On September 5, 2008, Army E5 Sergeant Dan French was working under a vehicle when it slipped off its jacks falling on and pinning him, snapping his neck. Awake for the whole thing, an ambulance came and rushed him to the ER where he underwent testing for 8 hours without pain medicine. After coming in and out of consciousness, he woke up a few days later in ICU with a C4/C5 Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.
During inpatient rehab at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Dan started feeling the pressure of touch in his lower body. He always knew he would get function back despite being told that he had a 99 percent chance of never walking again, and after a nurse eventually asked him if he had ever tried to move his feet, his recovery began.He was able to pick up his left foot a few times and after years of rehab he slowly but surely progressed from a power wheel chair to a walker, to 2 arm crutches, to now walking often unassisted or with a cane.
After a few setbacks throughout his training and what seemed like prolonged effort without visible progress, there came a point where he felt he could go no further on his own. A doctor at the VA told him about the Adaptive Training Foundation (ATF). Dan joined the ATF ReDefine class becoming an ATF athlete and once again redefining his life and pushing the limits of what is possible. He employs his never give up attitude every day in class as he continues to chase his own excellence.
Walking feels great, but his sights are already set on running once again. He was a good runner and in the best shape of his life before his injury so he is working on achieving this goal. From the 99 percent chance of never walking again, Dan jumped rope for the first time since his injury and continues to push these limits.When asked what his greatest asset was in his recovery, he said with a smile, “I never gave up.
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