How to Survive Your Greatest Challenge

Deborah (Deb) Brandon, PH.D., is a brain injury survivor.  She is also a professor in the Mathematical Sciences Department at Carnegie Mellow University.  Deb has raised awareness of and improved understanding of brain injury. 

Deb is an award-winning author of two books:  But My Brain Had Other Ideas:  A Memoir of Recovery from Brain Injury and Threads Around the World: From Arabian Weaving to Batik in Zimbabwe."

Deb's sheer stubbornness and determination got her through one of the greatest challenges anyone has ever encountered.  In her interview, she shares her secrets on how to realize your gains instead of your losses through any adversity.

Living in a World of Sexual Secrets

Patricia Eagle was thirteen when the sexual relationship with her father - a relationship that began when she was four years old -- ended. Patricia's journey is one of courage and hope as she finds the strength to see what was unseeable - and finally speaks the unspeakable to help herself and others.





For Patricia, shame became too great a burden. Not speaking up added to that weight. Sexual abuse is so prevalent - so many abused children, so many perpetrators injured in some way that leads them to inflict injury - and all this in our big world of secrets. How can anyone get help when we don't talk about this? Patricia decided to step into that pool of courageous survivors who have told their story. She believes that continuing to stay silent would have killed her.

Do You Know What a Surthrivor is?

Lost, alone, hopeless are words that were part of this little girl's life.  But Marnie Grundman would not accept that life and chose to be not only a survivor, but a surthrivor!

At FIVE years old, Marnie's mother threw her out of a second story window.  She ran away from home seeking the love she needed to survive.  Marnie was a child who belonged to no one - a child lost!

Her story will grab your attention as she shares how she turned all that pain and suffering into helping others.

Determination Will Keep You Focused

Donna Heckler author of Living Like a Lady When You Have Cancer and founder of the Living Like a Lady Charitable Foundation, is a stage 3 breast cancer survivor. 

Ms. Heckler is a global brand strategy executive and thought leader in brand marketing. She has worked for Energizer Batteries to lead brand efforts both domestically and internationally. She has also led the brand marketing domestically and internationally for the retail side of Cardinal Health, Kimball International and Monsanto.