DaVante's story
“I came to Kessler on Christmas Eve and it was the best gift I ever could have gotten. I’ve learned inspiration is the greatest currency you can give someone.”
Inspiring others
DaVante Gordon doesn’t remember exactly what happened that Thanksgiving eve, but knows his car veered off the road and crashed into trees. His mother and girlfriend were killed. His younger brother sustained multiple fractures. DaVante was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center with life threatening injuries, including a fractured skull and traumatic brain injury.
He was placed in a medically induced coma and his prognosis was grim. But four weeks later, he began to rally. “It was as if my mom and girlfriend were willing me to live. I know it sounds crazy, but I felt their spirit.”
That spirit, along with his drive and determination, fueled DaVante’s recovery. “I came to Kessler on Christmas Eve and it was the best gift I ever could have gotten.”
It wasn’t easy. DaVante struggled to walk, speak and deal with a wide range of cognitive and emotional issues. With the help of his Kessler team, he slowly regained the strength, skills and strategies to move forward. He participated in Kessler’s renowned cognitive rehabilitation program and also joined Opportunity Project, a unique organization that helps individuals with brain injury transition into the community.
DaVante returned to school and is close to earning his plumbing license. “I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, how they connect… and that’s what plumbing with all its pipes and fittings is about. My goal is to have my own business someday.”
In the meantime, DaVante is working to inspire others, speaking to local groups about brain injury and the resilience it takes to overcome life’s challenges. “I’ve learned inspiration is the greatest currency you can give someone.”