YMCA Helps Warsaw Man Fight For Normal Life
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Brad Johnson is just like everyone else.
Johnson plays the game of life every day and Johnson faces the risks many face every day.
But Johnson is not just like everyone else.
"A drunk driver ran over me on my motorcycle on purpose," the Warsaw man said. "I wasn't going fast enough to suit him and he was drunk."
The 1979 accident broke his spine in eight places.
"I pretty much recovered from that incident, but I wasn't able to do things like play golf," Johnson said.
Up to that point, he was very active in sports. He ran approximately 10 miles and played golf nearly every day.
Since the accident, Johnson has suffered broken bones, including breaking his spine 16 times.
Johnson, 45, also has had eight major spinal surgeries and 40 surgeries altogether.
The doctors gave up hope and said he would never walk again.
"My whole life is changed," Johnson said.
Now Johnson fights every day just to regain strength.
But why is Johnson not just like everyone else?
In 1995 Johnson endured one more devastating accident. He slipped on ice and broke his back and neck. He has been a quadriplegic ever since.
But he hasn't given up. Johnson works to keep his strength up and hopes to regain movement in his limbs.
Part of Johnson's inspiration is his wife.
"On our very first date, my wife and I went dancing. I want to be able to take her dancing one more time," he said.
Johnson has advanced spinal spinosis, which makes it difficult for him to achieve his goal.
"Everybody has a certain amount of spinal spinosis," Johnson said. "It's called old age."
Spinal spinosis is rapid deterioration of the bone. Johnson's bone deteriorates more rapidly than the average person's.
Besides rapid bone deterioration, Johnson also fights weakness, medical expenses, sleeping disorders and the loss of partial eyesight - all stemming from the 1979 accident.
But Johnson isn't fighting alone. His home health care provider, Cora Bradley, works with him five days a week. They do therapy at home and in the YMCA's warm water therapy pool.
"Even with my Medicare and my Medicare supplement, my out-of-pocket medical comes to more, in the last five years of my taxes, than my Social Security," Johnson said. "So we've been living strictly on my wife's waitress income. We have the old bills plus part of my medical."
Johnson has still managed to beat the odds through all his obstacles.
Jonson starting walking with the aid of a walker last November.
"I'm now walking a little bit," Johnson said. "I haven't walked in 10 years."
Besides striving to take his wife dancing, he also wants to walk again without the use of his walker.
"I'm not giving up. That's still my goal," Johnson said.
Johnson says he owes his success so far to the Lord, Bradley and the YMCA.
"I have some sensation now for the first time in over 10 years," Johnson said.
Johnson said his success is due to "a lot of therapy."
He now has approximately 30 percent use of his legs, 75 percent use of his right arm and 50 percent use of his left arm.
"I'm very weak, but I'm doing a lot better thanks to the training at the Y," Johnson said. "If it weren't for aquatic therapy, I wouldn't be around today."
The YMCA wants to help Johnson achieve his goals.
Saturday, April 29, the YMCA is sponsoring a 5K race to benefit Johnson.
"Every year we ask area businesses if they would sponsor a portion for this," Monica Gibson, YMCA aerobics instructor, said.
Don Ransome, YMCA member and co-director of the race, said registration is race day from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
"This is the third year we've held this race," Ransome said. "We've had around 50 people in the past."
Ransome and Gibson are hoping for a larger turnout this year.
"This year the course is going to be confined to the fairgrounds," Ransome said.
He also said it will start and finish at the YMCA and there will be 12 different age groups. Awards will be given for each age group, Ransome said.
The entry fee is $12 if preregistered by April 14th and $15 if registered after April 14.
Ransome also said those involved in the race bring in homemade cookies for everyone to snack on after the race.
"It's kind of unique, I think," Ransome said. He hopes the gesture will help bring more people to the benefit race.
Ransome also said the YMCA allows participants to use their facilities to shower and clean up after the race.
For more information call the YMCA at 269-9622 or Ransome at 267-4140. Inquiries also can be directed to Gibson at 372-7362. [[In-content Ad]]
Brad Johnson is just like everyone else.
Johnson plays the game of life every day and Johnson faces the risks many face every day.
But Johnson is not just like everyone else.
"A drunk driver ran over me on my motorcycle on purpose," the Warsaw man said. "I wasn't going fast enough to suit him and he was drunk."
The 1979 accident broke his spine in eight places.
"I pretty much recovered from that incident, but I wasn't able to do things like play golf," Johnson said.
Up to that point, he was very active in sports. He ran approximately 10 miles and played golf nearly every day.
Since the accident, Johnson has suffered broken bones, including breaking his spine 16 times.
Johnson, 45, also has had eight major spinal surgeries and 40 surgeries altogether.
The doctors gave up hope and said he would never walk again.
"My whole life is changed," Johnson said.
Now Johnson fights every day just to regain strength.
But why is Johnson not just like everyone else?
In 1995 Johnson endured one more devastating accident. He slipped on ice and broke his back and neck. He has been a quadriplegic ever since.
But he hasn't given up. Johnson works to keep his strength up and hopes to regain movement in his limbs.
Part of Johnson's inspiration is his wife.
"On our very first date, my wife and I went dancing. I want to be able to take her dancing one more time," he said.
Johnson has advanced spinal spinosis, which makes it difficult for him to achieve his goal.
"Everybody has a certain amount of spinal spinosis," Johnson said. "It's called old age."
Spinal spinosis is rapid deterioration of the bone. Johnson's bone deteriorates more rapidly than the average person's.
Besides rapid bone deterioration, Johnson also fights weakness, medical expenses, sleeping disorders and the loss of partial eyesight - all stemming from the 1979 accident.
But Johnson isn't fighting alone. His home health care provider, Cora Bradley, works with him five days a week. They do therapy at home and in the YMCA's warm water therapy pool.
"Even with my Medicare and my Medicare supplement, my out-of-pocket medical comes to more, in the last five years of my taxes, than my Social Security," Johnson said. "So we've been living strictly on my wife's waitress income. We have the old bills plus part of my medical."
Johnson has still managed to beat the odds through all his obstacles.
Jonson starting walking with the aid of a walker last November.
"I'm now walking a little bit," Johnson said. "I haven't walked in 10 years."
Besides striving to take his wife dancing, he also wants to walk again without the use of his walker.
"I'm not giving up. That's still my goal," Johnson said.
Johnson says he owes his success so far to the Lord, Bradley and the YMCA.
"I have some sensation now for the first time in over 10 years," Johnson said.
Johnson said his success is due to "a lot of therapy."
He now has approximately 30 percent use of his legs, 75 percent use of his right arm and 50 percent use of his left arm.
"I'm very weak, but I'm doing a lot better thanks to the training at the Y," Johnson said. "If it weren't for aquatic therapy, I wouldn't be around today."
The YMCA wants to help Johnson achieve his goals.
Saturday, April 29, the YMCA is sponsoring a 5K race to benefit Johnson.
"Every year we ask area businesses if they would sponsor a portion for this," Monica Gibson, YMCA aerobics instructor, said.
Don Ransome, YMCA member and co-director of the race, said registration is race day from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
"This is the third year we've held this race," Ransome said. "We've had around 50 people in the past."
Ransome and Gibson are hoping for a larger turnout this year.
"This year the course is going to be confined to the fairgrounds," Ransome said.
He also said it will start and finish at the YMCA and there will be 12 different age groups. Awards will be given for each age group, Ransome said.
The entry fee is $12 if preregistered by April 14th and $15 if registered after April 14.
Ransome also said those involved in the race bring in homemade cookies for everyone to snack on after the race.
"It's kind of unique, I think," Ransome said. He hopes the gesture will help bring more people to the benefit race.
Ransome also said the YMCA allows participants to use their facilities to shower and clean up after the race.
For more information call the YMCA at 269-9622 or Ransome at 267-4140. Inquiries also can be directed to Gibson at 372-7362. [[In-content Ad]]