Michael Terry:  

Life I began playing music professionally at age 11 and continued, either full time or part-time over the years until 1988 (23 years). Prior to high school at age 13, my first traditional job was at Cherry's Produce Stand , where I got paid $25 a week to work 7:00AM to sunset, 7 days a week. What I remember most about it is how the owner's daughter, Vickie, would pull me into the cooler to make out all the time! Since graduating in 1973, I've lived in several different cities including Birmingham, Memphis, Chicago, Greenville, SC, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Houston, TX, and Atlanta, GA. In November 2004, I returned to the Southeast from Chicago and now reside in Woodstock (Atlanta), GA. I am a retired corporate executive in the healthcare financial services arena. I have a wonderful son from my second marriage, Michael Patrick, who is 24 years old. As previously mentioned, I'm a retired Healthcare Financial Services Executive due to a medical disability. On May 4th, 2004, I had a horrific accident on my Harley-Davidson near my home in Chicago (A young girl pulled out from a side street and hit me.) I was rushed to the hospital where they gave me a 5% chance of surviving through the night. I had a traumatic brain injury and had emergency brain surgery to remove a clot the size of a human fist that had shifted my entire brain over to the left side of my skull. I was in a deep coma for a month (3 on the Glascow scale - the worst) and then in various hospitals for another three months. I was in a wheelchair for about 6 months. Against all odds I am slowly recovering, although I am still technically disabled and haven't worked since the accident (except for a couple of consulting engagements lasting 2-3 months each that I took at the request of friends/ex-colleagues). Also I'm fortunate that, because I was wearing my leathers (but alas, no helmet), I was spared any visible or disfiguring physical injuries, so my appearance hasn't changed (not to say that I was any special prize before the accident!). The only difference is that I no longer have really long hair. Before the accident, my hair was waist length. (Hey - my girlfriend dug it - what can I say!?) They had to shave my head for the brain surgery and since it's grown back in, I've kept it shorter for ease of care and grooming. I sold my home in Chicago and moved back to Georgia (after 19 months in Chicago) at the end of November 2004 to be near family and friends. What does a Healthcare Financial Services Executive do exactly? Before my accident, I was Vice President, Strategy Development for ARGYLE Solutions, a company that designs and implements statistical model based financial strategy solutions for large healthcare providers (hospital systems). My salary was in the mid-six figure range, plus other financial perks. ...Expand for more