12/16/25: When an Accident Becomes an Opportunity

Published: December 16, 2025

When an Accident Becomes an Opportunity

Webster defines an accident as:

1a: an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance
2a: an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance

Two days before my 63rd birthday, I lived that definition.

Despite years of advising people to move consciously, to wear appropriate footwear, and to stay aware of their surroundings, I had a moment of pure mindlessness. In stocking feet, I slid off a stair and fractured my right arm.

I knew immediately it was serious. I hoped—briefly—that it might be a simple dislocation. The emergency room confirmed otherwise: a displaced fracture requiring surgery. I was sent home with pain medication, a sling, a list of surgeon referrals, and a lot of time to think.

When Knowledge Becomes a Burden

Sometimes, knowing too much is not a gift.

Why wasn’t a surgeon available to fix it immediately?
Shouldn’t this be repaired quickly to prevent further damage?
Would I ever regain full use of my dominant arm?

I use my arms to work and to play. The morning before my fall, I was slinging 20-kilogram kettlebells. Now I was wondering if my shoulder might need to be replaced.

Before the accident, 63 felt like 33. Suddenly, it felt like 83.

I realized something important: I could not allow fear or mourning the potential loss of function to determine the outcome.

Now what?

Accidents happen. The real question is what we do next.

I made a decision—I was going to turn this into an opportunity.

For more than 35 years, I have helped and coached people through physical adversity. Now it was my turn to walk that talk.

Finding the Right Hands

After two surgical consultations and a CT scan—each presenting a range of possible outcomes—I found the right surgeon.

All of the doctors I met were professional, honest, and supportive. They were colleagues who clearly had my best interest in mind. That path ultimately led me to Dr. Abraham Goch.

Dr. Goch evaluated my imaging, medical history, fitness level, and age. He explained every possibility and potential outcome clearly and without embellishment. Most importantly, he took the time to listen and answer my questions.

No fluff.

Just research, experience, precision, and a positive attitude.

We agreed on a clear plan: go into surgery with the intention of saving and fixing the bone. If that proved unfeasible, we would pivot to Plan B—a reverse shoulder replacement.

It was a grounded, thoughtful approach. And for the first time since the accident, I felt confident that I was exactly where I needed to be.