Andrew Trevitt's Recovery Process - Fortitude

Note that I said "give your best effort to conquer it," not "you will conquer it, and stomp it into the ground." Adversity comes in many shapes and forms. And in varying degrees of severity. Thus, while the act of dealing with adversity is a black and white equation, the level of accomplishment once you've decided to meet the hardship head-on isn't quite so cut-and-dried.

When SR's senior editor Andrew Trevitt suffered paralyzing injuries in his accident last November, it would have been very easy for him to curl up into a ball and say that he'll fold on this hand of cards he'd been dealt. Not only did he suffer spinal fractures, he had a host of other serious injuries that required numerous surgeries and an extended hospital stay before he could even begin rehabilitation. He had several months' worth of bed-ridden time to reflect on his situation, prime environment for a person to drown in the pity of their circumstances.

But instead of capitulating in front of the tremendous obstacle thrown before him, Andrew took the bull by the horns, and literally tossed it aside. Almost from day one, he has been focused on his recovery process and has maintained a positive attitude throughout.

I should elaborate on having a "positive attitude." I've seen a few people in Andrew's situation where positive attitude means a fanatical concentration on absolute complete recovery, often to the detriment of friends and family around them who don't share the same intense devotion to the cause. While there's nothing wrong with believing in complete recovery (and one's ability to achieve it through the power of the mind), doing so at the expense of loved ones often results in more pain and suffering for those around you than the original incident.

In Andrew's case, positive attitude means not only setting reasonable and attainable goals and working hard towards achieving them, but also not letting life pass you by on the way there. It means caring for others' feelings and emotions just as much as -if not more than-they care for you (a perfect example: As I stared helplessly at Andrew laying critically injured on the hospital emergency room table, he saw the look of worry and anxiety on my face, and whispered, "Hey, don't worry...I'll be back."). It means retaining that same old warm, friendly character-and zany sense of humor. It means understanding the situation for what it is, and realizing that it hasn't taken a future away-only added a whole new one with different and interesting horizons.

In fact, it's that coming to terms with the situation where Andrew has truly achieved success before his recovery is even finished. In a very moving post in his blog (http://getwelltrev.blogspot.com) Andrew spoke of all the fond riding memories he has. Then he mentions that "for whatever reason, I'm okay with the fact that I probably won't be able to ride again. That ship has sailed, and in the last couple of months I've realized there are loads of other things that I'm still able to do, and I'm looking forward to trying new things that I probably never would have thought of." To come to terms with the situation as Andrew has is probably the most difficult success to achieve.

The incredible love and support from his wife Deborah (that she has been able to handle all the emotional and logistical turmoil that was suddenly dropped into her lap is just as amazing) and their family and friends have surely helped Andrew on this journey. And it's one that has a clear path moving forward.

I can only hope to have an ounce of the fortitude and character shown by the man.

I would also like to sincerely thank all the readers and industry people who have contributed to the getwelltrev fund, as well as all the manufacturers and people who contributed to the Trevitt Benefit Auction at Daytona. A heartfelt thanks to all involved. I feel humbled and blessed to be involved in a sport with such fantastically supportive and magnanimous people.