Tim Chiarolanza's brain injury recovery did not look like anyone expected, including the doctor who gave him a 1% chance of living.

In November 2021, Tim was a strength and conditioning coach in Bucks County when a freak accident left him fighting for his life. Three days after surviving being hit by a car, his brain bled and swelled without warning, and doctors told his wife and father to plan a funeral. He has no memory of the 7 weeks that followed.

On episode 13 of Backstage Bucks County, Tim joins longtime friend Matt Freedman to walk through the accident, the coma, the week he spent convinced he was dreaming, and the slow work of relearning how to walk, talk, and live. He also introduces the Today Effect, the four daily anchors (purpose, action, presence, connection) that keep him grounded, and explains why his foundation, Triumph in Recovery, exists to support survivors and their caregivers.

00:00 A 1% chance and 7 missing weeks
01:38 Growing up in Bucks County together
03:30 Finding strength and conditioning
06:24 Why Tim tells parents to stop specializing their kids
15:48 The night everything changed
22:58 A doctor tells the family to plan a funeral
25:46 Waking up and thinking it's all a dream
30:59 Changing the question from why to what now
36:54 Getting his license back and his independence
39:03 Why caregivers need as much support as survivors
41:36 The Today Effect explained
51:23 Different person, same core
53:22 What people can't see about a brain injury
59:50 A hometown show steps up for the foundation
1:06:56 The book Tim is writing and how to help

About Backstage Bucks County: hosted by Matt Freedman, entrepreneur, musician, and founder of Rhythm, LLC, the show spotlights the entrepreneurs, musicians, creatives, and business leaders shaping Bucks County. Produced inside Rhythm, a Bucks County content studio.

Learn more about Tim's foundation, get involved, or donate at triumphinrecovery.com.

Guest: Tim Chiarolanza, co-founder and president of Triumph in Recovery. Instagram @TimChiarolanza. Foundation Instagram @Triumph_in_Recovery.

Thank you to FTL Bags for sponsoring this episode.
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