Meet Adaptive Athlete: Bradley Shelton

Brad grew up in Waxahachie, Texas. He developed a love for baseball at an early age, playing all the way through high school. He also played softball while in the Marine Corps and played in the Fort Worth Adult Baseball Association after his discharge from the military. Brad was an Infantry Mortarman in the Marines and was deployed multiple times, including a deployment to Iraq.

 

While on patrol in Iraq in 2009, Brad’s vehicle was involved in an accident, resulting in a spinal compression injury and fracturing his L5 vertebra. After battling chronic pain for years, Brad underwent an L5/S1 spinal fusion. Complications from this surgery required an additional procedure to manipulate his nerves. After his surgery, Brad felt sidelined and like he was no longer able to do the things he loved.

 

Brad wants to gain mobility and confidence. He recently started playing pickleball and wants to compete at the World Pickleball Championships. He hopes to be able to stop relying on medication for pain management. Brad’s two sons still view him as an athlete, and he wants it to stay that way!