Machismo almost killed Neil Carroll. Growing up in the Bronx in the 1970s, he was taught that when bad things happen, real men suck it up. So after experiencing trauma in the Air Force, instead of looking for help, Neil turned to drugs and alcohol. “I had all the wrong coping mechanisms,” he recalls. Then came 9/11 and a host of new challenges, including cancer. To survive, Neil would have to rethink what it means to be a man.

Links 

• World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program
• Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health
• Umut Sarpel, MD (Neil’s Surgical Oncologist)
• Federal WTC Health Program
• FealGood Foundation

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Road to Resilience brings you stories and insights to help you thrive in a challenging world. From fighting burnout and trauma to building resilient families, we explore what’s possible when science meets the human spirit.