Our Speakers -Their Stories:

Rod Bault:

Rod runs the Yakima Think First Program

Rod had a real passion for motorcycles, and a love of all things physical. Whether working on an oil rig or hiking the Cascades, Rod never thought twice about doing any of the adventurous things he wished. Because of that, he now is on a personal mission to get everyone to think first.

Rod's life changed one day when he crashed his motorcycle after he had been drinking. While he was cruising through a small town at speeds upwards of 130 miles per hour, with a .14 blood alcohol levels, he hit a bump in the road. The motorcycle went out of control, and crashed into a guardrail. Rod was able to maneuver the bike back onto the road, but because of injuries sustained in the collision, he passed out, again swerving into the guardrail. The impact threw him over the railing, and down a 50-foot embankment. Rod's injuries were so severe that he was left a quadriplegic and was instantly paralyzed from his neck down. He also had to have his right leg amputated, but the biggest loss was his freedom. Rod, eventually began a new life by taking his personal experience, and passing it on to children and young adults, so they don’t make the same mistakes he did. Today, he runs the Yakima Think First program and encourages everyone to use their mind to protect their bodies.

Contact information in the Yakima area.

Katrina Carter:

Survivor of a childhood injury Katrina is always striving to achieve new personal goals.

On May 13, 1986, Katrina’s life changed forever when she fell off her bike while riding near her home. She was five years old, and riding without a helmet. She lost her balance going up a sidewalk curb. Her dad rushed to her but could find no serious injuries, just a small bump on her head. There was no bleeding or loss of consciousness. When Katrina’s mom called the doctor, he said to wake her every hour when she goes to bed. After a couple of hours Katrina started vomiting and later that evening slipped into a coma.

Although the doctors said she would never be able to walk, talk or eat, they placed her in rehab at Children’s Regional Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. During her twenty months in rehab, she slowly relearned how to walk, talk and eat.

In spite of many obstacles in life, she never stops trying. She graduated from the Secondary Academy for Success, and now goes to Cascadia Community College. She is pursuing a degree in integrated studies. She loves to ski and considers herself somewhat of a daredevil. Much of her determination has taken her far; however. It has also helped that her family is very supportive, and she has a great sense of humor. Katrina wants to encourage others that helmet safety is important, so think first all the time.

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Jeff Compatore:

Jeff, always wears a helmet while riding his handcycle.

Jeff Compatore, member of the Think First speaker team, has been involved with the school safety program for 2 years. Jeff was a bit of a risk-taker when he was young playing ice hockey, water skiing barefoot, snow skiing, mountain climbing, and riding dirt bikes. His thirst for adventure ended with many ambulance rides to the emergency room. On July 2nd, 1990, two days before his wedding, he crashed his motorcycle and his life changed forever. Late for work, he decided to take his motorcycle because it was faster. At 135 MPH on the freeway, he missed the off ramp, and ended up crashing. He was immediately paralyzed from his chest down because of a spinal cord injury, and now uses a wheelchair. He also had multiple injuries to his face, which required major surgery.

Today, Jeff is very active in wheelchair activities, such as basketball, snow skiing, water skiing, dance and handcycling. He recently became part owner of “Rock N’ Roll Cycles”, an organization that creates and sells various forms of adaptive cycles for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. Jeff joined Think First because he wants to encourage students of all ages to think about the choices they make before engaging in risk-taking behavior.

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Mike Corsini:

Head of Tacoma’s Think First Program

As a fifteen year-old high school student in Los Angeles—and as an unlicensed driver—Mike chose to take his motorcycle for a ride against his parents’ wishes. While speeding--on his way to go pick up some illegal drugs--he decided to ignore the yellow light and race through the intersection.

Mike suffered a severe head injury and broke his neck in two places when he and the motorcycle he was riding collided into the broadside of a turning station wagon. Mike was not wearing a helmet. In spite of his head injury, Mike did not suffer brain damage. He did, however, suffer permanent damage to his spinal cord. After two weeks of fighting for his life in intensive care, and after 4 more months of rehabilitation in the hospital, Mike went home where he had to begin facing the life long consequences of his decision to take these unnecessary risks.

A 33-year native of Los Angeles, Mike moved to the Tacoma area with his wife and daughter in 1995. He has worked with the Think First, Tacoma Chapter for the past seven years. During his first two years with the program, he served as an assembly speaker. In 1998, Mike was hired by St. Joseph Medical Center to serve as the Tacoma Chapter’s Program Coordinator. Mike has earned a Masters Degree in education and has taught in public schools and community colleges. Presently, he is finishing a second masters at the University of Washington. Mike credits his faith, and the love and support of his wife of 20 years, his daughter, and caring family and friends for the advancements he has been able to make, which includes helping to keep children and youth safe by challenging them to use their minds to protect their bodies.

Contact information for the Tacoma area.

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Amy Crawford:

Amy Lee Crawford, Miss Pierce County 2003, stands firm on reducing underage drinking (RuAD), and thinking first

Amy, Miss Pierce County 2003, and first-runner-up in the Miss Washington pageant this year, stands firm on a platform of reducing underage drinking (RuAD). A fairly recent member of the Think First Speaker Program, Amy brings her poise and personal beliefs to increase the responsibility of young people in their own behalf. Often working in tandem with her stepfather Mike Ware, a member of the State of Washington Highway Patrol, she also speaks to police recruits of the Basic Law Enforcement Academy at the Criminal Justice Training Center in Seattle. Amy, recently graduated from the University of Washington Tacoma, with a B.A. Degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Science, with Emphasis in Media and Culture. Although, Amy wasn’t crowned Miss Washington, and cannot run for the title again, her charm and personal beauty, along with her program commitment, will find another way to get her safety message out.

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Tim Dehnhoff:

Tim rescues in more than one way.

Tim Dehnhoff, has lived Western Washington most of his life. He has been married to his wife, Tammy for 19 years, and they both stay busy raising their 2 teenagers, Tyson and Tanya. His life and his family’s life changed forever on Aug 15th 1998, when Tim had climbing incident. A 30-foot fall from a rope while rock-climbing left Tim with a T-12 incomplete spinal cord injury. Because of Tim’s incomplete injury he is able to walk very well with 2 canes.

Tim has always been a life long, avid hiker, ultra endurance athlete, and adventurer. He has been highly committed and involved in Snohomish Co. Volunteer Search and Rescue (SCVSAR) for the last seven years, and truly believes in SCVSAR motto “That Others May Live”.

Tim’s faith and determination drives him to share with others the mission of the Think First organization. He wants to continue to share his abilities of communication to motivate & inspire others with his story. One of his goals is to make public speaking his life’s work because he is very passionate about what he has to say.

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Dale Doornek:

Dale has the energy of 10. He works full time, is extremely involved in adaptive physical challenges, and speaks often for Think First at regional and state-wide high school’s.

After working the night shift, Dale and his coworkers decided to take advantage of a beautiful spring day and go golfing. They also decided to drink one can of beer per hole they played. Somehow he made it home that day, but then decided to do something that would change his life forever. He decided to take his brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle out for a ride. He was only about a mile from his home when he crashed into a telephone pole when he went too fast to handle a curve in the road. His blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit. Dale is now paralyzed from a spinal cord injury during the motorcycle crash.

Dale has been speaking with Think First for four years, and telling the story of how he became permanently disabled. He is putting his tragedy to good use by helping teens understand the consequences of drinking and driving and the importance of safe driving. Dale works for the Goodrich Corporation in Everett, WA, and just came in second place for the National Wheelchair Men’s Body Building Competition in 2003. He was selected as the fittest and strongest member for the US Adaptive Rowing Team to perform in the “Arms” only fixed seat-rowing class competition in Milan, Italy in August 2003 - and won the bronze medal. Congratulations Dale!

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Phil Erickson:

Man on a mission, Phil reaches out to children.

Phil Erickson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. in 1984. He chose aviation, and after flying the A-7 Corsair for a few years he transitioned to flying the F-18 Hornet. He became an instructor in the Hornet in '90. While teaching the bombing pattern in San Diego in '91, a "black box" that wasn't supposed to be there had come loose and caused the T-34 he was flying to crash.

He broke his back (T11 - L2) and was in a coma for 7 weeks. Luckily, after a couple years of intense rehabilitation he can walk and live independently. Phil volunteers a couple days a week at Children's Hospital in the playroom and once in a while at the BIAW (Brain Injury Assoc. of Washington). He became involved with Think First because of the great messages it can deliver about the dangers of brain and spinal cord injuries. It is definitely not worth taking a chance and getting a brain injury. “Young people need to Think First and wear a helmet while doing activities that require them too!” says Phil.

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Dave Fouquette:

Dave has been teaching students for years to Think First.

Before Dave’s crash he was a straight A student and involved in several sports, such as baseball, bowling, and track. On the last day of school, as a sophomore in high school, Dave and a couple of friends from the track team decided to get in a pick-up truck to throw water balloons at friends walking home from school. Dave decided to ride in the back of the pick-up because that was his favorite place. It was June 11, 1981. As the truck was driving down the road, a car from the other side was coming straight at them. The driver swerved off the road to avoid the car and ran into a fence. The force threw Dave out of the back of the pick-up, and the impact broke his spinal cord, which left him paralyzed from the chest down. He spent 6 months in the hospital.

Dave has gone on to accomplish many things since then. He graduated from high school, went on to graduate from college and got a teaching degree. He spent 13 years teaching elementary school, and has also played several sports, including basketball, tennis, and track. Dave is now the proud coach of the Jr. Wheelchair Sonics, which is a basketball team for children with disabilities. Being involved with sports has given Dave the opportunity to travel throughout the United States, as well as a few foreign countries. Because of Dave’s teaching, coaching, and work within his church, a neighbor wrote an essay about him, which gave him the chance to carry the torch for the last Olympics.

One of Dave’s favorite things to do is to talk to other children about his spinal cord injury, so they can learn from his mistakes. He wants them all to learn that making poor choices can cause serious injury.

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Pat Klotz, RN:

Pat knows the devestation of injury on young lives and speaks to prevent it.

Pat is a nurse at Harborview Medical Center. She started her nursing career in 1986 in Pennsylvania. She worked as a neuro-trauma nurse, and took care of adults and children who have suffered injuries to their head and/or spine. Early in Pat’s career, she witnessed first hand the devastation of these injuries. This is what prompted her to begin working with Think First.

She started speaking to elementary school children for Think First in the early days of the program. There was no elementary program back then, so her Chapter in Pennsylvania developed one. They even had their own version of the game “Jeopardy” to test the kids’ knowledge following our program. As Pat returned to the schools year after year, the students would enter the auditorium humming the theme song to Jeopardy. They loved that game.

Pat moved to Washington in 1998 and started working at Harborview Medical Center as a Research Nurse in the Trauma Department. She now lives in Seattle and still goes to the Elementary Schools to talk to the students about Think First. Pat tells them about other children she has cared for in the hospital. She hopes her stories and safety messages prompt kids to “Think First”. Pat always ends the program by telling the students that they can come to the hospital anytime to see her as a visitor but she doesn’t want to see them as a patient.

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Dana and Michael Lough:

Think First’s married team of speakers, Mike and Dana have more than 2 stories to tell.

Dana was involved in a car crash that left her with permanent brain damage. She hit her head against the window, and was not wearing a seatbelt. Dana used to be an active cheerleader, track and basketball star, and great student. After the crash she was in a two-week coma at the age of 14, and was also paralyzed on the right side of her body. Dana was left unable to walk, stand, or participate in normal life. She went through a lot of therapy and still does today. She is struggling to live as others do.

Mike was in a car crash that was very devastating. He survived the crash with a traumatic brain injury, but two of his friends were not so lucky, they died. When Mike was younger he used to be a marathon runner, track star, and honor student, but lost many of the abilities to continue to be an athlete because of his brain injury. Mike was in a coma for 3 months, and when he woke up his life at 18 was very different. He also needed years of plastic surgery for his face and he had lost most of his teeth.

Mike and Dana Lough met at the Brain Injury Support Group meeting, and after a couple of years became our state’s first recognized brain-injury married couple. They have been involved with Think First for 4 years because they believe in helping others understand the consequences of what happens when you do not wear a seatbelt.

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Marilyn Milnor:

Talented storyteller, Marilyn, talks safety to students.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Marilyn went to school at Seattle University and received a BA in Philosophy. A proud mother of 4 beautiful daughters, through the years, Marilyn had discovered an interest in public speaking, and through the local Toastmasters club she developed her skills. Marilyn is also a freelance storyteller, and enjoys telling tales for adults and children at events; programs, dinners, schools and on winter evenings beside the fire.

Marilyn has been involved with the Think First program for the past eight years, and has traveled all over Western Washington educating students about safety. She is a great believer in raising awareness for all ages to prevent serious injuries.

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James Paine:

A long time speaker for Think First, has reached 10’s of thousands of young people.

James, has a traumatic brain injury from a car crash. He was injured on December 2, 1987, three blocks from his home in Vancouver, Washington. He was the passenger in a car, where the driver was very upset. The car left the road going 49 miles per hour, then it plummeted 80 feet into a ravine, and landed in a streambed on the passenger side where James was sitting. He sustained multiple injuries: massive brain, facial and chest trauma, multiple skull fractures, brain bruising, facial bone fractures, facial lacerations, collapsed lungs, and many broken bones. That evening his mother was told he would die before dawn. James was only seventeen years old.

Before his crash, James had many dreams. He was going to join the ROTC, was going to try out for the 1992 Olympic games, get his driver’s license, graduate from high school, join ITT for further electronic studies, and, possibly, begin his career with Boeing, Microsoft, or Hewlett Packard. Instead, he spent six months in a trauma center and, later, three months in outpatient care.

Now, James cannot drive a car and has to rely on his mother drive him places. He needs a personal care assistant to help him schedule his day, to help remind him of daily tasks, and sometimes he even forgets who, or where he lives. Because of his chest injury, he can no longer have the ability to compete in a sprint race. James cannot go back to work because he cannot handle the changing, busy, and overwhelming details of some careers. James wants to encourage others to wear a seatbelt and drive safely so they won’t get hurt like he did.

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Billy Price:

One of our newest speakers, reaches the heart of high school audiences.

On October 9th, 1996 Billy became a quadriplegic, from a three-story fall onto his head, which broke his neck and back. It was a terrible accident that happened because he was drunk. Billy had just started his freshman year at the University of Washington, and had joined a fraternity. He attended a social party at the fraternity, had some beers, and the next thing he remembered was waking up lying flat on his back on the cold concrete walkway that led to the front door of his fraternity. He had no idea that his body was broken. Sometime in the middle of the night after he went to bed, he had gotten up and fallen out of the third story window of the house, slid off the roof, and fell an additional two stories onto the concrete below. Some fraternity brothers found him, just thought he was drunk, and carried him inside and put him on the couch. The next morning when Billy awoke, he realized he couldn’t move. It was then that someone called 911 and he was rushed to the ER, and was told, “You broke your neck and your back. You will never walk again.” Billy thought to himself that his independent life was gone. His life and love of sports, like soccer, skiing and hiking were all taken away.

After he spent five months in a hospital trying to piece his life back together both physically and mentally, Billy had to relearn how to dress himself, figure out how to go to the bathroom, and decide what wheelchair was going to take the place of his legs. Billy did graduate from the University of Washington in mechanical engineering, and is now working with the Federal Aviation Administration. The last 6 years have been very challenging for him, and so will the rest of his life. “The repercussions from drinking can be extremely dangerous and even deadly,” states Billy, “No one should have to spend his or her life in a wheelchair if they don't have to by thinking first about their choices.”

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Tom Reidy:

Tom’s gentle message and physical presence have a powerful and lasting impact

Tom is quadriplegic because of a diving incident that happened while he was on vacation in the summer of 1998. He was hot after playing football, so he decided to dive into the deep end of the pool. He planned on swimming up underneath two cousins playing at the other end of the pool, and surprise them. He proceeded to take a long, running dive of the side of the pool since there was no diving board, and then he felt his chin hit bottom. Tom seemed to know right away he was in trouble when he couldn't seem to move his arms or legs. The next thing he remembered, was waking up in the ambulance with sirens blaring and his wife by his side. The next several weeks and months were extremely difficult for Tom. He spent time at three different hospitals rehabilitating, then had to stay in nursing homes, while his wife sold their house. Tom’s wife had to buy a new house, which had to be renovated for his new power wheelchair

Now Tom resides in a housing development in South Seattle and has to have people come in daily to help with his everyday routine. He spends most of his time during the week involved in community services, like Think First, and volunteering projects, where he can assist others. On weekends he likes to spend time with those he cares about. No one had ever told Tom that diving into a pool could result in a life changing injury. Now he shares his story with kids so they can be safe around pools, and water.

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Cyndi Robinson:

Cyndi’s energetic personal style and professional background combine to make her a strong Think First representative

Cyndi has been a physical therapist for 16 years. She works part-time with pediatrics and burn victims at Harbor view Medical Center in Seattle, and the other half of her time as a faculty member in the University of Washington Physical Therapy, in which she works with physical therapy students and oversees their internship programs. She joined the Think First team because she is a bicycle and snow ski enthusiast, and knows the importance of wearing a helmet. As the Physical Therapist she sees what happens when kids and adults don't think first, when they don't wear safety equipment, like helmets and seatbelts. Cyndi has also crashed tested 3 helmets, from falling off her bike while riding, so she knows their value first hand. She likes to be active, but does not like to get hurt, and she definitely doesn’t want others to get hurt either.

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Todd Stabelfeldt:

Speaker, activist, software worker, Todd has been speaking for Think First for 3 years

Todd was injured in August of 1987, and became a quadriplegic. When Todd was 8 years old he and his cousin were playing with some guns when his cousin, accidentally shot Todd in the chin. He was instantly paralyzed from the shoulders down. He was hospitalized for over a year, and in his recovery process he had to learn how to breathe, talk, dress, eat, sit up straight; all over again. Todd has to have people assist him with daily activities. It has been a long difficult journey, and he would never want any child to go through what he went through in his childhood. He is now in his twenties and lives on Bainbridge Island, in WA. He graduated from Renton Technical College and works as a software developer for a medical company. Todd enjoys talking to young people on how to think first, so they do not hurt themselves in life. It is important for kids to be safe around guns, because the only way a gun can hurt someone is if someone touches it. Todd’s quirky sense of humor adds impact and an honest touch his teen audiences relate to.

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Tammy Wilber:

Talented, determined, Tammy runs the Speaker’s Program at Think First of Washington.

Tammy was on her way to soccer camp with 3 of her teammates on July 18th 1993 in New Hampshire. She was driving, and didn’t have her seatbelt on. As she was traveling around 75 mph on a highway, a bee was flying around in the vehicle. A friend in the car, who was allergic to bees, was nervous it was going to sting her. It only took a few seconds of the distraction for her to loose focus and control of the car. Tammy’s car went off the road, caught the gravel, went into the median, and flipped over 2 1/2 times. She was thrown from the car as it flipped, and broke her spinal cord in the middle of her back. She also lost her right kidney. Luckily, Tammy’s friends walked away with minor injuries, but the event for all of them will never be forgotten.

That was 10 years ago, and it has been a long, difficult road. Tammy, now lives in Seattle, and works for Think First of Washington, as Program Manager of the speakers and assembly program. She was first introduced to Think First in New Hampshire and spoke for them for 5 years. She has tried to stay very positive along the way. She was Miss Wheelchair, New Hampshire in 1995, and was seen on Dateline NBC, featuring the new amazing Ibot wheelchair. She was also part of an HBO feature that was narrated by Christopher Reeves. Currently, Tammy performed in her first show with a nationally known integrated dance company called Light Motion, and is a recent graduate of South Seattle Community College. She plans to continue to work for Think First to share her story with others to try and educate people about the importance of wearing a seatbelts. "Nobody at the age of 17 should have to deal with a disability if a brain or spinal cord injury can be prevented” states Tammy. Tammy’s life changed forever in one second and now she has a permanent reminder for the rest of her life.

Read more about Tammy's story in her article: Buckleup! (pdf file 144k)

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