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Photographer: Dominic Greco

A picture perfect life—an active member of AA, sober 18 years, living with my dream girl, a wonderful career as a dentist and instructor at UCLA. We had a rich, full life filled with good friends and family.

In 2011, while on a mountain bike ride, a driver hit me and my life came to a screeching halt. I was lying in the gutter, having difficulty breathing & unable to feel or move my arms and legs. I had suffered a fracture to my C2-3 vertebrae. After months of rehab the return home was bittersweet. My perspective was different from a motorized wheelchair, which had become my mode of movement. I had to hire round the clock caregivers to assist me with all the functions of basic daily living and went through a period of self-pity and depression.

I began a rigorous regime of rehab which includes acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy. I returned to work at my dental practice, hired two dentists to treat my patients and am involved in all aspects of patient treatment plans.

I’m still involved in AA and coming up on 20 years of sobriety. Sarah and I enjoy the theatre, films, and stage productions. We regularly have dinner guests and go to outdoor cafes. I have come to accept my condition. Although my life is completely different from what I ever imagined, I have newfound patience, tolerance, and a deepened richness of spirit. I continue to have faith in God and trust that

everything is exactly the way it’s supposed to be.