The Road To Recovery

By LAURA ROSS Contributing Writer

Sir Winston Churchills rallying cry was Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never in nothing, great or small, large or petty never give in. It led a traumatized nation through the darkest days of World War II. That rally applies as strongly now for two exceptional athletes, each facing their most intense challenges.

Jason Dierking, 37, and Tom Morris, 34, met as strength and conditioning coaches for Indiana University. The pair shared a passion for sports and remained friends when Dierking left IU for UofL in 2005. He is currently the assistant director of sports performance at UofL, working with swimming and diving, mens soccer and cross-country. Morris remained at IU, where he is the head strength and conditioning coach, working with mens soccer and womens basketball.

The triathlete friends participated in several sporting events together, including a half-Ironman competition in 2010. The grueling Ironman race is one of the greatest tests of endurance an elite athlete can face. The race was a success for both men, who celebrated their accomplishment together.

Little did they know that soon, they would face their ultimate challenge.

May 17, 2012 started out like any other mountain bike ride for Morris. He was focused and enjoying his ride in Southern Indiana when something went horribly wrong.

Everything was great, but then I came around a turn, flipped over the handle bars and rotated through the air and came down on my head, Morris said.

He landed in the woods, where he lay for three long hours, unable to move. It was strange and weirdly peaceful, he said. I had a ton of monitors for my heart and breathing for training, so I just laid there and watched the numbers on my watch to see what was going on with my body.

Eventually, two riders came by and found Morris. He was transported to hospitals in Bloomington and Indianapolis, where he underwent surgery and initial rehabilitation. Later, he arrived at Frazier Rehab Institute in Louisville for intensive therapy. He landed on his head and broke his neck, resulting in paralysis below his shoulders, said Dr. Steven Williams, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, chief of spinal cord medicine and vice president of medical affairs for Frazier Rehab Institute.

Tom was able to regain arm movement and a significant amount of hand function through physical and occupational therapies. As an outpatient, he participated in the NeuroRecovery Network program, Williams added.

Continued here:
The Road To Recovery