Vincent Van de Broeck was given just a 10% chance of survival after a devastating e-scooter accident left him with a severe traumatic brain injury. After spending three weeks in a coma, surviving was only the beginning.
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland talks with Vincent about his extraordinary recovery—relearning how to walk, talk, eat, and handle everyday tasks most of us take for granted.
Vincent shares what it was really like to gradually wake from a coma, the difficult prognosis his family faced, and the extensive damage to his skull that eventually required a custom 3D-printed implant.
He also discusses the people who refused to give up on him, particularly his wife and family, who lived through weeks of uncertainty while Vincent was unconscious.
Through his recovery, Vincent came to see resilience not simply as something you’re born with, but as something you can develop and strengthen. That experience also helped shape the ideas behind his book, Everything Feels Impossible Until It’s Done (https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Feels-Impossible-Until-Done/dp/1911774360) .
In this episode:
• Surviving a severe traumatic brain injury
• Being given a 10% chance of survival
• What waking from a three-week coma was really like
• Relearning how to walk, talk, eat, and live independently
• Reconstructing his skull with a 3D-printed implant
• The impact on Vincent’s wife and family
• Why hope mattered when the prognosis was bleak
• Developing resilience through adversity
• The role of mindset and consistent action
• The story behind Everything Feels Impossible Until It’s Done
Vincent’s story is a powerful reminder that something feeling impossible doesn’t mean it will stay that way.
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In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Belma Islamovic, a double above-elbow amputee, community advocate, and proud member of the Dallas Amputee Network. Mike and Belma first met at Empower Fest in Arizona, and today she shares her remarkable story of survival, resilience, and hope. Belma recounts: • Surviving a devastating explosion during the Bosnian War • Her long medical journey from Bosnia to Italy and ultimately to the United States • Adapting to life without prosthetics and mastering daily tasks using her feet • The emotional and mental health struggles she overcame through support and therapy • Her connection with the Dallas Amputee Network and the power of community Belma’s story is a powerful reminder of human strength, compassion, and the importance of support networks for amputees and trauma survivors.
Civil rights advocate Marc Fishman joins host Mike Bolland to shed light on a critical but overlooked issue: the routine denial of disability accommodations in America’s family courts. After a devastating car accident left him with long-term disabilities and communication challenges, Marc entered a 49-month legal battle—not just for his parental rights, but for his basic ADA protections. He details how New York courts repeatedly refused accommodations like real-time transcription, the federal ADA victories he secured, and how Tennessee v. Lane shaped his fight for access. Marc also reveals the retaliation he faced from judges and public officials and discusses his successful advocacy during COVID helping disabled tenants obtain rent grants. With recent legislative wins offering hope, Marc emphasizes the urgent need for accountability and reform to protect disabled parents nationwide.
Today, I’m honored to sit down once again with Brooke Brown — an “ink weaver of life, faith, and fiction,” an honors graduate of ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Ms. Wheelchair Arizona 2022, and founder of Brooke’s Butterfly Touch, a ministry that helps individuals discover the power and purpose of their own stories. Brooke is also the author of Rolling in Grace: Volume 1 — A Foundation of Faith and Imagination, now available in audio format. Having read it myself, I can promise you: it’s full of relatable, uplifting, and beautifully practical stories. Living with cerebral palsy and using an augmentative communication app, Brooke demonstrates that every voice — every single one — can inspire hope, healing, and opportunity. This is her second appearance on the show, so after watching, don’t forget to visit WereNotStumped.com to catch her first episode.
