Heroic

Recently i have started to pursue and accomplish the opportunity to play soccer in the summer and stay in the country rather than go home and come back in August. So i contact a few friends and looked at playing in Knoxville, a few things worked out here and there and as it happens i am now moving to Knoxville in the summer to play for Knoxville Force. (www.knoxvilleforce.com) But it was whilst i was here that i met a truly inspiring man. His name was Jeff and he came all the way from Colorado. Born and raised as a soccer fan, Jeff knew nothing else as a sport and he was crazy about it. Jeff was 34 years old and had played soccer for 12 years until the summer of 2004. Jeff was playing a pick-up game of soccer with some friends and was heading home to see his family straight after when he was struck by a 2-ton truck from his rear and sent his Chevrolet into a ditch and Jeff through the front window which ejected him 30 feet. Jeff was left paralyzed from the waist down and had severe brain damage along with several other horrible injuries.

Needless to say Jeff was inconsolable after his learning of his condition. But Jeff but his realization into these words;
"It was like a train had hit me or the truck all over again except this time i had to think and realize that this cannot be the end of me. I am still human."
5 months after his release from hospital, Jeff started his soccer craze again. He tried to join in pick-up games with his friends even in his wheelchair and play in wheelchair sports. He described it as "vigilante thinking" that got him through. Like the injuries and disability are the enemy and they will not beat me. Jeff enjoyed his time thoroughly learning to play disabled. It brought him a sense of belief again and that is where his journey into my life began. Jeff coordinated funding for a nationwide trip in association with DSUSA (Disabled Sports USA) and started his trip to spread the word of his story and how disabled people should not be held back from sports.

Jeff was truly an exceptional man. His story affected me deeply and although he was not trying out that day, it seemed he had a lasting effect on the whole team already.