What would you do after a debilitating accident?
While accidents can happen to virtually anyone, freestyle riders in motocross, snowmobiling, skiing, and BMX face down the possilbility of life-altering (or ending) injuries every time they hit a launch ramp. Most of the time, they make it.
Since I also work on Off-Road magazine, people sometimes send me stuff intended for that title. Today I got a submission for Off-Road rides that I hope Mr. Jones won't mind me borrowing for blogging purposes.
I'll let the reader take it from here:
"HELLO My name is Roy Mussatti. I'm from Wakefield Michigan. 5 years ago I broke my neck in a freestyle snowmobile accident. I'm paralyzed from upper chest down. I still drive and wheel. I enjoy mud bogs and tuff truck races. Sometimes I place 1st or 2nd. I just finished college for the second time. I received an Associate in Applied science for CAD and an Associate in Applied Technology for automotive."
Roy drives an '86 Toyota 4Runner that was modified by his friends. In addition to fitting it with hand controls, they spliced the back section of an Xtracab pickup onto the front cab section of the 4Runner. Other modifications were performed that make Roy's ride work well in the dirt, but that's not the point of this post. Roy could have given up and felt sorry for himself. Instead, he's persued his education and his passion for the dirt.
Take home message? First, never give up. Second, cultivate friendships.
Thanks for the inspiration, Roy.