March 30, 2004 > Faith Born From Trial/ A Quest for Re-Discovery

by Tatyana Hamady

It was July 22nd, 1969, for many just another warm summer day. Yet for David M. Seymon, this day held cards that would reshuffle his fate.

David grew up in a "typical California middle-class family" in Hayward with his mom, Doris, step-dad Pete, and his sisters, Leni and Gail. On weekends, he and his family would go to Lake Berryessa, spending time on their boat and getting acquainted with the locals. A talented athlete in school, David played football, basketball, baseball, and table tennis. In his junior year, he campaigned for Senior Class President and won. He never got the chance to claim his title.

The popular 17-year-old boy and his friend, Louie, loaded their vehicle with everything they needed to help David's grandfather build his cabin at Lake Almanor. Driving near a town called Gridley, they came to a crossroad called "Robinson's Corner" or as others may know it, "Death Crossroads," where near-fatal auto accident handed David a monumental life challenge.
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Unconscious and injured, David was rushed to the nearest hospital to undergo brain operations where he remained in coma for over four months. While in a coma, David suffered infections of his respiratory tract, several brain surgeries, and weight loss of 75 pounds to a fragile weight of 120 pounds. Miraculously, in November, his health began to improve, and he regained consciousness. However, because of brain trauma, he awoke with the manner of a toddler.

Although frustrated, David refused to give up and worked with therapists to stimulate his senses. He had to re-live many life experiences to trigger his memory. As therapy continued, David was tutored and each day attended one class in his last month of high school. He attended Chabot Junior College and earned a job helping out at the local hospital; then at the main post office.

At the age of twenty, David was able to live on his own for the first time and attend the Church College of Hawaii. Returning to his hometown, he went back to Chabot and graduated. He continued his education at Cal-State Hayward where he took health related classes. However, a seizure created problems - a setback in his education and the loss of his driver's license.

Able to overcome all obstacles in his path, David was soon able to move out on his own and get a job as an attendant to a quadriplegic. Subsequently, this remarkable man married the love of his life, Mary Jo, and they have hopes of opening their own T-shirt company. David published his first book, Reflections of Gratitude," last year in which he relates the trials of his life and how overcoming adversity has changed him. David's book is available at www.PublishAmerica.com.