Just a few years ago I was a very sick patient in the shock trauma unit of Prince Georges Hospital.  I was hit by a dump truck on my driver’s side door on my way home from swim practice, my body was crushed from the impact!  The force of the crash knocked my heart across my chest, damaging all of my organs, losing over 60% of my blood, collapsing one of my lungs, and also breaking several ribs along with my clavicle and pelvis. I was trapped in my car at the accident scene and it took the jaws-of-life to get me out of the vehicle in just enough time to get me flown out. I remember being told later by my parents that I only had fifteen minutes left to live so time definitely was of the essence that day.

When I arrived at shock trauma, the main concern was my heart and to get the internal bleeding to stop.  After several operations, there was nothing else to do but wait. As each day went by in my hospitalization period, they said that I was in God’s hands; it was unsure whether I would leave my hospital room in a wheelchair or a body bag, and the day that everyone knew that I would live would be the day that I left the shock trauma unit.

In all actuality, my parents told me that I was the worst patient in the unit for many weeks besides those who were on their way to the morgue. I was in room nineteen for over two months, and for those months I was on the brink of death. In a chemically induced coma, I laid there on my back paralyzed and in a state of total confusion. I woke up not knowing how I got there because of all the medication and amnesia that it gave me.

It was a horrifying experience, especially when I tried to look out of my room and saw nurses pushing stretchers by with white sheets covering the other patients because they were not as lucky as me. My parents would come into my room and would stand there and hysterically cry the whole time, and try and explain to me the situation that I was in.

I will never forget the day where I learned how to talk again. After several attempts to get me to say a few syllables, one lucky day it just happened!  My respiratory therapist hooked this object up to my neck, and I struggled to sound out a few words, all of a sudden I just starting talking. I could not believe I was talking, and neither could anybody else! There was always a possibility that I had brain damage, it was an unknown.  All the nurses and doctors came running in and they all broke out in tears instantly when they saw me. My parents came running around the corner because they had just arrived for visiting hours, and they were awestruck. I remember telling my dad that everything was going to be okay, and he couldn’t keep his composure and just burst into tears. As for my mom, I don’t think she stopped crying for the entire time that I was in there. The day that I learned how to talk again was truly a miraculous day.

After fourteen surgeries, thirty-six blood transfusions, and 13 plasma treatments, things were finally looking positive for me again. This all happened only a few years ago, but it all still seems like yesterday to me. I honestly wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t have the support and determination from the amazing faculty and staff of Prince Georges Hospital and all the wonderful people in shock trauma who went above and beyond to save me. I am forever grateful for all of your support.

As I look back at it all, I will never forget those two months where my life was on standby. Room nineteen in the Shock Trauma Unit of Prince Georges Hospital is not just a room to me, it is the place where I was saved, and is also the place where I found out that miracles happen to those who believe!  I became a survivor!

After the accident, I was nothing more than a skeleton. My dreams of going to college and swimming on the team were over. I was told that I would never have a life after that. I was told that I would never walk again because of the severe damage to my pelvis. I worked hard to not only walk but run. I was told that I would never be able to swim, but worked hard to actually get to the point where I was able to swim on my collegiate swim team this past year and was one of the fastest swimmers in the conference. I was told that I would never be able to lift weights again because of the severe nerve damage to my left shoulder.

I worked hard to get to the point where I could bench 325 lbs. I remember when I was in my physical rehabilitation center, I was able to only bicep curl 2.5 lbs. and now I'm curling 60 lbs. reps on each arm. I guess I was told a lot of things, but the doctors and physical therapists never factored in the power of determination, and that is one thing that kept me alive.

This all happened in 2003 but it still feels likes yesterday to me. Since then, I have used my story to bring hope and inspire others. I am in the process of writing a book with Brian Grenier from the Daily Peloton in order to get this message of hope out! 

We have created “Team Boyle” which is a team of people from around the world that have over come obstacles or are in the process of over coming obstacles through the hope and healthy lifestyle that sports afford.  People that join the team get a “Team Boyle” T shirt, ball cap, water bottle, monthly e mail up dates and access to pre set training plans that I used!  They get all this for a small yearly membership fee!  I also have a foundation at the hospital where I was saved and donations can be made in my name at:  PGH INFO 

Just recently I decided that I was going to train for another goal that I had before the accident. That goal was to compete in The Ford Ironman Triathlon®. Back in June I contacted Ironman management about my plans, and you know, I got the response I wanted. They reserved a media slot for me to compete in the Ford Ironman World Championship® in Kona HI where the best triathletes in the world compete! They told me that he would reserve a spot for me and they are going to premiere my story, background, and footage of my training on live TV, 1 Dec 2007 on NBC.

   I now know that being a survivor brings with it the innate responsibility of helping others that may be in similar situations.  I believe that as a survivor you become a pawn in a much bigger game whose outcome you may never be aware of.  The lives you affect as a survivor become infinite in nature but the same message is carried through, NEVER GIVE UP.  Would it be a young man or woman who was suffering from cancer that would see my story and resolve to NEVER GIVE UP?  Did I effect some one in a positive way on my journey when their life was headed in a negative direction, I don’t know, I can’t fathom it but this one thing I do know, it is no longer about me!

Brian J. Boyle Oct 2007                       

**  Team Boyle, Brian Boyle, Far Beyond Drive , this web site and all its content are not and are not intended to present a "charity" or "Non-Profit" profile" any assumption of such it solely that of the  of the reader.  However 10% of net profit generated by operations will be given to a charity of Brian Boyles choice.  The remanding profit will be used to expand operations  and help in our civic work.**