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I'm 1/2 the man i used to be....

man thats a bad story, but im glad to see/hear you're still here with us, welcome back to the board, and may i say, if something like that ever happened to me, i hope that i can be half the man you are to have the gusto to get with the program and move on with my life, as you did, congrats on being a survivor!!
 
Mad-Dog said:
Not sure how many of you remember me from way back, but i wanted to drop in and tell ya what's been going on with my life.
May 14 of this year i was out riding my motorcycle down in Sebring, Fl and was hit, knocked down and run-over by a care-less motorist..
6 broken ribs, broken collar-bone, shoulder-blade, acetabulum, sacreum, right hand in 2 places, hip/pelvis in 3 places, broken back, bruised spleen, collapsed lung (left side) and severed spinal cord at T-12..
3 months at Tampa General and 3 more months at the VA hospital in San Antonio, Tx and i am starting a new life here in Tx with my parents.
The accident left me paralyzed from the waist down and i spend most of my time in bed or my wheelchair.
I picked up a 4wd Chevy Van and put a wheelchair lift on it so i can continue cherishing my love for Chevy's and the great outdoors.
I'm 1/2 the man i used to be and saw the end of my previous life, now i am watching my new life unfold in front of me.
Needless to say the wreck left me financially secure for the rest of my life so I'm retired now and just enjoy the simple things in life....Take er easy
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Welcome back Mad-Dog!

It sounds like you have the right attitude about things....you don't get a choice about the wheelchair, but you can certainly choose how you deal with things from now on......either by being bitter, or by adapting to your situation and moving on.

If you still have the passion for 4x4s, I think it would be bitchin' to build a truck with hand controls (why not!). Maybe something with an airbag setup so that you could lower it to get in and out more easily?? :thinking: I think something like that would be a great project, and could really be great therapy......

Something to think about. I'll bet people here would be pretty excited to see THAT buildup thread!!! :thumb:
 
your nor half a man your THE MAN. I am glad your health is improving and I am glad that you are storng enough to overcome. My thoughts are with you. Remember that you are not alone. Many of us are handicapped or have handicapped family members and we will support you like we do them. GOD bless!!!!
 
Sorry to hear about the acident. Your outlook is inspiration to us all. If you are ever up near Dallas give me a ring.
 
Greg72 said:
It sounds like you have the right attitude about things....you don't get a choice about the wheelchair, but you can certainly choose how you deal with things from now on......either by being bitter, or by adapting to your situation and moving on.

If you still have the passion for 4x4s, I think it would be bitchin' to build a truck with hand controls (why not!). Maybe something with an airbag setup so that you could lower it to get in and out more easily?? :thinking: I think something like that would be a great project, and could really be great therapy......

Something to think about. I'll bet people here would be pretty excited to see THAT buildup thread!!! :thumb:
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^^ what he said. Welcome back.
 
I feel for you!! I took a hit in 97 , a month in the hospital and two months in bed and then three month in a wheelchair. I can't imagine what you are going though . It sounds like you have a strong family and that makes all the differance in the world . Stay in touch with the world and keep the dark thoughts away , it will be hard at times , don't push people away , and the most important thing remember you are still alive!!!!!Keep the faith!!!!!
 
god bless you man!! i hope your a christian, we all are slinging that term at him and it maybe offensive to him, just like to know. you make me look at the brighter side of life
i have a broken back also, in 2 places, but thank God i didn't severe my cord. i cut a few nervers tho and have a bad left leg. i have good days and my bad days, but i'm not in a chair, so next time i'm feeling bad for myself i will think of you!!
i've heard of people relearning to walk, the nerves they still had, actually started to grow and carry the nerve impulses to make his legs work and they said he would never walk again, whithin 3 yrs. he was running in marathons, may such a miracle befall on you!!!
did you sever it completly, did they put any back together to your lower extremities, because i've heard more than once nerves will learn to take over for others, and maybe you can be a miracle, in a way you already are, for having such convidence and good outlook on life, i mean already bought you a 4x4 van, you are an inspiration to use all!!!
 
I never had anything as bad as you , but I know what your spirit is going though , and no i'm not a religious person But there's many kinds of faith! I've been to the dark places in my mind , don't stay there!!Don't ever give up!!There is life , there is chance . Don't wait for it , go out and find it.
 
Glad to hear you are back in the game and on the board!! Attitude is everything and you are an inspiration to all. Also a reality check when some of us get down because of small setbacks. thanks for sharing!!
 
damn, im glad you didnt get killed! sorry you ended up a little disabled though. i pass through forida on vacation about once a year id be glad to swing by while im down there to give you a hand working on the van beast. best of luck to you and your family!
 
ntsqd said:
Friend of mine is in a chair. Has been for 15+ years. Drives an S-10 in desert races that he pretty much built himself starting about 3 years ago. His favorite saying is "Walking is over-rated."
:bow:
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biiillllyyy:D
 
i agree with everyone, glad you have a positive outlook. build a killer van man!
 
PeteH said:
biiillllyyy:D
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Nope, Javier Avila.
But both guys are inspirations to me.
Avila_04835.jpg


Must be a sympathy thing, both Billy & Javier always seem to have the Ladies hanging on them. Or sitting on their lap :thinking: :thinking:
 
Unfotunate to her about your accident, I always hate hearing when fellow riders are paralyzed. I love your attitude though, I hope nothing like that happens to me but if it does I only hope I will have your strength and attitude to continue on. Im also happy to hear that financially youll be ok. Too many times are people left to pick up the pieces because someone was careless.
 
sorry to hear about the wreak. im sure others have expressed what we all are thinking. im realy interested in the van i passed up a 1983 chevy 3/4t van (although it had a ford d60 and a 14bff and a borgwarner x-case) this summer for $1600. it was a little rough but i still think i shoulda bought it it. was basicaly a work truck stripped down version. but had all doors rather than a side slider, and lots of windows it was also the long wheel base. i would have made a go-anywhere RV if i had bought it. but the last thing i need is another project. so ill live vicariously though your build up.

balzer
 
Hope your still glad to be with us man. I was hit by someone that couldn't see a headlight one night. Wasn't near as bad as yours but every step still hurts after 3 1/2 years. Worst part is i had to change jobs body won't keep up. Good chance i'll end up not being able to use my legs before the rest of me gives out. Always wanted to get back in the saddle. But wife and friends talked me into a K5 rather than a ducati. That's how i wound up here, but Hay but it's got a Vortec 350 and 4" lift so guess it's not that bad.
Recomend that upgrade to anyone building a project. Even the Van.
 
Everything I wanted to say has already been addressed in previous replies, but I will say "Thank you" for taking the time to share your story with us. It should make us all realize how good we've got it, no matter how bad things might seem.

Make sure you stop by every so often and say "Hi". Once a CK5er, always a CK5er......:bow: :bow:
 
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