See Beyond – July 2019

July/August 2019 51

snapped me out of my self-pity for a moment.
Looking at my boys was all it took to find a new
resolve. Despite my poverty, I was far from unedu-
cated or lazy. I pushed myself intensely that semes-
ter and made the dean’s list. When the physical
rehabilitation sessions ended, I decided we needed
a fresh start and moved us to a new state.

But not all new beginnings are easy. Securing an
apartment was difficult with my credit history
and two dogs, who faced breed discrimination.
Thankfully, I finally met a property manager who
also loved dogs and he found us a place to call
home. The community was friendly, but the job
market for a banged-up firefighter was not. Nike,
Romo and I needed financial help, so we took a
chance on a roommate. The two of us charmed
our way into employment in a small-town restau-
rant. Waiting tables enabled us to bring cash home
every night. The hours made it possible to spend
plenty of time with Nike and Romo. But despite
my efforts to help him, my roommate’s cocaine
habit put all of us at risk; we had to get out.

The thought of being homeless again sucked, so
we lived for a little while with a friend and her two
Labradors, Jack and Jill. Despite this kindness,
it soon became time for me to find us our own
place. We found a ranch style apartment, and I
started working in an emergency room. Another
relationship came and went, another surgery did
the same and once again, my dogs needed me to
take a deep breath.

I switched jobs, changed gyms, and started sneak-
ing into a downtown church to cry and pray.

In 2016, I underwent a surgery for a thrombosis in
my left calf. Romo and Nike kept me on track with

their daily needs. During a follow-up exam, my

physician discovered another blood clot. I only had

time to make a few phone calls before that surgery.

Complications kept me out of work for over five

months. I became so unhappy that I asked an

artist, Lisa Sparling, to paint a suicide portrait for

me. Even feeling so worthless and down, Nike and

Romo would snuggle against me on the couch ev-

ery day. They needed me. I could not leave them.

My life finally took a good turn when I connected

with an old friend on social media. She flew me

to New York City and exposed me to a surreal

lifestyle. We explored every attraction in the Big

Apple and shared stories. One evening, she asked

me to write something on the fly. Armed with a

pen from her purse and an unfolded bar napkin,

I began. Impressed, she put me in touch with an

entertainment executive. Together, they urged me

to keep writing and search for representation.

We are now a happy family of five, joined by

my girlfriend, Shawnda Marie, and her German

Shepherd, Thor. The fur babies get along great.

Shawnda works as a physical therapist assistant

and I write screenplays, while waiting for yet an-

other surgery. The constant health challenges and

surgeries devastated me. I used to think my size

and strength made me special. And yet, had my

life been easy, I would never have discovered writ-

ing. Just think—the kid who didn’t care for school

can’t wait to create another story. So don’t allow

yourself to get stuck in your plans or image like

I did. Understand that with hope and determi-

nation—and the love of some furry angels—you

never know where you might end up, maybe even

in Hollywood.

Eugene “Gene” Brzozowski was raised in a blue-collar family in Connecticut. He played softball, soc-

cer and studied the martial art of Shotokan. He played football in high school.

Hoping to assuage his academic deficits, his parents relocated the family to

Bradenton, Florida. Gene’s grades did not improve but he did manage to grad-

uate. As an adult, Gene discovered the fire service and proudly wore a Maltese

cross for almost two decades before an arm injury derailed his career. Since

then, life has presented him with a series of challenges and two amazing dogs

to help him through. Today, Gene resides with his girlfriend Shawnda and their

three dogs in the tiny town of Delphos, Ohio. He has been writing prolifically

and hopes to break into the film industry this year.