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He’s too busy being a single father to two sons, working as general manager of sales and marketing for an adaptive mobility company, speaking at schools, and playing goaltender for the U.S. sled hockey national team.

Brandon’s life changed on September 10, 2002. He was on a ladder trimming a tree when he fell 15 feet to the driveway, landing flat on his back. The fall caused burst fractures in several vertebrae, resulting in paraplegia. In the months of recovery and rehabilitation that followed, Brandon realized giving up wasn’t an option; his two boys, 11-year-old Scott and six-year-old Trevor, depended on him.

“If I couldn’t find the strength within myself to recover, I knew I must do it for them,” Brandon recalls. “They needed their father back to as close to normal as possible, and quick.”

Following the accident, Brandon, a native of St. Louis, was sent to DePaul Hospital, where neurosurgeon Dr. Danial Scodary implanted titanium rods in his spine. He was then transferred to St. Johns Mercy for more surgery and rehabilitation. After a month of rehab, Brandon underwent five more months of out-patient therapy three times a week. He has developed a close relationship with his doctors, particularly Scodary.

“I owe a lot to him,” Brandon says. “He has been a godsend to myself and my family.”

Less than a month after his injury, Brandon, who had played roller blade hockey for years, was introduced to sled hockey by his physical therapist, Kathy Griffith. Invented at a rehabilitation center in Sweden in the 1960’s, sled hockey became a Paralympic sport in the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer. Players sit in specially designed sleds placed on top of two hockey skate blades, and the puck must be passed underneath the sled.

After watching the U.S. Paralympic team play a game, Brandon met several of the players, and was deeply moved by the experience.

“It was there that I created a new cast of heroes,” he says. “Here was a bunch of guys that have all overcome horrible injuries of their own, and went on to play for their country and win a gold medal in Salt Lake City at the 2002 Paralympics.”

Once he was cleared by his doctors, Brandon played one season for a team called the RIC Blackhawks before being invited to the U.S. Team tryouts this past August in Colorado Springs. After five days of tryouts, he made the team as a goaltender.

But other challenges lay ahead. When Brandon discovered that his boys were being ridiculed at school because of his wheelchair, he realized how important it was to show others that disabled people could lead productive lives. He began speaking at grade schools, demonstrating how he uses his wheelchair to go up and down stairs, play sports, and do many of the things everyone else does, with some modifications. He shows kids his Ford pickup equipped with a special seat, wheelchair lift, and remote control power topper.

Brandon is amazed at how much of a difference these brief encounters can make in changing the way kids think about people in wheelchairs. “Their first reaction is that they are a little unsure, only because they just don’t know we are typically normal people who have suffered injuries,” he explains. “They have no idea we were just like their moms and dads before. But after an hour of questions and answers, and discussing all of the great things we can still do, they offer to push me, open doors, carry my things to the truck, anything to be involved.”

Kids aren’t the only ones affected by Brandon’s courage and positive outlook. His friends and family have been with him every step of the way the past two years, and are proud of what he has overcome. His mother, Carol Halloran Ferguson, isn’t at all surprised at her son’s resolve.

“It never occured to him to set limits. He never has,” she says. “Scott still has that twinkle in his eye and the good nature and easy grin. “He is still a loving father, son, brother and friend, facing the same daily struggles and joys as every other person.”

Brandon hopes to lead his sled hockey team to a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, and to find that special someone to share his struggles and triumphs with. His biggest goal, though, is to be the kind of dad his sons can look up to and be proud of. With all he has overcome to this point, there is no doubt he has already gone a long way to accomplish that.

To read more fascinating articles about adaptive sports for people with disabilities, subscribe to Adaptive Sports & Recreation, the free ezine published every other Wednesday. Just send a blank email to:
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Tags: athletes, disabilities, hockey, paraplegic, sports, wheelchairathletes, disabilities, hockey, paraplegic, sports, wheelchair

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Showing up is all it takes.

Swimming is a terrific way to tone the body and get in shape with very little stress on the joints. This makes it the perfect exercise for any age; all you need is a swimsuit and to find a suitable time at the pool, many have designated adult swim times or family sessions. However, sometimes the prospect of getting in the pool, especially if you consider yourself less than accomplished, can be daunting. The following is my response to a question on how to start on a major weight loss target, and highlights my main mantra which is, “keep on showing up”.

“Let me take your points one by one. The first one about not swimming too well. That means you do swim a bit, and a bit is all you need to get this thing rolling. When I came back to swimming after 30 years off, I started easy, I did what I could because I knew that as time passed I’d get a little bit better and a little bit better until I was really getting somewhere. Now when I say easy, I mean easy, like 25 meters and then a rest, then another 25 meters and so on. Never push it past where it’s fun, and don’t put pressure on yourself, just wait, keep showing up at that pool and doing what you can, and soon what you can will be quite a bit. It’s the keeping on that’s the trick. Forget the “burn”, who needs to be in discomfort all the time, just keep on “doing what you can” and the consistency will win the day. It’s like water on stone, the outcome is never in doubt, and the little drip will go right through that stone.

As for your second point “how do I even get started”, well you have started, you know an exercise you can do and improve on, and you need to focus on the first 5 lbs. not the rest. If you look at too big a task, you’ll say, “oh forget it, it’s too tough to lose 96 lbs.”. But how about 5 lbs. to start, is that do-able? Then let’s do it!! And when we’ve got that wall knocked down, we’ll go for 8 lbs. next time. So take it in little pieces, that’s what I’m doing with my program, I do what I can and I don’t fret over what I can’t, that would be a waste of my energy. Let’s do what we can, set a “do-able” target and GO FOR IT. But don’t tell yourself, it’s “only the first or whatever”, IT IS THE ONLY TARGET!! Focus, keep it in front of you and REACH it before you even think of the next step. Water on Stone!!”

About The Author

Gordon Black is a world-ranked Master swimmer and Canadian national record holder. A member of the British swim team in the late ’60s, after thirty years out of the pool, last year Gordon returned to competitive swimming in the Masters forum. He offers an online weight loss, fitness and motivational coaching service through his web site http://www.gordonblack.com where his competitive comeback is chronicled.

gordon@gordonblack.com

Tags: butterfly stroke, diet, diving, exercise, fitness, muscles, pools, sports, swim, swimming, weight loss, wokoutsbutterfly stroke, diet, diving, exercise, fitness, muscles, pools, sports, swim, swimming, weight loss, wokouts

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Looking to throw a party? Don’t forget to incorporate the five main party activities of every party which have been developed over the history of parties. They are crafts, games, music or dance, gift giving and eating. All of these activities may show up at a party or only a few of them. It often depends on the type of party and the host’s inclinations.

Most craft activities are seen at children’s parties as a way of keeping the kid’s involved while still giving them something to take home and remember from the party. You can set up a little craft activity with glitter, glue, markers and construction paper.

Games are usually present at any kind of party, from adult to child. You’ve got your board games, outdoor games, and silly made up games all designed to get guests involved and laughing, some examples of each are clue, football and pin the tail on the donkey.

Music and dancing can also serve as a game. We’ve all heard of musical chairs or the cake walks at a church bake off. But it can also be a way of getting out that extra energy coming from the excitement of just being at the party. Gift giving is mostly seen at birthday parties or Christmas and Retirement type parties. Of course we all love getting and receiving gifts and setting up this activity, even at a party that doesn’t usually involve it will create a sense of anticipation in your guests. Last but certainly not least there’s eating. It seems that eating something is an essential part of the party going experience. It keeps up blood sugar levels and gives guests something to do during party moment lulls. Always make sure to at least set out a plate of cookies or bowl of chips at any events.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.

Tags: decorations, favors, football, games, ideas, menus, party, recipes, sports, supplies, tailgate, theme, toysdecorations, favors, football, games, ideas, menus, party, recipes, sports, supplies, tailgate, theme, toys

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