Book excerpt: Snippets of My Life POSITIVE OPPORTUNITY I was given a second chance at life on February 27, 1986. I suffered a concussion in a young businessman s basketball league. It turned out that I had a blood disorder, and when I hit my head, I formed a blood clot in my brain stem. This injury affected my coordination throughout my body, thus affecting my vision, speech, and locomotion (walking). I cried for about a year! My parents didn t know what to do. Finally, I was enrolled in an out-of-town rehabilitation center. I was forced to deal with my disability. In doing so, I realized that I had a rock-solid family. Also, my cognitive skills were intact. In short, I was a mental giant among the other clients. I discovered confi dence, patience, and endurance with these qualities. I ll have the opportunity to do something positive. Stephen M. Ambrose