The local news media have been busy covering the story of a high school student who injured his spinal cord when he was checked during a hockey game. Hockey is the unofficial state sport in Minnesota, so the story is getting a lot of airtime. Some of the coverage has been more than a little overwrought, which is to be expected. But it also gives the unfortunate impression that the kid’s life is over because he can’t walk. My friend and colleagues Rachel Tschida has a wonderful piece in the Strib that provides a more nuanced take on life with a spinal cord injury. Rachel’s husband, John, acquired a spinal cord injury many years ago and writes about how they both gradually adjusted to their new reality:
Those who have gone before you tell you ways to save time on personal cares and what stores are most wheelchair-friendly. You join new sports teams. Life goes on.
My husband works full time and drives a van from his wheelchair. Our sons recently graduated from college, and our daughter will start high school in the fall. He figured out the parenting.
We will soon celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary and are starting to imagine life as empty-nesters. He figured out how to be my husband.
The essay is honest and forthright, just like Rachel.
