Reggie Brown of the Lions was paralyzed after a play and actually stopped breathing while on the field. The trainers brought him back and doctors indicated he had separation between his first and second vertebrae. Not many people are walking after this type of injury, but Reggie is. He is very lucky and he knows it. I remain determined and committed to walk again, just like my NFL friends.
Research is the only answer.
Through dedication and an aggressive rehabilitation schedule, I am able to enjoy many activities that I was not allowed to participate in while playing professional football, including kayaking, sky diving, skiing and scuba diving. The strides being made to find a cure keep me positive as well as physically and mentally prepared for the day when I will walk again. Thus, the Mike Utley Foundation was established in January 1992. We cannot accept the fact that more than 1,000 young people suffer from spinal cord injuries each month. While doctors are very busy trying to effectively find cure for spinal cord injuries, we are doing what we can to help those young people who are already injured.