25 years ago my husband, Geoff Hopkins, was riding his motorcycle home from a friend’s house when, presumably, a car ran him off the road and he crashed into a guard rail, flipping him off his motorcycle. He landed in a way that severed his spinal cord, leaving him completely paralyzed from the sternum area down. The injuries were so severe that he was read his last rites by a priest while in a coma a week after the accident. Miraculously, he regained consciousness and his doctors stated many times that his helmet saved his life, literally! While it truly was a blessing that life was essentially given back to him, he now faced a scary, unknown world…life as a catastrophically disabled veteran. Geoff had just completed his first four years with the US Army and had planned to earn a degree in criminal justice in order to better himself and the US Army by living out his career as an Army officer. His career was now shattered, his life turned upside down, and he faced a long road of physical recovery and rehabilitation as he mentally coped with being a paraplegic.
However, while that guard rail is still bent and dented to this day, Geoff’s spirit was never destroyed by his accident. Geoff spun his wheelchair wheels out of rehab and on to college campus within only a few months. Since then, Geoff has achieved so many great things in life…completed a B.A. degree, a Master’s degree, fulfilled a new career path in therapeutic recreation, and races in marathons and many sporting events as a disabled athlete (he is currently a member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America racing team). Geoff has dedicated his life to bettering the lives of military members and their families. He currently works as a contractor with the Army in the Wounded Warrior Program.
But most importantly, Geoff is the best husband and a wonderful, loving father to our 4 year old son. He is not only there for me, he would move mountains for our son. He genuinely cares for our son’s well-being and makes him laugh like no one else can. Our son adores him and it’s obvious his hero is his father. I could not ask for a better partner. We are lucky and give thanks every day for such caring person in our lives. As our son always says to us every day...we love you to the moon and back and to every star and back into our hearts!
At this special time in celebrating Geoff’s life given back to him 25 years ago this September, I would like to salute my husband and say thank you for your service and your continued service to those who have and are currently serving in the military!
However, while that guard rail is still bent and dented to this day, Geoff’s spirit was never destroyed by his accident. Geoff spun his wheelchair wheels out of rehab and on to college campus within only a few months. Since then, Geoff has achieved so many great things in life…completed a B.A. degree, a Master’s degree, fulfilled a new career path in therapeutic recreation, and races in marathons and many sporting events as a disabled athlete (he is currently a member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America racing team). Geoff has dedicated his life to bettering the lives of military members and their families. He currently works as a contractor with the Army in the Wounded Warrior Program.
But most importantly, Geoff is the best husband and a wonderful, loving father to our 4 year old son. He is not only there for me, he would move mountains for our son. He genuinely cares for our son’s well-being and makes him laugh like no one else can. Our son adores him and it’s obvious his hero is his father. I could not ask for a better partner. We are lucky and give thanks every day for such caring person in our lives. As our son always says to us every day...we love you to the moon and back and to every star and back into our hearts!
At this special time in celebrating Geoff’s life given back to him 25 years ago this September, I would like to salute my husband and say thank you for your service and your continued service to those who have and are currently serving in the military!