[Cagdu] FW: [Blinded in Separate Accidents, Two Men Share Common Bond

Sat Mar 24 21:09:03 PDT 2007

Subject: Blinded in Separate Accidents, Two Men Share Common Bond

PR.com (Press Release)
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Blinded in Separate Accidents, Two Men Share Common Bond

By Ron Graham Enterprises

Houston, TX, March 21, 2007 --(PR.COM)-- When Marcus Engel and Ron Graham
met at the Seeing Eye, Inc. in Morristown, New Jersey, in 1995, they knew
they had something in common. Both were blind and had come to the guide dog
facility to get their first Seeing Eye dogs.

Then they learned that both had lost their sight in automobile accidents. As
they continued to talk, they soon discovered a startling coincidence. Both
accidents had occurred two years earlier on exactly the same date, October
9, 1993.

Engel's accident was on a cold autumn night in St. Louis during his freshman
year of college when he was 18. Following a hockey game, Engel and some
friends were headed to a local diner. As they pulled into a busy
intersection, a speeding driver slammed broadside into their car. Along with
other injuries, every bone in Engel's face was broken by the impact.

When Graham's accident happened, he was a 31-year-old captain in the Texas
prison system. Graham had been driving on a dark West Texas road near
Lubbock, lost control on a curve, and flipped the car into a cotton field. 
Thrown from the vehicle, he ended up face down in the dirt with broken bones
and severe head trauma.

With their life-threatening injuries, both Engel and Graham spent months in
hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Demonstrating similar determination
and positive attitudes, each decided to treat his blindness as an
inconvenience and not a barrier.

After receiving training with his guide dog, Engel returned to Missouri
State University and earned a Bachelors Degree in Communications. He began
speaking to groups about his experiences and is now a professional speaker,
teaching audiences how to overcome adversity, make intelligent choices and
see obstacles as opportunities. He has resided in St. Louis for several
years and is in the process of moving to Orlando where he and his fiancée
plan to live after their marriage this year.

Engel, 31, has written two books. His autobiography, "After This.An
Inspirational Journey For All The Wrong Reasons," challenges readers to
recognize that choices, not circumstances, determine happiness. He also is
author of "The Other End Of The Stethoscope.33 Insights For Excellent
Patient Care," a book about the challenges faced by health care providers
that limit their ability to provide excellent patient care. Engel also
writes a blog and maintains a website, marcusengel.com.

After Graham's training at Seeing Eye, he focused on a new goal of becoming
a counselor for people with disabilities. Graham entered the University of
Houston-Clear Lake and earned a Bachelors Degree in Behavioral Science, and
a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. He later served as Coordinator of
Disability Support Services at Central Texas College in Killeen, TX.

Today, Graham, 44, is married and lives in Kingwood, TX, where he produces a
blog called Access Ability. The blog,

LINK:
accessability.blogspot.com

, is targeted to college professionals in the disability support services
field. Graham uses the blog to publish information about disability
resources and to provide a forum for disability professionals and disabled
students to share their knowledge and opinions.

Since that fateful meeting in 1995, Engel and Graham have become very good
friends. As each of them has worked to inspire other people over the years,
they also have provided inspiration for each other with their successful
lives.

Contact Information
Henry Beathard
281-360-3495
hwbeathard at cebridge.net

http://www.pr.com/press-release/33358

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