JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================~K" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?LW 5354Rm/uJ}Α)گc>M>5u[UI}6pyoY YV_B* i I2ΊwG?[\M\%s ŸV%:޳$/io 77)#cQ^ 7M?>UMKM0]`ma}s4D,x8أ,d {µe=.nV]yFVEeg-r/DRk`wc["`X!0DSBײQrl#YޢI1,~Y#@kJspjgvw19SGsqsr';Jgֵ-_ͷ3X\RҭT^cSεrK9E.c\*M V-:'?&G=yXag:tn{V 9,ZWLc&0H##*zQ˭ϧ*:?yٍN}C nkNU,hd(uXv ~l.dd ==$[9?SnL6ʰl8+:{LV_&,a_q57,vֶI CNVBWP10P}GJ5%r%fACAxyj 6㜈f`,<[y¥-m-S%&Xk{DHft[cVEj1[_c$h2#>CG6m=ٱں u0u+cX'hTevT BZGu=:M9Ď WE?c yl2&)%Ӵؓ SjӺ!.SW>> 43u\Qj}$r!FBmRU!:WwR(&F GSq?蚎-V!1xdҭI4R8'Ҳn{k9e9y 9s޻=.HdTD$n?ֶl(Ù3';zީZ,1>5wZi$FI3.Z伎$|BT9doo@ºFqxNMҾ[c }eVܫE.0ʸ s?pO8&xdlc#*H/ów\DbhuV֕/Vd`: :}.xK[SQ[;C%#p a2OO5 |9i\XȚEL"&;0F0*Ek7*3WфT dm ̆a>Vzli'q Ԏ*zhn|8~X3nF9R^kM2"Hvq۫8PpH#St ٵXQP2y8?\e˭<γpP%r P)8&}"H,9w %Owqt5sWp43(ta߷Ҧb՝6Fp02ȅ}OkMׇoV96P|zbZbu<տ^EWWj~Q: qP68ǟwaNs^]gpazf]v:H5m4g:jTtu;7})3F}h܋IF!t'^Oc47 Uw&F2jYɥ\:ƮqQVt*l>k!N֏ʺ-gHS~D61߽bI!CE4p..ained safe inside.<br>Lying crumpled in the road, with gravel and grass imbedded in his skull, Mike told the first person who came to his rescue, "I can't move." He had broken his C-5 and C-6 vertebrae in the middle of his neck. He was paralyzed from the neck down.<br>Although we all pray for a cure, a broken neck is a life sentence. After months in the hospital, Mike was not much better. In addition to losing the use of his limbs, his esophageal muscles barely function, making him prone to coughing fits. With little diaphragm strength, his voice is more of a whisper. He requires a feeding tube because his digestive muscles don't work. He wears a diaper and must be catheterized every four hours. He did not sustain any head injuries, and in that regard he is the exact same boy who went into the accident. But that's all that remains the same. Mike spends his day in a convalescent facility, requiring 24-hour professional care.<br>It's been a year since the accident, but Mike's spirit has never been stronger. Doctors warned the family that the risk of suicide is very high among patients like Mike. The family has never worried about that, because of Mike's indomitable will to survive and overcome. He has fought hard, with his father at his side helping his rehab. Although nothing in his physical condition has changed much, he continues to hope and he lives on.<br>Mike is my nephew. As I interviewed Coach Seale about the Soroco High School story, my nephew kept coming to mind. When Seale was talking about how one decision can change a life, I shared with him Mike's story. Indeed, Mike's bad decision did change his life forever.<br>When he's asked if he would do it all over, you can bet my nephew says he never should have l