Kiersten Kelly – An Angel’s voice overcoming adversity – Part 1 of 2


Editor’s Note: I (Thomas Exler) had the pleasure of meeting Kiersten Kelly at a fundraiser for Jamie’s Dream Team on March 23, 2013, and I was so impressed with her, not only the way she presented herself, but also in her vocal talent, so please sit back and enjoy this amazing story from an international YouTube sensation…

Courage to Shine™ – Tour III – Spain – November 2012


Courage to Shine™ – Tour III – Spain – ASEXVE Medical Conference, Avila, Spain – November 23-25, 2012 News Release: Courage to Shine™ Team to Attend ASEXVE Medical Conference in Avila, Spain from November 23 –25, 2012 In early 2012, Thomas Exler and Mist Blue Foster were invited to attend and to speak at the ASEXVE (Asociación española…

Joanna Burgess–Joy’s Way–A Journey of Survival, Hope and Inspiration – Reposted June 9 2012


Editor’s Note: In honor of Joanna Burgess being honored tonight (June 9, 2012) in Charlotte, North Carolina as this year’s  Great Comebacks® National Award recipient, we at Courage to Shine would like to re-post her original story “Joy’s Way – A Journey of Survival, Hope and Inspiration” Originally Published on March 24, 2012:  Courage to Shine™ is honored to present the original story of…

Misty Blue Foster & Jamie Holmes Featured in eBook Honoring the Best of UroMed Hometown Heroes


Misty Blue Foster and Jamie Holmes, two of Courage to Shine Role Models of the Month, have had their stories published by UroMed Hometown Heroes Blogg converted along with 14 others into eBook: Courage: Stories of Hometown Heroes which can be purchased on Amazon.com at  http://www.amazon.com/Courage-Stories-Hometown-Heroes-ebook/dp/B007WU2RX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335785891&sr=8-1 UroMed Launches E-book on Hometown Heroes Overcoming Disabilities MAY 2, 2012 LEAVE A…

ENRIQUE ESCAJADA – Courage To Shine™ – Role Model of the Month for March 2012


Enrique Escajeda of California has been named the March 2012 – Courage to Shine – Role Model of the Month. In his honor we have reprinted his story below from January 26, 2012 ———————————————————————– Enrique Escajada – Aerialist Overcomes Adversity to Fly Published on January 26, 2012 Aerialist Overcomes Adversity to Fly by Enrique Escajeda Hello,…

THOMAS EXLER – Founder & Chairman of Courage to Shine™


Hello my name is Thomas Exler, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Climbing the stairs at a waterfall in Iceland in May of 2011

For many years now, I have had been given a great opportunity to meet so many amazing people from all over the world, not in spite of, but because I was born with a rare birth defect called bladder exstrophy.  My life has had numerous blessings because of it, and on the whole the blessings have gratefully outweighed all the negatives I have had to personally endure

Jamie Holmes of Jamie’s Dream Team Learns That Helping Others Cures Most of Her Illnesses


http://uromed.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/jamie-holmes-of-jamies-dream-team-learns-that-helping-others-cures-most-of-her-illnesses/ UroMed Hometown Hero – Jamie Holmes Part 4 – DECEMBER 10, 2011 I’ve learned that helping other people cures most of the sicknesses I have. This past month (November, 2011) I’ve been very, very sick, but each morning as I wake up, thinking about how sick I am, I realize I don’t have time to…

A Life-Changing Decision: Jamie Holmes Decides Christmas is About Giving, Not Receiving


http://uromed.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/a-life-changing-decision-jamie-holmes-decides-christmas-is-about-giving-not-receiving/ UroMed Hometown Hero – Jamie Holmes Part 2 – Originally Posted DECEMBER 7, 2011 Right before I was 15-years old, I went in for another surgery. My sister always would stay with me in the hospital before my operations. This time there was a little girl in the room with me who needed a heart transplant. Her…

Jaime Holmes – Courage To Shine™ – Role Model of the Month for January 2012 – Reblog


Originally posted on Courage to Shine™:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y8MzJjYVlg https://youtu.be/e3TYUR-czZA?si=aZfzHwl-x7aPVbBK https://youtu.be/v617Zk1plIs?si=jBrXtHPWA93VHKbs DREAMS BY HOLMES, A YOUNG LADY WHO TRULY MAKES DREAMS COME TRUE. By Thomas Exler Jamie Holmes, Founder of Jamie’s Dream Team Twenty-four year old Jamie Holmes, from White Oak, Pennsylvania  has been named as the first Courage to Shine™ – Role Model of the Month…

JAMIE HOLMES-WARD – Jamie’s Dream Team


DREAMS BY HOLMES, A YOUNG LADY WHO TRULY MAKES DREAMS COME TRUE. By Thomas Exler Twenty-four year old Jamie Holmes, from White Oak, Pennsylvania  has been named as the first Courage to Shine™ – Role Model of the Month for the Courage to Shine™ program.  Jamie has earned this recognition because she has turned her…

TOM FLOOD – The 2010 –Tom Sylva – Courage to Shine™ – Australia Recipient


On June 12, 2010 at the Coogee Bay Hotel in Coogee Bay, Sydney, NSW, Australia held in connection with the 2010 BEECHAC (Bladder Exstrophy, Epispadias, Cloacal exstrophy, Hypospadias, Australian Community) International Conference “Towards the Future”, Tom Flood was given the 2010 Tom Sylva – Courage to Shine™ – Australia Award for his long term dedication…