Media room

April 15, 2005

Courageous Comeback Earns National Award for Des Moines Man

David Garlich reclaimed his life after serious head injuries from moped accident

DES MOINES, Iowa — David Garlich was in his third year teaching second graders at Horizon Elementary School in Johnston, Iowa, when he experienced a life-altering moped accident that caused serious head injuries and forced him into a month-long coma.

During Labor Day weekend of 2002, David was helping his mother move from her house in Cedar Falls , Iowa , to a condo in Florida , when he decided to take a short break and ride mopeds with his 15-year-old nephew, Travis.

Planning to take one lap around the block, David tried to decelerate when he reached 25 miles per hour. However, instead of braking, he put his foot on the accelerator, hit a curb, and flew into the air before falling and hitting his head on the pavement.

David was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in a coma for a month. He has no memory of the physical therapy he received or visits from family and friends. Just as doctors were dismissing any hopes of full recovery and planning to send him to an assisted living program, David slowly began regaining consciousness. A couple of weeks later he returned home, and completed physical therapy in December.

Fortunately, David and his family received lots of help and encouragement from David's former coworkers, his wife's coworkers and members of their church.

“They really wrapped themselves up in helping us,” David said. “They brought meals, sent cards, offered rides to therapy, and so much more. They were more than coworkers – they were friends.”

During recovery, he had been teaching part-time to students in small groups and wanted to return to work full-time in January, but his supervisor had concerns about his recovery and teaching ability when he observed him working with the children. David decided to pursue jobs elsewhere.

In recognition of his courage and determination, David, 32, has earned the Perseverance Award from the WillReturn Council© of Assurant Employee Benefits. The Perseverance Award recognizes no more than 12 persons annually for demonstrating proactivity, resilience, will power and conscientiousness in their recovery from a disabling injury or illness. Individuals are honored for their determination to overcome disabilities and get their lives back on track after an accident or disease suddenly challenges their way of living.

“I wanted to work,” he said. “I thought of myself as recovered and I felt capable of doing something. I didn't want to be stuck at home.”

After a series of interviews with companies in the insurance and financial industries, David was unable to find the right opportunity. Then he and his wife found out they were expecting twins.

His wife is a teacher, and due to the high cost of daycare for their first child, Philip, 4, and the twins on the way, they thought it made sense for David to stay at home with the children during the day while she kept her teaching job. Before the twins were born, David worked at various night and part-time jobs, including at the Educational Resource Association, where he still currently tutors students ranging in age from first grade to high school on an individual basis.

Although he enjoys the time with his children, David has other plans for the future. This summer the family will move to St. Louis and he will begin four years of seminary courses in June.

“It's kind of hard on a man's ego when he is not the provider,” David said. “I want to provide for my family and my wife wants to be the one to stay home with the kids,” he said. “We are working to make these changes so everyone is happy.”

David credits Cheri Lerdon, his Assurant Employee Benefits representative, and the company, for providing vital support to his recovery and rehabilitation.

“Assurant Employee Benefits was very kind, helpful and encouraging,” David said. “I met with Cheri periodically to discuss how I was doing, and she gave me great suggestions about what to try when looking for jobs, helped with my résumé, and more.”