Neuma's Quest : From Recovery to Reform

Hi, this is part of a fundraising campaign for my son Neuma who became disabled after an avoidable accident. Please read his story below, as there are important points about Human + Disability Rights. Video, social media, and donation site links are at the bottom. Thank you, Marija

My mom brought me to Canada when I was about a year old. I was born in Jamaica, but staying there we were at risk. My dad was going to testify against a local gang leader who murdered his friend, on the beach one day, over a camera. My mom and I were being targeted, as a form of intimidation. She did the right thing and got me out of there. The money she had was stolen at the airport before we left, so we arrived in Canada with nothing but each other and some flip flops. My mom is a strong person. She worked hard, and got 2 degrees. I helped as much as I could. I opened my first savings account when I was 6, worked from 12, and helped as much as possible with chores, cooking, bills, and fixing things, while studying hard.

I did well in school and in every subject, so I could decide my future. After high school I wanted to give back and did a full time volunteer program for about a year. Then I worked two years to save for college. I chose Canada's best Engineering School for their Architecture program, as I knew sustainability would be an important part of our future. It was tough to get in, but once I did I quickly built momentum and by 3rd year was the top student in their 30-year history. I wasn't just a nerd. I played sports, weight-trained, did martial arts, supported the arts, and got involved in different volunteer, community, and student projects throughout that 5-year degree. I did this while working co-op jobs across America, and Asia, and doing a term in Europe. I was a real go-getter.

One of my goals was to get a PhD. After Architecture I applied and got a chance to study at Canada's best Law School. They had a program where I could get a law degree and PhD at the same time. Any achievements of mine were due to hard work and understanding my mind. I took an interest in studying the mind when I was 10, and did so ever since - on my own and with amazing individuals. The mind is a powerful tool, and understanding and improving my own was the key to my success. I had no idea this would lead to a major plot twist. Initially I developed theories and practices to help myself. Then a doctor I knew started telling me I was onto something important that could help a lot of people. I decided to hold off grad school in consideration of this. My new plan was to spend a few months developing this work, write a self-help book that could benefit others, then get back to studying. Things progressed so fast in the months that followed, one amazing discovery and event after another. Before I could write a book on self help, I had developed a service that could actively help others. I tested this out, and in a short time had the start of a consulting business, filled with clients.

Skip to 2014 and I was editing a book; developing coursework based on client requests to learn; discussing contracts with a company in Japan that wanted me to work with them for ~$40–60k/month; prepping to start a new architecture job; discussing a side real estate project; and applying for a PhD I found that would help expand the work I created. There was a short window to apply, so I booked 2 PhD entrance exams and treated the 1st as practice to see where I was weak. With no studying, I scored in the 93rd percentile, which was good enough to get a scholarship to many grad programs across North America. I was excited because everything was coming together, and I knew I could do even better after studying for the 2nd exam, and secure my PhD spot. The world was becoming my oyster, and I could almost taste it.

!SNAP! Before I could write my 2nd exam, I took a study break for a short workout. A gym machine broke and forever changed my life. Instead of studying the brain, I suddenly had brain damage. I was also left with neck, back, and spine injuries that made things unbelievably worse. That was almost 10y ago. After hundreds of health appointments and countless hours of effort, I'm not even half the man I used to be. This is my story. Please take it seriously because it can happen to you or your loved ones. Once it does, it's too late to do anything about it. I was a high achiever in many areas of life, and I barely survived this. Even if something like this never happens to you, it's in your interest to read on. This is because your tax dollars are being spent on practices that are harming one of the weakest and least protected segments of our society - disabled people. I hope that sharing my story can help lead to positive change, and prevent others from being harmed.

I went from being independent, ambitious, and athletic to not being able to do things I could as a child. From writing a book, to not being able to read one. From speaking half a dozen languages, to struggling with basic English. From designing complex buildings, to not being able to visualize a triangle. From spending 10d hiking the Himalayas solo in a monsoon, to not being able to take the trash down the hall to the chute. From being a top student, to struggling to learn or recall what I already knew. From working in intense places like NYC and India, to not being able to be in a Dollar Store, to the point that I needed spice jars and had to improvise by getting pee bottles from the hospital. Spoiler alert, they work pretty well.

Pain every minute. Debilitating fatigue. Partial paralysis on my right side along with other stroke-like symptoms. Seizures. Balance issues. Extreme sensitivities to light, sound, motion, and stress. Brain fog. Nervous system issues to the point I seemed autistic, and other bizarre symptoms affecting things like temperature regulation, memory, sleep, and mood. My brain became so weak I couldn't listen to more than one song on repeat or change my shoes because it was too hard to adjust. It took about 2y to get to 2 outfits a week; 3y to be able to ask my mom what was going on in her life; 4y to get to a $5/week 'fun budget' (sometimes the highlight of my week was buying a piece of cheese); 5y to resume normal bathing; 6y to relearn walking and sitting; 7y to start relearning how to socialize; 8y to listen to music; 9y to get out for a pub night; 10y to write this.

All of this was completely avoidable. The companies responsible for the gym machine knew it was broken, but decided not to fix it. They didn't even take a minute to put up a paper saying 'Do Not Use'. Imagine a mechanic told you your car was broken and you decided to drive it, instead of fixing it. If you crashed into someone and injured them, in the same ways I was, you'd likely go to jail. Not the case with these 'responsible parties'. They kept their paid jobs and continued to do things that put other's health and safety at risk. They didn't even offer an apology, while my mom got over 10,000 hours of unpaid jobs, and I was left unable to work. As a result of other's incomprehensible decisions, my mom has spent her entire 60s helping her disabled son, and I have spent what should have been the prime of my life in a desperate and degrading struggle. My mom just turned 70. She hasn't had a break or been on vacation since this happened about 10y ago. Neither of us have.

You would think this would be a simple matter. People didn't do their jobs, and it resulted in a young person becoming disabled, changing their life indefinitely. Both 'responsible parties' had insurance who could have helped, yet haven't. Both of their insurance companies have been willing to spend large amounts of money on expensive lawyers and doctors to go against me. Yet they haven't introduced me to 1 health professional who could help me, or given $1 to help me get better, even though me getting better is in their best interest. Does that make sense? I assumed it would be an honest and humane resolution process. Instead it's been the opposite. You can be yelled at that you're mentally sick and a failure. Blamed completely for what happened. Then told that none of your injuries make senses, suggesting you're lying or crazy. This despite stacks of records, dozens of health professionals finding otherwise, and various disability recognitions from government and organizations.

Try doing this to a disabled person in public, on social media, or at work, and see what happens to you. As a society, we have limited this sort of abuse. Yet it is business as usual for some in the insurance-legal-medical world. Massive amounts of energy and money spent trying to break you, when you are already broken. I was close to giving up - my rights, my claim, my life. I made it through the worst, in order to share my story, so it can help others. Some injured people I met had their story prematurely ended. They could not withstand such unnecessary pressures, and took their own life. Others I lost touch with were hanging by a thread. I've heard news stories where people go to jail for bullying someone into suicide to get insurance or inheritance money. They attacked or manipulated another person in order to break their spirit, for financial gain. How is it different when someone acting on behalf of insurance companies, who are on the hook for financial damages, seem to do similar? Should there be limits around how much a lawyer can attack / lie about a disabled person, who is in a critically vulnerable state? What happens when such harmful actions push a person to suicide? I feel like these are important conversation we should have as a society.

None of this would be possible without the support of a small number of doctors who seem ethically and professionally flexible. Doctors are people who have sworn an oath to "Do No Harm", have apparently dedicated their lives to the practice and progress of medicine, and are paid by the government / taxpayer to keep people healthy (at least in places like Canada). Most follow that creed, but it seems a few flexible doctors contract themselves out like 'hired guns' to say whatever benefits their private employer, even if this causes harm, goes against medical practice and progress, and appears like a conflict of interest for personal financial gain. Imagine a government paid accountant who spends their day doing calculations based on math and reality, 2 + 2 = 4. In the evening they work for a company to say 2 + 2 = 5 in return for thousands of dollars per hour. Is that person still an accountant? Were you aware that some doctors do the equivalent? I was a pretty smart guy and had no idea this was going on. Government / taxpayers pay the huge salaries of such flexible doctors, who then earn more money on the side as 'hired guns', whose testimony is then protected in government / taxpayer funded courts, even if they lie. Apparently the courts are completely backlogged. How much of that is due to this? Do you want to be paying for this? Is this an abuse of power, position, and/or public trust? I feel like these are also important conversations we should have as a society. How many injured people's chance of a future are being destroyed by this kind of dishonest, for profit, activity?

I know these are tough topics, so thanks for reading till the end. I felt obligated to bring these topics up, since tax dollars are possibly being misused, and vulnerable people are being harmed by practices that are potentially abusive. With one unfortunate injury, you or someone you care about could be subjected to the same. There's so much I've learned, both good and bad, that I'd like to share to help out. I even have ideas for insurance companies where they could save money while doing good, which has the potential to bring about a healthcare renaissance. I know there are good people in that industry, and the legal and health fields. People who want to see positive change, and create win-win solutions. Please be in touch if that is you.

Nothing improves, if we don't work together. I want to be part of working together. I'm still struggling a lot though. Last year I was in 3 hospitals, and almost died a few times right before 2024. There are lots of debts, expenses, and costly treatments both behind and ahead of my mom and I. We've been managing this alone, and it's been much harder for us than moving to Canada, starting with nothing. Donating and sharing this would really help us a lot, as I continue to recover and we try to rebuild our lives. The stronger I get, the greater chance I have to contribute towards these bigger conversations that can help us all. If you'd like to connect I've signed up for social sites (links below). Just please have patience with me responding as I'm still slow and behind on a lot. Thank you, Neuma

It took a few hundred tries over the past two years, but I finally made a good video. Check it out on your favourite site:

YouTube - https://youtu.be/4FekMSSAgbU

Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-6411926

Connect with me on social sites:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/x-neuma

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/x.neuma/

X / Twitter - https://x.com/x_neuma