Mark Peterson remembers looking up and seeing only glimmering rays of sun shining through the current of the Elkhorn River but couldn’t reach for the surface.
In the next instant he woke up on the river bank, paralyzed from the neck down. A few members from his family’s reunion being held rushed to resuscitate him as the rest of the family watched in shock.
Soon after he arrived at the hospital, doctors told the former Fremont resident that he would have to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. At first, and understandably, he refused to believe and concentrated all his energy on standing and walking once again.
However, his condition didn’t improve and 52 days later at a VA hospital in Milwaukee, Wis., doctors again said he would be bound to a wheelchair. This time he accepted the result of is injury but became angry and refused to take part in any type of therapy and rehabilitation.
Gradually he began to attend rehabilitation sessions and soon thereafter never wanted to leave and dreaded going back to his VA hospital room. He was released early and when he returned many of his lifelong friends “distanced themselves.”
He then began what he calls, “a new life.”
Peterson began to take part in a number of wheelchair games as part of his rehabilitation. As a former power generator mechanic and heavy equipment operator for the United States Army he heard about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games which at the time was in just its second year.
For the last 18 years he has never missed the annual event and this weekend will take part in the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games at Qwest Center Omaha and other Omaha locations.
“This event means a lot to me,” said Peterson. “It allows me to get out and about. It’s not the same kind of sporting event as before as a kid growing up but at least there is something out there we can do and we’re not sitting at home doing nothing.”
More wheelchair athletes are taking notice. The games started with a mere 78 wheelchair athletes and this year has grown to well over 600.
But it’s just like every other sporting event.
“I’m very competitive... I tell the guys in my group that we’re basically fighting for the gold metal and I ask the others who’s going to get the silver and who’s going to get the bronze and I don’t let up on them,” he said. “But all joking aside we’re all friends, we talk, we push each other and do what we have to do.”
Peterson, who now lives in Phoenix where the weather makes it easier for him to get around, will take part in the motorized slalom obstacle course, bowling and power soccer events as well as the 220 meter race and a relay race. The motorized slalom and power soccer events are where Peterson said he is concentrating his efforts this year. And he will have a small cheering section too.
Peterson said his mother, who still lives in Sioux Falls, S.D. where he lived for a short time and graduated from in 1978, as well as his brothers from Lincoln and Sioux City will also attend the games. His step-mother Lois Peterson, whose house he stays at on his visits to Fremont once or twice each year, will attend the games as well.
He doesn’t want the crowd to end at just friends and family of wheelchair athletes, however.
“There are a lot of guys in Afghanistan and Iraq and they come back injured and jump in a wheelchair and they become a part of the wheelchair games so it’s a pretty neat thing to see,” said Peterson. “It’s all free so everyone should come and check it out and see what it’s all about. It’s the next best thing on wheels.”
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