“I was 17. It was September 4th. That’s the day I almost died and my life changed forever. It’s been 12 years since the accident. I was driving home. I went around a corner (which I found out later was called Devils Elbow and was fixed after my accident). It was a sharp corner and I was speeding. And you know, I’m 17, so I’m thinking I can do this. I was going like 90. It was out in the country. I hadn’t been drinking or anything but I was just 17. So it comes up and I’m starting to freak out a little and I didn’t want to slam on the brakes because then I’m in just as much trouble. They later told me the tracks on the road showed that I over steered and then over adjusted. There was a 30 foot embankment on the other side. So I went off the road, end over end, rolling and rolling. Most people say accidents are as quick as a flash but I remember I had time in my car to think I can’t believe I haven’t stopped rolling yet. Then I was trapped. Then it started on fire. I was stuck. I couldn’t move. I thought I was going to die. I didn’t even call 911. I called my girlfriend at the time and my mom to say I love you, because I thought I was going to die. My girlfriend at the time told her stepdad I was in an accident and he found me because when he was driving he could see the flames from off the road. That’s how the ambulance found me too. She told him and then she dialed 911. He pulled me out. I still have the shoes I was wearing and they had drop marks on the side from the melting steering wheel. I don’t remember the emotion. I think I remember part of the damage to my spinal chord, even though it’s not severed, was because I saw the moon roof was open so I was trying to pull myself out but I was stuck and they say the first thing you do if you break your back is to not move, but my car was on fire so I was trying to get out. He had to open the passenger door and get my legs unstuck. He saved my life and got an award for it from the fire department. I was in the best shape of my life when I got in my accident. I worked for 6 weeks in Colorado that previous summer at like 9,000 feet of elevation at a camp. I would run all the time when I was there. After 12 years of not being able to go for a run, I think I look pretty good. I’m one of the healthiest eaters I know, but it’s so hard to lose weight. You can’t get an aerobics exercise with just your arms. I’ve gotten pretty close with a punching bag. It’s been a process. 12 years is a long time. It offers a perspective that you don’t have a choice but to learn from. I hate paralysis, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but because of my accident my life is better. I’m thankful for the way my life is right now. I can’t say that with 100% certainty that I would be this happy had I not been paralyzed. My life would’ve been a lot different in many ways. I have my wife, my dog, I have this great apartment, I have my friends and family and I have my music. And these are all really great things. I’m in great shape right now emotionally. Music is my passion. I want to finish my music. I want people to hear it.”