Ep 56: Overcoming the Odds to Recover from a Catastrophic Back Injury

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

Let me ask you this, if there is, so let's say somebody's listening to you right now, and they're at the beginning of this journey, they have just found out that they have a serious injury, you know, whether it's, you know, broken back, or a spinal injury, or some mobility, issue of paralysis, or quadriplegia, or lost limb or whatever. And they're at the beginning of that, and they're in a dark place, you know, and we could talk to him right now, what would you say?

I would say is, the number one thing is stay positive. As much as you can just think about the positive things, there's going to be bad days. But there's gonna be more good days and bad days.

One of the things that you said before we started recording was, you know, that gratitude was a part of it, and just being grateful to be alive.

grateful to be alive. Because if it works, it can be 10 times

worse. One of the things that you said about is is, is to stay motivated and stay and to stay positive. What are the things that you try to do to stay motivated and be positive?

I'm, basically just try to push myself. I mean, I've never really liked, like sitting down in the house. And like, if past the sun outside, I'm, I'm outside doing some. So is

that still the case now? So, so in terms of staying positive, what would you focus on in order to try to mean what you just did you sort of picture? Okay, I'm going to, I'm going to be able to hunt again, I'm going to be able to fish again. I'm going to be able to play with my daughter? Did you did you focus on what did you focus on in order to try to maintain that motivation? I'm

just trying trying to figure out ways I can do things? And Dang, if somebody tells me I can't do something?

Is that the motivation for you? Yes, sir.

Nobody says that anymore.

Oh, yeah, I bet so well. So I want to talk to you about that. When you were

in hospital, there were people that told you, hey, going forward, you're not going to be able to do a and b and c, what were the things they told you you were not going to be able to do? They

said that it was probably a 90% chance that I'd been in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I'd probably never walk again, that I might not be able to have kids again. And all like, basically all negative stuff. And I've never before, I didn't go to a doctor unless I was deathly sick. You know what I mean? So I didn't really believe him at all, believe him, then person, a doctor in a wheelchair, came in and said I would never walk again. And I got kind of frustrated. Because I mean, like, man, you're in the same situation as me. Well, why would you? Who would say that? You know what I mean? I would never say to somebody in a wheelchair. Yeah, I know what you mean. So, and that just gave me more motivation. I mean, I wish I could see that duck. You know, I'd walk in with a dang walk.

That's cool, man. Well, so. Okay, so So how has that changed? Right? So that was what they told you what's been your reality?

I don't basically try to prove them wrong.

So what are some of the things that you're able to do now that they would have, they would be surprised to see me

walking with a walker? moving my legs may lift my legs. I mean, being able to crawl? what's

your what's your day to day look like? Are you I mean, the way that they had it pictured, you know, you'd be sitting in a house in a dark corner somewhere with a blanket, you know, and watching TV and getting fat. You know, what's your reality been like?

Well, first of all, I couldn't get fat if I tried. But I'm out day to day, I'm either going to own some property, I'd go to the land and just do whatever passes on the needs done to do it. And I've been fishing a lot with my buddy. We've been in a couple of fishing tournaments. And

so you just told me before we got on that you almost you had a cat fish tournament one.

Yeah, it was a it was a bowfin turn. Oh, yeah. We had probably 11 or 12 fish on the boat. And one big cat fish and yeah, it was running good the whole time and on the way back at school. Do you hot? Yeah. Anything that's in season is basically there on my land. Because my land backs up to the Holly's shelter game lens, there's any thing you could possibly do you enjoy spending time with your daughter, man, that's my number one. If I get any minute with her this, I'll drop whatever I'm doing.

In fact, we were supposed to do this on Monday, and you guys are spending the day together. So if somebody is in this sort of situation where they're waking up in a hospital room, and they get bad news, and this is like a dark time for them, what you're telling me is that these limitations that they're being told about are artificial. Every

spinal cord, every injury is different. You can, some people could tell you that and you'd be walking out of the hospital in 10 days. But I'm not gonna some people might be, that might actually be true, you're not able to walk anymore for the rest of your life, but you don't need it. Your body is different, and they don't know your body what you did before. So

what sounds like also, that what you're saying is that whatever your limitations are, they might not be permanent, and won't be able to be improved. Exactly. With effort with motivation with proper medical attention. But also, even with some limitations, you can still have an awesome life going for. And so a lot of it has to do with maybe mindset and how you approach this.

Most of his mindset, if you do want something, you'll figure out a way. Let

me ask you, during the course of your of this of this journey, have you met other people who you found to be inspirational? Yeah,

I'm not a lot. I played basketball, wheelchair basketball for a couple years. And I met a lot of people there. And there was all cool. There, I still talk to him and stuff. And I volunteer at the hospital for my, my guidance, or my guidance counselor. My counselor works there as a counselor there. So she has like a spinal cord patient, this kind of like in my situation, I would go up there and talk to him.

Did you find that helpful when you were in the recovery phase?

Yeah. Is I mean, it's fun. Because I mean, just basically tell people, same thing I'm doing here, you know what I mean, is it's not the end of anything, starting with some.

Okay. And then. And then let me ask you is, is that helpful to you now to go back and talk to those guys? Yeah.

I try to do anything I can for like, I look for handicapped people. I volunteer with the North Carolina handicap, Sportsman's Association. And if somebody like that don't have the means or the place to hunt, they, I let them come to my lane and let them hunt and stuff. Wow.

And so So I see that because you and I are friends on social media, and see how you try to develop that part. Because I imagine there's, there's some parts of society that are really well developed for people with sort of physical limitations in some part or less developed. Hunting is a place where I have seen it's probably been under underdeveloped there, sir. Yeah. And I see that you're proactive in that. Yeah.

I try to try to do whatever I can. Because that when I'm out there, it's the most happiness you were thinking about. Nothing. paralysis or anything. You just sitting in the woods, listen to? Birds, you know?

Yeah. How about as you feel the same way about fishing?

Yeah. I mean, I've been on the water my dad was, my dad is about mechanics. I've been on the water since I was about four driving boats and stuff. And that's probably never gonna change. I love being out there.

Other than medical professionals, who else has been helpful to you through on this journey?

I've had a couple of good friends. You know what I mean, that helped me if I need something heavy lifted up the house or you know, I'm saying just other stuff, I can't really do you know, me.

Are these people that that you communicated with? And, and they were they support you through this? The whole process from the very beginning? Yeah, I say, how important is it to have a network of friends and family that that can help you through this process

is important as important because mean, do thank you. I mean, I guess I had the mentality of I can do everything myself, but the reality is, I can't like you're going to need help sooner or later with something. So yeah, that's a big part of is having a network around us stable and good, good people. The

results of your particular legal case was confidential. So we won't talk about that. But can you tell me generally what that legal process was like?

It was basically, long time waiting and sitting in a room and then I get a piece of paper and I just, I know what it is, and I know what I could do with it. I can either take it to my bank account, or I could take it to somebody who knows what they're doing with it. So I just take the Financial Group and let them have and tell them to not tell me when it's doing good, not telling them what it's doing bad.

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.

Let me ask you this, if there is, so let's say somebody's listening to you right now, and they're at the beginning of this journey, they have just found out that they have a serious injury, you know, whether it's, you know, broken back, or a spinal injury, or some mobility, issue of paralysis, or quadriplegia, or lost limb or whatever. And they're at the beginning of that, and they're in a dark place, you know, and we could talk to him right now, what would you say?

I would say is, the number one thing is stay positive. As much as you can just think about the positive things, there's going to be bad days. But there's gonna be more good days and bad days.

One of the things that you said before we started recording was, you know, that gratitude was a part of it, and just being grateful to be alive.

grateful to be alive. Because if it works, it can be 10 times

worse. One of the things that you said about is is, is to stay motivated and stay and to stay positive. What are the things that you try to do to stay motivated and be positive?

I'm, basically just try to push myself. I mean, I've never really liked, like sitting down in the house. And like, if past the sun outside, I'm, I'm outside doing some. So is

that still the case now? So, so in terms of staying positive, what would you focus on in order to try to mean what you just did you sort of picture? Okay, I'm going to, I'm going to be able to hunt again, I'm going to be able to fish again. I'm going to be able to play with my daughter? Did you did you focus on what did you focus on in order to try to maintain that motivation? I'm

just trying trying to figure out ways I can do things? And Dang, if somebody tells me I can't do something?

Is that the motivation for you? Yes, sir.

Nobody says that anymore.

Oh, yeah, I bet so well. So I want to talk to you about that. When you were

in hospital, there were people that told you, hey, going forward, you're not going to be able to do a and b and c, what were the things they told you you were not going to be able to do? They

said that it was probably a 90% chance that I'd been in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I'd probably never walk again, that I might not be able to have kids again. And all like, basically all negative stuff. And I've never before, I didn't go to a doctor unless I was deathly sick. You know what I mean? So I didn't really believe him at all, believe him, then person, a doctor in a wheelchair, came in and said I would never walk again. And I got kind of frustrated. Because I mean, like, man, you're in the same situation as me. Well, why would you? Who would say that? You know what I mean? I would never say to somebody in a wheelchair. Yeah, I know what you mean. So, and that just gave me more motivation. I mean, I wish I could see that duck. You know, I'd walk in with a dang walk.

That's cool, man. Well, so. Okay, so So how has that changed? Right? So that was what they told you what's been your reality?

I don't basically try to prove them wrong.

So what are some of the things that you're able to do now that they would have, they would be surprised to see me

walking with a walker? moving my legs may lift my legs. I mean, being able to crawl? what's

your what's your day to day look like? Are you I mean, the way that they had it pictured, you know, you'd be sitting in a house in a dark corner somewhere with a blanket, you know, and watching TV and getting fat. You know, what's your reality been like?

Well, first of all, I couldn't get fat if I tried. But I'm out day to day, I'm either going to own some property, I'd go to the land and just do whatever passes on the needs done to do it. And I've been fishing a lot with my buddy. We've been in a couple of fishing tournaments. And

so you just told me before we got on that you almost you had a cat fish tournament one.

Yeah, it was a it was a bowfin turn. Oh, yeah. We had probably 11 or 12 fish on the boat. And one big cat fish and yeah, it was running good the whole time and on the way back at school. Do you hot? Yeah. Anything that's in season is basically there on my land. Because my land backs up to the Holly's shelter game lens, there's any thing you could possibly do you enjoy spending time with your daughter, man, that's my number one. If I get any minute with her this, I'll drop whatever I'm doing.

In fact, we were supposed to do this on Monday, and you guys are spending the day together. So if somebody is in this sort of situation where they're waking up in a hospital room, and they get bad news, and this is like a dark time for them, what you're telling me is that these limitations that they're being told about are artificial. Every

spinal cord, every injury is different. You can, some people could tell you that and you'd be walking out of the hospital in 10 days. But I'm not gonna some people might be, that might actually be true, you're not able to walk anymore for the rest of your life, but you don't need it. Your body is different, and they don't know your body what you did before. So

what sounds like also, that what you're saying is that whatever your limitations are, they might not be permanent, and won't be able to be improved. Exactly. With effort with motivation with proper medical attention. But also, even with some limitations, you can still have an awesome life going for. And so a lot of it has to do with maybe mindset and how you approach this.

Most of his mindset, if you do want something, you'll figure out a way. Let

me ask you, during the course of your of this of this journey, have you met other people who you found to be inspirational? Yeah,

I'm not a lot. I played basketball, wheelchair basketball for a couple years. And I met a lot of people there. And there was all cool. There, I still talk to him and stuff. And I volunteer at the hospital for my, my guidance, or my guidance counselor. My counselor works there as a counselor there. So she has like a spinal cord patient, this kind of like in my situation, I would go up there and talk to him.

Did you find that helpful when you were in the recovery phase?

Yeah. Is I mean, it's fun. Because I mean, just basically tell people, same thing I'm doing here, you know what I mean, is it's not the end of anything, starting with some.

Okay. And then. And then let me ask you is, is that helpful to you now to go back and talk to those guys? Yeah.

I try to do anything I can for like, I look for handicapped people. I volunteer with the North Carolina handicap, Sportsman's Association. And if somebody like that don't have the means or the place to hunt, they, I let them come to my lane and let them hunt and stuff. Wow.

And so So I see that because you and I are friends on social media, and see how you try to develop that part. Because I imagine there's, there's some parts of society that are really well developed for people with sort of physical limitations in some part or less developed. Hunting is a place where I have seen it's probably been under underdeveloped there, sir. Yeah. And I see that you're proactive in that. Yeah.

I try to try to do whatever I can. Because that when I'm out there, it's the most happiness you were thinking about. Nothing. paralysis or anything. You just sitting in the woods, listen to? Birds, you know?

Yeah. How about as you feel the same way about fishing?

Yeah. I mean, I've been on the water my dad was, my dad is about mechanics. I've been on the water since I was about four driving boats and stuff. And that's probably never gonna change. I love being out there.

Other than medical professionals, who else has been helpful to you through on this journey?

I've had a couple of good friends. You know what I mean, that helped me if I need something heavy lifted up the house or you know, I'm saying just other stuff, I can't really do you know, me.

Are these people that that you communicated with? And, and they were they support you through this? The whole process from the very beginning? Yeah, I say, how important is it to have a network of friends and family that that can help you through this process

is important as important because mean, do thank you. I mean, I guess I had the mentality of I can do everything myself, but the reality is, I can't like you're going to need help sooner or later with something. So yeah, that's a big part of is having a network around us stable and good, good people. The

results of your particular legal case was confidential. So we won't talk about that. But can you tell me generally what that legal process was like?

It was basically, long time waiting and sitting in a room and then I get a piece of paper and I just, I know what it is, and I know what I could do with it. I can either take it to my bank account, or I could take it to somebody who knows what they're doing with it. So I just take the Financial Group and let them have and tell them to not tell me when it's doing good, not telling them what it's doing bad.

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