You're young. You're healthy. You work hard at staying in shape. The DREAM Fund is something for other people. Chris Colding thought that way. In fact, at age 32, he didn't even know exactly what the DREAM Fund did.
Chris was a member of the "million dollar club" in his new job in radio sales and loved playing football on the weekends. He played hard, too. So when he bumped heads with another player, he did what any football player would do — he shook it off and went back to the game.
Unfortunately, he'd suffered a concussion without realizing it — and didn't bother to seek proper medical attention.
This later caused a blood clot that resulted in Chris suffering a stroke at an age when it's virtually unheard of.
Unaware that the vision on his left side had become impaired, Chris pulled into the path of an oncoming truck one day while merging onto the freeway. In a way, it was a good thing. If the accident had never happened, Chris never would've gone to the hospital on his own.
His wife's insurance covered much of the medical expenses, but there was still a mortgage payment, two car payments and a small child to support. Chris's rehab would take up to six or seven months.
"I can't emphasize enough how much the DREAM Fund helped. A godsend is the best way to put it," Chris says.
Eventually, with a lot of hard work in rehab, Chris made a full recovery. He continues a successful career in broadcast sales and even still plays his weekend football games.
Only now, he has a hard-won respect for what a bump on the head can do. And what the DREAM Fund can do.