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Lorenzo Abundiz Lorenzo Abundiz, a real life hero and his wife Peggy have a unique and powerful story to share with the world. They would be honored to attend any future conference as inspirational guest speakers. They made television history by being the first couple married in the middle of NY Times Square on national television. Lorenzo has defeated three types of cancers including a rare HIGH GRADE LEIOMYOSARCOMA without chemotherapy. This true love story will inspire and prove that miracles are real. Lorenzo Abundiz, age 54 is an honored fireman who touched the heart of America when he married a real life angel named Peggy in the middle of Times Square New York. This incredible wedding took place on June 22, 2001 on ABC’s Good Morning America during Lorenzo’s first cancer battle. Millions of television viewers fell in love with their most amazing love story as they made television history that day for being the first couple ever married in the middle of NY Times Square on national television. In the last six years since there story book wedding Lorenzo, has triumphed over three types of cancers and survived over 250 surgeries, ER trips, and medical procedures. Lorenzo’s medical battles were relating to his firefighting career. The first cancer battle started on May 13, 1998 just one month after Lorenzo and Peggy first met. Doctors discovered a high grade leiomyosarcoma after Lorenzo was injured while rescuing a child from an apartment fire. A tumor board of oncologists and doctors met to discus his complex case and to come up with a treatment plan. One doctor recommended the removal of right shoulder against his chest wall and the other doctors could only offer him a 4% chance of survival using maximum amounts of chemotherapy. To this day doctors are amazed by Lorenzo’s courage and strength to have defeated the high grade cancer sarcoma and without using chemotherapy. He was able to return to full duty on March 10, 1999 after 36 treatments of radiation and many months of physical therapy. Lorenzo’s second cancer battle started on October 19, 2003 when doctors found cancer in his bladder. The discovery was made just one month after doctors declared him cancer free from the sarcoma cancer. Lorenzo’s (angel) Peggy has lived through one medical nightmare after another and somehow she always manages to find that one miracle she needs to save her husbands life. Peggy is a devoted wife who takes her marriage vows very seriously especially when it comes to “sickness and in health.” Peggy looked more toward nature for healing her husband rather than the treatments offered by doctors. They would take regular nude nature hikes and would hug trees. Lorenzo also became a vegetarian and would drink large amounts of pure concord, grape juice. Throughout Lorenzo’s firefighting career he was exposed to toxic smoke while performing many rescues of people and animals. Some of those rescues reached national media attention. Lorenzo was awarded the California State Fireman’s Medal of Valor for saving the lives of firefighters who were trapped under a ¾ ton wall of fire. He appeared on many talk shows and television news programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS RESCUE 911, PAX TV It’s A Miracle and The Discovery Channel. On March 9th 2006 Peggy’s love was put to the test again when she was hit with another medical battle to save her hero. This happened when Lorenzo needed an emergency kidney surgery. A nation wide blood search was conducted by the National Red Cross and the Firefighters Cancer Support Network. Doctors from USC Medical Center had to cancel Lorenzo’s kidney surgery just as he was about to be wheeled into surgery. The reason was because the doctors discovered Lorenzo had rare blood factors and no blood was available for him at the hospital or the blood bank. Peggy took action and stood in front of the USC Blood Donor Center waving a sign that read “Cookies for blood’’ to passing motorist driving by. The news media captured Peggy’s quest and broadcasted the news on television across the country. America answered the angels call for help and soon the USC Blood Donor Center was flooded with phone calls from people across the country wanting to donate blood and save Lorenzo’s life. Although only two matching units of blood were located in the entire country, doctors were able to move forward with the surgery to remove Lorenzo’s left kidney and save his life. The pathology report of the tumor concluded it was a rare oncocytoma Although Lorenzo’s firefighting career of saving lives took a toll on his health he has no regrets because he was awarded a real life angel for his service. There story will prove miracles are real and that true love can conquer anything that stands it its way even cancer. On August 6, 2007, as part of his current battle against bladder cancer, Lorenzo underwent yet another surgery at USC Norris Cancer Center to search for any cancerous tumors in his bladder. His and Peggy’s prayers were answered when doctors found his bladder was clear. In 2008, Lorenzo will undergo another bladder surgery, and if no tumors are found it will be his last, as he will be declared cured from his bladder cancer after a five-year battle. . Now that Lorenzo’s cancer battles will soon be over, Lorenzo and Peggy are ready to talk about their amazing love story of survival and miracles. Lorenzo’s heroic firefighting career, along with the true life experience in the battle against cancer, will inspire, motivate and prove to the world that you can overcome any type of adversity. There story will bring out the spirit of hero in everyone. There are millions of people who wonder what happened to Peggy and Lorenzo since that story book wedding in NY Times Square. Now you know. In addition to their speaking talents Lorenzo and Peggy both sing and dance to provide entertainment while they deliver a powerful message of courage and hope.
Marc Elliot Marc Elliot, a man filled with great sincerity, warmth, and humor, is a recent graduate from Washington University in St. Louis who has given inspirational speeches across the nation to students, educators, researchers, and staff of businesses and organizations on how to value the diversity of peoples differences as well as how to face the struggles of overcoming personal challenges and setbacks. Born with a rare birth defect called Hirschsprungs disease which results in no working large intestines and a scarce amount of small intestines, Marc spent the first four years of his life undergoing experimental surgeries and being a chronic patient of St. Louis Childrens Hospital. Today he lives with only four feet of intestines. At the age of nine, Marc was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome (a neurological disorder which causes involuntary motor and sometimes vocal tics). Despite these setbacks, Marc has gone on to lead a fulfilling and active life. During his college years, Marc was involved in his fraternity, played intramural sports, studied abroad, and completed all of his pre med requirements. Today Marc gives speeches across the nation in hopes to teach and inspire hope, perseverance, and understanding. Mr. Elliots speech, Dont Judge a Book by Its Noises, is a thought-provoking event filled with good natured humor as well as powerful messages of determination and the importance of empathy which allows for tolerance and understanding. He teaches others about the goodness of perseverance, the importance of understanding peoples differences, and the imperativeness of challenging assumptions which are rooted in stereotypes. Marcs story caters to and is adaptable to a wide array of people. He has told his story in many venues within St. Louis including Washington University, Webster University, University of Missouri St. Louis, multiple high schools within the St. Louis area, the Missouri National Education Association Conference, as well as National Public Radio just to name a few. Just recently, Marc has begun to take his story of inspiration to the national level and has multiple speaking engagements scheduled across the country.
Doug Heir On Father's Day 1978, Doug Heir, a six foot-four college athlete, never dreamed that his life would come to a traumatic halt. After hearing screams of help from a drowning child, Heir, while lifeguarding, attempted to make a rescue and broke his neck in the process, rendering him paralyzed at Cervical Level 6. In a matter of seconds, Doug Heir's life and future dreams were shattered. It was later discovered the boy drowning was only playing a joke. Although devastated, Heir's life did not end there, for the challenge had just begun. With the help of God, Doug's family, rehabilitation, HEALTHSOUTH, hard work, and a vision of hope and determination, Doug Heir has inspired millions of people worldwide and has become one of the world's most successful individuals. Doug Heir spends a great amount of time traveling throughout the world speaking on hope, motivation, personal development,and business and legal issues. Doug Heir is recognized as one of the "World's Greatest Motivational and Inspirational Speakers." In addition to speaking throughout the world, Heir is a successful attorney, helping severely injured individuals and their families. Doug Heir has co-authored a book on trial techniques and has written three other books. Heir is a former syndicated writer and Associate Legal Editor of the National Trial Lawyer. Heir has been inducted into "Who's Who in American Law", "Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys", and "Who's Who in the World". Doug Heir has served as a United States Delegate helping countries throughout the world, improve their conditions and laws. Doug heir is the President of The American Liability Reduction Company, which is committed to reducing accidents worldwide. In the world of sports, Doug Heir has earned the title numerous times in his Division (I-B) as "The World's Greatest Wheelchair Athlete", and as "The World's Strongest Wheelchair Athlete" (1-B Div). Heir has been a 44- time National Champion, a 21-time World Champion, and an 11-time Olympic/Paralympic Champion. Heir has been the National, World, and Olympic Champion and record holder for over 14 years, and Doug Heir has won over 220 Gold Medals. Heir has won more Gold Medals than any man on earth. Before Doug Heir retires from sports, he will have won over 300 Gold Medals. Doug Heir has competed in the past 4 Olympic/Paralympic World Championships including 1984, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, 1992 in Barcelona, Spain, and in 1996 in Atlanta. At the 1996 Olympics, Heir shattered 2 World Records and 3 Olympic Records, winning a triple medal victory and earning the most medals for the United States Men's Field Team. Doug Heir will continue to represent America at the World Championships and the Olympics/Paralympics in Sydney, Australia in the Year 2000. Among Doug Heir's successes, CBS-TV acclaimed him as "The World's Most Accomplished and Diversified Athlete". Heir has one of the highest and rarest honors in the sporting world, as the featured cover athlete on millions of boxes of WHEATIES Cereal, "The Breakfast of Champions", joining history's greatest sport legends. The Associated Press titled Doug Heir as "America's Most Visible Wheelchair Athlete". The International Jaycees selected Heir as "The Outstanding Young Person of the World". From a selection of tens of millions of graduates, Doug Heir was selected as "America's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year" by the Presidents of America's State Colleges and Universities. Heir is a member of the HEALTHSOUTH Sports Medicine Council, joining 16 of the greatest athletes in professional sports helping children throughout America. Doug Heir has received two honorary doctorates - a Doctorate in Law and a Doctorate in Humanities. Doug Heir has been honored by Presidents, world leaders, the United Nations, Fortune 500 Companies and a wide variety of businesses, associations, civic groups, academia, governments, and foreign countries. Doug Heir stars in a televised rock video, and a two-hour movie is being planned about his life story. Heir is committed to helping others capture their dreams, be the best they can be, and wake their sleeping giant of greatness. Doug Heir exemplifies the words strength, courage, and determination, and he renews the sense of hope, pride, enthusiasm, and dignity to everyone he meets. Doug Heir is a true living hero and a great champion of life to millions of people throughout the world.
John Hockenberry Three-time Peabody Award winner, four-time Emmy award winner and Dateline NBC correspondent, John Hockenberry has broad experience as a journalist and commentator for more than two decades. He has reported from all over the world, in virtually every medium, having anchored programs for network, cable and radio. Hockenberry was responsible for two of the most innovative programs to air on MSNBC. The program “Hockenberry’ was a smart provocative news interview program which broadcast live from the war in Kosovo in 1999, while “Edgewise” was a unique blend of raw documentary filmaking and interviews with newsmakers passionate about politics and culture. Hockenberry joined NBC as a correspondent for Dateline NBC in January 1996 after a fifteen-year career in broadcast news at both National Public Radio and ABC News. Hockenberry's reporting for Dateline NBC earned him three Emmys, an Edward R Murrow award and a Casey Medal. His most prominent Dateline NBC reports include an hour-long documentary on the often-fatal tragedy of the medically uninsured, an emotionally gripping portrait of a young schizophrenic trying to live on his own, and extensive reporting in the aftermath of September 11th. His programs have illuminated issues and events from corporate downsizing and the new face of homelessness to the mysterious world of Saudi Arabia post 9/11. Hockenberry obtained the first television interview with a family member of two of the terrorist hijackers in Saudi Arabia. His investigative work has scrutinized pharmaceutical industry scandals and discrimination against people with disabilities in employment and housing.
Bob Lujano "Murderball" is a documentary about tough, highly competitive quadraplegic rugby players and their journey to the Paralympics in Greece. Bob Lujano received his Bachelor's degree in History and Pre-Law at UT Arlington. He is currently training for the US Quadraplegic Rugby National team to attend the World Championships of Rugby in New Zealand.
Steve Palermo From the time he began his career as an American League Umpire in 1977, Steve Palermo was widely regarded as one of the best umpires in the game. In 15 years on the field, he brought a boundless energy and enthusiasm to a game that he loved. His career highlights include two of the most famous games in N.Y. Yankees history. In 1978, he worked the Yankees one game playoff against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park to determine the Eastern Divisional winner. In fact, it was Palermo, serving as the third base umpire, who signaled "fair ball" when Bucky Dent hit the game winning home run. On July 4, 1978 he worked behind the plate for Dave Righetti's no-hitter against the Red Sox at Yankees Stadium. In early July 1991, it seemed that Palermo's umpire career might have ended, but everyone knows it is difficult to win an argument with an umpire and Steve refuses to lose this one. On July 7, 1991, Steve and several friends were dining after a Texas Rangers game when they were alerted that two waitresses were being mugged in the parking lot. In an attempt to apprehend the assailants, Steve suffered a bullet wound to his spinal cord, resulting in instant paralysis to the lower extremities. Doctors told Steve and his wife, Debbie, that he would probably never walk again. Yet through rehabilitation and a lot of determination, Palermo is winning his argument...he is walking with the use of one small leg brace and a cane, and says he will return to the game he loves so much. On December 1, 1992, the Steve Palermo Foundation for Spinal Cord Injuries (SPF/SCI) formally opened their doors. The foundation was formed to fund research for the discovery of a cure for paralysis while also providing hope and support to those with spinal cord injuries and their families...helping them get "One Step Closer to Home." On January 1, 1995, the SPF/SCI merged with the Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation (KWNPF). When the KWNPF closed in September of 2003, Steve and his family looked for a way to continue the work that they had started. They found their answer by forming a partnership with the Kansas University Endowment Association. The Steve Palermo Endowment for Spinal Cord Injury Research was formed. The same drive and dedication that returned Palermo to his feet fuels the efforts of this endowment to aid in the discovery of a cure for paralysis. Since Steves injury, he has become highly regarded as a motivational speaker. He travels the country relaying his message of Never Admit Defeat to corporations and organizations nationwide. In 1994, Steve was named special Assistant to the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. In 1996 1997, he provided feature reports and served as a color analyst for the New York Yankees cable network. In 2000, Steve was named Supervisor of Umpires, an additional role he now plays with Major League Baseball.
Erik Weihenmayer Erik Weihenmayer is the first blind man in history to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain - Mount Everest. On September 5, 2002, when he stood on top of Mt. Kosciusko in Australia, Erik Weihenmayer completed his 7-year quest to climb the Seven Summits - the highest peaks on each of the seven land continents, joining only 100 mountaineers who have accomplished that feat. At age 34, he was also one of the youngest. Erik Weihenmayer also participated in the 2004 Eco Challenge - the most arduous adventure race in the world. A former middle school teacher and wrestling coach, Erik Weihenmayer is one of the most exciting and well-known athletes in the world. Despite losing his vision at the age of 13, Erik has become an accomplished mountain climber, skydiver, and skier, who has never let his blindness interfere with his passion for an exhilarating and fulfilling life. Erik Weihenmayer's feats have earned him an ESPY and recognition by Time Magazine for one of the greatest sporting achievements of 2001. In addition to being a world-class athlete, Erik is the author of the new book, The Adversity Advantage, which will teach you how to use adversity as a force for superior achievement, resilience, agility, innovation, energy, and happiness. He is also the author of Touch the Top of the World, in which Erik recalls his struggle to push past the limits of vision loss. Erik Weihenmayer tells his extraordinary story with humor, honesty and vivid detail, and his fortitude and enthusiasm are deeply inspiring. Erik speaks movingly of the role his family played in his battle to break through the barriers of blindness. Erik Weihenmayer's accomplishments have gained him abundant press coverage including repeated visits to NBC's Today Show and Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, Oprah, Good Morning America, and Inside Edition to name a few. He has also been featured on the cover of Time magazine and in Sports Illustrated and Men's Journal. Erik Weihenmayer speaks to audiences around the country on overcoming life's challenges, the importance of teamwork, and the daily struggle to pursue your dreams.
Mark Zupan Mark Zupan is the inspirational star of the documentary film Murderball and spokesman for the U.S. Quad Rugby Association's Team USA. Murderball chronicles the journey of the American quad rugby team to the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, where Zupan led his team to a bronze medal. A graduate of Georgia Tech and one of the most feared players in this extreme sport, Zupan is a hard-edged motivator who destroys stereotypes about people with all types of disabilities.