Matt
Wyffels
In 2002 I was living in Breckenridge, CO as a rising
Professional Snowboarder. On April 6th, 2002 I was in a
contest and doing very well. At the end of the day I came
in upside down on one my jumps and broke T-11 & T-12
in my back with a dislocation of the spinal column. The
result was a "complete" paralysis from the waist down.
The doctors told me I would never walk, and never
mentioned the possibility of working to that ability.
Upon my release from the hospital my brother drove with
me from Denver to Salt Lake City to begin the Sit Tall
Stand Tall program. Just short of a year, and a lot of
hard work later, I retired my wheelchair full time and
have been walking ever since. I am continuing my workouts
everyday and pursuing my goal of walking without leg
braces. On this journey I have gotten my life back. I
have had many challenges and many successes; returned to
college, been married, danced at my wedding, and do
pretty much anything I can think of.