City: Madison

Brain Injury: I fell six stories from the roof of my apartment building. My prognosis for survival was slim to none. I coded three times in the hospital. At best, I would be quadriplegic with a broken pelvis and back, with severe internal injuries and a head injury.

Explanation of Mask: I was a dancer, with aspirations of dancing on Broadway. I was in the best shape of my life. After seven years of hard work, trying to become the dancer I always wanted to be; I lost it all in two weeks lying in a hospital bed. My heart was beating though, so I knew the hard part was over. Just like a phoenix rises from the ashes, I am a dancer that emerged from my accident. I look at this more as a blessing, instead of a curse. I have a new lease on life and every day is a triumph.