When I was six yrs old I was struck, run over & dragged by a delivery truck while playing outside w my little brother & cousins.  My little brother was hit first & left w severely broken bones.  When the truck stopped I was left barely alive.  My injuries were severe &long lasting, both physical & mental.  My pelvis & skull were crushed, my legs & ribs broken.  40% of my skin was gone.  Surviving the accident was a miracle.  The recovery to follow was a journey of faith & perseverance.  My family’s circumstances were further complicated by a sometimes absent father who was fighting his own battles, leaving my mother to care & provide for me & my then five siblings.

How did the effects on your mental health appear in terms of symptoms?

I struggled in school.  My brain injuries made it difficult for me to read & write at the level I had before the accident.  The brain trauma caused learning delays & disabilities. I also had to learn to walk all over again & when I did it was w a limp.  I was enrolled in special education classes at school & remained unable to run & play with my friends. I was embarrassed by my placement in class & my inability to learn & comprehend as others did. I was equally embarrassed by my limp & the scars that covered my body. I hid my body under heavy clothes even in the summer & hid my class assignment from friends. 

When and why did you decide to ask for help to get relief?

I eventually fell in love w the sport of football, even if I was only able to watch it at the time.  My passion for the game ignited a need to regain physical ability.  My desire to play football became the fuel to keep me moving forward, learning to walk again & eventually run. Being able to play w my friends filled a void of loneliness & isolation.  My learning disabilities & the shame I felt around my disabilities were a separate struggle.  I couldn’t communicate with my peers when it came to school work so I hid from those conversations. I felt that if I could overcome my learning disabilities I would gain self-esteem & feel like I was as good & as smart as my peers.  I didn’t have the tools to overcome my learning obstacles on my own & needed to reach out to my mother & a supportive teacher for help. 

What methods helped you individually get/feel better?

I focused on my dream of playing football to fuel my efforts physically. I learned to set small goals & build on small victories as I worked toward that dream.  Wanting to play football in college & the NFL also meant that I needed to do well in school.  My mother supported my desire by advocating my placement in standard education classes & encouraging me to try things that seemed hard & to challenge myself.  Supportive teachers showed me learning & organizational strategies to navigate my classes & rebuild my foundational learning skills.  By setting incremental goals & seeking assistance from knowledgeable & supportive people I was able to achieve more than anyone ever expected.  I gained confidence w each achievement & went from feeling like an outsider to being a leader.

Why did you decide to go public with your story? Who were/are you hoping to help and how?

My father’s health was failing for many months, eventually leading to his death.  During that difficult period, I spent a lot of time reflecting on my life’s journey & thinking that my story might be able to inspire or encourage other people struggling w similar circumstances.  Not knowing exactly how to go about sharing my story, I just started writing.  It was an outpouring of emotion & resulted in my first published book, The Running Back, True Story – From the Wheelchair to the NFL.  I knew my story had the potential to help kids that are struggling w both physical & learning disabilities.

How did people react when you went public with your story?

The positive feedback & support has been overwhelming.  I expected young kids& especially athletes to be impacted by my story.  Beyond athletes I’ve received feedback from parents, coaches & teachers explaining how my story has impacted & inspired them.  People feel hopeful & are able to see the power of having a dream & breaking it down into small achievable goals.  Having people support you is a crucial element to recovery & success.  We’re not alone.