Awaking from a three month coma, my mind was in a fog. Unsure of where I was or what exactly happened I was told that I had been in a drinking and driving accident with my best friend and was thrown off a 100 foot cliff.
I was paralyzed from the neck down and suffering from numerous skull, shoulder and metacarpal fractures, Broken were cervical vertebrae two and thoracic vertebras 8, 9 & 10. I had no control over any body function or speech and my motor skills were nonexistent. How was I going to take care of myself? Feed myself? Take my own shower? Brush my teeth? Go to the bathroom on my own? How would I work to make money to survive? How was I going to make my own water to make it run freely for me and those around me? Was I going to have to depend on my family and society the rest of my life to take care of me like an infant child?
My body was left with no sensation; no feelings not even a pin prick could I feel. I tried to figure out why this had happened and what I could do to make the best of what others considered a tragedy. Therapy was painful, slow and tedious but I would not give up. My family sent me to a Doctor in Tucson Arizona where I learned light and sound therapy with electrical stimulation, which trains your brain to help regenerate the nerves that were damaged and keep your leg muscles in shape. With hard work and determination I began to get the use of my hands, arms and upper torso, although I was still left without sensations of hot, cold or pin pricks and the control of my bladder and bowels. As a result of the light and sound therapy and with the help of leg braces I was able to start walking, drive my own pickup and gained back my freedom.
It has been 7 years, 9 months and 12 days and I am still a work in progress. In that time since my accident I have been from Canada to Mexico, West Coast to East Coast, played pro-wheelchair basketball for the Tucson Lobos and raced wheelchairs for the University of Arizona. I was sponsored by the ADA (American Disability Association) where I pushed my wheelchair 72 miles on historic Route 66, from Santa Monica beach to Clinton, California. In November of 2006 I met who I didn’t know then was going to be my beautiful wife. I fell in love with her and her son Jacob. Michelle and I were married on March 5, 2007.
I now have a non-profit organization called WALK (when all life knows). My hope is to preserve the quality, affordability and opportunities of basic functions of life to those who are bound to a wheelchair. My goal is to show people that there are no handicaps, only handicans We all have a purpose and we can all be useful in contributing back to society.
I Jacob Byron Vernon, am pushing my wheelchair across America on June 18th, 2009. My journey will take me 2671 miles across the historic American Highway Route 66. I will start my push with all four tires in the Pacific Ocean on Santa Monica Beach and I will end at 1600 NW Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the Whitehouse. Coast to Coast in 90 days, 33.3 miles a day, 450 gallons of water, 270 cans of tuna fish, 180 protein bars, 90 rolls of Charmin and the list goes on.
When All Life Knows we CAN, together make a better life if not for everyone then just one. I HAVE A DREAM to be FREE, to be able to go where I want to go when I want to go, how I want to go; to eat when I want to eat; to drink when I want to drink; go to the bathroom when I want to go to the bathroom; go to bed when I want to go to bed; too not depend on or expect anyone else to live for me. Help me help others to open that front door, to step outside, to WALK for themselves. WALK….When All Life Knows…WE CAN! …… FREEDOM!