LIVE QUICKIE BLOG

It was in that moment when I decided it was time. I am ready. I need to learn to drive, not only for the sake of all those wonderful cheeseburgers waiting, but for my own sake. My injury allows me a bit more independence than some, so what is stopping me? Absolutely nothing.

From being a social butterfly in college, to being named "Smiles" in rehab, I gained a new perspective on life that can be summed up by a Bruce H. Wilkinson quote: "People often feel that because they are afraid of something, they do not have the courage to conquer it. However, courage is not the absence of fear; rather it's choosing to act in spite of fear." The joy I've experienced as a result of conquering my fears has been incredible, and I no longer see myself as physically disabled, but physically able.

All too often, the mobility options that we know will make our lives easier are not covered by insurance or Medicare. This means paying cash out-of-pocket, and not everyone can afford that.

The biggest thing that helped me regain some normalcy in my life was getting back into hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. Before my accident I was very active in high school sports and the outdoors. When I did have free time I was doing something outdoors. When I had my accident at the age of 15, all of that changed. I did not think I would be able to do what I could before.

When I was first injured in a car accident at 19 years old and became a T6/7 complete paraplegic, I knew immediately that I had a choice to make. I could either focus on the things that I had lost (chiefly, my ability to walk and play sports - I was a high jumper on the University of Oregon's track team when I got hurt) or I could view the injury as a challenge to overcome and an opportunity to view my place in the world in a different way.