" Never give up!"

Mike Kralicek is a recovering quadriplegic transformed into a disabled motivational speaker.

But, to fully understand who Mike is now, you need to know where he began.

Mike was born and raised on the Oregon coast. He was a 4th generation logger and decided to broaden his horizons after high school and serve his country by spending 4 years in the U.S. Air Force during Desert Storm. Mike was first disabled by a detached retina in 1990. He remained visually impaired for several years, even after eye surgery.  Over time, Mike   learned to judge depth perception by overcompensating with his good eye.

After Mike was discharged, he traveled all over before going to college and earning an AA in Electronics which introduced him to Law Enforcement while working on 911 Communication centers. In 1998 Mike became the manager of the Coos Bay branch of Clackamas Communications in Coos Bay, Oregon. 

Mike kept all of the radio communications systems going for the entire county, from police and fire systems to local hospitals and ambulance companies. Mike served on the board for the local disaster preparedness group as the communications advisor. Mike became a reserve police officer in 1999 and waited for a full-time position to open before resigning as the manager of the Clackamas Communication store. While working full time as an officer, Mike opened his own communications company, continuing to maintain the communication needs for the county. It was not uncommon for Mike to be called away from the police department for a communication emergency for a police or fire department somewhere in the county.

As a new officer, Mike learned quickly and enjoyed serving the community for nearly 5 years in   North Bend, Oregon where he utilized his communication background to help the department save money on repair costs.  Working as a full time officer, Mike saw a huge demand for Spanish. Mike went back to college and began taking Spanish classes. Eventually, Mike started organizing Spanish training for the local law enforcement agencies and created a county wide call- out system for officers in need of someone that could speak Spanish.

In 2004 Mike accepted a lateral position with the city of Coeur d’Alene in North Idaho due to a family health issue requiring a more arid climate. Then on December 28th of that same year, tragedy struck hard. While responding to assist a county deputy, Mike was shot in the head trying to catch a fleeing suspect in handcuffs.  Although the situation appeared grim and hopeless as Mike lay motionless and unconscious on a cold cement floor, deputies worked frantically on him until the ambulance arrived to transport Mike to the hospital.

Mike’s wife, Carrie waited patiently by his side for the next two weeks speaking to Mike and ranging his limbs during the coma. Not knowing when he would wake and what to expect. Mike finally woke up from the coma as a full quadriplegic. Then together the two began the long journey of rehabilitation and recovery. Mike took his first steps about one year after waking from his coma and continues to progress slowly. Even though the pain never stops and sometimes getting up in the morning is a slow and painful process. Mike continues to push himself and shares his story so others can be motivated and be better prepared for overcoming adversity. Mike chooses to use humor as a medicine for healing and constantly jokes about the troubles he and his family have struggled through.

Mike Kralicek

Motivational Disabled Speaker