Out of a Wheelchair

In 2003, I moved to San Marcos, Texas to finish my undergraduate work at Texas State University- San Marcos to become a teacher and coach. I was in my junior year of college on March 11, 2005 and it was the Friday we got out for spring break. I was traveling the backroads of Buda, Texas, on a two lane road when I stopped my car in the right hand lane, waiting on oncoming traffic so that I could make a left hand turn into the neighborhood I was traveling to. Behind me was a single cab pickup truck that got tired of waiting for the oncoming traffic to pass, so they went around me in the bar ditch and I remember that truck getting back onto the road in front of me. Behind me came a fully loaded cement truck, and whether he didn't see me, his brakes failed, he wasn't paying attention, or he was texting on his cell phone, but he ran into my car from behind and went completely over the top of my car.

The force of his impact forced me into oncoming traffic where I was struck head on again by a Nissan Xterra. My car spun around and immediately caught fire. I was still 100% conscious and trapped inside of my burning car. My feet were pinned under what was left of the pedals, and I knew that my life was in danger as I was helpless and couldn't get out. Fortuantely, three young men who were passing by, stopped, shielded the flames from my car with a broken door panel, jumped in my car and pulled me out of the car. This is when I lost consciousness the first time. Star Flight and 911 had already been called and they responded in record time. They transported me to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, where I went into immediate surgery. My heart stopped a total of four times on the way to the hospital, and each time they were able to bring me back to life. As a result of the accident, I had a punctured lung, torn diaphram, crushed T-12 vertabrae, severed spinal cord, 4 broken ribs, numerous bruises, cuts, and burns, and was paralyzed from the waist down. I had four surgeries on March 11th, and another surgery a week later to relieve swelling in my spinal cord.

I spent three weeks in Brackenridge Hospital until I got released to go to rehab at TIRR in Houston, Texas. The first thing they told me was that I would be there for a minimum of three months. Each day was difficult, trying, and emotionally exhausting, but I made a choice early on to make the best of my situation. In fact, the first thing I said when my mother told me that I was paralyzed was, "did I hurt anyobdy?". She said, "no, Tyson, it was not your fault". Then, I said, "that's ok, I will just play wheelchair basketball"! So my attitude early on was really good considering the circumstances. After three weeks of being at TIRR, I was released from rehab because they had nothing else for me to accomplish while I was wearing a back brace. I returned home where I began to learn how to live life from a wheelchair. There were many obstacles to overcome, and an enormous amount to learn, but each day I just kept pressing forward with a smile on my face. After being home for a month, I was cleared to remove my back brace. I then returned back to TIRR for another stint of rehab. This time, I was back brace free, and was trying to learn how to live life out of a wheelchair. For 22 years I had learned how to do everything with my legs, and in the blink of an eye, I was forced relearn how to do everything out of a wheelchair. After three weeks, instead of three months again, I was discharged from rehab and sent home to start my new life on wheels.

In August of that same year I returned to Texas State University to finish my college Degree. I graduated from Texas State in May of 2007 and was hired by Hays Consolidated ISD as a teacher/coach. Two years later I crossed paths with motivational speakers Kevin Tutt and Michael Daggs, of Abilene. I had wanted to be a motivational speaker since my wreck had occured, but was unsure of how to get started. I began communicating with Kevin and Mike,and in July 2009 I joined the Tutt&Daggs team as a motivational speaker. I now travel the country telling my story in hopes of impacting and inspiring my audiences to not give up. Quitting is not an option and it comes down to the choices we make daily.

My life has taken a path that only God can explain, but there is no doubt that I am carrying out his plan. If my story can inspire one person to make the most of their life, it is all worth it in my eyes. God has a plan for everyone, and mine just happened to be out of a wheelchair.