The purpose of this study was to present a descriptive, explanatory case study of an adolescent male survivor of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The subject was a 17 year, 6 month old student enrolled in the twelfth grade at a highly selective science and technology governor's high school in the suburbs of a major metropolitan area. This investigation explored how a recovery can be successfully accomplished after a moderate-to-severe TBI. A case study methodology was employed to conduct an empirical and contextual investigation using a multi-modal method of data collection. Data collection consisted of archival records, documents, interviews, participant-observation, and direct observation. Overall findings from this study revealed that support from his family, educational personnel, and medical professionals coalesced to aid his recovery. In addition, the data indicated that there were distinct, but overlapping phases through which this individual progressed to reach a point of successful functioning. Moreover, all research pointed to one event, a college deferment decision and its accompanying behavioral changes as evidence that a turning point in the recovery had occurred. Thus, the adolescent had entered into the acknowledgment and acceptance phase. His ultimate successes stemmed from this decision and from this point in time. Implications for future research are discussed. (Contains 1 footnote.)