Comming in at number nine fourteen year old, Nick Springer who contracted meningococcal meningitis while at summer camp in western Massachusetts. Although this deadly bacteria is usually fatal within the first 36 hours after a person is exposed to it, Nick miraculously survived, but not before his legs right above his knees and his arms below his elbows had been amputated to save his life.
During a touph and emotiononal rehabilitation process, Nick was able to relearn how to complete everyday tasks. He also received prosthetic limbs to make getting around much easier. And when he was old enough, he had hand controls placed in his car and has been cruising around his hometown near New York City ever since. With an easygoing personality and charming smile, Nick has nothing but a positive outlook on life. “I told myself that I had to get over this,” Nick explains. “I just don’t see myself as being disabled.”
When Nick isn’t at home hanging out with his friends or listening to his favorite band, Sublime, he can be found on the hockey rink. Influenced by his favorite National Hockey League (NHL) player, Adam Graves of the San Jose Sharks, Nick competes in sled hockey and has had the opportunity to play with Graves since having his amputation. He uses prosthetic arms that have custom-made hockey sticks on the ends and has a specially designed sled that enables him to move around the ice easily. Nick is also involved in other sports like rugby, snowboarding and swimming. He’s even thinking about becoming a catcher for a wheelchair softball team. “I look at it this way,” Nick says. “No matter if a person is missing one limb or all four limbs, that person is not disabled. Some people, like me, just have to find a different way of doing things.”
Nick’s newest passion is rugby. He learned the game about five years ago from a few of his friends and has been hooked ever since. Despite having his arms and legs amputated he did not sit around and feel sorry for himself. Lets be honest, just about every one of us would in his situation. He trained vigorously and competed in various paralympic events.
About one year ago Nick told reporters that his latest goal is to win a gold medal in wheelchair rugby at the Beijing paralympics in 2008. He has trained for that competition and has kept his eyes on that gold medal ever since. looking back at the 2008 Olympics today, we now know that Nick Springer wasn’t a joke. In fact he started on the U.S. men’s wheelchair rugby team and won the gold medal.
After overcoming such a disease, losing all four limbs, rehabilitating tediously, strength training, trying to live a normal life and keeping a positive outlook on life takes an incalculableamount of passion, integrity and self-confidence. Nick Springer’s story is a truly amazing one and for nick himself, he is awesome.
