Mike Brantley’s health recovery story is an absolute inspiration to all.

“God is good” is what Mike said to me as he began to tell his story of tragedy and triumph.

Weighing 162 lbs and standing 6ft.  3 inches in height when he started on his road to a healthier living at age 32.  Bulking up to two hundred and ninety pounds in eight years time this bodybuilder was able to bench press 525 lbs.

He trained 5 days a week at the gym and was considering entering the world of bodybuilding competitions.  At age 47 in August 2003 on his way to the gym for his 6:00 A.M. workout was when tragedy struck head on.  Mike was on his motorcycle when a car passing another vehicle hit him head on forcing his right arm through the windshield and his right leg under the cars wheel.  He was thrown to the ground where he pulled himself to the far edge of the road to avoid being run over by another vehicle.  There he lay moving in and out of consciousness.

After emerging from a coma eleven days later and having lost his right hand and right leg Mike spent another two months in the hospital .  This dedicated fitness enthusiasm was only out of the gym for four months after his accident.  Mikes workouts may have changed in form but not intensity.  He rolled into the gym in his wheel chair to train his upper body until he received his prosthetic leg.  The state of the art leg is only second to the best leg made he tells me.  Mikes hook hand was delivered to him on New Year’s Eve following his accident.

He is able to bench press 465 lbs with his new hand.  He also does his triceps dips with that hand.  Mike uses his mechanical hand or robot hand as he calls it to do curls, triceps extensions and cable flyes.  I had the opportunity to do those cable flyes with Mike during a workout.  He amazes me.  Mike Brantley doesn’t have a disability he has different abilities. The most obvious is his ability to keep a positive attitude and strong faith. Watching him train at the gym will seize any complaining from anyone about anything.

Mike is admired by many.  Not only those that knew him before his accident but by some of the world’s best known professional Bodybuilders such as Lou Ferrigno .  Mike is now a trainer and has a desire to produce an exercise video for amputees. It was my pleasure to interview him on the air and enjoy many conversations off the air.

Article written by Sherri Horner