Physical fitness is a fundamental part of 24-year-old Jackson Sherry’s everyday life. It started with his love for biking, which began while he was attending Monterey High School. Since then, he’s ridden five centuries (continuous rides of 100 miles), participated in the Big Sur International Marathon, and climbed to the top of Mount Olympus in Washington.
That invigorating period packed with competitive cycling and mountain climbing came to a sudden halt on New Year’s Day of 2016. On leave from his duties as a Navy engineer, Sherry was camping in Big Sur to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a few friends. Sherry woke up early the next morning in the Trauma Unit at Natividad Medical Center.
After going to sleep in the back of his friend’s van, the rest of his friends decided to drive to a party up in Palo Colorado Canyon. At a sharp turn with low visibility, the driver crashed head-on into a tree. Sherry’s injuries included a 7-inch gash in his forehead and fractures in a cheekbone, his nose and several ribs, and broken vertebrae in his neck and spine. He is now paralyzed from the chest down.
Though he’s lost much of his ability to use his limbs, Sherry hasn’t lost the will to try and remain as active as he was before the accident. Today, just over a year later, Sherry is training for the Donner Lake Triathlon in Truckee that takes place July. He’ll participate in the sprint triathlon that consists of a quarter-mile swim, over 12 miles on a handcycle, and a two-mile run he’ll do in a race-approved wheelchair.
Weekly: What was your initial reaction when you woke up in the hospital?
Sherry: I remember waking up and being asked to repeat my Social Security number, and not knowing what was going on. Early on I thought I just broke a few ribs, no big deal.
How did you cope with the prospect that your injuries would curb your ability to exercise?
Finding out the extent of my injuries took a while, so I didn’t have to process all the bad news at once. So much of my job as an engineer was about being a problem solver, so I apply that to life. I broke some parts, now I have to figure out a way to move differently. I’ve never enjoyed lying back and watching life go by. My nurses and main doctor and my family, friends, and the most supportive Navy mates I could ask for encouraged me along the way.
What was the toughest part of adapting to life post-accident?
I don’t like things done for me. I used to fix my car and build my IKEA furniture by myself. Now that I’ve lost the ability to grip with my fingers, I spent a whole year practicing putting my shirt on. Stuff like that and not being able to brush my own teeth without help made me feel useless, almost like a kid again.
Which of your athletic accomplishments are you most proud of?
The day I reached the top of Mount Olympus in Washington. It took a 17-and-a-half mile hike to its base, crossing a glacier, a trek through icy snow and some intense rock climbing. All together, it took three days but it was so worth it when I got to the top of the mountain. My feet had too many blisters. I was so sunburnt. I was happy as a clam.
What’s your biggest challenge in training for the Donner Lake Triathlon?
There’s a lot of pacing myself that I must get used to. I used to wake up and go hard, exercise all day in preparation for a big event. But now when I train I find that I wear myself out too easily. The running portion is what I’m trying to prepare for. The dynamics of using a race wheelchair are way different than any other sport. It’s like boxing against the wheels, instead of pushing like I usually do. It feels unnatural.
You’ve reached the peaks of mountains, ran marathons, and cycled thousands of miles. What’s your next major milestone?
I’ve been working toward the Donner Lake Triathlon for nearly the whole year. It will be the first time getting into the sports I love, so it will give me a sense of normalcy. If I succeed, it proves I’m back, still here. If I do poorly, I’ll go back to training for next year. All I know is that when you fall, you get right back up for the next challenge.