and everything is supposed to get better but everything is still so fuzzy. People seem to be frustrated with me, why? I still need help, what’s the deal? I’m trying my hardest, is that not enough? This is not how it is SUPPOSED to go. This is not the life I wanted, what the HELL is going on here? I must be missing something.

Year 5

Acceptance/Hope/Helpfulness: I WAS missing something. I wasn’t giving back to those that have been giving to me for some time. People don’t help because they want THINGS, they help because it makes them feel good and it’s the right thing to do. I need to participate more with this whole process. I am getting better but I have to find Happiness from within BEFORE I walk, or metaphorically I will always be in this chair. I’ve got it real good and I am lucky things are the way they are. This is my vessel. This is my opportunity to be the man I’ve always wanted to be.

Year 6

Coping: I need to get this therapy business going. I need to be a better brother, a better son, and a better friend. I need to call people back. I need to show up on time. I need to be better with time management. In this process of me getting better, people have slipped through the cracks and that’s not good. Sorry everyone, I LOVE all of you. I’m back on track. We’re working with a new Damien here. A better person, a better man. It is a direct result of ALL the people that have been with me rain or shine. Time for actions to do the speaking.

Year 7

Advocacy/Empowerment: This is the year where the giving loop comes full circle. I’ve made it. I’ve found Happiness and I feel that I have earned it. The impulse machine is LEARNING patience. Instead of fighting, I’m learning to flow and it is the vehicle that will carry my intentions right to where they need to be. Our purpose together has begun to establish a momentum that will turn our efforts into something far beyond what we originally planned. THANK YOU for EVERYTHING.

This website is dedicated to all the people who still feel it in their heart to check in on me. It’s been a crazy ride, this life so far. Blessings don’t always need to be so difficult to understand right? Well, I never got the memo. This website is about struggle and perseverance. It’s not about perfection or the American Dream. It’s about not knowing what’s gonna happen tomorrow, and being alright with it. Its about Faith in God and the unknown. It’s about my crazy ass family and how we have stumbled perfectly flawed through Life’s crazy trials and tribulations. It’s about my friends who brighten my days and motivate me to be a balanced soul. And it’s about our purpose here together, in this moment. I am thankful that you dropped by this site!