”What went through my mind—I was 19 at the time, my birthday was the prior month—was, oh my goodness, is my life over in terms of being able to live my dream? Because hockey, for me, wasn't just a sport. It was a gateway to do better in all facets of life.”
Tom Smith doesn’t like the word “impossible.” After all, time after time, he’s beaten the odds. After a paralyzing spinal cord injury during a hockey game, some doctors didn’t think he would walk again—but he found a team that believed he could not only walk but skate. Nine months later, he returned to the ice.
His extensive rehab strengthened his body so much that he had no more risk of another injury than any other athlete. But the unthinkable happened, again, when he hit the boards during hockey practice. He found himself back in the hospital relearning to walk, having injured a completely different part of his spine.
Once again, extensive therapy restored much of his function. Then, to complete what he calls his “unwanted hat trick,” a car accident on the way to physical therapy damaged his thoracic spine.
It took three years, but he learned to walk once again; in the process, he found his life’s purpose. Now, he’s the co-founder and president of the Thomas E. Smith Foundation, which works to change the lives of those living with spinal cord injury and paralysis. And earlier this month, he walked the Boston Marathon for the seventh time, raising awareness and funds for paralysis along the way.
Resources/links:
- Tom’s Instagram
- The Thomas E. Smith Foundation
A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 8 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! The LEVER system is an innovative way to reduce your body weight, and the impact on your joints, while exercising on a treadmill. Use the code “TIAC20” to get 20% off your purchase.
You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show.
To access more resources for injured athletes:
- Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
- Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including
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