Do you believe in fate? That all things happen for a reason, a greater cause
even if we don’t understand it at the time? Or do you strive to attach
something positive to inconceivable circumstances, refusing to let tragedy
take more than it already has? In order to overcome adversity, I believe
we have to fall into one of the above two categories.
When I was 16 years old, I had mapped out my future. I had taken a keen
interest in weightlifting and body building. I was fit and healthy and couldn’t
imagine living any differently. My friend and I had resolved that upon graduation
and post secondary schooling, we would open a business together – a
gym. I continued on this path throughout high school, participating and excelling
in all sports. I even obtained a Lacrosse scholarship to attend Bishop College
in Quebec. My friend was working on his Physiology degree in Saskatchewan.
Our paths would soon meet again as we never lost sight of our dream business.
However, a major detour occurred in March of 2005 while I was playing Lacrosse in Quebec. I sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of a wrestling accident one Friday night. My life changed dramatically as I struggled to cope with my new life as a quadriplegic with an incomplete spinal cord injury C4-C5. I met up with my friend back in Saskatchewan a little sooner than expected via an air ambulance. Here began my initial treatment at Wascana Rehabilitation Center.
I spent nine months in traditional in-patient rehabilitation. This meant two-45 minute sessions of physical therapy per day and one-45 minute session of occupational therapy per day. Even though I fought hard for every minute of therapy that I received, they were constantly trying to decrease my therapy time. I was to believe that this was the best of the best. Having an athletic mentality made me really question these supposed best practices. I was determined to seek more and better treatment and found out about a facility called Project Walk in Carlsbad, California. Project Walk provided intense and consistent programming working you head to toe out of your wheelchair. My family and friends began to raise money.
One year after my injury, I rolled in through the doors of Project Walk. I knew instantly, that my rehabilitation had finally just started.
After returning to Saskatchewan, I developed a home exercise program that relies on the training methods of Project walk. I started to advocate and raise awareness about Project Walk. I knew this was my life mission-to start a facility like this in Canada.
Today, I have once again mapped out my future. My old friend and I are going to start a gym, albeit slightly different than the one we dreamed of at 16. With his help, I have started a Non-Profit business called First Steps Wellness Centre for individuals with a spinal cord injury. It will be the first certified Project Walk facility in Canada. My friend will become a Project Walk Certified Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Specialist. We are currently promoting this facility and hope to become operational within the next several months in Regina, Saskatchewan.
So, was me becoming a quadriplegic fate, or did I make lemonade out of lemons?