We all know that we should get the most out of every second of every day, because we never know what might happen in the next moment. Not so many of us know that no matter what kind of terrible thing we might suffer, it will invariably lead us in new but exciting directions if we manage to keep a positive mind set.

In 1988 someone called Phil Nealy's name as he was about to dive into his parents' swimming pool, he turned to look in their direction, hit the water at an awkward angle and broke his neck in four places - Obviously his life changed dramatically from that point forward.

Prior to that moment Phil owned a successful tile business, and he was an avid skier, swimmer, and diver.

After his first surgery at Sunnybrook Trauma Centre in Toronto, he was told he would be paralysed from the neck down for the rest of his life. Shortly after that his roommate passed away.

"That's when I knew I wanted to live," he told me, "and I was determined that no matter what the outcome, I was going to do something with my life ... I was very fortunate," he continued, "I skipped 'learned helplessness' altogether, instead I learned to help others ... I never stopped, I changed directions that's all."

When Phil was transferred from Sunnybrook to Chedoke Rehabilitation Centre in Hamilton, he was in constant burning pain 24 - 7 and that continued until he insisted on getting a more detailed set of X-Rays. That's when doctors discovered there were still bone chips pressing on his spinal cord.

After a second surgery, he was told once again that he would be paralysed from the neck down forever, and although the pain was less severe, he has never, to this day, known a moment without pain.

For the next month, he told me, he lay in bed meditating and then, slowly, he began to get feeling first in his left shoulder and then the right.

After months of therapy, during which he started taking college courses, he was able to move his arms a little but not able to open or close his fingers. That was his condition when he left the hospital

Two weeks later, he set out to look for work and visited an organization that helped disabled people find employment. Their advice was to spend the next year coming to terms with his condition before even considering a job search.

He left their office, went around the corner to the Ministry of Community and Social Services office and found, by accident, an ad for an 8-week student contract to purge old files. He applied and got the job.

"I never have lost my sales ability," he laughed as he told his story.

That job led to a position on the switchboard and later to full-time employment as a Financial Assistance Worker. His caseload included 500 clients - 350 single mothers and 150 people with various disabilities.

When he heard of a new experimental surgery that would allow him to open and close his thumb, thus giving him the ability to grip, he took a leave of absence, had the surgery, and did the required months of rehabilitation - During that time he became a silent partner with his brother-in-law and opened a British pub.

Finally in his eighth or ninth year in a wheelchair, he got tired of the cold winters in Ontario and moved to Squamish. For the next year he tried unsuccessfully to find work and finally decided to move to Nanaimo.

To be continued next week!

Don't miss the conclusion of this story and learn how Phil Nealy has overcome his own challenges and become unbelievable successful helping others find work.

To nominate a Neighbourhood Hero or to read old columns, go to www.nhero.org.