DISABILITIES

DISABILITIES WEEK 124

By Daniel J. Vance

Many of you remember former Detroit Lions lineman Mike Utley, who was paralyzed during a 1991 NFL game. The last thirteen-plus years he's shown remarkable grit in trying to come back from a severe spinal cord injury.

Utley said recently over the telephone, "At first after the injury I had no feeling below the elbows. I couldn't eat or shave by myself. Someone had to be with me around the clock. Over a two-year period I began regaining feeling in my hands, then fingers. Then after losing 105 pounds I looked into the mirror and made a commitment, just like I did as a ballplayer, to become physically fit. I wanted to be physically and mentally ready for when a spinal cord injury cure does come."

And so he has become "ready." He rises at 4 a.m. to begin his daily regimen. He works with a physical therapist and chiropractor four days a week and regularly lifts weights. He pumps up his arm muscles further by riding a hand cycle, a hand-powered bike.

For fun, he says, "My power boat goes up to 83 miles an hour and in the summer I often ride it the 40 miles from dam to dam where I live on the Columbia River in Washington state." He enjoys kayaking, scuba diving, skydiving (13 jumps), and uses a four-wheeler to hunt and shoot. All this activity has bore fruit: in addition to being fit, he has regained some muscle function below the waist.

He has general advice for young people playing sports. "All young boys and girls, coaches and parents need to be taught that it's a privilege to play any sport," he says. "If a kid doesn't go to school, do his chores at home and keep his rear end out of trouble, he shouldn't have the privilege of playing. I have so much respect for the NFL and the game of football was a privilege to play."

To young people dealing with spinal cord injuries, Utley says, "(Depending on the injury level) I say shower often, eat well, lift weights, don't be a burden and financially support yourselves. I also tell them to pick their friends rather than having their friends pick them."

He says young people with spinal cord injuries should be physically and mentally ready for a cure so it won't "pass them by."

For more, see www.danieljvance.com or www.mikeutley.org