NewLifestyleSecrets.com was started by, Sandro Marino, a near death head trauma survivor who was fortunate enough to get a second lease on life.

This site is intended to be a resource and inspiration for YOU, the reader, to take another look at what really matters in your life and in your heart.

The Mission

To live my renewed life in a way that is fulfilling to me, experiment with Lifestyle Design, discovering the right balance of Mind, Body& Soul sustenance,  and be an inspiration to others in the fearless pursuit of Living The Dream.

So, subcribe to my blog, book a life changing trip with your's truly, and try something new in the realm of possibilities to discover a new part of you that you never thought existed.

My Story

On July 19th, 1992 in the town of Mammoth Lakes, California, I was struck by a Ford Bronco truck, head on, while riding my mountain bike to meet up with some friends down the street. I decided not to wear my new helmet, a near death mistake! I suffered 2 Subdural Hematomas which would have killed me if I hadn't an emergency craniotomy. Mammoth didn't have the facility nor the doctors to perform this life or death surgery so I was flown by Life-Flight from the Mammoth Lakes airport to Reno, Nevada for the urgent operation. 

Miraculously, I survived the flight to Reno and the 4 long hours of intracranial bleeding before the life saving surgery. Post-op, in critical condition and I had slipped into a coma and was held in ICU. The Doctor's prognosis, needless to say was not good due to the severity of the trauma. They weren't certain of me surviving even a few days much less me coming back as the Sandro everyone used to know.

Over a week had passed before I had came out of the coma, unable to move or speak and without 30% of my cranium which was removed to gain access to the hematomas and give room for the brain swelling. I had lost 40 pounds of body weight due to the severe muscular atrophy.

I was a ski instructor during the prior winter season in Mammoth, had taken up rock climbing and of course mountain bike riding. An great athlete and being as healthy as I was surely helped me survive the deadly accident.

After 3 weeks in the Washoe Medical Center in Reno, I was flown to St. Johns Medical Center in Oxnard near my mother for rehabilitation. They moved me into a transitional living home with other head trauma and stroke patients to go through an occupational rehabilitation program which helps trauma patients relearn the "skills for the job of living" necessary for "living life to its fullest.", reintegration back into normal living situations. Things like managing the household, shopping and performing a multitude of other tasks with the help and guidance of live-in therapists. 

Within 4 months I had relearned to walk, but with an unsteady gate due to my distorted equilibrium. I regained my ability to speak, but it was slurred and I had a terrible loss for words, I struggled for the right words to express myself. I had many other areas of recovery in a short period of time, yet many deficits remained. As it was said by one doctor, "Once you touch the brain, you're never the same." The doctors also said that approximately 15% of my brain was destroyed from the injury. A good thing they figure we only use approximately 10% of our brain's capacity, so that left me 85% to work with, lucky me.

5 months after the accident, I had my bone flap put back in, which was about 30% of my cranium. It took that 5 months for the significant cerebral swelling to go down. Doctors warned that I shouldn't do any of the activities I used to do; snow ski, mountain bike ride, rock climb, surf or do any contact sports, basically most of the activities in which were my passions and a big part of who I was at the time was being taken away from me. They also made us aware that I may not progress to the point of being independent and could be permanently under the guardianship of my parents, OUCH! Not what I wanted to hear! The fact that doctors informed my family that life would not be an ordinary one didn't stop me from going beyond everyone's expectations and go on to living an extraordinary life!

The rest is history, so please subscribe to learn more on how I've come back to take another shot and living an extraordinary life! Peace!