Gawker, a blog known for celebrity and political gossip, recently ran a story by a man named Jimmy Anderson, who was paralyzed in a car accident titled This is What It Feels Like to be Quadriplegic. The piece is necessary read for people looking for inspiration.
A drunk driver struck Anderson almost two and a half years ago in Patterson, California. The car accident occurred after Anderson was out celebrating his birthday with family members. The accident also killed his 14-year-old brother.
Anderson suffered a collapsed lung, a concussion and a spinal cord injury to his C-4 vertebrae, leaving him unable to walk again. “It’s terrible not being able to stand, to walk, to run. To go for a hike in the woods. To walk down the stadium steps and be a part of the home team,” Anderson said. “I hate being the reason your plane or bus is late. Trust me, I feel awful about that. I miss stretching my legs after a hard day, or dancing at a wedding (badly).”
In his piece, Anderson talks about how he struggles with his disabilities both mentally and physically. “[Despite] all of the pain, I’ve found new beauty in the world. And I’ve found goodness in people that I was too cynical to see before my accident,” Anderson said. He then described how it snowed heavily one morning several months ago and his walkway was blocked.
A man saw Anderson struggling to get out of his house because of the snow, which lead him to help. “It was an act of kindness—this act of kindness—that gave me hope for the future,” said Anderson. “It’s hard to live my life, but I’m lucky to have the opportunity to keep living, to be a part of the goodness of this world, to pay forward the kindness I have received.”
Anderson started a nonprofit, Victims of Impaired Driving Project, which helps educate young people about the dangers of drunk driving and provides financial assistance for victims. We applaud Anderson—according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is a contributing factor in about 25 percent of spinal cord injuries.
Catastrophic injuries are why Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is so important to American workers. At any point in your life, you could suffer a crippling injury that could affect your ability to work.
If you have endured a horrific injury that leaves you unable to work, we suggest contacting a Tulsa Social Security disability attorney to see if you may be eligible for SSDI benefits. We offer free evaluations of your case, and you may reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404. Contact us today.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability attorneys
Troutman Touts: According to the CDC, about 200,000 people are currently living in the U.S. with spinal cord injuries.
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