After Accident, Young Man Embraces Motto: Life Happens, Live it!

- Advertisement -

Raised in eastern Oregon with a passion for all things outdoors,brincluding of course hunting and fishing, Jake French worked hard to get abrBachelor of Science degree in Forest Products from the University of Idaho.

brbr

After graduating, he got a job with the Oregon Division ofbrForestry. It was his dream job, full time, and back home in Oregon. He had beenbron the job three weeks when he rendezvoused with some old friends on a Fridaybrnight. There was some roughhousing, and Jake fell, hitting his head firmly on thebrground. He heard something snap, felt no pain, other than he was havingbrconvulsions. Later x-rays would show his neck snapped between the C-6 and C-7brvertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the collar bone down.

brbr

This very bad day in Jake’s life forced him to experience abrvariety of emotional cycles as you can imagine. Then he realized he had a newbradventure ahead of him, to make the best of what he has.  His mother gave Jake four important words:brlife happens, live it. He began to look at life differently and share hisbrpositive thoughts with others. Jake took his accident and turned it intobrsomething positive for everyone. Jake French has now become a nationally andbrinternationally recognized motivational speaker. He has an amazing attitude andbrenthusiasm to charge forward no matter what your challenges are. Jake hasbrwritten a book titled Life Happens, Live it with his personal story and ninebrother stories of people who have overcome incredible challenges. For more onbrJake French check out his website at JakeFrenchinspires.com.

brbr

Kenneth Vaughn of the Springville based Chairbound Sportsman metbrJake last winter at a four-day expo in the Salt Palace, and that conversationbrled to the scheduling of a chairbound hunting trip. On the third weekend inbrJuly Jake French traveled from Beverton, Ore. to Springville for a ram sheepbrhunt. The hunting party traveled as a small caravan to Kelly Prestwich’s BigbrMountain Hunting Ranch. Jake was accompanied by his mother, Margaret, andbrbrother Brad to assist him. Jake was placed in a Trackchair owned by thebrChairbound Sportsman Organization. The hunt was on. It was a long day, and latebrin the afternoon when the elusive prize ram was finally located. What abrwonderful smile that brought to Jake’s face. Brad’s assistance and connectionbrto his brother Jake was also a wonderful thing to witness. It was a great daybroutdoors. Life happens, live it.

brbr

For information on the Chairbound Sportsman check out theirbrwebsite at Chairboundsportsman.org. (Helmick is a Serve Daily contributor.)

- Advertisement -

Raised in eastern Oregon with a passion for all things outdoors,brincluding of course hunting and fishing, Jake French worked hard to get abrBachelor of Science degree in Forest Products from the University of Idaho.

brbr

After graduating, he got a job with the Oregon Division ofbrForestry. It was his dream job, full time, and back home in Oregon. He had beenbron the job three weeks when he rendezvoused with some old friends on a Fridaybrnight. There was some roughhousing, and Jake fell, hitting his head firmly on thebrground. He heard something snap, felt no pain, other than he was havingbrconvulsions. Later x-rays would show his neck snapped between the C-6 and C-7brvertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the collar bone down.

brbr

This very bad day in Jake’s life forced him to experience abrvariety of emotional cycles as you can imagine. Then he realized he had a newbradventure ahead of him, to make the best of what he has.  His mother gave Jake four important words:brlife happens, live it. He began to look at life differently and share hisbrpositive thoughts with others. Jake took his accident and turned it intobrsomething positive for everyone. Jake French has now become a nationally andbrinternationally recognized motivational speaker. He has an amazing attitude andbrenthusiasm to charge forward no matter what your challenges are. Jake hasbrwritten a book titled Life Happens, Live it with his personal story and ninebrother stories of people who have overcome incredible challenges. For more onbrJake French check out his website at JakeFrenchinspires.com.

brbr

Kenneth Vaughn of the Springville based Chairbound Sportsman metbrJake last winter at a four-day expo in the Salt Palace, and that conversationbrled to the scheduling of a chairbound hunting trip. On the third weekend inbrJuly Jake French traveled from Beverton, Ore. to Springville for a ram sheepbrhunt. The hunting party traveled as a small caravan to Kelly Prestwich’s BigbrMountain Hunting Ranch. Jake was accompanied by his mother, Margaret, andbrbrother Brad to assist him. Jake was placed in a Trackchair owned by thebrChairbound Sportsman Organization. The hunt was on. It was a long day, and latebrin the afternoon when the elusive prize ram was finally located. What abrwonderful smile that brought to Jake’s face. Brad’s assistance and connectionbrto his brother Jake was also a wonderful thing to witness. It was a great daybroutdoors. Life happens, live it.

brbr

For information on the Chairbound Sportsman check out theirbrwebsite at Chairboundsportsman.org. (Helmick is a Serve Daily contributor.)

Ed Helmick
Ed Helmick
Ed Helmick wrote for Serve Daily and many other publications throughout the last decade. He passed away in July 2024, just a short time after his 80th birthday. Share your favorite article of his and have a blessed day.

Submit News

Visit our Forms to submit a recipe, obituary, contact us, or submit news. 

Related news