Adapt. Recover. Push Limits: A Skater’s Return to What He Loves

By Louis Cabana May 8, 2025

Adapt. Recover. Push Limits.

In the summer of 2006, 17-year-old Bryan was living the kind of carefree days that define youth – filled with sunshine, freedom, and a touch of recklessness. That spirit of adventure led him and his friends to a set of railroad tracks and the distant hum of an approaching train. What started as a spontaneous joyride quickly turned serious. 

As Bryan jumped to exit the moving train, he struck an embankment and lost his footing. He slid backward – helpless – toward the lumbering train. In a split second, everything changed.

Adapt: A New Reality After Amputation

Bryan survived the accident, but not without serious injury. The train caught his right foot, resulting in multiple surgeries and a long hospital stay. Thanks to the quick actions of his friends and emergency responders, he made it through those critical early days. Once home, he was faced with a new reality – but he wasn’t ready to slow down.

An active teen who loved basketball, hiking, biking, and skateboarding, Bryan chose to adapt. Still on crutches, he found himself back on his skateboard, determined to stay connected to the movement and freedom he loved. Over the next two years, he adjusted. Tricks were harder, mobility was different, and eventually, hiking and fishing took center stage in his life.

Recover: Rebuilding Strength with the Right Support

In 2020, Bryan felt the spark again—the drive to get back on his board for real. It wasn’t just about physical recovery anymore. It was about recovering a part of his identity.

Nearly five years later, Bryan skates regularly. It’s not always easy. Some tricks are still tough. But he’s found consistency and confidence, carving lines at Poe Mill DIY Skatepark, a creative, graffiti-covered space that has become more than a place to practice – it’s become his personal outlet.

“It revived my soul, my spirit, everything about me,” Bryan shared.

Push Limits: The Role of Prosthetic Innovation

Bryan credits much of his return to skateboarding not only to his determination but also to the care and support he received from his prosthetist, Sean Wooldridge at MCOP Greenville.

Sean approached Bryan’s prosthetic care with collaboration and purpose. He listened closely to Bryan’s lifestyle needs and worked to build a device that could keep up with the constant pounding, balance shifts, and impacts of skateboarding.

Movement With Purpose

At Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics (MCOP), we believe recovery doesn’t stop at mobility – it extends to the activities, passions, and purpose that define a person. Bryan’s story is a powerful example of what happens when clinical care meets creativity and commitment.

Whether it’s returning to a sport, a job, or simply the life you want to lead, the goal is always the same: Adapt, Recover, Push Limits.