Life can turn on a dime! The night before Jesse’s accident he told his Dad that his goals were:
1. Continue getting “Straight As” at Harper so he could get into a four-year college
2. Continue working out every day so he could target some D3 schools to try to play football at
3. Continue working his job so he could save some money for college
He was in the best frame of mind he had been in for months. He finally felt like he had some post-high school direction. How fast things can change!
After his accident, he and has family had to set new goals so he could present them to the experts at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. His new goals are both a reflection of how devastating his injury is and more importantly, looking at his long-range goals what an amazing person he is. Perhaps the miracle of him not dying the day of the crash was part of a larger plan. Instead of dying that day like most people with his injuries would have, he was spared, and now he wants to help thousands of teenagers avoid preventable injuries or death.
Short-Term Goals: (over the next 1-2 years)
1, Get breathing on own, able to eat and drink and speak again – things we take for granted, he is working hard everyday to achieve!
2. Regain use of his arms, be able to raise at least one arm to his head for eating and hygiene.
3. Regain use of his hands and fingers.
4. Get control over his bodily functions.
5. Regain use of his legs, be able to walk with a cane one day.
6. Come back home and start his new life with his new normal.
Long-term Goals:
1. Participate in one or more of the awesome clinical trials being done in the US that can help him regain more function.
2. Travel around the USA in a wheelchair accessible RV with his family while giving speeches to teenagers at schools, religious and community-based organizations.
3. Design his own cane and walk with it one day.
4. Have a good life and be happy again.
Right now Jesse needs to focus on his short-term goals. Check out his You Can Help page for ways you can help Jesse achieve his goals.