Time to Wheelchair Bungee Jump! "Our biggest limitations in life aren't physical, but mental." Brad's Story

Well I suppose I should tell you why I decided to fly across the country, then leave the country, all so someone could harness me up and throw me off a 160 foot bridge. Three years ago I woke up after being in a car accident. After they told me I had a c-5 burst fracture, broke all the ribs on my right side, fractured pelvis, lacerated lungs, and that maybe in six months I could breathe on my own again it gets you thinking.

Of course I have lots of physical goals, and I have been so fortunate to meet all of them so far. With amazing support from my family and help from amazing therapists I've been able to regain my independence and walk with a walker. I even walked a 5k in Louisville for Team Reeve which was an amazing feeling to accomplish that. (Really proud of that one had to throw that in there. Don't tell anyone I was sore for two weeks after haha.) But this has nothing to do with walking, but living a life without limitations

Anyone with a SCI realizes pretty quickly it's not just the physical aspect that's hard to deal with but the mental aspects as well. I always wanted to travel, see the world and experience different cultures and places.

Well it's been 3 years since my injury and I decided it's time to do that. I always wanted to bungee jump. Unfortunately I had trouble finding a place to do that till I found this place in Whistler, Canada. So I decided it's time for me to take my first trip on my own. I contacted my friend in Portland, Oregon and told him I was going to fly out and see him for a few days, and oh yeah, we're going to go jump off a bridge in Canada. He thought I was crazy, but the thought of seeing me thrown off a bridge got the better of him and he was game. What are friends for right!

I should mention this was my first time flying, ever. I was so nervous the night before I barely slept. Wondering what it would be like, would all my stuff make it, am I really flying all the way across the country by myself for the first time. Nothing like some fear to let you know you're alive.

So the next day I hopped on a plane from Ohio to Oregon with a layover in Texas. Flying was an experience, and overall a good one. Some planes I could walk onto, grabbing seat to seat to walk down the skinny aisle ways, and some I used the aisle chair. I kept an open mind and a positive attitude, and I've learned as long as you do that people are receptive and helpful so I had a good experience flying. I even had a couple flights bumped up to first class for free! I'm sure that didn't hurt my experience at all haha. Even the wheelchair escorts between flights to different terminals were great. Basically I was on five airplanes in seven days. If you're going to do something do it right I guess.

So at the end my stay in Oregon we flew to Vancouver, I rented a car, and took the drive into Whistler. I must say B.C. was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. When we got to Whistler and we're driving down this back road to the bridge, I remember feeling a sense of accomplishment that I was there.

I hadn't made the jump yet, but just having made the trip, following through on something, it was a good feeling driving up to that bridge. Then I saw the bridge and thought what was I thinking!

There is a dirt road that takes you almost all the way up to the top. The rest of the way I hopped in my chair and needed just a little help to get onto the bridge. So there they harness you like anyone else, then attach the wheelchair to you. After the guy harnessing me looks at me and says, "I hope that works, eh" my confidence was at an all-time high haha. Seriously though he told me he gets some people in chairs out there every year so I wasn't worried. Sort of, I mean I am getting thrown off a bridge.

So the time comes and it's my turn, I wheel myself over to the edge of the railing. The railing is about 4 feet high so you can't really see over it. Then they asked me if I was ready and began to pick up my wheelchair.

In the span of about half a second I'm up and on the railing and looking over this bridge and at the rushing water 160 feet below me. At that moment of realization that you're staring over the edge of a 160 foot bridge, you are already plummeting in a free fall towards the river.

It is such a rush and before you know it the bungee cord catches you and hurls you back in the air and you do it again. When you stop bouncing they lower a rope down, you attach it to your harness and they raise you back up. This is the point where I breathed a sigh of relief that I didn't have to tell all my therapists I hurt myself because I jumped off a bridge haha.

The next day we drove back to Vancouver, my buddy flew back to Oregon and I flew back home to Ohio. I was exhausted, happy to be home, and felt very accomplished. This was a great trip for me and the start of many more to come.

That first time doing anything is always the most special. Whether it's your first time driving again, first class, first time anything. It's hard to explain that "first" feeling but I know a lot of you reading this understand what I'm talking about. And if you don't it's about time you discovered it.

Our biggest limitations in life aren't physical, but mental. I know I let go of some limitations at the bottom of that bridge in Canada, and I know bungee jumping isn't everyone's cup of tea, but whatever it is I encourage you to go for it.

And if you're crazy like me, well, now you know a great place to get thrown off a bridge


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Uploaded on YouTube by burns2133 on Jun 27, 2011

# Article as posted at The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation website - for more info visit: 
http://www.reevefoundation.org/