
In 2009, everything was going right for 20-year-old BMX bike rider Josh Perry. He had just won his first pro contest and was the first to complete a 360-barspin-barspin-tailwhipโa mind-blowing maneuver that earned him first place in the best trick contest.
The Accident that Changed Everything
Like all BMX riders, Josh was used to falling and getting back up. Heโd had his share of concussions, but after a particularly bad crash in 2010 when he smacked his head hard, he got hit with something completely unexpected. The hospital doctor performed a brain scan then gave him the good news firstโthere was no swelling or bleeding from the accident. Then came the bad news. Josh had a brain tumor that was taking up nearly the entire left side of his brain, and it might be cancer. His doctor told him he needed to have surgery immediately and warned him, โYou may not wake up, and youโll probably never ride your bike again.โ
Josh could barely make sense of the wordsโcancer, never ride again, not wake up. He was only 21, a professional athlete, and living out his dream. This couldnโt be happening to him. Fear, anxiety, stress, and worry set in. Then he got caught up in a victim mentality, wondering, โWhy is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?โ
Making a Comeback
Things were looking grim for Josh, but he managed to make it through the surgery (the tumor was benign). Remarkably, just 5 weeks later, he was back on his bike. And two months after that, he was competing again. He had figured a way out of that victim mentality to get back to what he loved.
Today, after being diagnosed with 2 more brain tumors, heโs hit the brakes on his BMX career to become a brain and health advocate. And heโs loving every minute of it.
Sharing His Journey
Josh recently joined Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen for a 4-part series of The Brain Warriorโs Way Podcast to talk about his inspiring journey. You donโt have to have a brain tumor to benefit from the insights heโs learned along the way. They can help anyone whoโs dealing with any kind of challengeโincluding the physical or mental consequences of a traumatic brain injury (TBI)โto rise above those difficulties and start living and loving your life again.
In this inspiring series, youโll discover:
- The 3 things that helped Josh go from fear to fuelโto stop feeling like a victim and start feeling empowered
- What it feels like emotionally to see a big hole on your brain SPECT scan
- Why Josh thinks your mindset is key to overcoming the challenges life throws at you
- The powerful changes Josh made in his everyday life to overcome head trauma that you can learn from
- The one thing that is a major cause of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, ADHD, school failure, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, and incarcerationโฆbut that traditional doctors donโt look for
- The simple strategy Josh uses to stay focused on his purpose
- What prompted Josh to finally stop competing in 2017 (hint: it wasnโt another injury)
- Three questions you can ask yourself when things are going bad to get your mindset back to a better place
Listen to the 4-part series about brain trauma and recovery with Josh Perry, Dr. Daniel Amen, and Tana Amen on the Brain Warriorโs Way Podcast.
At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of adults and children with concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) to heal their brain. We use a combination of the least toxic, most effective therapies, which may include neurofeedback, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), nutraceuticals, and medications, as well as simple lifestyle changes that can make a big difference.
To find out how we can help you overcome the challenges youโre facing, talk to a specialist today by calling 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.
My mother is 82 years and has been diagnosed with Alzheimers and Vascular dementia. This was diagnosed by neuro psych evaluation. She also has a Deep Brain Stimulator that controls essential tremors which works well. She has short term memory and seems to be getting worse. Do you think she would benefit from your supplements? She is not on any cardiac, blood pressure, diabetes, or blood thinners medications. Thank you.
Comment by Cindy Leonard — October 7, 2019 @ 9:02 AM
Hello Cindy, thank you for reaching out. We’d be happy to contact you to discuss further. We look forward to speaking with you!
Comment by Amen Clinics — October 8, 2019 @ 6:37 AM