Date of Injury: 5/3/2017

Cause of Injury: Biking accident

VVF Scholarship: Recovery Training Sessions

What are you Facing, Embracing, Defying and Conquering? While vacationing with friends in Maui, HI, I participated in the popular tourist attraction of biking down Haleakala Volcano at sunrise on the morning of May 3rd, 2017. While making my way down through those steep switchbacks, witnesses state that I hit the guardrail, which broke my full-faced helmet, leaving a deep hole on the side of my head, just missing my eye. The impact of my fall broke my back, pinching my spinal cord, breaking my clavicle and three ribs. I was given, by the doctors, less than 3% chance of any movement below my line of injury.

How do you FACE it? I understood that I had a serious injury and heard the doctor’s opinion that I would never walk again.

How do you EMBRACE it? I took the doctor’s opinion and researched all potential options available for me and this injury.

How do you DEFY it? I found an option with SCI-FIT that tells me and confirms that hard work leads to results.

How do you CONQUER it? I conquer it with realistic measurable goals understanding that progress will be in small increments. I understand that this is as much mental as it is physical- positivity is a must!

What does this scholarship from VVF mean to you? The Victory Scholarship allows me to train my hardest and see my full potential without the financial burden. It will allow me to expand my already existing plan with my trainers from SCI-FIT working towards my goals and increasing my potential recovery.