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Getting into a car 

accident and losing my 

ability to walk wasn't in 

my best interest. In fact, 

I felt like my life had just 

ended. Not using my legs 

erased a big part of my 

life. No more sports for 

me. 

Coming home from the hospital in a wheelchair I 

had to use the rest of my life was unimaginable. 

Why did this happen to me? Out of everyone in 

this world, I had to be one who got injured. 

There are so many worries going through my mind. One being how I’m 

going to manage, like use the bathroom or even take a shower. Not being 

able to move my legs is like being in an incredibly tight box. But the 

worst thing is that I can’t even feel my legs, at all. 

The thing I’m most worried about is what my friends and peers will think. 

Are they not going to be my friends anymore because they don’t want to 

help me through the troubles? Or cause they are embarrassed to be 

around me? Are they going to think I’m a different person? I just lost my 

ability to walk. Sure I’m going to have to fix things emotionally and 

mentally but I’m still Preston. I’m still the football loving guy who loves 

talking with everyone I see. I’m still caring, crazy, funny and smart like 

I’ve always been. 

Going back to school is going to be so different for me. I 

thought to myself, “Is anyone even going to care?” When I got 

there on Monday morning, I had an answer. I rolled up to the 

doors, squishing the little beetles on the ground and the first 

thing I notice is someone I have never spoke to, opened the 

door for me. It gave me some hope. They smile, so I gave 

them a grin right back. 

“Hey whats your name?” I finally 

asked. “Peter. I’m in your English 

class.” I have never heard of a Peter 

in my English class but I lied. “Oh 

yeah! I remember you. If you wanna, 

you can sit with me at lunch.” I said 

that cause I didn’t know for sure yet 

of what my friends would react. “You 

know what, sure! I see ya later.” 

Peter said.

The first bell rings and I think, OH BOY! These halls are going to be 

crowded. But as I rolled in w/ the crowd they made just enough room 

for me. The teachers had their doors open expecting me to arrive. I 

went to my normal classes. I go to my first class and I notice the 

teacher had already arranged the desks to wear I will have room and 

a clear path to roll. She even came up to me and told me that she 

was planning on fixing up my own area in the classroom to where I 

can have a desk just right for me. 

At lunch, I sat alone with Peter at our own table. I noticed all my 

friends were in line. I didn’t think they would sit by me, but I was 

wrong. They all come to my table in a line holding up their trays. 

They actually looked excited to see me. “Dude! Good to see you 

man!” Says Travis. “Everything okay?” It kind of brought me down 

when he asked if everything was okay. Did I really look okay? I’m in 

a wheelchair for crying out loud. “Well, I’m alive so I guess I’m 

alright.” I’m glad they still treat me the same. It makes things so 

much better. 

Instead of going to athletics like I normally would, I went and saw 

my therapist named Teresa and the school counselor, Mrs. Piper. It 

was hard talking about this situation and how I wasn’t able to play 

sports. Sports were my absolute life. What will I do now? So I 

talked with them about it and the counselor starts telling me, “Its 

not impossible. Think, I’m possible. There are still sports you can 

play besides football.” I replied, “Like what?” She was actually right. 

I could still do a lot of stuff like before. “You can still play 

basketball, there is tennis, archery…” I was actually considering 

some of the stuff she was mentioning. Wheelchair basketball was 

on my mind. “Also, you might want to get used to that wheelchair 

first.” 

    I did exactly that. Each and every day I practiced and I got used 

to handling it pretty fast. Like the counselor said with a good 

support system I can get through this. Going further in life, I found 

a lot of advantages in this ‘wheelchair life.’ Like line cutting at 

lunch, handicap parking, my shoes never get worn out, and I never 

have to wait on a good seat! I’m sort of enjoying some of this! 

So Mrs. Piper found a out of 

school wheelchair basketball 

team for me. I didn’t hesitate 

whenever she asked if I 

wanted to do it. So that day 

after school, I went for my 

first practice. All these dudes 

were good! They were used to 

being in a wheelchair and 

they’ve had plenty of practice 

so they were by far better than 

me. 

“It’s really easy once you just 

get the hang of it.” One guy 

said. “My name is Wes.” 

“Nice to meet you, man. I’m 

Preston.” I replied. “And I’m 

hoping it’ll get easy. I’m not 

used to being so bad.”

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