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Team up! with San Diego Mesa College and Hermes
Just after 10am, on September 1, 2006 my world changed for ever. A drunk driver, going 45 miles per hour swerved across oncoming traffic and into the bike lane, hitting me head on as I rode my bicycle on route 76. I was life-flighted to Palomar Hospital with two completely broken legs, a dislocated right shoulder, torn and clogged arteries in my neck resulting in a stroke, and severe bruising to my spinal cord at the T11/12 level. These injuries left me a paraplegic, with no feeling from my waist down. I was in the hospital for a month before I was discharged with no leg movement, in a wheelchair, wearing diapers. In the face of that, I realized that I had been given a second chance at life and even though I am restricted to a wheelchair, I'm happy for what I still have today.
My name is Hermes Castro. I was born in Zacapu, Michoacan, Mexico on May 21, 1979. My wife, Sara, and I have been married for almost five years. I am a Certified Personal Trainer. I train my clients at Med-Fit-Systems, a private gym-facility in Fallbrook. I also work for the only American distributor of the innovative HUR line of physical rehabilitation exercise machines, manufactured and shipped out of Finland. This equipment uses computerization and air compression, instead of traditional weights. I am one of two technicians who have been specially trained to install, program, and service these machines throughout the United States for hospitals and physical therapists.
Growing up, I was very active in sports. My pops made me run early in the morning, and then I had to walk to and from school. On the weekends, He woke me up early and we were out climbing stairs, running, swimming, and kayaking. I was happy just to be out doing things and going everywhere with my dad. As I got older, I fell in love with basketball. I played every chance I got. In high school I joined the swimming team, cross country team, and I ran a 4:38 mile in track.
As an adult, I never lost my love for sports. I own a Haro mountain bike, a stationary Nautilus recumbent, and a yellow Softride that I rode to work every day in Fallbrook, roughly 20 miles each way. This daily journey was a pretty fast course with a little bit of everything. I would start from my home near Mission & El Camino in Oceanside, jump on Highway 76, where the bike lane was wide and clear, then coast all the way to Bonsall. Here, the lane narrowed and the drivers generally responded more aggressively to cyclists. I would then turn left on Mission, heading to work in Fallbrook. Though this course had heavy traffic, it didn't take long to fall dead in love with my daily routine. Unfortunately, on September 1 2006, that's exactly what almost happened.
After my accident it didn't take long to get the urge to ride again. Through donations from friends, family, and members of the community, I was able to add a hand-cycle to my collection. Three times a week I ride the San Luis Rey Trail to the beach and back. I am also being sponsored for private rehabilitation therapy at the world-renowned Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Center in Carlsbad. I am incredibly motivated and confident that, one day soon, I'll be able to ride an upright bike and walk again.
My hospital experience was very positive. I don’t recall, the times doctors were putting me back together. After those few hours, I remember opening my eyes and seeing my wife and pastor. I close my eyes and every time I re-opened them, I would see more and more of my friends and family. There were so many people there to support me; the hospital had no choice but to give me my own suite. I was flat in bed for two weeks, then finally sat up for the first time in a wheelchair. After that, I was doing laps around the hospital for exercise.
After a comfortable month at my suite in Hotel Palomar, the hospital discharged me.
Today, over a year since the incident, my legs don't have much feeling except for some periodic numbness, but they have become strong enough to lightly pedal a spinning bike in my living room, every day, for at least an hour. I have faith that this daily cycling will help my legs wake up. I am getting stronger and seeing results as I keep pushing. Riding a bike to work nearly took my life that day, but cycling is my unyielding addiction and I can't wait until I am pounding the pavement once again.
This experience has taught me that life is very unpredictable. It can change with the blink of an eye. I also know that one day; everyone will go through what I’m going through now. We all grow old and some of us end up in wheelchairs wearing diapers. In conclusion, my advice to everyone is to enjoy and experience as much as possible each moment, of each day, of this life.