Published by David Donatelli on May 27th, 2026

I’ve always taken care of myself. Staying active and healthy has simply been part of who I am. So, when I talked with partners about accidents or serious illnesses, those conversations were always hypothetical — stories about things that happened to other people. I never stopped to think they might happen to me. 

Until they did. 
Twice. 

Within six months. 

Thankfully, neither situation was life‑ending. But both were life‑changing. They transformed me from someone who sold voluntary benefits into someone who truly believed in them — because I had lived the proof. 

The Day That Changed Everything 

It was October 2016. My brother and I were at my cottage in Maine, winterizing the place before the cold set in. The cottage sat on a hill, and the front of the deck facing the water was about eight feet off the ground, or closer to ten feet when you factor in standing on the picnic table we were using as a makeshift platform to remove the seasonal shade awning from the roof. 



My brother — who is 16 years older than me and had zero interest in being on the risky end of the project — pulled his side free first. That jammed my side inward into the bracket. When I stepped to plant my foot and tug my end loose, I missed the table completely. In a split second, the momentum sent me headfirst over the railing. 

By sheer luck, I managed to grab the rail. The force yanked my arm, flipped my legs over my head, and somehow allowed me to land on my feet and slide down the hill. But that same tug completely detached my bicep. 

Our winterization project ended instantly. My brother rushed me to the emergency room, where I was put in a sling and told I’d need surgery as soon as I returned to the Carolinas. A week later, I underwent surgery to reattach my bicep. The damage was so extensive that the surgeon had to use a tendon from a 24‑year‑old cadaver to complete the repair. 

I’m incredibly fortunate. I could have fallen straight down - paralyzed, or worse. 

From a benefits standpoint, the accident was a perfect storm for financial disaster. But I was prepared. 

My short‑term disability (STD) helped replace lost income while I recovered. I also had accident insurance, which paid cash benefits alongside my STD — right when I needed them most. That combination made a meaningful financial difference for my family during months of surgery, recovery, and mounting medical bills. 

What I had always explained to clients was no longer theoretical — I lived it. Accident insurance isn’t a “nice‑to‑have.” It can be the perfect complement to STD coverage. 

And then my thoughts turned to my family. 

If I hadn’t grabbed that railing, life insurance could have entered the picture in a very real way. After that fall, I stopped seeing these benefits as products. They became protection. 

Then Came 2017 

I thought the universe had made its point. 

Then, at the end of Q1 in 2017, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

What followed was another surgery and radiation treatment. When you’re facing something like that, you’re not thinking about benefits strategy. You’re thinking about your life, your family, and what comes next. 

Early in my career, I spent time handling long‑term disability (LTD) claims. I saw firsthand how LTD helped people stay in their homes and maintain financial stability during the most difficult periods of their lives. Back then, I understood it intellectually. 

After my cancer diagnosis, I understood it deeply - personally. 

Hospital indemnity insurance also took on new meaning. A prostatectomy. Radiation. Each hospitalization could have triggered direct cash payments, with no concerns about networks or coverage gaps. But I didn’t have that coverage. When you’re managing a cancer diagnosis, that kind of financial cushion matters more than most people realize — until they need it. 

Why I Show Up Differently 

October 2016 marked more than an accident. It marked the moment I changed how I show up every day in my work. 

I share my story because of what I do — and because of the people I serve. Since my diagnosis, I’ve sat with men facing their own prostate cancer journeys. I’ve checked in, listened, and been a resource. Those conversations are real. The fear is real. And the relief that comes from having the right coverage in place? That’s real, too. 

These aren’t hypothetical scenarios used to sell products. They’re the lives of people sitting across from us at enrollment. Accident insurance. Hospital indemnity. Life insurance. Long‑term care coverage. These benefits exist for the moments no one sees coming — for the diagnosis that finds you when you’re active, healthy, and convinced it won’t happen to you. 

I know. 
Because it happened to me. 

I’m grateful every day for the coverage I have — and more motivated than ever to make sure others have what they need when life decides to surprise them.