There are similar degrees of calmness, courage and gratitude in Bruce Cook害羞草研究所檚 voice when he reflects on the day that changed his life forever.
In January 2014, during a action sport show in Hamilton, Ont., Cook was seriously injured while attempting the world害羞草研究所檚 first ever double front flip on a motorcycle.
The trick didn害羞草研究所檛 go nearly as planned as Cook slid off the back of his bike, breaking a vertebrae and damaging his spinal cord. Cook had lost the use of his legs and would spend the next 66 days in hospital. The road to recovery wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be easy.
Still, once the initial shock had subsided, and as dire as his situation may have seemed to others, Cook quickly decided the injury wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to take control of his life or his passion.
害羞草研究所淚 knew (the injury) it was bad, but at the same time I realized I was alive and the situation I was in was a lot better than the alternative, a little bittersweet I guess you could say,害羞草研究所� Cook said.
害羞草研究所淚 think I decided pretty early, that isn害羞草研究所檛 the way I pictured going out, on a stretcher and being wheeled out of an arena,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淚 decided it wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to be my last time. I had to get back out on that bike, get in front of a crowd and do it least one more time.害羞草研究所�
Four years later, using a modified bike, the 30-year-old Cook is going strong, displaying his talents at Nitro Circus shows all across North America.
Next month, for the first time ever, Cook will perform his trademark backflip in his hometown when Nitro comes to Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Apple Bowl.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 sure it害羞草研究所檚 going to be pretty overwhelming,害羞草研究所� Cook said of the Kelowna show. 害羞草研究所淭here have been fans and support from all over the world, so to finally be doing it at home will be exciting. Obviously most of my close friends are here, the majority of them have never seen me in Nitro, let alone anywhere else, so that害羞草研究所檒l be pretty special.害羞草研究所�
Growing up in the Cook household, the word 害羞草研究所渃an害羞草研究所檛害羞草研究所� simply wasn害羞草研究所檛 part of the family害羞草研究所檚 vocabulary, he said害羞草研究所攁 theme that formed the basis of what would be a long and challenging recovery.
害羞草研究所淢y dad and grandpa were the kind of people who said 害羞草研究所榃hen the going gets tough, the tough get going害羞草研究所� and that害羞草研究所檚 always stuck with me,害羞草研究所� he said.
After undergoing treatment at GF Strong in Vancouver, followed by several visits to Project Walk in California, Cook steadily regained his strength and confidence. Nine months to the day after the accident, with his newly-modified bike, Cook was riding again.
Then, a month after that, in November 2014, the moment Cook had long anticipated, he landed his first backflip in Maryland.
害羞草研究所淭hat was a pretty emotional moment for me,害羞草研究所� said Cook. 害羞草研究所淏efore that, I really, honestly didn害羞草研究所檛 know if it was possible. It was feeling I害羞草研究所檇 never experienced.
害羞草研究所淎 lot of people think it害羞草研究所檚 stupid, getting back on something that almost killed me,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 an extreme passion of mine, I害羞草研究所檝e been riding since I was five. It was something I had to do or I害羞草研究所檇 regret it. I had so much support from family and friends along the way, and that was really important.害羞草研究所�
Now more than 100 shows later, close friend Kevin Bosch continues to admire Cook害羞草研究所檚 resolve, passion and dedication to his craft.
Then again, Bosch, who has supported Cook throughout his journey, isn害羞草研究所檛 the least bit surprised his friend has overcome the odds, both in life and in his work.
害羞草研究所淭here were a lot of questions at first, what being a paraplegic would mean, him not being able to walk,害羞草研究所� said Bosch, who met Cook on a job site 10 years ago. 害羞草研究所淏ut in my dealings with him, I knew he would get through it. I害羞草研究所檝e seen the guy bouncing off the pavement from 50 feet in the air, get up and give a thumbs up. I knew mentally he would be OK.
害羞草研究所淗e was positive from day one in the hospital and that has followed him all the way along.害羞草研究所�
In addition to his exploits on a motorcycle, Bosch marvels at how Cook害羞草研究所檚 example serves as inspiration and motivation for so many others facing challenges in their own lives.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 proud, beyond words, proud of what he害羞草研究所檚 accomplished post-accident,害羞草研究所� Bosch said. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 encouraged people literally across the world. It害羞草研究所檚 unreal to hear a mom talk about her little son who has been down and out, in a wheelchair for example, and how Bruce puts a smile on his face and gives him hope. Or just kids who are struggling day to day. It害羞草研究所檚 amazing, inspirational.害羞草研究所�
As for Cook害羞草研究所檚 future plans as a performer, he has no specific plans to retire but knows change will soon be on the way.
害羞草研究所淎s far as a dirt bike goes, I have nothing to prove,害羞草研究所� Cook said. 害羞草研究所淚 think I have at least another year or two of touring in me, then maybe look at other things. 害羞草研究所淲hen I get some time, I would like to do some keynote speaking, to try and help people who are injured or down on their luck,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e had a long career and a good one, and I害羞草研究所檇 like to give back.害羞草研究所�
Cook is about to hit the road for another season on the Nitro Circus tour, beginning with the first show April 28 in Edinburg, Texas.
Four weeks later, on May 25, Cook will perform at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna.
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