I Have Grit

Introduction to Jared

Jared Thornton is one of the most courageous people I have ever met. I met him after he suffered a serious car accident. In the face of enormous struggle, Jared’s faith in God propelled him to move forward with grit in miraculous ways. Here is his story.

Faith & Grit After The Accident
By Jared Thornton

Growing up playing many sports I learned a lot about grit. My favourite sport to this day is football, which in my opinion gives a good insight into a person’s character. Playing football in high school is a big commitment because you practice every day after school to prepare for a game on Friday. A person doesn’t give up that huge chunk of time if they are not passionate about the game. I strived to be the best player I could, putting hundreds of hours into off-season training. Over the length of the season, a high school football player can be confronted with many obstacles like making a mistake in a pivotal part of a game, pressure from school, and sustaining an injury. Football taught me that with hard work and determination you can overcome most obstacles.

I am glad I learned that lesson because on October 20, 2013, I would face the largest obstacle to this point in my life. I was a front seat passenger in a motor vehicle accident where I broke the 2nd and 3rd vertebrae in my neck, leaving me paralyzed from my shoulders down. I take the mentality that hard work and determination can help you accomplish a goal into my therapy as I work towards regaining more function and more independence. As I keep chipping away at this mountain something is bound to break away. My faith plays a large role in my positive outlook. I have heard about people turning away from their faith, blaming God when something trying happens. In my personal experience, it was impossible not to see God’s hand in the aftermath of the accident. When my parents arrived at the hospital, doctors informed them that I only had a 10-12% chance to survive. I beat those odds. Then because of the height of my spinal cord injury we were informed that I would spend the rest of my life on a ventilator (a machine that breathes for you) and less than 2 months later I was breathing on my own.

Since my accident, many wonderful people have come alongside my family and I to allow me to pursue my goals. For example, the Volk family started a Jared Thornton recovery fund that I was able to use to pay for my physiotherapy at the beginning. I do not believe in coincidence. I lean on the well-known verse Philippians 4:13, but another passage of Scripture that I find reassuring as I work my way through this is Isaiah 43:2-3.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”
– Isaiah 43:2-3

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