The Journey . . . my second chance

I hope everyone had  a happy Easter may God bless you all,  Im still training for the national wheelchair games my training is going very well and Im looking forward to competing. I'll keep you informed of my training all the way up until the end of the Games. 

On June 25, 2012, i'll be competing in the national wheelchair games in Richmond Va. the training has begun . I will not let you down wish me luck and pray for me. I'll keep you in formed on my progress  I want to thank everyone who has sponsored me and supports me. Thank you and God bless.

Sorry!  everyone i seem to have let myself and others down. but I've got my fire back and im ready to roll. im going to start fundraising again to help get me to china for stem-cell. i'll keep you in formed on future events. Im doing well God bless. talk to you soon!

It;s been awhile since my last posting. but for good reason. it's hard but here we go . im no longer married my wife now ex-wife thought it was time to move on. yes it was a bomb shell to me. but i always say i dont want to be with someone who doesn't want to be with me. so life moves on and we begin again. my life is good though i bought a place between two bodies of water down south fl and i do plenty of fishing God has really blessed me:) well. im getting a cool new wheelchair soon i ordered buccaneer colors it's so awesome!! i cant wait to get it. just saw my grandson this 4th of july he looks just like me so good looking!!!!! he so cool i love him so much.( at a distance lol!)  well im getting tired so ill shout at you soon!

     I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving. It's a good day to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for. I'm thankful for too many things to list here, but it's no secret to anyone that I'm most thankful for having Cindi in my life. I'm also thankful for having great kids (all 4 of them) and good friends. I am a blessed man.

     I've been enjoying my first Autumn in Virginia. This is a beautiful state. Summer was very mild, and I was able to sit outside most mornings and have my coffee. Fall has been mild, too, but it's finally starting to get cold. Cindi tells me I'll be freezing my rear off soon and it won't let up 'til March. Her favorite season is spring, so she's already waiting for that.

     We've adjusted well to our new life here - Cindi's gotten used to her new work routine, and I've gotten a pretty good handle on being "Mr. Mom." Olivia and I like desserts - probably too much. We're both into chocolate, so frequently find it necessary to whip up a batch of  brownies or chocolate muffins. Life is good.

     My daughter, Nikkie, came to visit in August, and I was so glad to see her. Hope she comes back soon! (Nikkie - are you reading this??)

     Also in August, Cindi and I made a quick trip back to Florida to attend a hearing. This was a criminal restitution hearing related to the July 2005 crash that left me paralyzed. The kid who hit me - now 21 - has been ordered to pay restitution with the purpose of paying off a major debt with the Daytona hospital I was in for a couple of months after the accident. It was very difficult to see him again - over 4 years have passed, but it's all very fresh in my mind when I have to face him. The fact that he was hoping to be relieved of this responsibility really makes me mad. His lawyer was trying to say maybe it wasn't the accident that lead to my paralysis! Let's see - I was WALKING when I left the theater and went out to my car. I was NOT walking when I woke up from a coma 3 weeks later.

     Cindi and I went to visit my son, Chris, over Labor Day weekend. He's in South Carolina. He and Jenny are expecting a baby in January so I'll soon be a grandfather. (I'm too young for this!!!) We spent one night there, and then went to Asheville, NC for a couple of days to celebrate our anniversary. We fell in love with that place! It's beautiful - a nice town surrounded by beautiful mountains.

     On Veterans Day, we were invited by the Paralyzed Veterans of America to attend a reception at the Mayflower Hotel in DC. It was a really nice event. I posted pictures in my Photo Gallery in an album called Veterans Day 2009. The highlight for me was the opportunity to meet Eric Shinseki, the US Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (There's a picture posted in the photo album.)

     That's it for now. Thanks to all who have signed my guestbook recently - I appreciate it so much. 

     I spoke at my stepson's middle school on March 20th. There were 3 separate assemblies - one for each grade. I loved it! The kids were totally quiet during my talk, and then I asked them if they had any questions. I told them they could ask anything they wanted. There were quite a few questions, but some were consistent from group to group. Across the board, the kids wanted to know (1) what happened to the teenager who hit me, (2) how I put my pants on, and (3) how I pee. It was pretty funny. That's what I get for telling them they could ask whatever they wanted! I've posted a few pictures in a new album on my Photos page called "Fruit Cove Middle School Visit." Check it out.

     My next speaking engagement is for the local Rotary Club. I'm still waiting for a final date for Creekside High School.

     Cindi and I went out to one of our favorite local restaurants last Friday night. It's called "Havana Jax" and they serve wonderful Cuban food. We go there about once a month or so. The maitre 'd there - Miguel - is so wonderful to us. When he sees us coming in, he rushes to greet us and takes us to a romantic corner table. He doesn't seat anyone else around us, and he waits on us himself. He's such a cool guy. He hardly speaks any English and I speak virtually no Spanish, but we manage to get by. Here's a picture he took of my beautiful wife and me, followed by one Cindi took of Miguel and me. These pictures are also posted on my Photos page in the "Me with Friends and Family" album, along with a few other new photos.

     I recently had the pleasure of meeting Danny Perkins for the first time. Danny is the founder of Bikers Against Drunk Drivers (B.A.D.D.). You may remember that BADD sponsored me on my cycling trip by making a $10,000 pledge to my cause. He was in Daytona for a few days just before Bike Week and he invited Cindi and I down to meet with him. It was great to finally meet the person who cared enough about my cause to make such a significant pledge. He had some great fundraising ideas for us which we're in the process of trying to make happen. Here's a picture of me with Danny. This photo is also posted in the "Sponsors" album on my Photos page.

Thanks, Danny, for your continued support and mentoring!!

     PLEASE - if you haven't already viewed my National Anthem video on YouTube - read the previous post where you'll find a link to the video, and then go to YouTube to rate and comment on my video! Thank you so much.

   Thank God for Bridget, star reporter for the Florida Times-Union. She checks my blog regularly and lets me know if she thinks it's time for an update. You guys can all thank her for the nudging that results in me posting with some level of frequency, even though my definition of "frequency" may be a little loose.

   I sent an email blast to site members a while back about a singing contest I've entered. It's called "Oh Say Can You Sing?" and is sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine and the Smithsonian Institution's American History Museum. Contestants videotape themselves singing the national anthem and then post the videos on YouTube. They're judged on the basis of originality (supposed to sing it "your way"), accuracy of lyrics, vocal performance, and popularity on YouTube. Now this is important, so please help me if you can! Any publicity I get helps generate attention for the causes I represent, primarily those related to (1) underage drinking and driving, (2) spinal cord injury research and treatment, and (3) benefits for paralyzed veterans. Here's the important stuff: "popularity on YouTube" is determined by the number of positive RATINGS a video gets - not the total number the views, but the number of RATINGS.  To rate a video, you need either a YouTube ID or a Google (Gmail) ID. Either of these IDs is VERY easy to get, particulary a YouTube ID since you'll already be in there checking out my video anyway. (May as well register for an ID while you're visiting!) Once you're registered / signed in - note that there are red stars just below the video. The stars correspond to the rating - so the 5th star (which I'm sure is the one you'll want to click on!) is the one that means "awesome." Just click on the star and your rating will be recorded. You'll have only one chance to do it - YouTube keeps track and won't let you do it again (at least not with the same ID). Be careful, because the stars are a little touchy - a light click is all it takes, so make sure you have your cursor on the correct one before you click. The winner of the contest (hopefully me) will sing the anthem on June 14th (Flag Day) at the American History Museum in Washington, DC and then later that evening at a Baltimore Orioles home game at Camden Yards. Please help me win!! Here's a link to the video: Don Sings "The Star-Spangled Banner".

   I'm speaking at my stepson's school this Friday, March 20th. This is a reschedule from an earlier date because I got sick and couldn't do it the last time. I'll take some pictures and post them. The school is a middle school - 6th-8th grade - and should be fun. I think they'll be curious about how I do things, so I'll spend some time talking about how I drive and ride my bike. I'm taking the bike for a demo, just as I did at Stockton Elementary. After FCATs (Florida's standardized tests) are over, I'll be speaking at Creekside High School. The specific date is not finalized yet, but it will be before May 9th (prom night). I spoke with the principal today to start working on details.

   I'm still waiting to find out if I'll get on the Oprah show!! I know they're working on story ideas . . . keep your fingers crossed, pray, think positive thoughts, meditate . . . whatever you do to send blessings my way. Getting on Oprah would do more for my causes than anything else I could possibly come up with.

   I'm beginning preparations for my 2nd "Impossible Dream" tour. I know it's crazy, but I'm already psyched. I've started working out at the gym and riding my bike regularly again. I've talked to a couple of additional companies about sponsorship. Cindi is, as always, 100% in my corner even when she thinks I've lost my mind. She is certainly my biggest fan and has proven she can move immovable objects (i.e., getting me into Harpo Studios) when she sets her mind to it. Her determination is a match for my own. We bolster eachother up - when one gets discouraged, the other one steps right in. It's awesome.

   Please take the time to rate my video on YouTube! I would be very proud to sing our anthem on Flag Day in Washington, DC and would be sure to say "thanks" to the wonderful people who made it happen. 

First, I want to thank everyone who made pledges for my "Just Go for It" tour - I know intentions were good, and I appreciate that. I especially want to thank those people who have actually made good on their pledges. A pledge is like a promise - it means "if you do what you say you're going to do, I'll give you this amount of money for your cause." Without money, I can't get stem cell therapy, or a lift to help get my chair in the back of my truck, or an exercise machine to help prevent osteoporosis, or a lift to help me into the pool for water therapy . . . The "Just Go for It" tour was intended to raise money for my NTAF Catastrophic Injury Fund. NTAF pays my uninsured medical expenses from that fund. They don't pay me any money directly. REPEAT - THEY DO NOT SEND ME CASH!!!!! My tour was to raise money for that fund, with a primary purpose (but not the only purpose) being to obtain stem cell treatment. While awaiting stem cell therapy, I need other items (such as those listed above) that are not covered by insurance. I believe people have been hit pretty hard by the economy and some are now not in a position to give me the money they pledged. I do understand that, and appreciate every single dollar I've gotten even when it's less than you originally intended. You guys are awesome for keeping me in your budget at all, and thank you for your kindness. I believe a small number of people pledged because they didn't think I'd finish the trip and thus, they wouldn't be obligated to ever pay. (One person actually admitted this to me.) Now that I've made the trip, they've either been impossible to reach, OR they've changed the criteria so that (in their minds) they're no longer obligated until I achieve some additional objectives that weren't in the plan, and in some cases aren't even possible for me to entirely predict or control. PLEASE - in the future - remember how important your pledges are to a recipient. Your contributions are often the only way to get desperately needed funds. When you make a pledge, the intended recipient truly believes in your sincerity. When you don't come through, it is a crushing disappointment. I so appreciate everything I got - every little bit truly does help - I am only disappointed in the "false" pledges.  My main reaon for writing this is to say "Please don't do this to someone else who truly needs your pledge in order to receive the proper medical care and/or equipment." If you don't have the money or are unwilling to pay for some other reason, then simply refrain from making the pledge in the first place. Believe me, it's less painful in the long run.

On to other news - I've decided to make the ride from Jax to Chicago an annual event. Yep, every year. Call me crazy. My plan is to leave Jacksonville on October 1, 2009. Since I'm giving myself more planning time, I'm going to do things differently for sponsorship. I'll specifically be advertising for companies/organizations that make donations (upfront - not pledges), or provide material assistance of some sort (hotel rooms, bike parts, food, gas for the "pace" car, etc.) I need to settle all the details, but I am seeking some guidance first from others who have been down this path. I'll also get other bicyclists involved - people who intend to go the whole way, or those who are only doing certain legs of the trip. This trip won't just benefit me, but will also be for others who need assistance. (Details still to be determined.) So definitely stay tuned for the Second Annual "Just Go for It" Tour!!

I had a PT appointment at the VA in Daytona on Monday. My doctor scheduled the appointment because he was so impressed with my increased muscle movement, and he was wondering if I might be able to use leg braces to actually stand and walk a little. When I got there, the PT guy was a little out of sorts, I'm sure because he was thinking he'd have to break the news to yet another para that the chances of actually getting much muscle use back are slim to none, much less getting up and walking. I don't know how many times I've been told to "get used to living in the chair." Well, I'm used to it, thank you very much, but I'm not lacking hope, nor am I naive. I know the odds. But I also know God has his own plan. I showed this guy what I could do - which included a few new things since my doctor's appointment a couple of months ago. He tested me rigorously, checking all the major muscles in my lower body. He was in a state of disbelief. By the time I left, he'd shaken my hand 3 times and said he just couldn't believe it. He said for the first time in his experience dealing with spinal cord injured patients, he actually believed I might walk again. He said I have some level of movement in almost all the muscle groups in my lower body. If the muscles are working (which they are), then they can be strengthened. If they can be strengthened, then I'll be able to stand and (hopefully) walk. He was dumbfounded. He wanted to put me back into rehab in Tampa, but then opted for a home-based exercise program which includes continuing to ride my handcycle (aerobic activity) plus exercises to strengthen my leg muscles. I'll go back for follow-up in about 60 days. Very little is known about the recovery of someone with my type of injury. Most people with a torn aorta die. Some of the remaining few who don't die from the injury will die in surgery. The surgery to repair the tear causes the paralysis -  a result of oxygen deprivation to the nerve cells. There is no spinal break or lesion. Signals can get through - there is no lesion to keep the messages from traveling. That makes me different from most paraplegics. The therapist is wondering if the extensive aerobic activity from my cycling trip is what kicked off so much improvement - the result of getting more oxygen to the nerve cells. I have a long road to travel - the exercises are exhausting and I have to do them daily. Pray for me. In my mind, I am walking.

Envision it. Pray for it. Believe it. Do it.

I don't know about you, but our holiday season was pretty hectic. Now it's time to get back on a normal schedule and jumpstart the exercise program, which means I'll be back out on the bike again. Don't expect any cross-country treks, though, at least not for awhile! I've got a few updates for you. I know it's been a long time since my last post, and I have only lame excuses to offer, so I just won't bother with those.

Right before the holidays, I was scheduled to speak at my step-son's middle school, but we had to postpone because I got very sick. Once again, I ended up in the hospital with a bad UTI. I was released on December 23rd, and Cindi and I left early the next morning for Virginia where we spent Christmas with her brother and his family. I'd never met her brother, so that was nice. He and I got along great. I hadn't been to Virginia before, but that's home for Cindi. I liked all the history - both Civil and Revolutionary War history. Cindi bought me a hat that says "Civilized and Revolutionary." She told me about this place that supposedly had the absolute best prime rib you could get anywhere on the planet (according to her). I didn't totally believe it, having eaten prime rib at many different restaurants and having my own opinion about what was "best." The restaurant was called "Olde Towne Steak & Seafood." I'm here to tell you that the prime rib was absolutely, without a doubt, the best I'd ever eaten. It was a huge cut (and I got the SMALLER cut!!!) and was served on the bone - I'd never seen it served that way before. I dream of a second visit.

Yesterday morning, we ate at a Waffle House that's close by. Yes, yes, I know - not exactly health food. We were enjoying our breakfast, talking about our plans for the day, when a gentleman came over to the table, waved his hand in the direction of the van, and said "Thank you." The van still has the signage on it from the trip, so he knew I was a paralyzed veteran who was cycling to bring awareness to underage drinking and driving. Before he left, he paid for our meal. What a wonderful person who felt like making such a kind gesture. I will definitely pay it forward.

Last week, I spoke with Libby, who is Oprah's chief executive and personal assistant. They are keeping me in mind for an upcoming show, so keep your fingers and toes crossed that it actually happens. I've also recently gotten a couple of things to add to my scrapbook. First, I got a letter from Mayor John Peyton of Jacksonville, congratulating me on the successful completion of my trip. Second, I got a letter and certificate of recognition signed by Senator John Mica. The certificate is for "Special Congressional Recognition" of outstanding community achievement. To view the cerificate, go to the "Just Go for It" Tour page and click on the Special Congressional Recognition Certificate link.