~ Jodyisms ~: November 2008

The biggest game of the year is coming up this Friday night. It's between Murrieta Valley High School and cross-town rival Vista Murrieta High School. Vista is a new school, only being five years old, however their football team has established itself as a force to be reckoned with. The first year the two teams met, Murrieta Valley beat Vista Murrieta, however in the four years since, Vista has been the victor.

This year I decided to add a little fun to the pre-game hype by doing a photo shoot with the quarterbacks and running backs from each team. Following is the result of that day. The boys were great and got along well during the shoot. When it was over, the Murrieta Valley players even gave the Vista Murrieta quarterback a ride to practice which pretty much negates the idea that the players hate each other.

There is a 17 year-old high school senior in a nearby town who has truly captured my heart. His name is Jake Robinson, and he's a football player for Fallbrook High School. We played Fallbrook in our season opening game and we beat them with a score of 25-13, but that isn't what this is about.

Jake was driving home from football practice on September 23, 2008 and was involved in a horrible car accident which left him paralyzed and fighting for his life. I can't recall how I first heard of Jake's accident, but I remember vividly reading about him on the page set up for him on the CaringBridge website. I remember it was Friday, September 26th and I wept openly as I read his story. From that moment on, I was hooked on following his updates.

Let me provide a little back story (pardon the pun). You see, I have a special place in my heart for those who live in wheelchairs because when I was barely an adult myself, a very large tumor was discovered inside my spinal cord in my lumbar area. I was told to prepare to wake up from surgery paralyzed from the waist down (and that was the good news!). Anyway, I woke up kicking my feet and by all accounts had a miraculous recovery. Whenever I see someone in a wheelchair, I am reminded that every step I have taken for almost nineteen years has been a gift and I think that but for the grace of God, that person in the wheelchair would have been me.

Anyway, back to Jake. Through a twist of fate, I had spoken with Jake's dad about some images I had of Jake from the night our school played his school. After following Jake's CaringBridge journal for a couple weeks, I had this compelling urge to reach out to Jake and offer to document his recovery. Jake and his family thought it was a great idea, so went down to the hospital on October 28 to meet Jake and his mom for the first time.

Arriving at the hospital, I was a little nervous and didn't know what to expect. I had never met anyone so soon after being injured. So I decided to leave the camera in the car until I was sure that Jake was comfortable around me. Let me tell you - this is one amazing kid. His faith in God is so strong and his attitude is so great that I loved every minute of the couple hours I spent there. It's rare to meet a person like Jake, and I am truly glad to know him.

I look forward to the time we will spend together in the future as he grows stronger physically and works towards recovery.

God bless you Jake.

~ Jody ~

Here are some images from my first day with Jake. To see all the images from that day, visit Jake's gallery by clicking here.

October 28, 2008, Escondido, CA; Jake Robinson listens to the plans his physical therapist Wanda Crook has for the day during his rehabilitation session at Palomar Hospital.

October 28, 2008, Escondido, CA; Laurie Robinson helps her son Jake Robinson get into the clamshell brace before his rehabilitation session at Palomar Hospital.

October 28, 2008, Escondido, CA; Jake Robinson works out during rehabilitation session at Palomar Hospital.

October 28, 2008, Escondido, CA; Dylan Newman (left) watches as Jake Robinson balances himself unaided for twenty two seconds during rehabilitation with therapist Wanda Crook at Palomar Hospital.

October 28, 2008, Escondido, CA; Laurie Robinson (back left) and family friend Siobhan Welsh (back right) watch as Laurie's son Jake Robinson throws the ball to friend Dylan Newman during rehabilitation with therapist Wanda Crook at Palomar Hospital.