awards Archives | John Centofanti

The Gift of Unexpected Compassion

by John Centofanti | Jun 9, 2026 | Authenticity, Brain Injury, Cardiac Arrest, Doctor Visits, Emotions, Mindset, Neurological

The friendly young man behind the counter asked if I wanted my tuna to be on a wheat, tomato, or a spinach wrap. That’s when things turned south for me.

Who doesn’t understand a wheat wrap? At that moment, I didn’t.

“I apologize. I had a brain injury, and I don’t understand any of this.”

I can have a conversation about something complicated one minute, and the next minute, not understand basic instructions. When he asked if I wanted my tuna on a wheat, tomato, or spinach wrap, it’s difficult to explain what I thought.

I Believe It. I Need You to Believe It.

by John Centofanti | Jun 1, 2026 | Belief, Brain Injury, Doctor Visits, Emotions, Medical Tests, Mindset, Neurological

I explained to my neurologist how a previous doctor told me I reached my cognitive limit. There could be no more improvement.

My neurologist looked at me and said, “That’s a terrible diagnosis. You’re going to get better.”

He said words that have stuck with me since: “I believe it. I need you to believe it. When you believe it, your brain will put itself in a position to heal, and it will begin to heal.”

Invisible Illness: How I Look Doesn’t Reflect How I Feel

by John Centofanti | May 26, 2026 | Brain Injury, Cardiac Arrest, Neurological

There are so many people with serious health conditions that suffer from what doctors call invisible illness. Invisible does not mean a patient is fabricating a health issue. It means that the condition is not observable by others. This makes sense. It’s logical. Yet, most people falsely believe if they can’t see a clear indication of illness, then whoever they are looking at must be healthy. This is very common with neurological disorders.

Being Grateful and Angry at the Same Time

by John Centofanti | May 15, 2026 | Authenticity, Brain Injury, Emotions, Mindset, Movement Disorders, Neurological

Conflicting emotions aren’t rare or odd. They are part of life. What’s rare is to ever have a single emotion without another one nearby pushing its way into your mind.

I’ve learned that I can be grateful to be alive, and frustrated that I’ve fallen up the steps… again.

The Slow Crawl of Healing, Recovery and Growth

by John Centofanti | May 14, 2026 | Belief, Brain Injury, Cardiac Arrest, Doctor Visits, Emotions, Medical Tests, Mindset, Movement Disorders, Neurological

Whatever growth you’ve had, it’s never enough. The rest of life works that way, too. Healing from sickness, recovery, and growth in anything are so slow. It’s so slow, it can be discouraging, frustrating, even infuriating. It’s human nature: we want the progress to be fast, and fast enough to notice it.

The Relief and Grief of a Medical Diagnosis

by John Centofanti | Apr 26, 2026 | Brain Injury, Cardiac Arrest, Doctor Visits, Healthcare, Medical Tests, Neurological, POTS

Two years later, I finally had an answer, but that answer meant I had another medical condition. There is both relief and grief when you get a medical diagnosis. I felt relief because there was an explanation for my symptoms, and I could learn to manage them—and maybe feel better. I felt grief because that meant having yet another medical condition to manage that will likely never go away.

Thriving After Surviving: What Does a Thriving Life Actually Look Like?

by John Centofanti | Mar 26, 2026 | Featured Post

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.

Secret Advice from Dozens of My Doctors and Nurses — Word for Word

by John Centofanti | Mar 25, 2026 | Cardiac Arrest, Doctor Visits, Health Insurance, Healthcare, Medical Tests

I’ve been asked about my lifestyle numerous times by doctors and nurses. After sharing all the details, they said it’s shocking that I had cardiac arrest.
What led up to that day is equally shocking. What happened after is beyond words. Across America, more people have become aware of how health insurance companies routinely deny coverage for their policyholders. These aren’t rare instances, it’s part of their system to put profit over patients.

Health Issues aren’t My Identity. They are My Reality.

by John Centofanti | Mar 25, 2026 | Authenticity, Brain Injury, Cardiac Arrest, Doctor Visits, Endurance, Health Insurance, Medical Tests, Medications, Movement Disorders, Neurological

It can be challenging to live what people consider a normal life when you get reminders every day, throughout the day, that you live with numerous health conditions.

As someone who has seen over 45 doctors and medical providers in just over eight years, I can say from experience—it’s hard to escape thoughts of your health.

Same Run. Same Route. Life-Altering Event.

by John Centofanti | Mar 25, 2026 | Cardiac Arrest, Doctor Visits, Featured Post, Health Insurance, Healthcare, Medical Tests, Running

On January 11, 2018, I went for my run, frustrated that I kept having to walk to catch my breath. I’d learn after the fact that I was having a heart attack during that run. I had no chest pain, and no indication that I should be concerned. It was no different from the previous 100 runs. If you had told me I was having a heart attack, I wouldn’t have believed it. I felt fine.

I had no idea that in less than 10 minutes, I wouldn’t be breathing. Fresh fruit in my smoothie and so many other things would no longer matter.