- biological parents; one was paranoid schitzophrenic, the other was brain damaged at birth. They met one another at the "Mental hospital" (as it was dubbed back in the day) in Athens Ohio and then gave birth to me.

- started lif in a bad part of town, in a trailor, and in an abusive home

- was moved through a couple foster homes

- eventually was taken to a safer home environment by my uncle (bio mothers brother) and his wife

- they gave birth to a son of their own after I moved in; he was born w/ a disease where he had very little white blood cells. He died at age 4 (when I was 9) after a successful bone marrow transplant (but he died of a lung infection).

- they both kind of drifted apart at this point

- I was always pretty shy, but got good grades

- eventually, though, at the end of 8th grade, my grades fell apart

- I drifted through highschool as a bit of a class clown, I guess to basically cover up who I really was and what I really felt for fear that people wouldn't like the real me

- parents (adopted ones) finally did divorce

- finally had something to hang my hat on. Come the end of my junior year, soccer really started to make sense to me

- at the beginning of my senior year, it became obvious that I had a very real chance of getting a soccer scholarship

- last scrimmage before the regular season, severely broke my leg, ruining my chances at a scholarship and effectively ruining my senior year (hard to have much fun with a cast up to your thigh for 6 months, then months of rehab after that

- was never supposed to walk right again

- 1 year later, won state doubles title at the Ohio University branch in Lancaster- suprising not only since I had the leg thing, but also since I didn't even become interested in tennis until I was like 16

- still wasn't too interested in the academic side of school (not sure what I was hiding from) and was eventually put on academic probation

- old buddy of mine (lot's of trouble) was discharged from the army, and we lived together for a bit

- had all kinds of drug and alcohol issues and run-ins w/ the law

- eventually move out of that situation, and moved in w/ my buddies siter in an aprtment in a nice subburb in an attempt to get things straight

- she left me because I was winding down on the partying, and she was just getting started (I got her into this- she wen't right from highschool to college and was all about school until she met me)

- I eventually was living out of my car because I couldn't pay the bills on my own

- at 20, moved back in with my dad a bit to get my situation squared away

- at 21, met a girl and started dating her (partying was all we had in common, really)

- got her pregnant. Stayed on board to try to do the right thing and be my sons daddy

- was about to seperate, and she asked me if I'd adopt Baylee (her daughter from previous marriage)...I said yes. Just one catch- we'd have to marry.

- Kept separating, then having another kid

- went through several jobs (lost track at 13)

- eventually, at age 25 and with 4 kids total, finally decided I was going to control the most important thing- my outlook on life.

- got a job as a machine operator at a local manufacturing facility

- eventually convinced them to give me a shot in sales (w/ no previous experience)

- after trial period, hired me on full time in that dpartment

- after struggling with my weight for years, finally changed my eating habits for good and lost 70 lbs- and have kept it off now for 7 years!

- eventually was inc harge of all sales and customer service on all accounts

- June 2007, became assistant plant coordinator of our other plant

- November 2007, wife got involved in relationship w/ another woman

- We seperated, and have shared custody of 4 kids

- Support ex in her relationship all that I can (including financially- probably a bit more than I should)

- continue lif as usual, coaching sports and being active in the community

- May 2008 (2 weeks ago) got laid off after 9 years with company

- decide I am going to start business I have been dreaming of; Advancing Through Adversity, life and business coaching

- Mind you, I left out a lot of details- these are just the "highlights"!