Teenage stupidity at its best

[_paralyzed_]

Well, there isn't a whole lot to it. It happened on August 13th 2001, at about 1pm. A bright and warm summer day. I was sober as a judge.

I was heading to my parents house, so it was a very comfortable road for me. I dropped the hammer on my little ricer and was doing about 90mph up a large hill. On that same hill was an old farm semi pulling a fully loaded grain trailer, dropping gears and only going about 10mph. I nailed the back of his trailer. He only stopped because he thought he "blew a tire or something"

That day is gone from my memory. I've peiced as much together as I just told you from people that saw me that day and the accident report. I can only imagine I was fiddling with the radio. Like they say, most accidents occur close to home, where you are comfortable and drop your guard.

Now, the crazy part is that I never injured my spine. I was airlifted to the nearest trauma center, and actually was helped to WALK to the helicopter. But not wearing a seatbelt and slamming into the steering wheel made my heart slosh around in my chest, and my aorta was ripped from my heart. During the ensuing heart surgery no oxygen flowed to my spine, and it was oxygen deprivation that caused my paralysis.

I was told that the survival rate of an aortic dissection is less than 3% nationwide.

They knew ther was like a 30% chance that the heart surgery would cause paralysis, but it was that or die.

So I was paralyzed from the chest down as I am today, but 3 days after the heart surgery I was awake and had full normal use of my arms. I fed myself, I signed things, I was ready to get on with life. Then my brain started to swell, and I slowly lost my arm movement. By day 5 after the accident I was completely paralyzed from the neck down, hooked to breathing machines and a feeding tube was placed in my stomach. Nobody could say if I'd ever get any better.

For the next 4 months I was completely paralyzed. At this point the brain swelling had gone down, and a doctor asked me if I could move my fingers. I knew I couldn't, so I mouthed NO! to him and sent him out of my room.

The next day my mom asked me, "did you even try to move your fingers?". The answer was no. So I tried and miraculously I could move them a little bit. From there it was 6 months in a rehab hospital regaining use of my hands and arms, and then 11 months in a rehab center.

To this day I have no feeling in my hands (I can't reach in a bag of chips and grab one, I need to be able to see it) and have a weak upper body, but compared to a lot of people I am very fortunate to have the arm and hand use that I have. I am classified as a c-5 quadriplegic. I am completely dead from the nipples down.

(quadriplegic does not mean full paralysis, rather if you split the body into four quadrants all four of those quadrants have been affected by my particular paralysis, just not completely on my upper half)

So, here I am today 8 1/2 years out and I'm doing okay. I've spent most of the last 2 1/2 years on bedrest because of pressure sores, but I am alive. I just got a new wheelchair with a custom built seat that is supposed to help alleviate the pressure sores, so I'm hopeful to get up and about and live as much life as is possible.

The custom back was over $6,000 and the wheelchair was over $23,000. Say what you will about the U.S. government and taxes, without either I'd be rotting away in a corner.

That's a summary of the last 8 1/2 years of my life. Any questions?

I'll just shut up now except to say "Wear your seatbelt kids"

[PBO]

Harold, I applaud you for sharing your story with us. Looking at your car, I'm amazed you're even alive & the statistics you've used agree with me

It's not much I know (& I'm sure I speak on behalf of many others) but how you handle yourself & the humour you employ in doing so is both humbling & inspiring

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by PBO

It's not much I know (& I'm sure I speak on behalf of many others) but how you handle yourself & the humour you employ in doing so is both humbling & inspiring

Thanks. I was pretty arrogant before my accident, and wouldn't be who I am today without my lifes experiences. There are so many right here in this great country that have it way worse off than I do. I have good friend and family support, and many lacked even that when I was in the rehab center, despite greater injuries than I had.

And then to think of third world countries where I simply would have been written off makes me realize I am lucky.

It could always be worse.

Friends and family are what life is about, be the best person you can be, then in a time of need they will be there for you.

[PBO]

See, that's what I'm talking about

[JERRY2KONE]

Well Harold thank you very much for sharing your story with us. Now we finally have an idea of what you have been through and why you are dealing with such tough circumstances. Considering what you have been through and what you have had to deal with you are a great source of encouragement, knowledge, and humor to all of us here on RCM. We are glad that you are here with us and not haging around at the TRX forum. We all know that there have been some on here who have come and gone and even come back again, and we hardly missed them. Then there are Gents like yourself who make comming to RCM everyday part of our regular routine worth while. Please stick around and keep us in stiches as you usually do Sir. We can only pray that young men like yourself would listen to us old folk and learn from our experiences so things like that could be avoided. I am happy to know that you are doing as well as can be expected considering. So get some pics of that new HOTROD you are running around in and let us see what our hard earned tax dollars are going to. snap snap get a move on since we know you can get around much faster now.

I don't mind my tax dollars helping people like Harold. This those fat ass lazy SOB's sitting at their apartments with a slight leg injury and 4 kids while watching there 42" plasma from Wal-Mart courtesy of me.

[pinkpanda3310]

I remember you telling us some of this story before and at the end had some questions like 'why, what does it all mean?'. That's a pretty braod question but I think snippets like this can help fill the gap. To hear about someone growing as a person warms the heart, no matter what walk of life.

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Thanks. I was pretty arrogant before my accident, and wouldn't be who I am today without my lifes experiences. There are so many right here in this great country that have it way worse off than I do. I have good friend and family support, and many lacked even that when I was in the rehab center, despite greater injuries than I had.

And then to think of third world countries where I simply would have been written off makes me realize I am lucky.

It could always be worse.

Friends and family are what life is about, be the best person you can be, then in a time of need they will be there for you.

I didn't know you had no feeling in your hands. Does that make it hard when your fiddling with screws etc.. in rc? and what about typing posts? I made a joke recently about your paralyzed hands, didn't know how close I was. Upside is- when you have a domestic with linc and bitch slap him, it don't sting

[JERRY2KONE]

Now that was funny. Made me laugh thinking about Harold wearing a dress bitch slapping James around the parking lot. Sorry James you know it was funny. Sorry for your pain and your losses Harold. Nothing we can do about that now, but you are here with good people and if there is anything that we can you to help you out, please post up. I've never even met you, but I consider you my friend Sir. I hope whatever God has in mind for you that it makes you feel proud of who you have become. Your positive slant on things is what makes me like who you are. Glad your hanging out here with us.

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by pinkpanda3310

I didn't know you had no feeling in your hands. Does that make it hard when your fiddling with screws etc.. in rc? and what about typing posts? I made a joke recently about your paralyzed hands, didn't know how close I was. Upside is- when you have a domestic with linc and bitch slap him, it don't sting

Yeah, it makes things more difficult. So much of any mechanical situation is done by feel. So it takes me a little longer. I've always been a "hunt and peck" typer so that isn't a lot different.

Because of muscle memory I'm pretty decent with a remote now, but until my muscles learned I had to look up at the r/c then down at the remote and repeat that over and over again. Occasionly I'd look down and the remote had dropped to my lap. Woops!

Linc fully takes advantage of my hands. I don't know what else to say about that.

[Bondonutz]

Unbeleivable, Your certainly lucky to be here at all Harold.
If thats not a reason to wear a seltbelt I don't know what is.
Your a hellava man to take what life has handed you and make the the best of it, I commend you sir. Takes a special frame of mind that not all folks have to continue on and live a normal as possible with the disability you have. I know I couldn't do it.
Thanks for sharing the story, You have my respect sir.

[pinkpanda3310]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Because of muscle memory I'm pretty decent with a remote now, but until my muscles learned I had to look up at the r/c then down at the remote and repeat that over and over again. Occasionly I'd look down and the remote had dropped to my lap. Woops!

Shizz, that's a whole nother thing. IIRC you have g-maxx's, yeh? Now I understand why you want the strongest possible car and I reckon I'd like to go bashin with ya just for the laugh

[_paralyzed_]

Thanks Bondo!

Panda- I'm always happy to have another bash partner (if the r/c flips on it's lid I need someone to flip it back over!)

[pinkpanda3310]

I'll just click my heels three times and come from Oz!

[Serum]

Unbelievable Harold. The fact that it got worse after the accident, first the ability to walk, then the brain swelling causing the numbness. That's one heart tearing happening. No airbags, no seatbelts. You are still here, that's unbelievable. an 80mph crash..

Unbelievable what such a short period of time can cause for impact. My deepest respect for your positive attitude!

My sister, who isn't among us anymore, had an accident, (hit by a drunk driver when crossing the street) she was in a coma for a few months, and needed to learn everything from start again. (walking, writing) She was right handed, but this side was worse, so she had to learn everything to become a lefty.. she had the mind of a 12 year old. (this is how old she was when the accident happened)