This content was created by Corwin CJ Moneyway Johnson. This content was uploaded by Corwin CJ Moneyway Johnson. This is a YouTube interview titled "From Dreams to Reality: A Father's Incredible Journey [The CJ Moneyway Show]" (posted 2024-10-26). It features a conversational interview between host Corwin CJ Moneyway Johnson and guest Kenneth J. Kumkin. The discussion covers Kumkin becoming a father of triplets, his experience testifying before Senator Ted Kennedy’s health subcommittee (and how a quotation from that interaction inspired his book title "I Dream of Things That Never Were"), his rehabilitation and return to work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, and notable honors including the Long Island Rehabilitation Award and an annual Kenneth J. Kumkin Award named by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office after his 40+ year career.
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We both wanted to have more than one, and lo and behold, we were fortunate that Anna was pregnant not just with twins but actually with triplets. What could be better than that? It's the greatest thing in the world, and I am just thrilled beyond words to say what it's like to be a father of triplet boys. Nothing could be better than that.
Man, just, just the journey alone, you know, in your 50s, didn't have it, not with just one but three, and that fulfilled you guys' dream. Hey man, that's something, uh, totally amazing. So Ken, I only got a couple more answers for questions for you, man, and then I'll let you go. Uh, what was your experience like testifying before the Senate, uh, that included, uh, Edward Kennedy about healthcare issues?
Well, you know what, I was still a patient following my injury. I was a patient at the Rusk Institute for Rehabilitative Medicine. And at the time, I was approached by Senator Kennedy's aide, Senator Ted Kennedy's aide, and asked if I would agree, my father and I, to testify before his United States Senate Health Subcommittee on healthcare.
Mm-hmm.
And the reason why they really wanted me to testify was that my father was an insurance agent, and my father testified that there was no insurance policy available at the time that would cover an injury as severe as mine. So they were most interested in my father's testimony and for me to basically put a human face on it to show this could happen to anyone. And following my testimony, Senator Kennedy sent me a glass paperweight in the mail. That had an inscription on it that the senator said his late brother Robert Kennedy liked very much. And the quotation on that inscription was, "Some men see things as they are and say, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not?'" That's where I got the title of my book, I Dream of Things That Never Were. And it's meant an awful lot to me, that testimony before Senator Kennedy and the interest he showed for people with disabilities such as mine, as well as the fact of that quotation, it means an awful lot to me because I dream of things that never were.
Man, that, that, that's cool. And it's, it's, it's crazy and amazing how somebody asks you to testify and then this is the, the theme to your book, you know, years later. This is something that you use to to inspire others with your book. Now, something that stayed with you that long, man, I think that's cool. And so, Ken, I only got one more question for you, man. So, Ken, you have received some prestigious awards along your journey. Can you tell us about a few of them and what they mean to you?
Well, all the awards that I received, obviously, I am very proud of and really appreciate being recognized. But the two that probably stand out the most to me right now Soon after I got my first full-time job following my injury, I received the Long Island Rehabilitation Award for the Rehabilitant of the Year. And that has meant a tremendous amount to me to recognize the fact of what I went through and the rehabilitation that I pursued. And the fact that after the injury that I had, I was back in the workforce working full-time as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. And I absolutely loved the work and appreciated the opportunity to help other people with disabilities. And I would like to go on to say the last award that I received is also extremely meaningful to me because recently I retired from the Nassau County District Attorney's Office after working for more than 40 years there. And they decided to name an award after me. They now present annually the Kenneth J. Kumkin Award to an outstanding ADA, Assistant District Attorney, every year who exemplifies what I have tried to do with my life and my work in the District Attorney's Office. And I am thrilled beyond words to say that they've recognized the work that I've done in the office and have named an award after me.
Man, that, that got to be, that got to be cool. You know, I know some people, they had a, they, they named, uh, names at the streets named after them. And to have an award, man, to be named after you, uh, for the service that you have provided, you know, over 40 years somewhere, man, and to walk away and knowing that every year that somebody's going to get this annual award in your name, man. I know that got to be a, a great feeling, man. So kudos to you, uh, Ken. Hey, so Ken, thank you, man, for your time and, and sharing your story with us.
