I've been in this sport for 4+ yrs now, in the USA. Last year I had a malfunction and it has cost me a year out of the sport. I fractured my humuorus (upper arm bone) from the mid-point through the distal 3rd. The surgeon almost took it off, because he was unsure if he could rebuild it. He told me after surgery that the best he could guarantee me was funcitonality with my left arm. I have a 10" metal plate with 12 screws, 5 sections of metal wire, and huge chunk of artifical bone in my arm. 1 year ago, the doctor and everyone said, you will never skydive again or regain what you had in your arm. 3 months after surgery, I had the use of my hand back, I could type with both hands, but it was painful and slow. More months pass and each day I was getting more back. After 9 months of intense physical therapy, my surgeon said, therapy is done, you have to take it now, not that you were not telling them to go further than they thought they should. you are done with therapy, but not me. I work my arm everyday to keep what I have and to build it back. In June, I went to AZ to skydive Arizona, and got into the wind-tunnel. It was awesome. I could fly... It was rough, but it helped. Yes, my injury is a permanent disability, but I have found that I will be able to skydive again soon. My doctor, and family wish I would not, but they understand, for the most part, that it is something I have to do for me.
Don't let anyone say you can't or wont be able to do something. What your mind can beleive, your body can acheive....
To all the skydivers with disabilities, I am proud to say, you all have been an inspiration to me getting through my own personal injury... I had met a deaf skydiver in Walterboro SC last summer before my accident, I cant think of his name, but he was an inspiration for me.
Blue skies, my brothers and sisters...
