Grateful to be alive

Brandon Richards was looking forward to his ski trip to Wisconsin Dells with other members of Calvary Church in Naperville.

The trip was a reward for memorizing excerpts from the Bible. The 13-year-old had only skied once before and was excited about hanging out with friends.

It was Jan. 18, 2002. After lunch, Brandon went off with friends to ski on one of the intermediate slopes at Cascade Mountain.

No one really knows exactly how the accident happened. But at the end of the day, around 4:30 p.m., Brandon was missing.

The ski patrol found Brandon, unconscious, near a snow fence.

"It was like a nightmare," said Brandon's father, Dave Richards of Glen Ellyn. "They knew it was a head injury, but they didn't know the extent of the damage."

Brandon was rushed to a hospital in Madison, Wis., for 11 days. He was then transported to Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton.

Brandon remained in a coma for more than a month. When he woke, he was unable to walk or speak. He was confined to a wheelchair and needed a feeding tube. He had also lost the ability to hear with his left ear, which required him to have three ear surgeries.

With the support of his family and church, however, Brandon made an amazing recovery.

Five years later, Brandon is a high school graduate and college student. He's taking four classes at College of DuPage, where he plans to pursue a career in personal finance.

His recovery recently was highlighted by Aabcor Inc., a case management agency that specializes in helping people who have suffered brain injuries.

As part of the agency's 10th anniversary celebration, Aabcor Inc., offered its first scholarship specifically for someone who suffered a brain injury. Brandon submitted a personal statement describing his recovery and what he is thankful for since the accident.

The essay made Brandon one of two winners, receiving a $1,500 college scholarship.

"For the last five years and five months of my life, I have lived with the stigmas and the honor of being a brain injury survivor … However, I don't want to just be known as a survivor, but an achiever," Brandon wrote in his application essay.

"With this education, I can be known for being a great provider and dedicated worker, and not merely a brain injury survivor."

Today, Brandon smiles as he shows off his military pieces for his favorite game, War Hammer.

"I enjoy the game because it's a more intense version of Risk," he said. "I sometimes play it up to three hours."

In many ways, Brandon is living the life of an average teenager who loves his PlayStation 2, favorite TV shows and hanging out with friends.

But, unlike other 18-year-olds, he's especially grateful for every day he's alive.

During his time at the hospital, Brandon went for therapy seven days a week to re-learn how to swallow, speak and walk. After his release, he continued physical therapy five days a week for a while and for two years underwent speech therapy. To this day, Brandon still has difficulty with his short-term memory and eating.

Brandon, who has been home-schooled for 18 years, had the opportunity to give a speech at his May commencement at Calvary Church.

An active member of the church, Brandon also has participated in activities like King's Castle, an outreach program designed to talk to children living in apartment complexes in the surrounding communities. Brandon has also attended mission trips, including a trip to Detroit.

Currently, Brandon lives in Glen Ellyn with his mom, Cindy; dad, Dave; sister, Dana, 15; and their dog, Arthur. Brandon said the most important thing in his life right now is his belief in God.

And while he's grateful to be alive, he now "appreciates the small things in life," he said.