In spite of his accomplishments, Chad was soft spoken and felt most comfortable around his teammates and was “oblivious” to girls. Then one evening the summer before his senior year, he was driving to basketball practice in Denver when he fell asleep at the wheel.
The New Normal
When Chad woke up, he couldn’t move. The air bag had deployed and shoved his head back over the headrest of the compact car, severely bruising his spinal cord. In an instant, Chad went from the guy everyone looked up to, to the guy who couldn’t do anything for himself. Doctors diagnosed a C3-4 partial incomplete injury, and Chad was moved to Craig Hospital to learn how to live life in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic.
Chad was fortunate to have the support of friends and family, including his mother, a high school guidance counselor who has stood by him every step of the way.
“My mom is the strongest woman I know,” Chad says. “She held everyone together (after the accident). She still doesn’t let me slack off.”
Rehabilitation
At Craig, the staff started working on the most basic skills, and Chad responded. His competitive spirit helped him battle back, and plain good luck left enough of his spinal cord intact to allow some function to remain. When he left Craig three months later, he was able to stand up and shoot baskets, while none of the other spinal cord injury patients got much mobility back.
“It was tough,” he recalls. “Everyone saw me getting better, but no one else was. It was hard to answer (why I was different).”
Chad continued to improve at home. He was finally able to walk, although not without a noticeable limp. Years later, he would learn to ride a bike again. But life as he knew it would never be the same.
“You’re 17 and you’re not Mr. Popular anymore, not the star athlete,” Chad says.
His case is extremely rare. Frostbite is a concern, because he can’t feel hot or cold on his right side, while his left side is insensitive to sharp or dull objects. Chad prefers the summer months.
“Warm weather helps me move around better,” he says.
Succeeding In Spite of Obstacles
From tiny Buena Vista High School (1997 graduating class of 48), Chad continued on to Arizona State University and earned a bachelor of arts in communication in 2001, later adding a teaching degree in physical education from Metro State College in Denver. Six years later, he’s coaching basketball and teaching physical education in Loveland, Colo. It must agree with him, because a small smile is constantly on his face when he talks about “his” kids.
“Dealing with the coaching and kids is awesome, but dealing with the parents … they think they’re entitled,” Chad says with a shake of his head and a wry grin.
He’s also coached summer basketball camps at Colorado State University since 2002, and is a member of Jim Thompson’s Positive Coaching Alliance, which gives workshops for athletes and their parents to promote positive change in the sports culture.
Embracing Adversity
Chad also likes to speak to high school age kids and older groups about having a work ethic, and getting through life’s ups and downs.
“Your true character is not revealed until you’re really down,” he tells them. “As I get older, I’m thankful (for my injury) because I’m a different, better person: I’m more grateful. I use it in coaching. There’s more important things in life than the newest shoes or a fancy car. Having family and friends is way more important.”
In fact, the quiet young man says he’d like to find a steady girlfriend, but his standards are pretty high.
Asked what he wants to be doing in 10 or 20 years, Chad doesn’t hesitate.
“I just love teaching,” he says immediately. “I’m grateful for movement … and maybe I’ll have a family.”
Contact Chad for motivational public speaking at trieb719@aol.com.
