On December 16th 2013 Mike sustained a spinal cord injury after demonstrating a freestyle skiing trick to the athletes he was coaching.

At the time of his accident Mike describes his first thought was “Oh my god I was having such a good day skiing”. An article written just after the accident described him as saying “I am just dealing with some issues” and “It happened, there’s no sense in dwelling on it,” From my interactions that is exactly what Mike did….took each day as they came and dealt with the issues at hand with grace and a good sense of humor.

Some of the comments from Mike’s peers have described him as dedicated, selfless, and motivated. Kirsten Sharp from Spinal Cord Injury BC says Mike recognized everyone’s hard work, and throughout his rehab he made time to support and encourage others in their rehab journey. She described that other client’s gravitated towards him and took his hard work and commitment as something to look up to.

I have seen similar character traits in Mike. On the day of his admission one of the first things he asked me was the name of a young client was down the hall driving a sip & puff powerchair. I told him his name. Mike proceeded to say “I’m going to go say hi because I think he needs a friend”. I realized that this big man had an even bigger heart, and that his focus was not only on himself but to look out for others that were trying to deal with their own issues.

Mike was discharged from G.F. Strong on March 7^th of last year. He was walking with forearm crutches, had limitations in his endurance, and knew that he would get back onto the mountains skiing but likely not on his feet and not in the high performance way that he had done for so many years.

Turns out G.F. was just the launching point for Mike.

Two days after his discharge from G.F. Strong he participated in a podcast for the skiing community. He commented that he found a new appreciation for Life, Love, Relationships, and Happiness and that he would not want to take back the accident for what all those things that he has gained.

1 month after discharge he tried sit skiing with the Live it, Love it foundation. Reports are Mike fully embraced adaptive sport and since his injury has been acting as an advocate for it.

2 months after discharge Mike was interviewed by the sports radio show in Vancouver. Mike took advantage of the radio broadcast to speak about personal safety to those who participate in extreme sports.

3 months after discharge Mike raised over $3000 for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge.   An event put on by the Spinal Cord Injury BC where Mike was the top fundraising peer.

Mike has been working kids in high schools talking to them about linking personal safety and performance for sport and for life.

10 days ago Mike participated in the Red Bull Wings For Life charity run where 100% of the entry fee goes to spinal cord research.

From the moment he was lying face down in the snow unable to move a single muscle, to the moment he strapped on his skiis on again at his one year anniversary of his injury Mike knew how things could have been dramatically different with respect to potential long term physical impairments.

Regardless of what neurological function Mike could have been left with long term, his story would have been the same. The Mike Shaw story is a story of unyielding determination working toward an unknown future, a story of not an injury but what you do with that injury, and a story of the value of a positive mental approach with the simple tasks and challenges of life after a spinal cord injury.

Congratulations on receiving this award

For 3 months I had the honor of being James physiotherapist. Erin the honor of being his social worker.

On June 18th, 2016 there was a crash.

James has no memory of the accident. However, his wife, Marie, can account for every detail. After all, it was she who begged him not to die while the hands of a stranger compressed his heart that had come to a stop by the side of a highway near Kelowna.

James was admitted to G.F. Strong on October 4th , 2016.  A dual diagnosis – significant head and spinal cord injury. Notable deficits in his initial abilities. Staff questioned whether he would gain enough function to live independently again.

Working at G.F. Strong we know one truth – that trauma has the power to alter our outlook on the world. It would have been easy for James to surrender all possibilities for the future. But it takes a special kind of person to still see the good in life after experiencing such a massive traumatic event.

James is exactly this type of person. He is a problem solver and a solution finder. I think back to the day when James told me he looked up the definition of quadriplegia on google and thought “Wow, I guess that really fits”

One of James attributes that I admire most is his 100% commitment.  He approached each task with the highest level of enthusiasm and excitement – no matter how awkward or foreign or impossible it may have seemed.

I also enjoy his sense of humor. He once confided to me that in his life before injury he was always looking for the next big challenge.  Then he said “I think it is safe to say that I have found it.”

As the weeks at G.F. Strong passed by, I would routinely see him at Starbucks enjoying a specialty coffee.

An obsession that he regularly blames on Marie. He also visited the comedy club, had Thanksgiving dinner at his Sister-in-Laws, and was a regular attendee at Friday night nachos at Marie’s apartment.

I can only imagine how terrifying it must be to have no idea of how a life outside of rehab will be lived. James courage to embrace this unknown future is astonishing beyond compare.

His gratefulness for his wife, family, team, and life is a state-of-mind to which we should all strive to emulate.

During our time together, there wasn’t a day that went by when he didn’t remark “I am so blessed to have Marie by my side”.  He would also say ““Life is awesome.  I flat lined on the edge of a highway.  It only gets better from here.”

I had the fortune to speak with James 6 weeks ago, just after he had been notified that he was a recipient of this award.  His voice was exactly the same as I had remembered it: crackling with enthusiasm and passion.

He told me that Marie is living in an apartment close by. That they get together on Friday nights. That he continues to set personal bests on the hand cycle. That he tried sledge hockey for the first time.

James – I speak on behalf of the whole team at GF strong when I say – thank you! It was a privilege and a pleasure. We are better for having known you. You are a true inspiration with respect to the grace, dignity and humor you display in the surmounting challenges you never dreamt you would be faced with.

Remember, no matter how much think you learned during your stay; it pales in comparison to the important lessons you have taught us.

Congratulations on receiving this award.