When life takes a swift but unexpected turn, on occasion you'll have some advance warning. But there will also be times when you're not so lucky, and the unforeseen detour will alter your life forever.
For me, that detour came more than 20 years ago--and the date, Jan. 5, 1982, is imprinted permanently in my mind. My life change began when I started experiencing a distinctly noticeable pain in my right side. Although I didn't think anything was seriously wrong at the time, I checked into a hospital just to be safe. After a quick evaluation, I got a clean bill of health from the docs, who told me I'd be released the following morning.
Unfortunately, they were wrong. When I awoke the next day and attempted to walk to the bathroom, I was able to take only one step before falling to the floor. As it turned out, it was one of the last steps I would ever take.
ONE STEP BACK ...
After further testing, the doctors diagnosed transverse myelitis, a rare disease involving inflammation of the spinal cord. The ultimate result was a loss of function of my lower extremities.
The doctors attributed the condition to a piece of shrapnel I had picked up during my tour of duty in Vietnam as a Marine some 12 years earlier. It was a shock to my family and a devastating blow to me. I was 34 years old at the time, in the prime of my life. Suddenly, I had to face the rest of that life knowing that I'd most likely never walk again.
But I refused to let the bad news destroy me. I decided to do everything in my power to prevent the paralysis from diminishing my quality of life, and my first goal was to regain my independence. So I learned how to drive, hooking up hand controls to my car. Next, I told myself I would continue to be productive in the community, and picked up right where I'd left off: I started a new season as coach of a local Pop Warner football team.
TWO STEPS FORWARD
Two years later I set a milestone goal: to compete in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. I did just that in 1984, and managed to take home the bronze medal in the bench press. I was hooked--not only on the competition, but on the attention I received for my efforts and the positive effect I found that I had on others around me.
Since that day I've competed in every Wheelchair Games, winning medals in various activities. The bench press, though, has been my main event. In 1987, I won my first gold medal by benching 375 pounds, and have won 16 consecutive golds in the event since. In 1992, I made the U.S. Paralympic weightlifting team and got to go to Barcelona, where the Olympics were also being held, so I had the pleasure of sharing the Olympic Village experience with all the other athletes.
Thanks to my will to succeed and the support of friends and family, I've been quite successful, both in and out of the powerlifting arena. And when people ask me if I ever think about losing the use of my legs, I tell them I do, every day. But even so, I can't imagine my life being fuller or richer than it is at this very moment.
WORKOUT ADVICE
Get plenty of rest and make sure you have a good routine. And be consistent. You can't make improvements if you're not training regularly.--Kater Cornwell
KATER CORNWELL
* Home: Charlotte, North Carolina
* Age: 55
* Weight: 275 pounds
* Training: Weight-trains four days per week for two hours a day.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group