In 2005 I graduated high school and left for college, excited and hungry for tomorrow's challenges. But by the fall of 2007, I had failed out of two colleges, a drug addict and an alcoholic. After being arrested for underage drinking and public intoxication, the court ordered rehab and probation. Having failed at the traditional four-year college, in 2008 I enrolled in a program for an associate’s degree from an automotive school. My decision to pursue this path was a last chance effort to find redemption and self-acceptance from the failures of the past two years. But, my habits followed me.

By the end of 2009, I had been arrested several more times, which resulted in me being evicted and becoming homeless.  In the fall of 2011, my past had finally caught up to me, and the outcome was inevitable. Despite being sober this time, I was arrested for Driving on a Suspended License as a Habitual Traffic Violator.  Over those next several hours, while sitting in a cinder block jail cell, I had nothing but time to reflect. This offense carried with it a five-to-ten-year suspension of my license and two years in jail. I had found my rock bottom.

Ultimately, I had to accept responsibility for the choices that were made. With the help and encouragement of loved ones, I decided to turn my life around.  Yes, it was court ordered, but I had a different perspective. Meetings with a local recovery group and attending church with my future wife helped me gain a little more peace in my life. I still had a suspended license, so I couldn't drive myself to work. Instead, I started riding my bicycle. Riding quickly became a passion, not just a mode of transportation; it was freedom.

Then on October 15, 2012 I was involved in a head on collision while riding into work. The driver went to pass a vehicle and didn’t see me. I sustained injuries to my left shoulder and left leg, resulting in the amputation of my left foot. In time, my shoulder would heal, but my leg was a different battle. I endured 15 surgeries, weeks in and out of hospitals, therapy, and multiple rounds of antibiotics due to infections.  For weeks I battled with depression and thoughts of suicide, wondering if that day would be the day that I ended it.  I sought out support groups only to be let down, more discouraged and depressed. I felt as if nobody knew what I was going through. I was angry at life and those around me… angry at God.

It took 18 months before the doctors would release me to pursue a prosthesis, when all I wanted to do was walk and ride my bike. I was referred to physical therapy and began to put in the work. I got frustrated that things were progressing slowly and started training in the gym at the same time. At first, I couldn’t walk without some type of assistive device: walker, crutches, then cane. But as time went on, the exercise, the sweat, the tears all started to come together, and I was beginning to see improvement.

I started running again in 2017, and in 2018 I competed in my first triathlon. I did well and decided to sign up for more. At my second triathlon, I met an organization that helped individuals with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through triathlons. They welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like family. That summer the organization connected me with coaching, a specialized prosthetist, mentoring, and encouragement. This ignited a deep passion within and kicked my pursuit of competing in the Paralympics into high gear. This led to new opportunities to share with other adaptive athletes, spreading a message of hope and independence. While I was helping others, God was healing my scars. He had given me a new purpose with a deeper sense of His love.

Through my journey, I have found that true acceptance can only come from God and not from myself or any other individual.  He has given me a new purpose for life. I now run a life skills program for amputees, where we strive to identify our passions and define what success and independence are for each of us. By the gracious love of God, I am still alive today, standing before others able to share a message of love, hope, and power!