Stephen Kaplan’s last motorcycle trip nearly killed him. Here’s how he survived with his wife’s help

‘I Married a Thrill Seeker’ reveals the struggle to rebuild his health—and their relationship.
Stephen and Danielle Kaplan
Stephen and Danielle Kaplan shown here during his recovery after his near-fatal motorcycle accident in the Yukon Territories in 2011. (Danielle Kaplan photo)

Nearly 12 years ago, Toronto business executive Stephen Kaplan took a solo motorcycle trip to Alaska. He promised his worried wife, Danielle, it would be his last. But somewhere on a remote road in the Yukon, Kaplan hit a pothole and flew off his powerful bike. When he landed, he’d broken his spine and damaged his heart.

The lifelong adventurer couldn’t move, trapped alone on the side of a road in grizzly bear territory.

It sounds like a movie, but this was real. If it wasn’t for a few miracles including a passing trucker, a working GPS device, free hospital care in B.C., and his wife’s steely determination to help him recover, it’s unlikely he would have survived.

Now Danielle Kaplan, a former health care worker, has written about the couple’s remarkable story, including the toll it took on her family and their marriage. Her new book is called I Married a Thrill Seeker: A Cautious Wife’s Memoir of Her Husband’s Risk-Taking and Their Long Road to Recovery.

Danielle and Stephen Kaplan join The CJN Daily to unpack how they survived and the lessons her book can teach couples.

What we talked about:

  • Read more about the book, and Danielle and Stephen Kaplans’ experiences on their website

Credits:

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To subscribe to this podcast, please watch this video. Donate to The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt by clicking here.

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