“As the reality of my accident settled in, I faced a choice. I could become bitter and depressed, wondering, ‘Why me?’ Or I could live each day to the best of my ability, trusting in Jesus Christ to be my source of peace and strength.”
— Dan Priatko
Anything seemed possible for Pittsburgh-area native Dan Priatko as his 23rd birthday approached. A graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point, Dan had recently completed Army Ranger School. Those who knew Dan were convinced he was destined for great things -- and might one day become a general. Just before Dan’s first army deployment, tragedy struck. Dan was in a catastrophic car accident, one that probably should have killed him. Even after he pulled through doctors didn’t expect him to have much quality of life.
Dan spent more than a year in a coma due to a traumatic brain injury, but his family never gave up hope. Their religious beliefs sustained them through the most trying of times and Dan made a miraculous recovery. He approached relearning such basics as walking and talking with the Army Ranger motto that has always resonated with him: All the way and then some. Dan made it easy for people to root for him with his can-do spirit, relentless positivity, and unwavering faith. He never dwelled on what might have been or what he had lost. Dan became an inspiration to many, including Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, a fellow West Pointer, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau.
His remarkable journey is one of faith, family, and the power of perseverance. Most of all it is about someone who was robbed of so much but refused to let a tragedy take his essence.
Scott Brown has written eight other books and is working on a book about University of Kentucky basketball pioneer Reggie Warford. Brown covered the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2006-2014 for ESPN and The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He also covered Penn State football for the Tribune-Review. Brown previously worked at Florida Today and The Philadelphia Inquirer. A Greensburg, Pennsylvania resident, Brown can be reached at scott_brown00@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ScottBrown_15.
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