over the last three decades the Miami project to cure paralysis has become an
international beacon of hope for those who have suffered spinal cord injuries
it all started because of one young man's unfortunate accident since then he
and his family's dedication and determination have never stopped here's
Olga with more for more than 30 years my next guest has been searching for a cure
for paralysis it's become his personal journey and passion at the age of 19
mark Bono Connie was paralyzed from the neck down after a tackle at a college
football game in his new book undefeated from tragedy to triumph mark talks about
his life his mission and his goal to one day walk again good morning I all got
great to see ya great to see you again we went back we go way back actually to
University of Miami I think I was about 20 you were 20 yeah we were 20 a few
years ago that was a long time but we age gracefully like wine and I think we
met maybe a couple of years after the accident right that's right I went back
to school in 1987 after my injury in 85 I was in college as a sophomore playing
middle linebacker just like my father Hall of Fame NFL linebacker Nick Banach
honey a dolphin dolphin yes my hero and playing football and I made a tackle
like I had done so many other times but this one obviously was different because
I went from really the best shape of my life in a split second after that tackle
to be paralyzed on the ground fighting for my life you're in the hospital for a
very long time remember an entire year seven months I
was on a respirator and a lot of despair a lot of psychological emotional issues
that I was going through but dr. green not only saved my life but he started
talking about this crazy vision that he had about bringing scientists together
from all over the world focusing on one thing only and that's curing paralysis I
know your father and Nick and the doctor and so many others came together to
formed the Miami project to cure paralysis tell me about that and where
we are with research are we close so we're getting closer every day the Miami
project is based at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine over 300
scientists and technicians working every day to find a cure for paralysis we do
things for people who are injured now as well as people chronically like me who
have been injured for a long time we have seven fda-approved clinical trials
transplanting cells and the people who are paralyzed it's showing sensation and
function return for the first time ever since their injury and I know you're
opening a new rehab center maybe in 2020 that's right so the University of Miami
Jack's Memorial Health System along with my dear friend Christine Lin who had
donated 25 million dollars to the facility his opening in 2020 a brand new
190 bed rehab facility to house the Miami project in Jackson and um so that
we can expand our clinical trials and have more patients for our clinical
studies and along with Christine you've had so much support for from so many and
have really come together we do an event every year in New York called the great
sports legends dinner hosted by Tom Brokaw and also by Bob Costas and we've
had Muhammad Ali we've had President Nixon and President Clinton Wayne
Gretzky you name it and you're also now promoting a fabulous new book that you
wrote I love the title undefeated from tragedy to triumph you
and your dad on the cover what's the message here mark the message is about
my life and my family about a kid who was really troubled despite unbelievable
support from my family I was going down a real strange and dark wrong path and
it took me to be paralyzed to change my outlook and literally save my life
paralysis even though I've been injured for all these years I really feel
blessed and I feel lucky because of that injury it's opened up my eyes to find
out really what life is all about giving me a different
respective and after all these years I can just say that what I've been able to
experience I it's really made it all worthwhile and I feel really lucky and
it's been a big difference in my life that could be a positive force for
change you're such an inspiration thanks so much thanks so much for coming in
great to be here ok for our viewers would like more information on your book
or the Miami project what website can they go to go to the Miami project org
thanks again work come back any time and of course if you'd like more information
you can go to our website thebalancingact.com