>>> WELCOME BACK TO "MEGYN KELLY TODAY."
TODAY." 23-YEAR-OLD, FRESH OUT OF
COLLEGE AND EAGER TO SET OUT ON
LIFE’S PATH WHEN SUDDENLY THAT
PATH TAKES A TURN YOU NEVER SAW
COMING.
COMING. TAKE A LOOK.
>> ALEX GOLD MEYER GREW UP IN
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, IN A HOME
FILLED WITH LAUGHTER, LOVE AND
LOTS OF FUN.
>> ALEX IS SPECIAL.
I KNEW THIS FROM A YOUNG AGE.
HE WAS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
FROM THE BEGINNING.
>> ALEX HAS SUCH A BIG HEART.
HE HAS THIS SILLINESS.
WE CALL IT HIS SWAG, HIS CHARM.
>> LEARNED HIS CHARM FROM ME.
>> THE ENTIRE FAMILY LOVED TO
SPEND TIME TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY
ON THE SKI SLOPES.
BUT ALEX LIFE WOULD TAKE A
TRAUMATIC TURN.
TRAUMATIC TURN. ON A SKI SLOPE HE HAD A BAD
ACCIDENT COMING DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN AND WAS FOUND AMONG
TREES AT THE SIDE OF THE SLOPE.
HE WAS AIRLIFTED TO A NEARBY
MEDICAL CENTER.
MEDICAL CENTER. >> WALKING INTO THE ROOM AND
SEEING MY SON INJURED, SO
BRUISED AND LAYING THERE WITH
TUBES IS SOMETHING THAT YOU
NEVER WANT TO SEE IN YOUR LIFE.
I WAS THANKFUL HE WAS ALIVE.
THAT’S WHAT MY FIRST THOUGHT
WAS.
WAS. I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
>> ALEX’S INJURIES INCLUDED A
SEVERED SPINE, SUBDURAL HEMATOMA
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BRAIN,
BROKEN RIBS AND PUNK TOURED
LUNG.
LUNG. >> I DON’T REMEMBER MY ACCIDENT.
I WOKE UP AND I WAS IN A
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL. AT FIRST I REALIZED I HAD MY
HANDS AND MY FINGERS.
THEN I KIND OF KNEW SOMETHING
WAS OFF BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE MY
NORMAL FEELING THAT I WAS USED
TO.
TO. THAT’S WHEN THE DOCTOR INFORMED
ME THAT I WAS PARALYZED FROM MY
CHEST DOWN.
CHEST DOWN. IT’S A LOT TO TAKE IN.
ONE DAY YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE
LIVING A NORMAL LIFE, THEN THE
NEXT DAY THE WHOLE WORLD TAKES A
180.
180. IT’S A GRIEVING PROCESS FOR MY
LEGS AND FOR MY NEW LIFE.
>> JOINING ME NOW IS ALEX ALONG
WITH HIS PARENTS STEVE AND
DEBBIE.
DEBBIE. GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> ALEX, I WAS JUST SAYING TO
YOU, I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS
ACCIDENT HAPPENED SIX MONTHS AGO
BECAUSE YOU LOOK SO GOOD AND
SEEM SO STRONG.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> I’M DOING GREAT.
IT’S DEFINITELY BEEN A LONG PAST
FIVE MONTHS.
FIVE MONTHS. BUT WITH THE SUPPORT OF ALL MY
FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THE
THERAPIES, I’VE BEEN REALLY
STRONG AND PLUGGING ALONG.
LIFE HAS A PLAN THAT YOU DON’T
KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR
HEAD UP AND KEEP GOING.
>> YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION.
YOU REALLY ARE.
YOU HAVE BIG FANS WHICH I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT.
I HAVE TO MEET THE PARENTS WHO
HELPED TO MAKE YOU SUCH AN
INCREDIBLE PERSON.
INCREDIBLE PERSON. I CAN’T IMAGINE GETTING THAT
CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
YOUR HEART MUST HAVE SUNK.
>> I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HE WAS
SKIING THAT DAY, AND I GOT A
CALL FROM HIS BEST FRIEND.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG BY
THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE.
AND WE NEVER GOT TO ALBANY SO
FAST, TWO HOURS.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, A
FOUR-HOUR DRIVE.
FOUR-HOUR DRIVE. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU?
>> TOOK US TWO HOURS AND WE GOT
PULLED OVER TWICE.
>> I HOPE THEY LET YOU GO.
>> THEY DID.
>> I HOPE THOSE TROOPERS LET YOU
GO.
GO. >> THEY INSTRUCTED US A SAFER
SPEED TO GO TO GET THERE SAFELY
AND WE’RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU GOT THERE, WALK INTO THE
HOSPITAL, YOU SEE YOUR BELOVED
ALEX, YOUR STRONG, STRAPPING
SON.
SON. DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST THING
HE SAID TO YOU?
>> I DO.
>> I DO. I WALKED OVER, I LOOKED AT HIM,
AND HE HAD A TEAR ROLLING DOWN
HIS EYE.
HIS EYE. HE SIGNED, I’M SORRY.
THAT’S ALEX, CARING ABOUT
EVERYBODY ELSE.
EVERYBODY ELSE. >> HE SIGNED IT.
>> HOW DID HE KNOW SIGN
LANGUAGE?
LANGUAGE? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SHARE?
>> I TEACH SIGN LANGUAGE IN
PLAIN VIEWVIEW
PLAIN VIEWVIEW PLAINVIEW AND ALEX TOOK IT
SENIOR YEAR.
SENIOR YEAR. HE WAS FILLED WITH TUBES
EVERYWHERE SO HE WAS ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE AND TELL ME SORRY.
OH, MY GOD, THANK GOD YOU’RE
ALIVE.
ALIVE. >> YOU SAID SORRY.
>> MY MOM ALWAYS TOLD ME TO BE
CAREFUL SKIING, JUST CAREFUL IN
EVERYTHING I DO IN LIFE.
I DON’T KNOW.
JUST TO HAVE HER GO THROUGH THE
PAIN OF SEEING HER SON LIKE THAT
IS REALLY TOUGH.
>> HOW HAVE THE LAST FEW MONTHS
BEEN LIKE?
BEEN LIKE? I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD?
REALLY HARD? >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. IT’S BEEN A GRIEVING PROCESS AT
FIRST.
FIRST. IT’S DEFINITELY A CHANGE.
YOU HAVE TO RELEARN YOUR LIFE,
REGAIN YOUR INDEPENDENCE, BUT
IT’S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PROCESS.
WHAT THEY SAY DOESN’T KILL YOU
DEFINITELY MAKES YOU STRONGER.
>> I CAN FEEL IT, I CAN FEEL IT SITTING NEXT TO YOU.
THE STORY TAKES A BIG TURN.
WE WANT TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT A
TRY. >>> WE ARE BACK WITH ALEX, A
YOUNG MAN DETERMINED TO OVERCOME
INJURIES FROM HIS ACCIDENT IN
LAST SEPTEMBER.
LAST SEPTEMBER. LAST WEEK THEY RETURNED HOME FOR
THE FIRST TAME IN SIX MONTHS
AWAITING A BIG SURPRISE FOR
THEM.
THEM. >> THINKING OF GOING HOME IS
OVERWHELMING.
OVERWHELMING. WE DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
>> ENTER GEORGE OLYPHANT OF THE
HOME RENOVATION SHOW, TO THE
RESCUE, WHO SURPRISED GOLD
MEIER’S THREE MONTHS AGO IN
COLORADO.
COLORADO. >> YOUR HOUSE IS NOT SUITED FOR
YOU TO COME HOME.
BY THE TIME YOU GET OUT OF HERE,
IT WILL BE.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> SO WHILE ALEX CONTINUED HIS
INTENSE THERAPIES, A TEAM OF
DESIGN AND RENOVATION EXPERTS
GOT TO WORK ON HIS HOME IN NEW
YORK TRANSFORMING THIS GARAGE
AND THIS DEN INTO AN AREA FOR
ALEX THAT’S BOTH ACCESSIBLE AND
PRIVATE.
PRIVATE. >> WHAT’S UP?
HOW IS IT GOING, FAMILY?
WELCOME HOME, MAN.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> TIME TO REVEAL THE NEW SPACE
CUSTOM MADE FOR ALEX.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> MY GOSH.
>> THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
>> COME ON, GUYS.
>> WOW.
>> WOW. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> WOW.
>> WOW. IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> AND NOW ALEX IS READY TO
START A NEW CHAPTER.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS.
>> THAT’S A HOME COMING.
ALEX’S PARENTS STEVE AND DEBBIE
REMAIN AND ALSO JOINED BY ALEX’S
SIBLINGS AND GEORGE OLYPHANT WHO
RENOVATED THE GOLDMEIER HOME
BEAUTIFULLY.
BEAUTIFULLY. FIRST OF ALL, ALEX, I LOVE YOUR
MAN CAVE.
MAN CAVE. DO YOU LOVE IT?
>> IT’S BEAUTIFUL.
IT’S SO GREAT TO BE BACK HOME
WITHOUT THE WORRY OF GETTING UP
STEPS OR ANYTHING.
IT’S WELCOMING.
IT’S WELCOMING. GEORGE DEFINITELY DECKED IT OUT
WITH AMAZING TECHNOLOGY.
>> DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE
IT.
IT. >> AWESOME SPEAKERS.
I DON’T KNOW.
I’VE GOT LIKE ALEXA, SOMEBODY TO
TALK TO, A FRIEND.
>> YOU ALSO -- AND I LOVE
THIS -- YOU HAVE A QUOTE ON YOUR
WALL, YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE.
YOUR JOURNEY HAS MOLDED YOU FOR
GREATER GOOD AND EXACTLY WHAT IT
NEEDED TO BE.
DON’T THINK YOU LOST TIME.
IT TOOK EACH AND EVERY SITUATION
YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED TO BRING
YOU TO THE NOW AND NOW IS RIGHT
ON TIME.
ON TIME. YOU HAVE A GREAT FAMILY.
THIS IS THE FAMILY HOME YOU GREW
UP IN.
UP IN. I’M ALREADY IN LOVE WITH MOM AND
DAD AND NOW WE HAVE TO TALK TO
YOUR SIBLINGS WHO DROPPED
EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING. YOU DID REHAB IN COLORADO ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND YOU DROPPED
EVERYTHING TO BE WITH YOUR
BROTHER.
BROTHER. >> THERE’S NOTHING I WOULDN’T DO
FOR MY BROTHER OR ANYBODY IN MY
FAMILY.
FAMILY. I’VE GOT TWO INCREDIBLE PARENTS
THAT RAISED US TO BE THAT WAY.
WE’RE VERY BLESSED AND WE’VE GOT
AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT NETWORK OF
FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND CO-WORKERS
THAT WORKED WITH ME TO MAKE SURE
THAT FROM THE SECOND ALEX WAS
INJURED WE COULD GET UP THERE
AND BE BY HIS SIDE EVERY STEP OF
THE WAY.
THE WAY. >> JULIE, YOU WERE RIGHT THERE,
TOO.
TOO. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WHEN YOU
FIRST SAW ALEX.
I HEARD HE GAVE YOU A LITTLE
SIGN.
SIGN. >> WHEN I WALKED IN, IT WAS
REALLY HARD TO SEE HIM THAT WAY.
HE LOOKED AT ME, LIFTED UP HIS
ARM AND GAVE ME THAT, I’M JACKED
ARM THAT HE ALWAYS GIVES ME.
I KNEW HE WAS STILL ALEX AND HE
WAS GOING TO BE OKAY.
>> THAT SPIRIT IS THERE.
>> GEORGE, YOU DID A BEAUTIFUL
JOB.
JOB. CAN WE GIVE A HAND FOR GEORGE.
WE KNOW HOW TALENTED YOU ARE,
GEORGE.
GEORGE. YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER
YEARS AND YEARS.
IT MUST DO YOUR HEART GOOD TO DO
SUCH A PROJECT FOR SOMEONE SO
WORTHY.
WORTHY. >> I’M BLESSED TO HAVE THE JOB I
DO.
DO. I SAY ALL THE TIME, IT’S THE
GREATEST JOB.
GREATEST JOB. I GET TO HELP PEOPLE AND TELL
STORIES OF AMAZING PEOPLE.
WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE HOME
IMPROVEMENT OFF THEIR PLATE AND
FIX THINGS UP.
WHEN I HEARD ALEX’S STORY, I
GREW UP IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS,
COLORADO.
COLORADO. SKIING HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY LIFE.
WHEN I -- I JUST SAW WE’RE
KINDRED SPIRITS.
KINDRED SPIRITS. WHEN I HEARD THE STORY, I SAID
WE’VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO
HELP HIM OUT.
WE MET THE FAMILY.
MY PRODUCERS ARE PHENOMENAL.
IT WAS OUR 100th EPISODE AND IT
COULDN’T HAVE BEEN A BETTER
PROJECT TO DO.
>> YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB.
ALEX, I KNOW AMY VAN DYKEN, AN
OLYMPIC SWIMMER WHO SUFFERED A
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, SHE REALLY
REACHED OUT TO YOU.
HOW DID SHE INSPIRE YOU.
>> FIRST, IT WAS ONE OF THE
AMAZING SURPRISES BESIDES MY
HOUSE, GEORGE SURPRISED ME WITH
AMY.
AMY. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE INSPIRATION
BECAUSE SHE SHOWED THAT I COULD
LIVE AN ACTIVE FULFILLING
LIFESTYLE OUTSIDE YOUR INJURY.
THERE’S SO MUCH HOPE THAT THINGS
MAY CHANGE BUT THERE’S STILL A
BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD.
AMY SHOWED THAT.
>> YOU’RE SHOWING IT, TOO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MOM AND DAD, YOU MUST BE SO
PROUD.
PROUD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US.
I’M JOKING, KEEP THAT BEAUTIFUL
PLACE CLEAN, TOO.
>> EXACTLY.