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Quad-Amputee Davison Speaks Truth About Choices to Monroe County Youth

KEY WEST (1,003 words) -- Daniel R. Davison is a quad-amputee who reaches and moves his audience to understand that choices and attitude determine results. Daniel shares his powerful story of adversity — a victim of severe child abuse which led to involvement in drug trafficking and organized crime. And last week, thanks to funding from Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP), more than 1,200 middle school students on eight campuses in Monroe County heard his motivational story.

Two years ago, MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter worked with CSHS Leadership student Cara Matheson to bring Davison to the Keys. “The students needed to be introduced to somebody that can speak from experience,” said Matheson. Matheson received a video tape and printed information about Davison from the school sheriff’s resource officer and viewed it. She knew his powerful testimony would be relevant for her peers. “I had talked to him numerous times, and read about him as well, but what really impacted me was his speech. It can really stir up a lot of emotions, and it gets you thinking about your choices and your life.”

Matheson’s life is quit different now. After working so hard to bring Davison to the Keys for her peers, and spending time talking with him personally, she made some radical decisions about how to live her life. She graduated from Coral Shores last year and has enlisted in the United States Navy. She is waiting to report to boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. Her goal is to become a corpsman, which is a medical designation.

When notified Davison would be speaking again this year as a continuation of her leadership she said, “Wow. That’s incredible! I feel like I made an impact on the community, and I wish I could do more to help, but every bit is progress. It makes me feel really good. I wanted to be the change and I guess I really was.” After catching up on her life Sutter asked how she’s doing waiting to enter the Navy and she said, “I’m glad I made the choice I made.” And that’s what Davison spends his life waiting to hear -- that someone heard his story and made a positive choice for their life.

Although Davison was a talented, passionate and successful musician, his life in the fast lane was associated with a heavy appetite for drugs and self-destructive behavior. While under the influence, he had an accident which led to severe frostbite requiring amputation of a portion of all four limbs. Instead of wallowing in self-pity and giving up on life, Davison rose above all odds — excelling in music, sailing, horseback riding and most of all, positively influencing others through sharing his story. According to his representatives, “Davison’s greatest asset and passion is his ability to reach out to others and empower them to make positive choices in their lives.”

Sutter said, “When a speaker can hold the attention of 800 students at once – which he did at Key West High School -- and have them lined up afterward to talk to him, we needed to bring him back! Cara’s project has had a lasting impact. I am very proud of her efforts. She was truly part of being ‘the change’ at her school.” Sutter adds, “MYCP accomplishes its mission every time a student goes into adulthood with acceptance, respect and success.”

Matheson’s leadership teacher at Coral Shores, Cheryl Cooke, adds, “The skills my leadership students gained have created young adults who are helping to change the world with the projects they have developed.”

Davison, hired by MYCP, provides encouragement and guidance and empowers people to let go of beliefs that limit them. Mostly he helps them to see that with the right choices and attitude, everything is possible. “As a speaker and musician, our kids hang on every word of his inspirational message. By sharing his life’s lessons, tragedies and adversities, and the consequences of what can happen when poor choices are made, he reaches our kids,” said MYCP Lower Keys Prevention Coordinator Mindy Vinson.

Plantation Key School Assistant Principal Katie Moorehouse said, “The students sat quietly during his entire presentation. He was the topic of discussion at our dinner table, since my two daughters were at the presentation. They said he was the best speaker they have ever heard at our school and this is their eighth year here. They proceeded to relay his story to my husband and niece. Sunny, thank you for arranging this for our school and our district.”

More gratitude comes from Liz Logan, Assistant Principal at Marathon Middle School when she wrote to Davison, “Thank you for coming to visit Marathon Middle School. The kids were positively affected by your presentation. In fact, teachers were reporting that even the day after, the kids still wanted to talk about it and the message. Well done! Thank you for making a difference for our kids. You are welcome in Marathon anytime!”

“Dan’s presentation exemplifies the tenacity of the human spirit. He has turned a jolting, life-threatening experience into a positive lesson about choices for all who are lucky enough to listen,” said Tim Wall of CNN.

“We have seen a dramatic impact on troubled young teens after hearing Dan’s presentation and believe that he represents a significant contribution to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office,” said Don Hunter, Sheriff of Collier County, Fla.

Schools that want to motivate students to achieve better grades, engage in wholesome extracurricular activities, and say no to drugs, hire Daniel Davison to speak to their youth. “That’s why we scheduled him to come again,” Booker said.

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information about this project or any other MYCP-sponsored program call Booker at (305) 293-1400 ext. 53319 or go to www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp.