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Adler Caudle spent nearly his entire life behind the bars of a motocross bike, until a crash during a race in Kansas left him paralyzed from the waist down. The coordinated and multidisciplinary care Caudle received at INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation in the weeks and months that followed helped him get his life back on track.

Caudle will be recognized Friday, June 19, as the impactful INTEGRIS Health “Home Run For Life” series continues at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The series celebrates Oklahomans who have overcome significant health challenges and provides a symbolic end to their adversity with a home run “lap” around the bases during an in-game ceremony.

The Accident:

Learning the ropes of racing from his father at three years old, Caudle had just turned pro in the sport when he went to a race with hopes of making some money. “The night was going great, super smooth,” remembers Caudle. “I got a little overly confident, tried to hit a jump that was not meant to be a jump and didn’t make it. My feet came off the bike and I landed on my head.”

The 18-year-old, from Moore, Okla., broke the fifth thoracic vertebrae in his back. “I remember hitting the ground and feeling like I had been crushed. I remember talking to my mechanic, who's one of my good friends, and telling him that I couldn't feel my legs and that I was scared.”

He was initially told by doctors in Kansas, where the race occurred, that his spinal cord had been severed. Thankfully, he would later learn that was not the case.

The Recovery:

Caudle’s stepmom used to work at INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation on the INTEGRIS Health Southwest Medical Center campus in Oklahoma City. She insisted that he be transferred there for his recovery.

Emily Boyd, an INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe occupational therapist, recalls the early struggles Caudle went through having to relearn everyday tasks.

“When he came in, he was paralyzed from the chest down,” says Boyd. “He had a lot of upper body strength which is very helpful when the lower half of your body can't help you. He wasn't able to get dressed, go to the bathroom on his own, get out of bed on his own. So, we pretty much had to relearn all of that.”

Caudle admits needing some encouragement in the beginning. “The simple stuff is what frustrated me — not being able to put my socks on or do things like that,” he says. “But giving up was never really an option in my head. It had never been an option my entire life.”

Caudle has a strong support system that helped him in those early days and weeks.

“I can't thank all my friends enough. My parents played a big role too. They didn't treat me any different. That brought a sense of calmness to the situation.” It also gave him the strength to keep pushing forward. “I don't like relying on people. I'm an independent person. I want to be able to do everything myself. That was one of my biggest goals right off the bat. I want to be able to live without any assistance from anyone.”

Boyd says hard work and determination helped, but it was Caudle’s positive attitude that mostly impressed her. “He has a great head on his shoulders, and he is very mature to be able to handle emotions better than any other 18-year-old I've ever met personally.”

The Future:

Caudle drives a specially equipped pickup truck, has learned to snow ski and has even found a way to get back on his dirt bike. He continues to find the good in every situation. “I used to measure success by results, but I've realized now that my success is in the effort,” he declares. “Just trying my hardest every single day to reach my goals.”

He adds, “I truly feel life has a funny way of putting us where we're supposed to be. I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason and that you just have to keep going and see where you end up. What you are capable of might just surprise you.”