Francesco Clark was a 24-year-old with a bright future when he went to the Hamptons for the weekend. A nocturnal dive into the pool's shallow end changed everything. Paralyzed from the neck down, doctors announced that he'd never move from his bed or breathe without assistance. But Francesco fought back. Within days, he was breathing on his own. His father, a doctor himself, investigated every opportunity for experimental treatment, and Francesco used all resources available to speed his recovery.

To avoid having his lungs suctioned, he sang, loudly, for hours. And that was just the beginning. Francesco's accident left him unable to sweat out toxins, leaving his skin less than healthy. So Francesco and his father began to experiment, and the Clark's Botanicals skin-care line was born. It is now sold nationwide in stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Fred Segal, and featured in Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and other magazines. Seven years after the accident, Francesco continues to improve, in addition to running a thriving business.