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Each month, we want to highlight a consumer of the AzSCIA and hear their story, and see the remarkable things people are doing around the community. We know everyone has a unique journey that got them to where they are today, and we hope to highlight that. If you have someone that you want to reccomend for this section please feel free to call us or leave us an email.
This month we are highlighting Nic Danger. He is going to tell us a little about his injury and how it inspired him to start up The Next Step Peer Mentoring & More to share his feeling of freedom with others.
Hello, my name is Nic Danger. June of 2009 I became a T-10 paraplegic. During the first year of my injury I developed a secondary condition which led to a seven and a half hour surgery. While in the hospital, I contracted MRSA. This took another six months out of my life healing my wounds.
One day I came across an ad, in a newsletter similar to this one, for a “Try Dive”. This was a chance to try scuba diving with a disability. I went for it whole heartedly. Falling in love with the sport I soon became a certified diver. Taking a trip to San Diego I went for my first “Wreck Dive”. Diving 100 feet down in 55 degree water I entered a sunken Canadian Battleship. It was an adrenaline filled experience.
Hand cycling, kayaking, and a driver’s license came next. The sense of freedom was once again attained. I wanted to share this feeling with others. In 2014 The Next Step Peer Mentoring & More was created.
Our mission is to “IMPROVE AND EMPOWER LIFE AFTER INJURY THROUGH EDUCATION AND RECREATION”.
We started out offering one on one peer support while educating family and friends about life with a disability.