Scheffel Begins Rehabilitation After Dirt Bike Accident; Fundraising Begun

Life can change in an instant and no one knows that better now than Jacob Scheffel. An experienced dirt bike rider, having ridden since the age of 7 and raced since 17, Scheffel's life changed on June 12th due to an accident up at State Creek.

"It was an easy ride," Shannon Scheffel, Jacob's wife, explained. "We had just made a 23-mile ride with our three kids, along with another family (the Paulstons; whose son's bike was recently stolen and fundraising featured in the Ledger). We went for a second ride; Jacob crested a hill and came down wrong."

Shannon said that when she came up to him his right leg was bent behind him, he couldn't breathe because of a deflated lung, and - most tragically - he couldn't move. He was thankfully wearing a helmet, though it was split in half due to the force of impact.

"I don't want to toot his horn, but toot! Toot! Jacob is an extremely talented rider," Shannon said with a laugh, adding that this was just a fated accident. No alcohol or trick riding was involved - Jacob simply landed at a wrong angle.

Currently Jacob is paralyzed from the waist down with limited feeling in his arms.

"Jacob really feels that this is what was meant to happen to him; he is very sovereign in his belief that this was God's plan for him," she said, adding that their faith has made all the difference.

All in all, Jacob suffered broken ribs, a broken sternum, a concussion, and a disjointed fracture of his neck. However, his neck being broken in three places was not what caused the paralysis; his T4 vertebra moved over his T5. Jacob's paralysis is complete, meaning he has just a 0.35% chance of regaining feeling or sensations of his paralyzed body.

"I keep thinking back to the movie Dumb and Dumber," Shannon said. "'So, you're saying there's a chance...."

The couple's faith, and their three children (ages 14, 12 and 11), are what is pulling them through as they face rehabilitation in Salt Lake City at the Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital.

"When you're a para, there's so many things that can cause distress in your health," Shannon said, explaining that even a cramped toe can cause heart palpitations and high blood pressure. These things, as well as relearning to dress himself, are all being worked on in Salt Lake.

Shannon and Jacob met when she was sixteen and have been together for sixteen years. The couple began a waste oil heating business three years ago; this was their sole source of income.

A Go Fund Me page has been created by Amanda Scheffel, where updates on Jacob's condition are also available. The funds raised will help assist the family with medical expenses and moving forward with their lives.

Right now, as Shannon explained, they are taking things one day at a time, but will start looking into how to make their home handicap accessible. Shannon also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, which makes lifting Jacob difficult, if not impossible.

If you would like to donate to the Scheffels, donation boxes are available at Jefferson Fresh Foods and the Old Speckled Hen. Donations are also accepted at their Go Fund Me page at https://gofund.me/4e1a00be.