I was in Germany doing training out at our local grounds in the back of an M113 when the driver slammed on the brakes. The soldier behind me fell forward and hit my spine with the brim of his Kevlar helmet, a FREAK accident. After that accident in June 2001 I could do my job, walk, run, but I was in pain, had foot drop and bowel control issues. At some point it was decided to operate on my spine, in doing so the doctors cut very close to my nerves (Jan 2002) and as I healed from the surgery my body created too much scar tissue. This scar tissue is pinching, squeezing, touching the nerves at L5-S1, so since then I had a neurostimulator implanted (June 2005) to help manage pain so that I can take less narcotics. Unfortunately the surgeon decided to place the leads significantly above L5-S1 and the resulting scar tissue from this operation is at T-11, so I am now a T-11 incomplete Paraplegic. I can move my right leg some, but it is very weak, with spasms, numbness, tingling, bowel/bladder dysfunction, and I can’t regulate my body temperature, and have a very weak core, thus poor balance.

After getting out of the military I spent 90% of my time in my home living the life of a reclusive hermit with a huge chip on my shoulder. I really let myself go with my weight, getting up to about 300 lbs, my beard was huge, and my hair got down to just below my shoulders. For about 4 months my wife was nagging at me trying to get me to go to a Day on the Bay event put on by the local hospital, so I finally gave in and said I would go (thinking to myself- fine whatever – I’ll go and sit in my chair as close to the water as I can get, and watch others who are less injured than I am having a good time). I got there and did the paper work stuff and started watching a guy out carving on a sit ski behind a speed boat. When he came in two big guys picked him up put him in a beach chair, pushed him up to the grass and then into his power chair. I started thinking he did it why can’t I? I struck up a conversation with him and after a while of listening to his view of pain vs. enjoyment I came to the realization that I needed to start looking at activities in a new light; “How much pain am I willing to endure so that I can enjoy said activity. ”

I signed up for the VA Summer Sports Clinic and met the San Diego Team River Runner volunteers at the kayaking venue. I also got involved in handcycling at my VA and I lost a lot of weight. I then started paddling with TRR on their flat water events in a high backed outrigger kayak that helps me balance. They taught me how to paddle and how to assist other paddlers, including helping “swimmers” get back in their boats. My sons come paddling with me, which I love.

Now I look at everything in my life – my transfers, travel time, pain as points that are continually adding up trying to keep me from enjoying life, sometimes they succeed, but when they don’t I damn sure take advantage of it and enjoy it the best I can.