“Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed.”
For the past two decades, Anthony has touched the lives of thousands of people with his books, his presentations, his work as a Teacher with the Toronto District School Board and his volunteer work in the Trauma and Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (TN-ICU) at St. Michael’s Hospital.
Anthony is pleased to share the keys for his successful recovery after sustaining a severe Traumatic Brain Injury following a horrific motorcycle accident.
Anthony’s brain injury caused him to lose everything. He lost his memory, the ability to walk, talk, sleep, think and take care of himself. It took a herculean effort for him to relearn these skills and return to his pre-accident job as a teacher.
Anthony has shared the stage with some of the best doctors in North America as well as with internationally renowned speakers and authors such as Dr. Wayne Dyer. Whether at the front of a class or on stage in front of hundreds of people, Anthony’s message is powerful and will motivate, inspire and empower his audience.
Anthony’s Story
In 1997 Anthony was training to make the Canadian Olympic Judo team to compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. On his way to coach his school’s football team he sustained a severe Traumatic Brain Injury as well as many other life threatening internal injuries as a result of a horrific motorcycle accident.
Sadly, Anthony was hit in a head-on collision with a careless automobile driver. At the scene of the accident, Anthony stopped breathing and did not have any vital signs so he was airlifted to St. Michael’s Trauma Hospital where he remained in a deep coma for over 2 weeks with major trauma to his head as well as to the rest of his body. Anthony’s Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was a “3” for many weeks.
Not only did he badly damage his brain, but he also seriously injured his internal organs including his heart, lungs, spleen, kidneys and intestines.
Anthony was not expected to live and had to undergo numerous life-saving surgeries including Neurosurgery, Open-Heart surgery, Lung surgery, General surgery to remove his spleen and stitch up his lacerated intestines, Vascular surgery to repair his ruptured femoral artery, Orthopaedic surgery to repair his broken knee, and Reconstructive Plastic surgery to his face. Anthony’s head and face had been smashed so badly that he broke most of the bones in his face, including his nose, jaw, cheekbone, and the bone that surrounded his left eye (Orbital rim fracture). As a result, Anthony had reconstructive plastic surgery to place Titanium screws and metal plates in his face to hold the broken bones together.
After remaining lifeless in a very deep coma for two weeks, Anthony’s brother, Jonathan, placed his Walkman earphones ( Pre iPod days lol ) on Anthony’s ears.
Jonathan played Anthony’s favourite song, “Walk” by the heavy metal band, “Pantera”.
Shortly after this Anthony began to slowly emerge from the coma and several weeks later he was literally able to “Walk” out (with assistance) of the Trauma and Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit at St. Michael’s Hospital.
A miracle had taken place ! Music had helped Anthony’s brain to begin to rewire itself.
Anthony spent two months in the Trauma and Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto during which he had to have over 10 major surgeries. After spending a year in various hospitals, Anthony’s miraculous survival and unbelievable recovery continues to astonish medical experts.
What many people do not realize is that there are no limits ! There are some things that exist in life today that defy logic and they don’t have a scientific explanation.
Unfortunately, in 2013, Anthony was forced to ‘START OVER‘ again after he sustained two more Traumatic Brain Injuries when he was Teaching at a Toronto school. During his recovery and after a follow-up doctor’s appointment, Anthony received a diagnosis of skin cancer. This required surgery to remove the cancerous growth after which Anthony focussed his attention on using various alternative treatments. These alternative self-healing methods enabled Anthony to transform and heal himself, Naturally!
Always Believe !
Anthony’s recovery astonished medical experts. His story is referred to as “the Miracle” at St. Michael’s Hospital.
His relentless efforts, strong will, and his determination to use Alternative Treatments and persevere despite all odds shows the strength of the human spirit.
Anthony’s books
Anthony has written four very popular books, including the Eric Hoffer Award winning books, SECOND LIFE, SECOND CHANCE and VENDEKA’S CREED. His most recent book, RETHINK REDO REWIRED, describes various alternative treatments that have been used by many people to help heal a brain injury. Visit the BOOK SHOP to browse and purchase Anthony’s books.
Awards
2000 Courage To Come Back Award
from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.
Awarded for his courage to face the adversities in his life, and his ability to use these challenges in a proactive way.
2014 Award for 15 years of Volunteer Service
in the Neuro-Trauma I.C.U at St. Michael’s hospital.
This is where he was given the gift of a 2nd Life and a 2nd Chance. For the families that are there, his story gives them hope in the face of despair. Anthony will motivate and inspire everyone, by telling his story about climbing the ladder of life since the day of his accident.
2015 Urban Hero Award winner
from Metroland Media in the Health & Sciences Category.
Volunteering
For the past twenty years, Anthony has volunteered in the very place where he was given the gift of a “Second Life and a Second Chance” – The Neuro-Trauma Intensive Care Unit (NT-ICU) at St. Michael’s Hospital. It is here that Anthony supports the families and visitors, the nursing staff and the doctors in the NT-ICU.
In the year 2000, Anthony received the prestigious Courage To Come Back Award from The Centre for Addictions and Mental Health in Toronto. He received this award for his courage to face the adversities in his life as a result of his accident, and his devotion to his volunteer work.
Teaching
Anthony began Teaching before 1995. Since 1996, Anthony has worked as an elementary school teacher in Toronto. Anthony is also very passionate about natural health care and he works as an independent consultant teaching people about the health benefits of using various Alternative Treatments.
Athletic Accomplishments
Doctors credit Anthony’s survival to the incredible physical shape that he was in. At the time of his accident, Anthony was a successful athlete and competed in boxing, free style wrestling, bodybuilding and judo. Not only was he an elementary school teacher but he also taught self-defence.
1982 – 1st Place in the Ontario Boxing Championships.
1983 – 1st Place in the Ontario Boxing Championships.
1985 – 7th place in the Canadian Wrestling Championships
1986 – 2nd place in the Halton Wrestling Championships
1987 – 2nd place in the Asahi International Judo Championships
1994 – 2nd Place in the Toronto Body Building Championships
M.Ed. Graduation, June 2005
Education
1991 – Received a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto
1996 – Received a B.Ed. from Nipissing University
2005 – Received an M.Ed. from the University of Toronto with a specialization in Cognitive NeuroScience, enabling Anthony to teach, help and support a great number of Brain Injury Survivors both in and out of a formal classroom setting.
2013 – Accepted into the Engineering Science Program at the University of Toronto for a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree. This is one of the most rigorous engineering programs in the world.