Meet Adaptive Athlete: Nathan James

Nathan James was raised in Frisco, Texas. Growing up, he was all in on football and video games - football teaching him discipline, teamwork, and the thrill of competition, while gaming offered strategy, quick thinking, and an escape where he could level up on his own terms.

 

After graduating high school in 2021, Nate pursued his calling in emergency services, completing Fire Academy and EMT training. He earned his Fire/EMT certifications, worked as an EMT-B, and graduated from fire academy just two weeks before his life altering accident.

 

On December 2, 2023, while riding his motorcycle, Nate collided with a driver who made an illegal left turn in front of him. The impact caused him to fly off the bike and landed on his head. Initial reports to 911 described it as fatal. Rushed to the hospital in College Station, scans revealed a 12mm midline shift in his brain - 15mm is typically considered fatal. Surgeons performed a craniotomy, and he remained in a coma for 14 days, spent 54 days in ICU, 42 days in inpatient rehab, followed by 12 months of day neuro, 6 months in REWOW, and ongoing outpatient OT and PT. He continues weekly trauma counseling to process the crash and adapt to his new reality. Physically, the injury brought significant deficits; mentally, it tested his resilience, but therapy is helping him accept and move forward.

 

Today, Nate is rebuilding with clear determination. He is focused on returning to serving condition - regaining the calm-under-pressure confidence that defined him as an EMT and firefighter before the crash, a mindset he’s determined to reclaim despite the physical hurdles. Physically, he aims to run a mile, lose weight, train with free weights instead of machines, and get as close as possible to his pre-crash physique. Mentally, he wants to stay focused amid distractions, establish a solid daily routine, and eliminate the lazy or hopeless days - pushing toward consistency, purpose, and a stronger sense of self every step of the way.