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Michael
P. Utley
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Mr.
Utley's personal story is a remarkable feat of human survival that
will inspire and teach the importance of lightning safety to everyone.
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In May 2000, Michael Utley was struck by lightning on a Cape
Cod golf course. Mike's heart stopped several times, his friends
performed life saving CPR in the rain and hail, and the EMT's
used the paddles on him in the ambulance. Its only because of
these people and their knowledge that he is here today to promote
lightning safety and CPR. Michael spent 38 days in Brigham &
Women's Intensive Care Unit, then another two and a half months
in Braintree Health/South Rehab.. It has been a long road back
and now, 3 years later, the journey is still far from over.
Michael started the Struck by Lightning organization in an effort
to promote lightning safety and education. Started in 2002, our
goal is to provide professional and entertaining presentations
for schools, companies and organizations throughout the United
States and abroad. As a NOAA spokesperson for lightning safety,
he helped kick off the first Lightning Awareness Week in 2001
at Westchester Country Club in New York. Teaming up with Dr. Mary
Ann Cooper, one of the leading lightning medical authorities,
Rocco Mediate, a PGA Pro, Scott Gudes, Deputy Director of NOAA,
and Brig. Gen. (USAF Retired) John J. Kelly, Jr., Director of
the National Weather Service they delivered a lightning safety
message to the PGA and put the first Lightning Awareness Week
into motion.
Michael has appeared in TV weather specials for several Boston
TV stations, the Weather Channel, and National Geographic. He
has written for the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune,
and has been featured in articles in the Cape Cod Times and Discover
Magazine. Most recently, NOAA featured Michael's story on their
website in April 2003.
Programs
CORPORATE & MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAMS
Michael Utley, Vice-President, #10 in what is now UBS/PaineWebber,
took a direct lightning strike on a golf course. His heart stopped
a couple of times, he spent 38 days in ICU and the prognosis
was 'brain dead quadriplegic'. Over 2 months in Health/South
rehab relearning how to do almost everything has enriched him
with experiences that combined with the top professionals in
the field give you one of the most inspirational and dynamic
shows available..
Michael's story is full of moments of intense struggle to overcome
the obstacles that lightning had put in his way, his determination
to relearn the most basic skills in life. Too swallow again,
to taste water that others take for granted, laying there watching
others drink and not be able to, with ice chips or a damp sponge
rubbed on the lips as a substitute just doesn't cut it.
Relearning how to walk one step at a time with metal braces
& parallel bars, sometimes in the middle of the night, often
only a couple steps a day. How about getting off bicycle training
wheels the same time your young daughter does, what an accomplishment
to share, how many father's can?
..Opening my eyes, looking around, all I could see was
the inside of a vehicle, the roof of a van maybe. Struggling
to move my head I saw cables, monitor screens, tubes, cylinders
and to my dismay, lots of needles. Where was I, what was going
on, then it hit me; I was in an ambulance. I tried to move my
arms and realized I was tied down, not that it would have made
any difference since at that time I couldn't move any parts
of my body anyway. Movement down towards my feet caught my eyes
and my vision was drawn to a large shadow in the back of the
ambulance; looking that way I saw this big guy in a blue uniform
with a stethoscope draped around his neck sitting there. I mouthed
the words as much as asked, "where am I"? Turning
away from the monitors looking towards me, he said, "you're
on your way to rehab." "Rehab" I said, "what
happened?" "You were struck by lightning", he
said, "a month ago". As the ambulance made it's way
to the Health South Rehab facility in Braintree I looked around
and realized my life, and the lives of my family had been changed
forever. That scene took place on June 15, 2000, 38 days after
I had been struck by lightning on a Cape Cod golf course, it
was also my daughters 2nd birthday.
Michael's ability to take these events and transform them into
something that captures, inspires and motivates others is what
makes him such a powerful speaker and storyteller.
He is able to take his experiences and convert them into something
that challenges your organization to excel by setting goals,
focusing on basic fundamental tools to achieve those goals and
then to deal with the success and advance.
LGHTNING EDUCATION
Our educational programs have been give rave reviews by teachers
and students alike. We have tailored programs to children as
young as 5 and 6, up to University students.
Our educational tools, such as the downloadable 'Leon the Lightning
Lion' coloring page, which was developed with the LPI, the LSA,
and NOAA, is being used in schools, Doctors offices, Day cares
and other places where young children gather.
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Clients
Michael has spoken for these groups and more:
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Boy Scouts of America
EPA
YMCA International
NASA
NOAA
National Weather Service
National Park Service
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NCAA
Y Services
The PGA Tour
USA Today
Mt.Washington Observatory
Town of Hillsdale New Jersey |
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