Kevin Beaver's Security Blog

Extremely blessed to go from near death to keynote speaking again

My rising from the ashes moment…

Just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to serve as a keynote speaker to hundreds of people at the TribalNet conference in Las Vegas, NV. What a show! Great people. Super well-run event. 👍

This wasn’t just any speaking engagement for me, though…Three years ago, I was one notch above being bedridden…most of the time. I was experiencing pain and dozens and dozens of terrible neurological symptoms – the cascade of which was brought about by three relatively mild race car crashes in 2018 and 2019.

54 years of odd health issues…Dozens of healthcare “experts” were involved since I was a child, most of whom let me down more than one could ever imagine. Since 2019, these conditions created a literal path destruction in my life. Not just the symptoms and debilatation but the relationships destroyed with people I trusted.

I was in the fight of my life due to terrible cervical instability, Eagle syndrome (watch my documentary here), and, at the root of it all, a tethered spinal cord – most of which I had to figure out on my own. These spine issues are no joke! They brought this guy to his knees. 🥹

Thankfully, I was blessed to connect with a neurosurgeon that most deem the world’s best for tethered spinal cord. She performed surgery on me in August, just five weeks before my keynote speaking engagement at TribalNet. I pushed myself to make sure I could pull that off…I’m not going to lie, I did have some doubts! Now, though, there’s no doubt whatsoever that I’m coming back to life! …indeed, a better life.

So…I went from the lowest of lows between 2019 and earlier this year to a BIG high with this latest keynote opportunity. My first live speaking engagement since February 2020. From my recliner and bed ~20 hours a day to feeling well enough to make it back to the big stage! It was just amazing because I got to talk about my field of information/computer security and also share my health story.

I’m sharing this to inspire. I know there are many people out there who are going through a tough time right now…especially my dear friends I’ve met in recent years who are suffering with terrible spine problems…much worse than what I’ve experienced. Regardless, please understand these things:

…you CAN get through it. I’m convinced that what you’re going to find on the other side is what was truly meant for you…and it’s going to be AMAZING!

If you’re going through a rough patch like I did, rather than feeling sorry for yourself and identifying with your challenges…keep pushing…keep searching for answers…look beyond the people who let you down. That’s on them. You can and you WILL get better. If this simple guy from Georgia can do it, you can get better as well. 🙏🤞💪 More coming from me on all this in the near future… 📖

Thanks a TON to all of my clients who have supported my professional speaking career and trusted me to deliver for their conferences/shows. Your support means the world to me! 🙏

Cheers to better health and many more keynotes to come! 💪 👍

Please reach out if you (or someone you know) has a need for a keynote speaker to talk about computer/information security (a.k.a. cybersecurity) OR rare health conditions like what I’ve experienced. It’s truly my mission to make the world a better place by helping others in this regard.

Looking for some musical inspiration? I have recently found the following (paraphrased) lyrics from one of my favorite songs called Alive Again by The Neal Morse Band to provide just that:
You called me forth amid the waves
And wayward waters
That kind of trust I’ve rarely found
I always wind up sinking down
Was I really dead
At the bottom of the ocean?
Stay the course I heard you say
But all I saw was the long way…
Down

Sometimes
In the dark night of my soul
From the corner of my life
I see the man inside
Now I find
He is making my dreams alive
In the brightness of my day
I can see the man inside

The wounded warrior
With no temporary shelter
Had lost the will to stand and fight
To the enemy that lives inside
Now he’s on the run
Because the King of angel armies
Has come to bring the dead to life
And quench the darkness with the light

Now I feel like I’m alive again
Spread my arms upon the open wind
Yeah, I feel like I’m alive again
Never going back to where I’ve been

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