Michelle O’Hara, a Certified Child Life Specialist, has spent her career showing up for children and families in their most difficult moments.
This is one story she shared about a patient we’ll call Jay.
Jay had just made the varsity basketball team — a rare feat for a freshman — when he was hit by a truck while riding his bike. He suffered severe injuries to his brain and spine that left him confined to a wheelchair.
When I met Jay, he was understandably angry, withdrawn, and convinced his life was over.
Knowing how much he loved basketball, I brought him to the gym one day and asked him if he wanted to shoot around.
“No,” he said. “I can’t.”
“I hate that word,” I told him. “With me, the only question is how.”
He looked down at his hand — permanently curled — and shook his head.
So I picked up the ball and took a shot. Swish.
“If I can do it,” I said, “you can too.”
He hesitated, then finally said, “Fine. Give me the ball.”
He missed. Then missed again. And again.
Until finally, one shot went in.
Right then, something shifted.
What started with one shot became the courage to take another. And another. Jay wasn’t just taking shots in the gym - he was taking shots in life. He took shots at using a walker, dressing himself, riding a horse, sailing, and living more independently.
Some shots were harder than others. Plenty missed. But Jay kept shooting.
Because that’s what life asks of us: the courage to take the shot, the resilience to bounce back when we miss, and the grit to keep going.
Months later, I came back to visit.
Jay stood up from his wheelchair, steadied himself with a walker, and sank a left-handed shot.
Then he smiled. I smiled too.
Because sometimes all it takes is one shot to change the flow of the game – and a young man’s life.