Jeff Lichon Washington, DC, USA

T5-7, April 1994

I was 15 years old, a h/s Sophomore, when I came home from baseball practice and walked with a buddy over to a friend's house to play basketball. Getting ready to leave, a kid in my class who just received his driver's license and a new pickup truck said to hop in the bed of the truck for a ride home. There were three guys in the cab already so we did as requested. The driver took off, messing around, lost control and hit a tree doing about 50mph. I was laying in the back so I didn't get thrown out, but my injuries were the worst of anyone's. I broke my back, bruised my heart, collapsed a lung and broke three ribs. I spent a summer in rehab at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids, MI, finished high school, got a Masters degree, and have a great job at a great company. I also write for magazines and I share my experiences with others in similar situations. I'm determined to get up someday - I KNOW I will. There's too much to do in life not to. My girlfriend and family are also a great support.