I'm John Centofanti.
One day in January 2018, I went for my daily run.
Shortly after I would become a cardiac arrest survivor.
I'm a writer and creative professional, as well as a husband, father and grandfather.
When your life ends in an instant, there's no guidebook to show you how to build a new one while you live with the effects of anoxic brain injury.
This is why I'm sharing my story of losing my previous life and my journey to build a new one I love. My hope is to help others who are learning to thrive, not just survive.
Thriving After Surviving: What Does a Thriving Life Actually Look Like?
After surviving cardiac arrest, my life was turned upside down, but I didn’t even realize it. I was in a medically induced coma for days afterward. When they brought me out of the coma, it was Saturday afternoon. I was told what happened. I didn’t understand at all the impact of it, but I thought I did.
I had no idea getting back to normal was not in the cards. Between medical appointments, therapies and crushing fatigue, returning to my old life was more of a fantasy. Yet, I’d wake up every day and tell myself, “Today is the day I’m going to crush it.” Except I couldn’t. I didn’t.
Rewire Your Brain Series: Endless Possibilities
This is first in a series on rewiring your brain. My neurologist told me that some “roads” my brain previously took to help me function were now closed. They would never reopen. That was bad news. The good news, however difficult to hear, was that I could build new roads, or neural pathways.
The Only Time Average Can Be Heroic
Life can be frustrating for a person who has a brain injury. Living with someone who does isn’t easy, either. I can’t eliminate those situations, I can only try to manage them consistently.
GPS. Apple Pay. Brain Delay.
Life can be frustrating for a person who has a brain injury. Living with someone who does isn’t easy, either. I can’t eliminate those situations, I can only try to manage them consistently.