Saul Raisin, or should it be "Soul Raising?"   This ex-professional cyclist and author of "Tour de Life" has experienced nothing short of a miracle.  Saul, a sweet southern boy from Georgia, has beaten the odds on so many levels after his extraordinary recovery from a near fatal cycling accident. Lance Armstrong called Saul's parents after the accident to find Saul in a coma with such a severe brain injury that the left side of his body should be paralyzed from a hole in the right side of his brain.  Initially though doctors where considering where Saul's organs would be donated but Saul recovered from the surgery... and the coma.  A little set back like that wasn't going to stop Saul from cycling or running a marathon again.  What is the x factor that makes someone so determined?  What can you learn from Saul to help you with even small day to day challenges?

Saul stopped in to share part of his incredible story with us. He is such a kind spirit it's really hard for me to be objective so I will just come right out and say, he is adorable.  Homage.  His family must be so proud they choke-up whenever they think of him.  I hope Saul's light shines as brightly for you as it does me. 

"After my accident I see the world different.  My life is clear.  I can clearly see the things I dream to one day achieve and lives I want to touch." Saul Raisin

Gabrielle Reilly:  Please tell us about your accident.

Saul Raisin:  On April 4th of 2006 I almost lost my life. My massive brain injuries were the result of a high speed bicycle crash in a professional bike race. My parents stood at my bedside trying to comprehend the prognosis. They were told by doctors that I could be possibly brain dead; and if I was to live, they needed to find a nursing home to put me in because I would need special health care assistance the rest of my life. At the time I am told that I was the youngest team leader ever in the sport of professional cycling. At the age of 23 my future in cycling could not have been brighter. In the blink of an eye, my world changed. In that same instant, though I couldn't possibly comprehend it at the time, my life gained real purpose.

Gabrielle Reilly:  How long were in a coma?

Saul Raisin:  I was in a coma for 6 days.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Did you hear anything when you were in a coma?

Saul Raisin:  "Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder where you are." I remember my Mom singing to me. It made me feel good and warm.

Gabrielle Reilly:  What where your first thoughts and emotions when you came out of your coma?

Saul Raisin:  When you wake up from a coma one is very much still in a deep sleep: close your eyes,then open them. Imagine every time you close your eyes you keep them closed for a day. My life for weeks was opening and closing my eyes in and out of sleep.

My first memory after I woke up from my coma was when I was on the plane ride back to America. I remember my mom telling me that Lance Armstrong called her when I was in my coma. He told her that she and my dad, Jim were in his thoughts and prayers.  He gave them his cell phone number and told them if they needed anything to give him a call. As you can imagine my mom was rather taken back. And then he said, "One thing you should know, Mrs. Raisin. Your son is a punk. He attacked me on my last training ride ever 5 days before the tour and gave me a run for my money. No one has ever done that. I have nothing but respect for him."

Gabrielle Reilly:  What was your recovery time?

Saul Raisin:  Doctors tell me that 99% of brain injury victims are not as fortunate as I was. About 1% of people that have a brain injury like mine get back to where I am mentally. Statistically they say one can never overcome a brain injury. They also say that I should be dead. I tell them that I will prove all their statistics wrong. I am over three years into my recovery and I still feel gains in my mental clarity.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Where are you at now?

Saul Raisin:  For the last three years I have been piecing my life back together into a so called "Normal Life." It has taken three years for me to feel like I have my life back. For the first two years of my recovery I felt like I was dead.

Gabrielle Reilly:  What are your hopes for your future?

Saul Raisin:  I would like to be a physical therapist. I start school on my birthday January 6th of 2010.

Gabrielle Reilly:  What physical training do you do now?

Saul Raisin:  I am in the gym lifting weights almost every day. I run 30\40 miles a week and ride 20 hours included. I love sports and will be an athlete for the rest of my life.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Please tell us about your book "Tour de Life - From Coma to Competition."

Saul Raisin:  I wrote my book Tour de Life with author Dave Shields to share my story to let others know that they are not alone and that they, too, can get through the hardest times of their life. In 2007 I was blessed with the opportunity to give almost every one of our injured heroes in the Traumatic Brain Injury Ward at Walter Reed Military Hospital a signed copy of my book.

Gabrielle Reilly:  Please tell us about your Raisin Hope Foundation.

Saul Raisin:  When I was in the hospital I told my friends and family if I was to ever live a normal life again that I wanted to help people like me. That's why I started the Raisin Hope Foundation to transform hope into knowledge and give back the smiles to the people that need it the most.

My goal is threefold:

1) Raise funding to support brain and spinal cord injury research

2) Connect individuals and families whose lives have been affected by a brain injury with support and information regarding medical, physical, and emotional recovery

3) Promote public awareness and understanding of people with disability as a result of brain injury and spinal cord injury.

A twestion from our featured Twitter Ron Chavers:

Ron Chavers:  What kept you focused on your goals, even during the most difficult times?

I do not take NO for a answer.  I had a doctor once tell me in the hospital that I would have to learn to adapt to a new life, one where I might have to use a wheel chair. I told him that I would run one day. He told me, "No, Saul you are not going to run. You will have to learn to adapt to a new life."

Do you know what? Run I did. I ran all 26.2 miles of the New York City Marathon and I'll keep running. 

Media Inquiries and further information for Saul Raisin and Raisin Hope Foundation:

Allison Peacock

512\694\1600

allison@allisonpeacock.com

Tour de Georgia 2007
"Saul Raisin"
Photo credit: John Pierce
PhotoSport International