Help Buzz Crawford Upgrade His Wheelchair

My good friend Floyd (Buzzy) Crawford is paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair for the past 42 years due to a tragic swimming accident. He is in dire need of upgrading his wheelchair along with a new shower wheelchair. I have started this page for those who wish to donate and assist in funding these vital wheel chair improvements to greatly improve his mobility and quality of life.

Buzz is a true Patriot and loves God and country. Please read his story below and if you are able to help in any way we would greatly appreciate your support! All donations will go toward this effort in assisting him to live independently in his home.

Thank you!

====================================================

"My Name is Floyd “Buzzy” Crawford

My journey into living life with a disability began on July 3, 1982. I was a seventeen-year-old young man that traveled to a camping resort with my best friend and brother anxious to celebrate a wonderful holiday weekend. How could I have known or foreseen the tragic event that would unfold on that beautiful Saturday afternoon. It began like any other Saturday afternoon filled with excitement ready to take on the day with all the vibrancy and vitality of a seventeen-year-old young man. We had walked around the camp for a few hours looking for something fun and exciting to do. We found our way down to the beach area and decided it would be a great time to take a swim. The day was beautiful, sunny, warm a perfect day for a swim not a cloud in the sky. My best friend began to run into the lake and dive in and I immediately followed after him. I ran into the water with speed and all the strength I could muster until I could run no further. I proceeded to dive in and when I did, I immediately hit the bottom of the lake. My head snapped back as if I was being slammed into a brick wall at one hundred miles an hour. Upon impact, I was instantly paralyzed from the neck down meaning the only movement or sensation I had was in my neck and head. My entire body instantly froze into what I call the dead man float, arms straight out to my side and legs straight out in a locked position. I was so scared I began to scream for help all the while knowing nobody could hear me. I could see the surface of the water and the sunshine but could not reach the valuable oxygen I needed to sustain life. I began to call out to God to please rescue me as I thought this was going to be my last day on earth. I was stricken with so much fear and I was swallowing what seemed to be gallons of water. This was just another battle in my fight for survival not only was I paralyzed I was also drowning. This panic and desperation seemed to go on for hours until suddenly calmness overcame my mind, body and soul. A peace that everything was going to be ok and I didn’t have to fight anymore as if God was there holding me. I felt a peace and love that I have never experienced in my life it was unexplainable and amazing. I was now prepared for death my fear had been lifted in that moment as the light began to dim and consciousness began to fade. As I was beginning to fade further and further into darkness accepting my fate, when suddenly my friend grabbed my left arm flipped my body over and raised me above the water. I took the biggest breath of air imagined and life began again as if I were a newly born child. My brother and best friend then proceeded to gently walk me out of the lake. I was blessed and fortunate that my brother never went into the water but was a witness to what occurred as he watched me the entire time. He had called over my friend to help as he recognized something was terribly wrong. They both saved my life that day and are true heroes in every sense of the word. As I was lying on the beach looking up into the beautiful sky a man began touching my arms and legs asking if I could feel or move anything. I could not move or feel anything at that time as I was in complete shock. While lying on the beach waiting for an ambulance to arrive, I began to regain some feeling and very minimal movement in my arms. I then became very angry at myself and started asking why me? I had no idea what was to happen in the future, but I knew I was badly injured. I had no idea of what was to follow. The ambulance arrived and we headed to Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo Michigan, which was about an hour and a half away. I remember the ride being very bumpy and vomiting large amounts of black water that I had swallowed while drowning. I arrived at the Borgess Emergency room where they immediately immobilized my neck secured by traction. Traction involves using a method for applying tension to correct the alignment of two structures (in my case the 5th and 6th vertebrae in my neck) and hold them in the correct position. Traction must be balanced by counter traction. This may be obtained by tilting the bed and allowing the patient's body to act as a counterweight. For very severe neck injuries that require maximum traction, tongs that resemble ice tongs are inserted into small holes drilled in the outer skull. All traction requires careful observation and adjustment by doctors and nurses to maintain proper balance and alignment of the traction with free suspension of the weights. This is the type of traction the doctors use to secure my neck. I can still hear the crunching noise today as they were screwing the device into my skull. I was in complete shock so I did not feel pain. I was then transferred to the Intensive care unit for observation with a very bleak prognosis. My parents were told that if I were to survive, I would be paralyzed from the neck down. I spent several days in Intensive care not exactly sure how many days as I do not remember those days at all. I made it through those days in intensive care and was transferred to a regular room and placed in a circle bed where I spent seven weeks starring at the ceiling thinking my life was over filled with grief and sadness. The doctors explained my injury and in so many words told me I would never walk again and to face that fact as there was no hope that I would recover and be whole again. I was sent to Mary Free Bed Hospital in Grand Rapids Michigan where I would spend three months there learning how to use a wheelchair, dress myself, feed myself etc. They were very dark days filled with angry, sadness, regret and hopelessness. Despite that fact I worked very hard to regain all of the strength and independence I could physically gain so that I could return to mainstream society.

I came home after three months at Mary Free Bed still in denial that I was bound to a wheelchair. My parents modified our basement so that it was accessible for a wheelchair user. I had to return to my High School as a senior who previously was a star athlete and know could barely propel a wheelchair on my own. It was one of the most difficult times in my life. I was ridiculed laughed at and called names treated less than human. Most classmates were afraid of me and the others made it a joke. Despite all the emotional and physical challenges, I went on to receive my high school diploma and I received it on time.

One of my passions growing up besides sports, was drawing and animation. I was encouraged by family and friends to take drawing classes in college. I enrolled in the Drafting & Design program at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. I was the first person in a wheelchair to graduate from Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC). The president of KVCC was there too hand me my diploma as it was such a special day. The occasion was immortalized by our local newspaper the Kalamazoo Gazette who came that day to take a picture of me receiving my degree which I still have to this day.

I was married and have a beautiful daughter. Unfortunately, my wife left me several years ago and my daughter has not been in my life for over 4 years now. I have lost everything at this point but I will not let it stop me. I live alone now and come to the realization that this fact is not going to change. No one should have to endure the pain and sadness I feel everyday yet with God’s grace, I am still here fighting despite the pain, sadness, loneliness, hopelessness and not knowing if I will ever find TRUE love again.

I am strength, I am Love, I am patient, I am kind, I am hope, I am powerful, I am positive, I am a fighter, Survivor! I am Courageous, I am brave, I am a beacon, I am inspiration, I am hope, I am a leader. I will get knocked down again and again but every time I will get back up. I am living proof that even though while every day it could be raining there is still sunshine in my heart.

I have learned the true heroes in this world are those that overcome. The person fighting cancer, the person living with a disability, the person on the street looking for food & shelter, the person living with abuse, the soldiers/veterans that have fought and are fighting for our freedom. The firefighters, doctors, nurses and all those helping where there is a true need. Those that wake up every day knowing the day their life is going to be difficult but yet face it head on with grace and dignity. To me these are just some of the true heroes in this world.

Never let anyone stop you from being who you are or tell you that you cannot achieve what seems to be impossible. You do have the strength to overcome and move mountains! As I reflect on my tragedy, I am proud to say that I have overcome the many challenges I face every day and am still fighting!

I want to thank all those who have supported me and loved me through it all!

Sincerely,

Floyd “Buzzy” Crawford"