EP 46: ECU Baseball’s Parker Byrd Details Boating Accident & Recovery Process (Part 2)

Welcome to the catastrophic comeback podcast with American Injury Lawyer Clark speaks, helping you find hope, purpose and joy after a catastrophic injury.

Okay, well, so, so that yeah, so that's, that's interesting. So there's two things. I'd like to talk to you about a little bit about your recovery process. But two things are jumping out at me as you're talking about it. And that is the things that help you through these really what a lot of people have described in other contexts and other conversations I've had is really sort of dark and difficult times. Those times don't seem to be your focus, your focus seems to be your attitude during this process, your mindset during this process, and also the support system that you have through this process. And then And then also, it seems to be to be important that you have that you seem to be a goal focused, goal oriented person. So if the goal initially was to play in Major League Baseball, and that was your goal, then you have, in a very short period of time redefined your goal system to where your goal is actually to be the first division one player to play with a prosthetic leg and that transitions in this conversation is quick in, in my write about those three keys. Yeah,

I mean, definitely, I think whenever challenges like this in life can't hit, that you just carry, adjust your life. And that's kind of what I did. Because like I said, baseball was my wife before by accident, and I was that it could still be my wife after that, obviously, lives vigor, just baseball. And I kind of think that's how my My accident happened in my Outlook, I was bigger than just baseball now, that would say that still living to expire, living to play baseball, I think that's really my purpose in life is to inspire others. And that's just through baseball at the time being, but I mean, I can be through Paralympics, which I want to do one day, or just totally speaking in general, and just going out and telling my story. So I would say that my mom's day, it was probably quicker than others. But like I said, that was just from my support system I had and that was really just key to my recovery was my family being there, the community group will be here that to me larbert, or just support me and show him love. And many people out there just given their kind of wishes and prayers, and just trusting in the Lord and knowing that is wills better than ours.

That brings up several things. I've talked to some other people who have had similar experiences. And in those conversations, one of the things that that comes up as something that seems to be very helpful to people who are going through something like this is the concept of once they get a handle on their situation, then it becomes very important to them to turn around and help other people. And, and that seems to be a part of your focus as well. Yeah,

definitely. I think that that's just the positive outlook, or just because they I guess people are going through similar accidents of mind or just life altering things. They realize that people that go through that need support, they need help. Because there's a lot of questions and guidance is really needed. And to me, I had people in my life that had been through my accident or been through things such as my accident. That kind of guided me in a way that needed to go and just return that favorite other people was kind of, I guess what I'm trying to do, and I guess that's what other people try to do as well. And just trying to help that next generation of people that go through tragic, tragic accidents, telling them that, hey, life's gonna be okay. That is probably probably really dirt right now. But the end goal is a lot better than his plan is a lot better than ours and just trusting Him in His time is key.

Well, so. So yeah, that's it. That's great. Let me ask you this. You talked about the support system and the support that you got in the community. I've been connected to East Carolina, in various ways for a long time. You know, when I went to school there, love the place love the people of the community. I don't, and we was there for lots of different things from the Peach Bowl all the way through, you know, all kinds of different situations. I don't remember seeing them rally around an individual person to the extent that they rather rallied around you and the emotion and inspiration that Brought to that community. More than you, in fact, recently, you actually, so the update is please, on your participation with East Carolina basketball, and I'm sorry, East Carolina baseball, kind of where you are with that.

Yeah, I'm fullback. I mean, I'm doing everything everybody else is doing on the 40 man roster. And so I'm full participation in practice in the game. So I'm back full time. And just like everybody else.

Well, so recently. So you actually, were in a game, you had an A bat at bat. And, and I saw I had friends that were there. I was not there. I had friends that were there. And from what I understand the place went bananas when you got up to bat is this. Can you tell us about that?

Yeah, I mean, it was cool moment. This is pirate bay should be a part nation. And I feel like my stories part of their story as well, just because they go through with me, just to Dallas, I'm outside just support me. But they were there the whole time. And that's why people commit here. It's because a fans like pirate nation. But I mean, I got the call in the eighth inning that was going up to the plate. Second, that ended and I went out there. And before I could even step foot out of the dugout, and the fans were waiting for it. And I was on deck and they were going crazy from the end. And then also my name was called over the intercom and I was set for that box. It was a special moment for sure. Have

you have you been getting support from people outside of the community that you wouldn't expect to that are maybe distant pirate supporters or other people that maybe that you wouldn't have expected to hear from?

Yeah, I mean, my story just, I guess blown up. But reaching so many people, I mean, I've got a call from Donald Trump. I've got tweets from Mark Cuban, the headline, just people that never I never thought would ever say my name. And just hear those guys support me. And let me let me know how inspirational my story is they have as really cool. Just seeing the impact I've had on the nation. Oh,

for sure. Yeah. So I can understand that. And, and, and I'm one of those people, you know, and I'm being like, it's like, you know, we try to do here, you know, our mission is to help people recover physically, financially, emotionally from these kinds of things. And it became very important for us to have you on when we started learning about your story and the inspiration that you've had on other people. And one of the things that's big part of our program is faith. And because faith is important to me, and I think it can be something that is really helpful to people, you described a scenario where you had the support of your family, your parents, your sisters, not everybody has those things. But everybody has, in my opinion has has the option has the option opportunity to reach out and ask God to help them through these difficult situations. And it can you tell me, how has your faith evolved? Or how can you tell me what part faith has had in this journey for you?

Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's the only reason I'm here today was because of God and him saving me but I was a really big Christian beforehand. But after it accidentally mind and just seeing the god moments in my accident, really he was there every step of the way, where I'll tell you every step on a mouse currently be there that day, that nurse being on that boat, my parents blood, a tire on 74 on the way here and Hispanic tire shop and 600 feet away from where they are and only have one tire to fit my dad's car that day on a 4pm on a Saturday. I mean, it's just so many moments, were just God moments. And I would say my faith has definitely grown since then, just because I mean, there's no denying that is real. And when I think he saves you literally, I think that you have a different appreciation. But I mean, I'm still the same same guy, same faith driven guy that was beforehand and just spreading that gospel down and sharing his goodness is the main key and my wife. And I would say that he definitely put things in perspective to me, because I really did live for baseball before the accident. And that's really whilst driving my wife with every weekend I was somewhere with some with baseball and never really put Him first but now I mean, that's the main goal in life is just to make it to heaven and to inspire others along the way.

So let me ask you when we when I see. So I've got kids that are about your age. And matter of fact, I've been thinking I wonder if I went to school with your dad, you know, but in any event I've got kids your age And they're kind of going through the things that you go through and college and all that, and you're here and all that get to college and, and as a, as a parent, I hear all these influences, and I've seen TV they've grown up in church and they have relationships, God and all this. And it's very much intentional by design. And I think it's a part of our family and there, is it hard to be a young person in school, that's just my perception as as a as a boomer or whatever it is older, is it? Is it? Is it? Is it difficult to maintain your faith in the current?

World? Yeah. I would say that it's not for me, just because I surround myself with people that said, faith based will tell you of every, there's so many guys that are so faith driven. And it's really been awesome. Just to see a lot of people's lives get changed. Really, within the past year, we have a really good leadership group with Carter, Craig have Charlie Hodges. And they started up SDA again here at ECU, which is Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and they have a Bible study for the team, other Bible studies outside of the community with those guys as well. And so it's really easy to me to say faith driven, but I could see where someone else wouldn't be. But, I mean, as long as you keep him no more in your life, and that's where your focus is, I think that it's pretty easy to keep that and stay fed Drew,

can you give me some? Give me some, some help with this, right? So somewhere out there as a person who's listening to this, who is where you were? After you got stabilized in that hospital, and they have all the questions and all the fears. And all the concerns, you know, it might be a little bit different, but I mean it to me, I try to put myself in that person's position is what's going to happen to me? What's gonna happen, my family? What's my life gonna look like in the future? What am I going into? Am I going to be able to be independent and do the things that I wanted to do, that I had planned to do? What are the things? What are the tools that those people have that might be helpful to them? And what advice would you give to them?

I would say take it day by day and just get 1% better each and every day. It trust in God, that his plans better and ours. But for me, my mindset kind of change to the what's next mindset with when I was in the hospital, what's next is what when's the next surgery? And when can I get out of here? When can I get hit? And again, when can I get my leg? Really all of it. And that's kind of what I relied on. And I just kept relied on his purpose of the word and I got really deep into the Bible and Draza his plan is bigger than ours. And I know I keep saying that. But that was the biggest thing for me and rosin that his plans not to harm us, I really relied on Jeremiah 2911 at a time, which is basically saying that his players are prosperous about the harvest, they will give us hope in their future. So I would say that, definitely just relying on that and to rely on that everything will get better. And that as long as you work hard each and every day that it had that 1% better mindset, which basically means I'll just get 1% better each and every day, that things will eventually get to where you want to be.

So Parker, let me ask you this. What's what's next for you? What's next for you, athletically, academically in terms of your, your mission to help other people and helping inspire other people?

Yeah, so I mean, right now, it's just a season. All I told you that this suburb was terrible, and they were looking forward to that. And then there's just a lot of speaking engagements and traveling across really America just to speak and to inspire others.

Where can we find you? Where can we how can we follow your career and your pursuit of these objectives?

Yeah, so my Instagram is Parker Byrd, Pa RK R N dy or dy and but it's a d at the end too. So Parker, Berta, two Ds, and then my ex or Twitter, whatever it is, though, is Parker Bert 11. So just Parker Berg at 11am. And I have a website as well for public speaking engagements that just actually posted, which is www dot. Parkersburg. sixty.com

Yeah, we'll put a put a link to that in the perfect at the end of this. Hey, man, thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us I think is going to be helpful to a lot of people. So we will look forward to following your career in baseball and beyond. Thank you so much.

I appreciate you have a great day. All right, you too.

Thank you for joining us, and we'll see you next time.

Welcome to the catastrophic comeback podcast with American Injury Lawyer Clark speaks, helping you find hope, purpose and joy after a catastrophic injury.

Okay, well, so, so that yeah, so that's, that's interesting. So there's two things. I'd like to talk to you about a little bit about your recovery process. But two things are jumping out at me as you're talking about it. And that is the things that help you through these really what a lot of people have described in other contexts and other conversations I've had is really sort of dark and difficult times. Those times don't seem to be your focus, your focus seems to be your attitude during this process, your mindset during this process, and also the support system that you have through this process. And then And then also, it seems to be to be important that you have that you seem to be a goal focused, goal oriented person. So if the goal initially was to play in Major League Baseball, and that was your goal, then you have, in a very short period of time redefined your goal system to where your goal is actually to be the first division one player to play with a prosthetic leg and that transitions in this conversation is quick in, in my write about those three keys. Yeah,

I mean, definitely, I think whenever challenges like this in life can't hit, that you just carry, adjust your life. And that's kind of what I did. Because like I said, baseball was my wife before by accident, and I was that it could still be my wife after that, obviously, lives vigor, just baseball. And I kind of think that's how my My accident happened in my Outlook, I was bigger than just baseball now, that would say that still living to expire, living to play baseball, I think that's really my purpose in life is to inspire others. And that's just through baseball at the time being, but I mean, I can be through Paralympics, which I want to do one day, or just totally speaking in general, and just going out and telling my story. So I would say that my mom's day, it was probably quicker than others. But like I said, that was just from my support system I had and that was really just key to my recovery was my family being there, the community group will be here that to me larbert, or just support me and show him love. And many people out there just given their kind of wishes and prayers, and just trusting in the Lord and knowing that is wills better than ours.

That brings up several things. I've talked to some other people who have had similar experiences. And in those conversations, one of the things that that comes up as something that seems to be very helpful to people who are going through something like this is the concept of once they get a handle on their situation, then it becomes very important to them to turn around and help other people. And, and that seems to be a part of your focus as well. Yeah,

definitely. I think that that's just the positive outlook, or just because they I guess people are going through similar accidents of mind or just life altering things. They realize that people that go through that need support, they need help. Because there's a lot of questions and guidance is really needed. And to me, I had people in my life that had been through my accident or been through things such as my accident. That kind of guided me in a way that needed to go and just return that favorite other people was kind of, I guess what I'm trying to do, and I guess that's what other people try to do as well. And just trying to help that next generation of people that go through tragic, tragic accidents, telling them that, hey, life's gonna be okay. That is probably probably really dirt right now. But the end goal is a lot better than his plan is a lot better than ours and just trusting Him in His time is key.

Well, so. So yeah, that's it. That's great. Let me ask you this. You talked about the support system and the support that you got in the community. I've been connected to East Carolina, in various ways for a long time. You know, when I went to school there, love the place love the people of the community. I don't, and we was there for lots of different things from the Peach Bowl all the way through, you know, all kinds of different situations. I don't remember seeing them rally around an individual person to the extent that they rather rallied around you and the emotion and inspiration that Brought to that community. More than you, in fact, recently, you actually, so the update is please, on your participation with East Carolina basketball, and I'm sorry, East Carolina baseball, kind of where you are with that.

Yeah, I'm fullback. I mean, I'm doing everything everybody else is doing on the 40 man roster. And so I'm full participation in practice in the game. So I'm back full time. And just like everybody else.

Well, so recently. So you actually, were in a game, you had an A bat at bat. And, and I saw I had friends that were there. I was not there. I had friends that were there. And from what I understand the place went bananas when you got up to bat is this. Can you tell us about that?

Yeah, I mean, it was cool moment. This is pirate bay should be a part nation. And I feel like my stories part of their story as well, just because they go through with me, just to Dallas, I'm outside just support me. But they were there the whole time. And that's why people commit here. It's because a fans like pirate nation. But I mean, I got the call in the eighth inning that was going up to the plate. Second, that ended and I went out there. And before I could even step foot out of the dugout, and the fans were waiting for it. And I was on deck and they were going crazy from the end. And then also my name was called over the intercom and I was set for that box. It was a special moment for sure. Have

you have you been getting support from people outside of the community that you wouldn't expect to that are maybe distant pirate supporters or other people that maybe that you wouldn't have expected to hear from?

Yeah, I mean, my story just, I guess blown up. But reaching so many people, I mean, I've got a call from Donald Trump. I've got tweets from Mark Cuban, the headline, just people that never I never thought would ever say my name. And just hear those guys support me. And let me let me know how inspirational my story is they have as really cool. Just seeing the impact I've had on the nation. Oh,

for sure. Yeah. So I can understand that. And, and, and I'm one of those people, you know, and I'm being like, it's like, you know, we try to do here, you know, our mission is to help people recover physically, financially, emotionally from these kinds of things. And it became very important for us to have you on when we started learning about your story and the inspiration that you've had on other people. And one of the things that's big part of our program is faith. And because faith is important to me, and I think it can be something that is really helpful to people, you described a scenario where you had the support of your family, your parents, your sisters, not everybody has those things. But everybody has, in my opinion has has the option has the option opportunity to reach out and ask God to help them through these difficult situations. And it can you tell me, how has your faith evolved? Or how can you tell me what part faith has had in this journey for you?

Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's the only reason I'm here today was because of God and him saving me but I was a really big Christian beforehand. But after it accidentally mind and just seeing the god moments in my accident, really he was there every step of the way, where I'll tell you every step on a mouse currently be there that day, that nurse being on that boat, my parents blood, a tire on 74 on the way here and Hispanic tire shop and 600 feet away from where they are and only have one tire to fit my dad's car that day on a 4pm on a Saturday. I mean, it's just so many moments, were just God moments. And I would say my faith has definitely grown since then, just because I mean, there's no denying that is real. And when I think he saves you literally, I think that you have a different appreciation. But I mean, I'm still the same same guy, same faith driven guy that was beforehand and just spreading that gospel down and sharing his goodness is the main key and my wife. And I would say that he definitely put things in perspective to me, because I really did live for baseball before the accident. And that's really whilst driving my wife with every weekend I was somewhere with some with baseball and never really put Him first but now I mean, that's the main goal in life is just to make it to heaven and to inspire others along the way.

So let me ask you when we when I see. So I've got kids that are about your age. And matter of fact, I've been thinking I wonder if I went to school with your dad, you know, but in any event I've got kids your age And they're kind of going through the things that you go through and college and all that, and you're here and all that get to college and, and as a, as a parent, I hear all these influences, and I've seen TV they've grown up in church and they have relationships, God and all this. And it's very much intentional by design. And I think it's a part of our family and there, is it hard to be a young person in school, that's just my perception as as a as a boomer or whatever it is older, is it? Is it? Is it? Is it difficult to maintain your faith in the current?

World? Yeah. I would say that it's not for me, just because I surround myself with people that said, faith based will tell you of every, there's so many guys that are so faith driven. And it's really been awesome. Just to see a lot of people's lives get changed. Really, within the past year, we have a really good leadership group with Carter, Craig have Charlie Hodges. And they started up SDA again here at ECU, which is Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and they have a Bible study for the team, other Bible studies outside of the community with those guys as well. And so it's really easy to me to say faith driven, but I could see where someone else wouldn't be. But, I mean, as long as you keep him no more in your life, and that's where your focus is, I think that it's pretty easy to keep that and stay fed Drew,

can you give me some? Give me some, some help with this, right? So somewhere out there as a person who's listening to this, who is where you were? After you got stabilized in that hospital, and they have all the questions and all the fears. And all the concerns, you know, it might be a little bit different, but I mean it to me, I try to put myself in that person's position is what's going to happen to me? What's gonna happen, my family? What's my life gonna look like in the future? What am I going into? Am I going to be able to be independent and do the things that I wanted to do, that I had planned to do? What are the things? What are the tools that those people have that might be helpful to them? And what advice would you give to them?

I would say take it day by day and just get 1% better each and every day. It trust in God, that his plans better and ours. But for me, my mindset kind of change to the what's next mindset with when I was in the hospital, what's next is what when's the next surgery? And when can I get out of here? When can I get hit? And again, when can I get my leg? Really all of it. And that's kind of what I relied on. And I just kept relied on his purpose of the word and I got really deep into the Bible and Draza his plan is bigger than ours. And I know I keep saying that. But that was the biggest thing for me and rosin that his plans not to harm us, I really relied on Jeremiah 2911 at a time, which is basically saying that his players are prosperous about the harvest, they will give us hope in their future. So I would say that, definitely just relying on that and to rely on that everything will get better. And that as long as you work hard each and every day that it had that 1% better mindset, which basically means I'll just get 1% better each and every day, that things will eventually get to where you want to be.

So Parker, let me ask you this. What's what's next for you? What's next for you, athletically, academically in terms of your, your mission to help other people and helping inspire other people?

Yeah, so I mean, right now, it's just a season. All I told you that this suburb was terrible, and they were looking forward to that. And then there's just a lot of speaking engagements and traveling across really America just to speak and to inspire others.

Where can we find you? Where can we how can we follow your career and your pursuit of these objectives?

Yeah, so my Instagram is Parker Byrd, Pa RK R N dy or dy and but it's a d at the end too. So Parker, Berta, two Ds, and then my ex or Twitter, whatever it is, though, is Parker Bert 11. So just Parker Berg at 11am. And I have a website as well for public speaking engagements that just actually posted, which is www dot. Parkersburg. sixty.com

Yeah, we'll put a put a link to that in the perfect at the end of this. Hey, man, thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us I think is going to be helpful to a lot of people. So we will look forward to following your career in baseball and beyond. Thank you so much.

I appreciate you have a great day. All right, you too.

Thank you for joining us, and we'll see you next time.