Derek,
I don’t usually watch MTV, but flipping through I saw your story. (The other two side stories were almost comical next to yours; I’m not really sure why they added them.) Your positive attitude completely astounded me. I know times are hard right now, but I truly believe you have everything it takes to forge ahead. You and your family are in my prayers, and good luck at college!
Hi Derek. I saw you on MTV and am proud of you and your progress. My dad had a stroke and tried his best to come back. Seeing all the rehab and therapy you do brought back memories of his struggle. I think your being so young will help with your recovery. Never give up. Miracles do happen.God bless you and your wonderful family.
Don’t want to repeat my past comments (although I AM still praying). Great updates. I hope they start getting more comments. Hope to follow the fortunes of Indiana Ice this season. Chicago Fury also. God bless!
Derek,
I don’t usually do this, but I watched True Life with you in it, and it seriously broke my heart. I hope everything gets better for you! I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Derek,
Hi, I work in the ER at U of M. I was working the night you came in and I remember that night quite well, it didn’t hit me how much until I saw your story on MTV. So many of us in the ER are tied to hockey in one way or another, so your story really hit home with many of us. I are so glad to see that you are getting better, and that you have been gaining more and more strength. Keep at it, don’t give up. You truly are an inspiration and a fighter. I will forever be praying for you and your recovery. Stay strong, I will be looking for you in the NHL someday. It will happen!!! Good Luck!!!
Hi Derek and Family,
My name is Hanna Sheppard, I saw your episode of true life and wanted to contact you some way, I also suffered Spinal Cord Injury a C5 burst (just like you). On August 19th 2008 i dove into my swimming pool in the low end and broke my neck. I was 13 at the the time I am now 14 turning 15 in 3 days (Nov 6th). I was airlifted to a trauma hospital i had my surgery within an hour of being there. I stayed at the hospital for 10 days then went to rehab for 2months, 2hrs away from my house. (I live on Long Island, NY) After that i went to another rehab for two months 45 min away from my house. i came home 2 days before christmas. my family as well had to make my house wheelchair accessible. A year and 2 months later i am able to walk with lofstrand crutches (forearm crutches). the left side of my body isn’t paralyzed anymore but my right side is not back to normal yet and i still have some paralysis. I am sure you will continue to make progess you still have a lot of time to get everything back. Just keep smiling, don’t let anything get you down, you and your family will get through it. A Little Bit Longer and You’ll Be Fine. (A Little Bit Longer - Jonas Brothers) You may not like the jonas brothers (you might despise them) but that song is how i felt when i had my injury and i think it describes it perfectly. So give it a listen if you want to.
If you have ANY questions WHAT SO EVER! please feel free to e-mail me or if you just want to talk i would love to hear from you. Remember I am your age, i had the same exact injury and i know what you went/are going through. karategrl94@gmail.com
i’ll keep you in my prayers.
Love,
Hanna
Hi Derek!!
My name is Ignacia and i am writing from Chile, Southamerica. I watched the espisode on MTV I got really touched by you injury, because just like you said, you’re not a quitter, even when you were really sad or upset.
I really hope that you are doing OK. I really think that you’ll be fine. Best wishes for you an your family for the new year 2010.
Good luck with everything in your life.
Love,
Ignacia
We have never met, but I want you to know that I’m praying for a full recovery for you. The Lord is watching over you.
Peace to you young man, be strong.
I saw the MTV show on you last year and I was really touched by it. Since then, I have kept in touch with what is happening with you by checking your web site. I have seen the tremendous progress you have made. Congratulations on graduating!! Also, congratulations on your choice of Miami University!! I graduated from Miami of Ohio and my youngest son currently attends Miami (he will be a sophomore next year). It is a school full of wonderful people. I hope it turns out to be a great experience for you.
I truly admire you and your family. I think you all have shown tremendous strength and courage! My prayers are with you all.
Hi Derek,
My name is Ryan I live in St.Louis Missouri and I’m 15 I broke my C3 and all the fasets around it.It was just a freak accedent It was late and I and I fell over something and then feel backwards and hit my neck on my metal bed railing it was the worst pain I ever felt in my life I mean people have had bad cuts and stuff but omg it’s nothing 2 that until so
Ething
Something like that happens to you I couldn’t feel anything in my whole body I had a tourney for AAA baseball that next day all that was running through my head was baseballs over for me I mean I went to the hospital and they told me right then and there that there was a chance that I could never move again I had surgery that very next day longest day of my life. After the surgery I stayed in the hospital 4 a month and a half all the rehab and stuff it’s so tiering it made me feel like a baby sometimes that I couldn’t feed myself or anything but the vacuum to suck the stuff from your lungs was one of the worst parts idk how 2 discribe how much I hated that but when I came home that next month I saw your true life on tv I mean there’s nothing else u can do but sleep eat watch tv and playing sports and everything that’s not how I wanted 2 live my life. But I saw that on true life and was like I no exactly what he’s going through but It’s been a year and a half since surgery the doc I asked about the C5 he said that that’s one of the worse ones you can break and 1& 3 because they r the main 1’s but the other ones aren’t good but I mean the doctor said that with me breaking the c3 there was a chance I could walk play sports and everything but I had 2 go to rehab 5 days a week for 8months so I did that got released back in April for full activity but it was bugging u because I wanted 2 tell u that I no this pain sucks and that I was 1 of the lucky 1’s that could get my movement back and when my doctor told me I was lucky I thought about u rite there and then and i hope that you are doing great and are starting 2 get a lot of movement again (:
From Ryan Ps if you read this could u comment just kinda wanted 2 hear your oppinion
Hi Derek!!
I, like many here, I saw you on MTV. You’re so cute! I’m so sorry that happened this trauma =(( But you’re still the same beautiful and cheerful! Your girlfriend with you are very lucky! You wonderful! Good luck to you, you are the best!
Id like to see u!
Derek, I saw your story through MTV and thought I would wish you well! My mother broke her neck twenty years ago like you and has a “zipper” scar too and she was able to recover. It may take a long time but don’t give up. You have my familys full support and are in our prays. Stay strong Derek! <3
Hi Derek!
I saw your story on MTV (Russian MTV). I was so impressionable your story. And I’m very glad to see that you finished high school in this year! Congratulation! Good luck in college! =))) Your parents are also great ppl!
P.S. Sorry for my English. It’s still not good.
Derek,
I don’t usually watch MTV, but flipping through I saw your story. (The other two side stories were almost comical next to yours; I’m not really sure why they added them.) Your positive attitude completely astounded me. I know times are hard right now, but I truly believe you have everything it takes to forge ahead. You and your family are in my prayers, and good luck at college!
Hi Derek. I saw you on MTV and am proud of you and your progress. My dad had a stroke and tried his best to come back. Seeing all the rehab and therapy you do brought back memories of his struggle. I think your being so young will help with your recovery. Never give up. Miracles do happen.God bless you and your wonderful family.
Don’t want to repeat my past comments (although I AM still praying). Great updates. I hope they start getting more comments. Hope to follow the fortunes of Indiana Ice this season. Chicago Fury also. God bless!
Derek,
I don’t usually do this, but I watched True Life with you in it, and it seriously broke my heart. I hope everything gets better for you! I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Derek,
Hi, I work in the ER at U of M. I was working the night you came in and I remember that night quite well, it didn’t hit me how much until I saw your story on MTV. So many of us in the ER are tied to hockey in one way or another, so your story really hit home with many of us. I are so glad to see that you are getting better, and that you have been gaining more and more strength. Keep at it, don’t give up. You truly are an inspiration and a fighter. I will forever be praying for you and your recovery. Stay strong, I will be looking for you in the NHL someday. It will happen!!! Good Luck!!!
Hi Derek and Family,
My name is Hanna Sheppard, I saw your episode of true life and wanted to contact you some way, I also suffered Spinal Cord Injury a C5 burst (just like you). On August 19th 2008 i dove into my swimming pool in the low end and broke my neck. I was 13 at the the time I am now 14 turning 15 in 3 days (Nov 6th). I was airlifted to a trauma hospital i had my surgery within an hour of being there. I stayed at the hospital for 10 days then went to rehab for 2months, 2hrs away from my house. (I live on Long Island, NY) After that i went to another rehab for two months 45 min away from my house. i came home 2 days before christmas. my family as well had to make my house wheelchair accessible. A year and 2 months later i am able to walk with lofstrand crutches (forearm crutches). the left side of my body isn’t paralyzed anymore but my right side is not back to normal yet and i still have some paralysis. I am sure you will continue to make progess you still have a lot of time to get everything back. Just keep smiling, don’t let anything get you down, you and your family will get through it. A Little Bit Longer and You’ll Be Fine. (A Little Bit Longer - Jonas Brothers) You may not like the jonas brothers (you might despise them) but that song is how i felt when i had my injury and i think it describes it perfectly. So give it a listen if you want to.
If you have ANY questions WHAT SO EVER! please feel free to e-mail me or if you just want to talk i would love to hear from you. Remember I am your age, i had the same exact injury and i know what you went/are going through. karategrl94@gmail.com
i’ll keep you in my prayers.
Love,
Hanna
please keep the comments coming, they are true inspiration for Derek !
Hi Derek!!
My name is Ignacia and i am writing from Chile, Southamerica. I watched the espisode on MTV I got really touched by you injury, because just like you said, you’re not a quitter, even when you were really sad or upset.
I really hope that you are doing OK. I really think that you’ll be fine. Best wishes for you an your family for the new year 2010.
Good luck with everything in your life.
Love,
Ignacia
Dear Derek,
We have never met, but I want you to know that I’m praying for a full recovery for you. The Lord is watching over you.
Peace to you young man, be strong.
Hockey Mom(1992)
Hi Derek and Family,
I saw the MTV show on you last year and I was really touched by it. Since then, I have kept in touch with what is happening with you by checking your web site. I have seen the tremendous progress you have made. Congratulations on graduating!! Also, congratulations on your choice of Miami University!! I graduated from Miami of Ohio and my youngest son currently attends Miami (he will be a sophomore next year). It is a school full of wonderful people. I hope it turns out to be a great experience for you.
I truly admire you and your family. I think you all have shown tremendous strength and courage! My prayers are with you all.
Hi Derek,
My name is Ryan I live in St.Louis Missouri and I’m 15 I broke my C3 and all the fasets around it.It was just a freak accedent It was late and I and I fell over something and then feel backwards and hit my neck on my metal bed railing it was the worst pain I ever felt in my life I mean people have had bad cuts and stuff but omg it’s nothing 2 that until so
Ething
Something like that happens to you I couldn’t feel anything in my whole body I had a tourney for AAA baseball that next day all that was running through my head was baseballs over for me I mean I went to the hospital and they told me right then and there that there was a chance that I could never move again I had surgery that very next day longest day of my life. After the surgery I stayed in the hospital 4 a month and a half all the rehab and stuff it’s so tiering it made me feel like a baby sometimes that I couldn’t feed myself or anything but the vacuum to suck the stuff from your lungs was one of the worst parts idk how 2 discribe how much I hated that but when I came home that next month I saw your true life on tv I mean there’s nothing else u can do but sleep eat watch tv and playing sports and everything that’s not how I wanted 2 live my life. But I saw that on true life and was like I no exactly what he’s going through but It’s been a year and a half since surgery the doc I asked about the C5 he said that that’s one of the worse ones you can break and 1& 3 because they r the main 1’s but the other ones aren’t good but I mean the doctor said that with me breaking the c3 there was a chance I could walk play sports and everything but I had 2 go to rehab 5 days a week for 8months so I did that got released back in April for full activity but it was bugging u because I wanted 2 tell u that I no this pain sucks and that I was 1 of the lucky 1’s that could get my movement back and when my doctor told me I was lucky I thought about u rite there and then and i hope that you are doing great and are starting 2 get a lot of movement again (:
From Ryan Ps if you read this could u comment just kinda wanted 2 hear your oppinion
Hi Derek!!
I, like many here, I saw you on MTV. You’re so cute! I’m so sorry that happened this trauma =(( But you’re still the same beautiful and cheerful! Your girlfriend with you are very lucky! You wonderful! Good luck to you, you are the best!
Id like to see u!
Derek, I saw your story through MTV and thought I would wish you well! My mother broke her neck twenty years ago like you and has a “zipper” scar too and she was able to recover. It may take a long time but don’t give up. You have my familys full support and are in our prays. Stay strong Derek! <3
Hi Derek!
I saw your story on MTV (Russian MTV). I was so impressionable your story. And I’m very glad to see that you finished high school in this year! Congratulation! Good luck in college! =))) Your parents are also great ppl!
P.S. Sorry for my English. It’s still not good.