Former bull rider turns to racing cars after paralyzing accident
Posted at: 08/06/2012 6:59 PM
By: Liz Lastra, KOB Eyewitness News 4
It is an extraordinary feat to live through a paralyzing accident and still have the passion and drive to compete.
Exactly one year ago Michael Cody, 29, broke his neck riding a bull.
“And they said the weight of my helmet is actually what shifted my neck forward and just pinched my spinal cord," Michael explained.
His twin brother, Robert, was getting ready to race his car at Aztec Speedway when he got the phone call.
“They was taking him to the hospital and I packed everything and went straight from here to there," Robert said.
Michael is now paralyzed from the waist down. “I can move the toes on my right fight so far and that's about it."
Both brothers said it was the manager of Aztec Speedway, Mike Tenski, who suggested Michael try racing cars.
“It's phenomenal you know. The amount of heart that kid has after getting an injury like that," Tenski said.
Robert has put his own passion for racing on hold to help his brother.
“With the year we've had it was more about him this year," Robert said.
Michael uses a special handheld lever to control the brakes and gas. His doctors said he may be able to walk again, but h is taking each day as it comes.
“It's just to me all about having fun and just conquering stuff that people said that I wasn't able--gonna be able to do," said the former bull rider.
Michael came in second in his race over the weekend.
He will race again on August 25 at Aztec Speedway around 7 p.m.
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