Pat Rummerfield
Encyclopedia
Patrick "Pat" Rummerfield (born September 7, 1953) is the first spinal cord injury
(SCI) quadriplegic in history to recover full physical mobility. He has numerous athletic accomplishments, and works as a motivational speaker.
in 1953. At an early age, Rummerfield was separated from his siblings and raised in an Idaho
orphanage. He was adopted at age seven. Shortly afterwards, Rummerfield's adoptive father enrolled him at YMCA
, where he participated in athletics.
Over the next fourteen years, he struggled with balance and coordination problems caused by the accident. He eventually regained the ability to jog and ride a bicycle without falling down. He went through six knee surgeries and total reconstruction of his right ankle and right wrist. To this day, nerve damage to the right side of his body has left him with an off-kilter gait.
Doctors have partially credited his recovery to his commitment to a then daily regimen of intensive physical therapy, including weightlifting, jumprope and stationary bicycle. However, this level of recovery from quadriplegia was at that time unknown.
After seventeen years of intensive rehabilitation, he is now capable of essentially normal walking, despite having over 85% of his spinal cord is destroyed at C-4
.
Rummerfield is sometimes described as "the world's only fully recovered quadriplegic". While his physical mobility is essentially normal, Rummerfield still suffers from loss of sensation in his lower legs, impaired bowel and bladder function, reduced strength in his hands, and difficulty regulating body temperature.
s. In 1992, he participated in the IronMan Triathlon in Hawaii – a 2.5 miles (4 km) swim, 112 miles (180.2 km) bicycle ride and 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) marathon. He became the first SCI quadriplegic to participate in and complete the Hawaii IronMan
.
In 1997, he ran the Antarctica Marathon
- one of only 82 people to complete the 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) course which crosses glaciers, icy streams, rock beds and soggy beaches in sub-zero temperatures and 45 mph winds. Pat became the first SCI quadriplegic to participate and complete a marathon.
Rummerfield is the holder of the FIA World Land Speed Record for a Class III electric vehicle (over 1000 kg), at 245.5 miles per hour (110 m/s), in White Lightning
, set October 22, 1999.
He is the recipient of the 2000 ESPN
's Aréte Amateur Athlete of The Year Award, the United States Marines Corps "Lead By Example Medallion" and the distinguished Human Spirit Award at the 2000 Christopher Reeve
/Gateway To A Cure Awards Ceremonies. He has thrown out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs
baseball game. He completed the Los Angeles Marathon
. He was chosen by the Coca Cola Company to carry the 2004 Olympic torch, and was the national spokesman for all of the runners in the relay.
He began attending racing schools, including the Bob Bondurant
School of High Performance Driving, and in October 2009 he accomplished another first by becoming the first SCI quadriplegic to participate in a professional motorsport, racing a dragster
during the 2009 ADRL World Finals.
He was the first physically challenged athlete to participate and finish a stage in an adventure race
, a particularly challenging athletic event.
His athletic endeavors raise money for a number of charities. He is co-founder of the NextSteps Foundation and of "Adventures on Wheels".
As a lecturer, Rummerfield travels nationwide to share his story and to encourage others to set goals and to "Never Give Up". Rummerfield has said, "Whenever I meet someone in a wheelchair, I make a point of letting them know that there truly is nothing special about me. I am no more deserving of a miracle than anyone else."
He has appeared on Ty Pennington
's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
in support of a fellow paraplegic's recovery efforts at the Kennedy Krieger Institute
.
Rummerfield was on the team at Washington University
credited with helping Christopher Reeve
regain function. He has been featured on the Discovery Channel
and Ripley's Believe It or Not, among other media.,,
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
(SCI) quadriplegic in history to recover full physical mobility. He has numerous athletic accomplishments, and works as a motivational speaker.
Early life
Rummerfield was born in Vallejo, CaliforniaVallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
in 1953. At an early age, Rummerfield was separated from his siblings and raised in an Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
orphanage. He was adopted at age seven. Shortly afterwards, Rummerfield's adoptive father enrolled him at YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, where he participated in athletics.
Injury and rehabilitation
On September 20, 1974, at age 21, Rummerfield and a friend were in a near fatal car accident while traveling at (135 miles per hour (60 m/s)). He has admitted he had been drinking before the accident. He was paralyzed and given less than 72 hours to live. While surviving despite his doctor's expectations, he had fractured all his ribs, broken his neck in four places, shattered his collar bone, suffered massive head injuries, and had one of his eyes placed back into its socket. As he was unable to move from the neck down, his chances of long-term survival were not good, and doctors recommended he be sent to a convalescent home. He decided not to follow the doctors' orders, and chose intensive rehabilitation. While learning to operate a wheelchair with his mouth he experienced his first rehabilitative breakthrough. He recalls, "I was lying in bed one night, thinking how much I loved to play basketball and dreamed of driving a race car one day when my big toe moved." He spent the next three years learning to walk and to use his hands again.Over the next fourteen years, he struggled with balance and coordination problems caused by the accident. He eventually regained the ability to jog and ride a bicycle without falling down. He went through six knee surgeries and total reconstruction of his right ankle and right wrist. To this day, nerve damage to the right side of his body has left him with an off-kilter gait.
Doctors have partially credited his recovery to his commitment to a then daily regimen of intensive physical therapy, including weightlifting, jumprope and stationary bicycle. However, this level of recovery from quadriplegia was at that time unknown.
After seventeen years of intensive rehabilitation, he is now capable of essentially normal walking, despite having over 85% of his spinal cord is destroyed at C-4
Cervical spinal nerve 4
The cervical spinal nerve 4 is a spinal nerve of the cervical segment..It originates from the spinal column from above the cervical vertebra 4 .Its control of the thoracic diaphragm has inspired a medical mnemonic: "Cut C4, breathe no more."...
.
Rummerfield is sometimes described as "the world's only fully recovered quadriplegic". While his physical mobility is essentially normal, Rummerfield still suffers from loss of sensation in his lower legs, impaired bowel and bladder function, reduced strength in his hands, and difficulty regulating body temperature.
Achievements
In 1991 he began to compete in triathlonTriathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
s. In 1992, he participated in the IronMan Triathlon in Hawaii – a 2.5 miles (4 km) swim, 112 miles (180.2 km) bicycle ride and 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) marathon. He became the first SCI quadriplegic to participate in and complete the Hawaii IronMan
Ironman World Championship
The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford...
.
In 1997, he ran the Antarctica Marathon
Antarctica Marathon
The Antarctic Ice Marathon was established by Richard Donovan / Polar Running Adventures to enable marathon runners to complete a marathon on all seven continents. It also enables athletes to complete the marathon grand slam - a marathon on all seven continents and the North Pole...
- one of only 82 people to complete the 42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi) course which crosses glaciers, icy streams, rock beds and soggy beaches in sub-zero temperatures and 45 mph winds. Pat became the first SCI quadriplegic to participate and complete a marathon.
Rummerfield is the holder of the FIA World Land Speed Record for a Class III electric vehicle (over 1000 kg), at 245.5 miles per hour (110 m/s), in White Lightning
White Lightning car
The White Lightning was the fastest electric car, capable of speeds up to . It was built by Dempsey's World Record Associates and has been driven to record speeds by Pat Rummerfield, known as the first fully recovered quadriplegic in the world. In October 2003, its record was surpassed by the...
, set October 22, 1999.
He is the recipient of the 2000 ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Aréte Amateur Athlete of The Year Award, the United States Marines Corps "Lead By Example Medallion" and the distinguished Human Spirit Award at the 2000 Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
/Gateway To A Cure Awards Ceremonies. He has thrown out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
baseball game. He completed the Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles Marathon
The Honda LA Marathon is an annual running event held each spring in Los Angeles, California. The 26.219 mile footrace, inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, has been contested every year since 1986...
. He was chosen by the Coca Cola Company to carry the 2004 Olympic torch, and was the national spokesman for all of the runners in the relay.
He began attending racing schools, including the Bob Bondurant
Bob Bondurant
Robert Bondurant is an American former racecar driver who raced for Shelby American, Ferrari and Eagle teams.During his teens, Bondurant raced an Indian motorcycle on dirt ovals...
School of High Performance Driving, and in October 2009 he accomplished another first by becoming the first SCI quadriplegic to participate in a professional motorsport, racing a dragster
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
during the 2009 ADRL World Finals.
He was the first physically challenged athlete to participate and finish a stage in an adventure race
Adventure racing
Adventure racing is a combination of two or more endurance disciplines, including orienteering and/or navigation , cross-country running, mountain biking, paddling and climbing and related rope skills...
, a particularly challenging athletic event.
Motivational work and public appearances
Rummerfield has said about his initial injury from drunk driving, "I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for my irresponsible actions."His athletic endeavors raise money for a number of charities. He is co-founder of the NextSteps Foundation and of "Adventures on Wheels".
As a lecturer, Rummerfield travels nationwide to share his story and to encourage others to set goals and to "Never Give Up". Rummerfield has said, "Whenever I meet someone in a wheelchair, I make a point of letting them know that there truly is nothing special about me. I am no more deserving of a miracle than anyone else."
He has appeared on Ty Pennington
Ty Pennington
Tygert Bruton "Ty" Pennington is an American television host, model, philanthropist and carpenter. He is most notable for being the host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which currently airs on ABC in the US and Ty's Great British Adventure, which airs on UKTV home in the UK and TV LAND...
's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
in support of a fellow paraplegic's recovery efforts at the Kennedy Krieger Institute
Kennedy Krieger Institute
The Kennedy Krieger Institute is an internationally recognized organization improving the lives of children and adolescents with learning disabilities, disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system...
.
Rummerfield was on the team at Washington University
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
credited with helping Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
regain function. He has been featured on the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
and Ripley's Believe It or Not, among other media.,,