“I was driving by and saw my cousin out here fishing. We were reminiscing a little bit. I grew up here and after high school I immediately went into the military. I got out in 1994, came back and raised my kids as a single parent, graduated from Faulkner, went to South Alabama and my last semester as a junior, I had a motorcycle accident on May 19, 2001. I woke up out of my coma 58 days later. For a while I was in a day to day coma and if I met you today, I wouldn’t remember meeting you tomorrow. It was like the movie Groundhog Day and every day was a brand new day. I didn’t get my full faculties back until 2004. I really got my full faculties back when I got a divorce. After she left me, I was back to square one and had to do everything on my own again. My daughter was 16 and my son was 12. I don’t know how well I did raising them, but my daughter is 30 and about to have her first child. My son has been at the University of Alabama for four years, but we still haven’t seen the degree.”
“How did you get through this?”
“I guess it is the fabric, the way my parents raised me. My dad and I were the best of friends. When I came back from the military, my mom left him. They had been together for 25 years. At that time I didn’t know I had a daughter, but got a call from Bay Minette that said we have an 8-year-old girl who says you are her father. What? I would have been 16 and in high school when that happened. No way, but then again, 16 and high school, and I was a bad boy. Suddenly I was the father of a son and a daughter. Three years into the relationship with my daughter, her mother was killed. Murdered in Fairhope. I didn’t know how to raise an 11-year-old daughter, but we did it. When you are given lemons, make lemonade. Even the chair. I am here for a reason, God gave me a second chance. I was a bad child when I was a teenager. I was an athlete in high school, captain of track team, that was popularity. But now I am so blessed. Until you are in the situation, you don’t know what you can take. God is not going to put more on you than you can handle. I now work with and try to help people in wheelchairs and will never have any money, but when I get to the pearly gates, God will say, ‘You were my angel, get on in there.’ I work for a company that sells standing wheelchairs. People receive you better when you are able to raise up and look them in the eye and be like everyone else in the group. They treat you differently when they aren’t looking down on you. I have been in a wheelchair for 15 years, but I have done more in those years than most people have done in a lifetime. Each year I go do different areas of the country for National Veterans Wheelchair Games. It is bonding with my comrades and we need each other. In 2008, I won three gold medals and was on the local news and threw out the first pitch for the BayBears. In 2009, I had a call from the president of General Mills because I was one of 12 athletes they wanted to feature on the cover of a Cheerios box. On the box they put I was from Fairhope, AK instead of AL. They had me up to their national banquet in St. Louis and the whole weekend they treated me like I was something. The president of General Mills asked me for my autograph. Autograph, what are you going to do with that? Little kids asked me for it to. That lit my fire. That is why I encourage other people and want to help. Medicaid told me standing is a luxury and that pissed me off, so I went out and did my research and got a standing chair. I hope to have every wheelchair in the country standing up and tell everyone I see, that if they need help to call me and I will do my best do help them. There is so much to being in a chair, even the cushion. There is so much associated with this lifestyle and people sympathize, but they don’t empathize. I can’t change anyone being in the chair, but I want to make it better for them.”
One of the best souls stories yet.
That’s my brother in law always seeing the brighter side of things. My nephew will finish one day just not this day. Lol
Love ya Darla
I am proud to call you my brother. ..proud of the accomplishments you strove to achieve. ..and proud that you are helping others in chairs…I have a nephew on my children’s side of the family that is in a chair. ..I was wondering if your arms reach Buffalo Ny. ..since he is a young man he could benefit greatly with the ability to stand again…love you Patrick….brother for life
MY DARLING NEPHEW I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! YOU JUST TOOK ME ON A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE! I REMEMBER ALL SO WELL THE HOSPITAL VISITS, PRAYING, CRYING, WONDERING WHAT I COULD DO TO HELP! I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOU AT THE GAS STATION, I PULLED UP READY TO GET OUT AND HELP YOU, BUT YOU SAID “I GOT IT AUNTIE”! YOU SHOWED ME YOU WERE INDEPENDENT! I DROVE AWAY WITH TEARS IN MY EYES, THANKING GOD FOR HIS BLESSING YOU! I LOVE YOU ANGEL BOY!
ELVINA PETERSON
You are a true Blessing and I am proud of you my dear cousin ,you shared your amazing journey for everyone and we thank you for that
God Bless
Im in tears right now cousin, you are an angel from up above and i thank god he blessed our family with you. We love you so much!! Keep pushing!!
I am so proud to call you my big cousin, Patrick I am sure your story can help so many people not just people in a chair but anyone going thru anything life throws in general. Keep doing what your doing. Love you much!
That wheelchair ain’t got nothing on you. I remember being home and seeing you out and standing tall in your wheelchair. You are truly an amazing man and we are proud of you and im sure I speak for all of Baldwin County, we love you. We may not see you often,or say it but please know we love and respect or you more than you know.
What an awesome testimony. I’m so proud of you. An inspiration to many keep up the good work and may God continue to bless you.
Well said and you are a strong man willing to take on what ever life has to offer always keep God first and everything else will find its place love you cuz
Always my brother & my hero! Love you beyond words!
I am proud of you cuz. God is using you and you are a blessing to others. I Love You.
My sweet cousin.. This has brought back memories on so many different levels.. I cried and smiled reading this. You have always been such an amazing man.. Good luck on all you do and all you keep doing.
Battle,
Man you really inspire me with the will and determination that you have displayed thus far and I know it will continue. Just reading this brought back memories of how you were back in Fort Ord, CA when we served together. You never were one to quit regardless of the task given. I think it’s just a Bama thang…Lol…Keep doing what you are doing Bro. You are helping the lives of so many others, including myself.
What a wonderful expression of your love for life and appreciation for your experiences! Life is all about embracing the experiences that we are blessed to be a part of and learning from them. You are an inspiration sweetie that’s why they wanted your autograph.
Wow what an amazing & touching story my outgoing cousin.I’m using the Virginia slim cigarette slogan you’ve come a long way baby.you have overcame obstacles that some people thought you never would.stay that strong willed person that you were destined to be.keep looking too the hills & so many people are so proud of you.Love Always
Patrick, I havent seen you in years, probably since a little after your accident in 01′. But you just gave me more courage and motivation in being the best man i can be. Much respect brother.
Wow!!!. Patrick, what an article!! You are indeed an inspiration to others. We miss you at ILC. You are living proof that with faith and determination a person can make his/her life a success. I admire your drive for success, you’ve proven that hard work and a lot of sweat pays off. I’ll never forget that day in Montgomery a few years ago when we were at the State House for a rally and I saw you standing, I thought my eyes were fooling me at first. You flashed that beautiful smile and said, “Yes Ms Porter, it’s me, I’m standing.” To God be the Glory for things he has done. I ‘m so proud of you, stay blessed.
Patrick we went to school together. Your story is inspiring and I hope to run into you before the next reunion.