The poet Dylan Thomas implored us to “Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” It’s a sentiment perfectly embodied by those who refuse to surrender, who fight with every ounce of strength even when facing impossible odds. And few understand that struggle quite like Neil Caulfield.
Caulfield believes in the power of resilience, the necessity of rising after a fall. He knows firsthand what it means to stare into the abyss, to be told your story might end before you’re ready.
In May, Neil was brutally attacked, left beaten and unconscious, plunged into a coma. Doctors offered little hope, and his mother was advised to begin making funeral arrangements. It was, police would later say, a miracle he survived.
Officers responding to the assault on a Brampton street quickly apprehended three individuals on firearms charges, with one facing aggravated assault charges. Regardless of the legal outcome, Neil had already begun a far more personal battle – a fight for his life.
The images from that hospital room are stark and harrowing. He endured every conceivable injury, a testament to the savagery of the attack. “They knocked me out with a gun,” he recalls, “and thankfully I wasn’t shot.” But he was left for dead, hovering on the brink.
He spent five days in a coma, followed by two weeks in intensive care at Sunnybrook Hospital. Then, slowly, miraculously, he awoke. He began the arduous process of healing, of rebuilding a life shattered by violence.
Throughout his recovery, the Toronto Blue Jays became a source of strength, a connection to happier times. He and his late father, Larry, had been devoted fans, sharing countless evenings watching the team together. This year, Neil needed that connection more than ever, and the Jays delivered a season of unexpected hope.
He credits his recovery, in part, to “talking with my dad” from his hospital bed. Though Larry passed away in 2021, Neil felt his presence, his unwavering encouragement. They had shared a passion for the Blue Jays, a loyalty to a team that now mirrored his own fight for survival.
Now back at work, Neil eagerly anticipates each postseason game, watching the Blue Jays defy expectations – just as he did. He carries a simple motto: “On to the next one.” A philosophy he believes the team should embrace as they continue their improbable run.
For Neil Caulfield, life is about refusing to be defined by hardship. It’s about getting back up, dusting yourself off, and choosing to live, no matter what. It’s a lesson forged in the crucible of unimaginable pain, a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.
