Post by The Wonderful Wachter on Mar 3, 2012 16:50:02 GMT -5
Editor's Note: This takes place at some point before the Fastest Man Alive Race...
Readers of the Daily Planet might remember one of my first articles here. Penticut Industries were advertising a revolutionary procedure to transplant limbs that would be 90-100% functional. Turns out it was merely a case of fraud and corporate misconduct. Limb transplantation is still in its early stages.
For my article I interviewed Richard Tibbens. He was one of the many amputees who were duped by Penticut. Five years ago, Richard was an up and coming star in the Metropolis music scene. Word of mouth about an amazing guitar player was spreading like wildfire, throughout the city and online. Then one fateful night, August 23rd, 2006, tragedy struck Richard.
Driving home one night after a gig a semi truck ran a red light and impacted Richard's car directly on the driver’s side door. Richards’s injuries were numerous, but the worst was his left arm, which the doctors could not save.
The years since have not been kind to Richard. His dream crushed, he went on a downward spiral that eventually led to alcoholism and drug abuse. At his lowest, the man once sought after for a record deal with a number of huge labels, was living on the street and contemplating suicide.
Then word came out of Penticut Industries miracle procedure and the need for volunteers to test it. It was like a dream come true for Richard. In the months leading up to the trials, Richard stopped spending his disability money on booze and drugs and started going to AA. He fought to clean himself up and get healthy so he would be eligible for the trials. It wasn't easy. There were relapses. But in the end, Richard prevailed.
Then the news broke of the scandal. Lies, fraud, corporate greed, the news was heartbreaking to those who pinned their hopes on this procedure. For Richard Tibbens, it could mean a fatal relapse.
Since writing my article I have kept in touch with Richard through email. I've been happy to learn that rather than take the easy way out with alcohol and drugs, Richard found the strength to turn this tragedy into triumph. As of this morning, Richard is a proud student of Metropolis University.
"I want to start doing the research myself," he told me in his email. "I'm not going to wait for a medical company to develop the procedures themselves. I'm going to get in there and help."
It could have been so easy for Richard to let his disappointment turn into depression and ruin his life. I find it inspiring that he has used it to turn his life around and get involved. I hope if I'm in a similar position someday that I could find the strength that Richard has.
Readers of the Daily Planet might remember one of my first articles here. Penticut Industries were advertising a revolutionary procedure to transplant limbs that would be 90-100% functional. Turns out it was merely a case of fraud and corporate misconduct. Limb transplantation is still in its early stages.
For my article I interviewed Richard Tibbens. He was one of the many amputees who were duped by Penticut. Five years ago, Richard was an up and coming star in the Metropolis music scene. Word of mouth about an amazing guitar player was spreading like wildfire, throughout the city and online. Then one fateful night, August 23rd, 2006, tragedy struck Richard.
Driving home one night after a gig a semi truck ran a red light and impacted Richard's car directly on the driver’s side door. Richards’s injuries were numerous, but the worst was his left arm, which the doctors could not save.
The years since have not been kind to Richard. His dream crushed, he went on a downward spiral that eventually led to alcoholism and drug abuse. At his lowest, the man once sought after for a record deal with a number of huge labels, was living on the street and contemplating suicide.
Then word came out of Penticut Industries miracle procedure and the need for volunteers to test it. It was like a dream come true for Richard. In the months leading up to the trials, Richard stopped spending his disability money on booze and drugs and started going to AA. He fought to clean himself up and get healthy so he would be eligible for the trials. It wasn't easy. There were relapses. But in the end, Richard prevailed.
Then the news broke of the scandal. Lies, fraud, corporate greed, the news was heartbreaking to those who pinned their hopes on this procedure. For Richard Tibbens, it could mean a fatal relapse.
Since writing my article I have kept in touch with Richard through email. I've been happy to learn that rather than take the easy way out with alcohol and drugs, Richard found the strength to turn this tragedy into triumph. As of this morning, Richard is a proud student of Metropolis University.
"I want to start doing the research myself," he told me in his email. "I'm not going to wait for a medical company to develop the procedures themselves. I'm going to get in there and help."
It could have been so easy for Richard to let his disappointment turn into depression and ruin his life. I find it inspiring that he has used it to turn his life around and get involved. I hope if I'm in a similar position someday that I could find the strength that Richard has.