12 years ago, I broke my neck. Then doctors found a brain tumour at...
Kieran Drew@ItsKieranDrew
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May 26, 2024
~3 min read
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12 years ago, I broke my neck.
Then doctors found a brain tumour at the base of my skull.
And my spine bent by over 56 degrees.
It was the best time of my life.
Here’re 10 incredible lessons I learned:
Then doctors found a brain tumour at the base of my skull.
And my spine bent by over 56 degrees.
It was the best time of my life.
Here’re 10 incredible lessons I learned:
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“There’s a problem.”
My mum & I stared at the doctor, x-rays spread across the table. The silence stretched seconds into what felt like hours.
I’d just had a scan for a bending spine – serious, but not life-threatening.
A problem was bad news.
My mum & I stared at the doctor, x-rays spread across the table. The silence stretched seconds into what felt like hours.
I’d just had a scan for a bending spine – serious, but not life-threatening.
A problem was bad news.
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Before that moment, I was an overweight, anxious, pessimistic kid with a terrible outlook.
But I left the hospital with a real reason to complain.
A broken neck.
A growing neurological tumour.
The need for 20+ hours of surgery with the potential of permanent disability.
But I left the hospital with a real reason to complain.
A broken neck.
A growing neurological tumour.
The need for 20+ hours of surgery with the potential of permanent disability.
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On D-Day, I was terrified.
So was my mum.
But I’d spent my life as a victim. Now it was in the doctor's hands. I wanted to brave, so I laughed and joked as I went in.
And I've not stopped since.
You can’t control what happens.
But you can always control your response.
So was my mum.
But I’d spent my life as a victim. Now it was in the doctor's hands. I wanted to brave, so I laughed and joked as I went in.
And I've not stopped since.
You can’t control what happens.
But you can always control your response.
5
I woke up in agony.
They’d sliced my neck. Cut away my skull. Hammered my spine with pins. Then stitched me back together. I couldn’t move or sleep.
It was the worst, longest night of my life.
And a great reminder of an easily forgotten truth:
Things could always be worse.
They’d sliced my neck. Cut away my skull. Hammered my spine with pins. Then stitched me back together. I couldn’t move or sleep.
It was the worst, longest night of my life.
And a great reminder of an easily forgotten truth:
Things could always be worse.
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After 3 weeks, I came home.
I was hooked on morphine. Irritable. Demanding.
A dick.
But I saw something amazing from my mum.
She never complained. She was selfless, encouraging, & supportive.
I vowed to be the same to everyone in my life.
Character is a choice.
I was hooked on morphine. Irritable. Demanding.
A dick.
But I saw something amazing from my mum.
She never complained. She was selfless, encouraging, & supportive.
I vowed to be the same to everyone in my life.
Character is a choice.
7
The 1st month was hell.
I couldn’t take a shit or shower without help. I felt hopeless. But if you face a big challenge, break it down.
Take it a day at a time.
Small wins stack fast, and the difference between impossible and probable is the timeframe we view it in.
I couldn’t take a shit or shower without help. I felt hopeless. But if you face a big challenge, break it down.
Take it a day at a time.
Small wins stack fast, and the difference between impossible and probable is the timeframe we view it in.
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I didn't want to be a loser anymore.
I found a truth I later heard from @naval: “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
With my stiff neck and fat ass, I hit the gym.
If you don't like a situation, it's on you to do something about it.
I found a truth I later heard from @naval: “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
With my stiff neck and fat ass, I hit the gym.
If you don't like a situation, it's on you to do something about it.
9
I recovered and graduated as a dentist.
I'd never been talented, but I wanted success.
So I gave it my all. Worked 2 jobs. Became one of the best earners for my age.
You can’t choose how gifted you are.
But you can always be the hardest working person in the room.
I'd never been talented, but I wanted success.
So I gave it my all. Worked 2 jobs. Became one of the best earners for my age.
You can’t choose how gifted you are.
But you can always be the hardest working person in the room.
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It was a mistake.
I thought success was how rich you looked. On paper I was killing it. 6 figures. Doctor Drew. Parents proud.
But inside, I was killing myself.
Stressed 24/7.
Anxious.
Exhausted.
I don't care how much money you make, if you're not happy - it isn't enough.
I thought success was how rich you looked. On paper I was killing it. 6 figures. Doctor Drew. Parents proud.
But inside, I was killing myself.
Stressed 24/7.
Anxious.
Exhausted.
I don't care how much money you make, if you're not happy - it isn't enough.
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I always wanted to write.
But I was still working 6 days a week. So every early morning, lunch and weekend I studied the skill.
16 months later, I quit dentistry to go all in.
Life's too short to spend it climbing the wrong mountain.
But I was still working 6 days a week. So every early morning, lunch and weekend I studied the skill.
16 months later, I quit dentistry to go all in.
Life's too short to spend it climbing the wrong mountain.
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I'm terrified of taking action.
But my neck taught me fear is much worse in imagination than reality. And it's exciting as hell to bet on yourself. Now I have my dream business.
Last week my girlfriend quit her 9-5 to become a partner.
If you want the reward, take the risk.
But my neck taught me fear is much worse in imagination than reality. And it's exciting as hell to bet on yourself. Now I have my dream business.
Last week my girlfriend quit her 9-5 to become a partner.
If you want the reward, take the risk.
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Last one my friends.
My doctor said the tumour could return.
There’s nothing like a ticking time bomb to remind you to live.
Trust me:
Be a good friend. Care for your loved ones. Do something exciting. Pursue a worthwhile purpose.
You get one shot - make it count.
My doctor said the tumour could return.
There’s nothing like a ticking time bomb to remind you to live.
Trust me:
Be a good friend. Care for your loved ones. Do something exciting. Pursue a worthwhile purpose.
You get one shot - make it count.
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Thanks for reading!
I’m building my business as a creator. If you enjoy writing and the idea of freedom, drop me a follow as I share what I learn @itskierandrew.
If you enjoyed this, please drop a quick comment so other people might see it too.
Much appreciated.
I’m building my business as a creator. If you enjoy writing and the idea of freedom, drop me a follow as I share what I learn @itskierandrew.
If you enjoyed this, please drop a quick comment so other people might see it too.
Much appreciated.
Kieran Drew@ItsKieranDrew
12 years ago, I broke my neck.
Then doctors found a brain tumour at the base of my skull.
And my spine bent by over 56 degrees.
It was the best time of my life.
Here’re 10 incredible lessons I learned:
Then doctors found a brain tumour at the base of my skull.
And my spine bent by over 56 degrees.
It was the best time of my life.
Here’re 10 incredible lessons I learned:
