Personal Testimony

Since I was 18 years old, finding work has never been a problem. Opportunities seemed to open up naturally, and I was fortunate enough to build a strong foundation in my career. By 27, I was already on a promising path, but life can be unpredictable. That’s when my world changed. I suffered a severe head and back injury that left me with 85% memory loss and physical limitations. In an instant, everything I had built, everything I had known, was stripped away. I was left with a difficult question: Do I allow this situation to rule my life, or do I choose to rise above it?

The doctors told me I was disabled. I was officially registered as a person who could no longer work, and the future I had envisioned seemed to disappear. But something inside me refused to accept that fate. I wasn’t going to let my injury define the rest of my life. The decision I faced was the most difficult of my life—do I surrender to my circumstances or fight back?

I chose to fight.

It wasn’t easy. I spent 12 long years battling against my condition, refusing to let it hold me down. With God’s help, I began to recover. Slowly but surely, I regained my ability to walk and recovered 75% of my memory. It was not just a medical journey—it was a spiritual and mental battle as well. My doctor advised me to go back to college, to challenge my mind, and to confront my problems head-on. That advice changed my life. Returning to study helped me regain my cognitive abilities and gave me the strength to face my situation directly instead of running from it.

I recognized then that I needed to rise from the ashes, to take control of my life again, one step at a time. The road was long and filled with obstacles, but bit by bit, I rebuilt myself. I returned to school, pushed through the fog of memory loss, and began accumulating knowledge again. I earned six degrees through persistence, faith, and belief in my God-given ability to overcome. I gained numerous certifications and eventually built a successful 26-year college/University professor career. Today, I stand as a licensed clinical counselor, helping others navigate their own challenges.

This journey has taught me that all things are possible, no matter how impossible they may seem. The decision is yours to make—do you let your circumstances control you, or do you choose to rise from the ashes and create the life you want? My story is not about extraordinary talent or luck—it’s about resilience, faith, and the unwavering belief that I could overcome. If you face what feels like an insurmountable challenge, know this: you have the power to rise. With determination, faith, and the willingness to confront your situation head-on, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

My journey is living proof that no matter how far you feel you’ve fallen, you can rise again. You can rebuild, and you can create a new path forward. Life is full of opportunities, even when it feels like they’ve been taken away. The decision to fight, to grow, and to rise above your circumstances is always yours to make.

I believe in the power of perseverance, and I believe in the power within each of us to overcome even the greatest challenges. If I can do it, so can you. Never stop believing in your ability to rise from the ashes, and never stop fighting for the life you deserve. Your story is still being written, and the best chapters are yet to come.

Dr. Samuel Said