Exploring the Mind of Joseph J. Debise

Joseph j, DeBise, More than just a Crip’!!Please give us chance to introduce Joe, “J, to the O E… he used to move dime bags hella slowly, almost none really haha, now on to who he be..” we want to introduce who he is and what he would like to accomplish with this time. In hopes of sharing a literary journey. The first things first, we want to thank you for taking the time to visit the site !
A little bit about him, (if you are interested). He started writing after a catastrophic spinal cord injury as the result of a car accident. The accident found him in the ICU unit in a Denver hospital, life threatening challenges forced into a drug induce coma for more than twenty days. A tracheotomy and the ventilator allowed him to breathe. The prognosis was grim, expected to pass away the first night following the six hour surgery to repair and remove the c-4 and c-5 vertebrae as a result of the accident. Tubes coming out of his body, he was told he was lucky to be alive shortly before he was told that he would never be able to do much with his body than shrug his shoulders. The devastating news sent him to a very dark place but as they gave him the information he was able to bend his arm. That simple movement gave him hope that more ways possible.
After ten months of rehab later he had the use of his arms but little else. His hands, including fingers and from the chest down were true to the doctors ‘ words. Searching for meaning in life and looking for a way to safely express himself, the page became his outlet and soul savior.
Having always wanting to write but never finding the time, he was to consumed trying to survive it, to write about it. A certain insight always made him wonder why we all try to survive a life we all perish in at different times and reasons, or some reason it felt so normal. The car accident hanged his life in more ways than any doctor, therapist or psychologist said imaginable or could be expected. Before the life change, he took on almost any dangerous challenge he faced, and there were many or task that presented. Either over or through, but never around. The easy road never seemed to be a option. Big, small, cultural, geographic, athletic educational and Economic.
Having been born to the grimy streets of California’s’ capital city, Sacramento. Leaving California in his early twenties on a spiritual and emotional journey to northeast Ohio, funded by football talent, He knowingly tried to live a life of massively broad experiences, hoping of one day writing about them. His formal education matters only as a way help understanding why he has and shares some of the thoughts and feelings feelings he has about a wide range of topics, with the hopes that the ideas are expressed in a way that brings about discussion and awareness rather than division. First attending college at the University of California at Berkeley and finished with a bachelor degree from a private catholic school in Kansas. The school was in the news not to long ago when Harrison Buckner, of the Kansas City Chiefs, made controversial comments about women’s importance in the home, among other things, Benedictine College. In so many ways his life has been both a flip of the coin, having played good and bad, right and wrong, positive and negative, weak and strong. All of which, has given him a unique perspective on many different types of, challenges, obstacles and blessings life gives us.
He currently lives. in Colorado, where he once got to play cowboy in the mountains near aspen, saving little kids from run away horses and saving I’m self from a similar fate.. The accident allowed him to slow down and focus on just being a person, so he thought. not a person off on some wild adventure or tremendous journey, destined to survive the crucible of life. The adventure of parenthood, his two daughters were young when he was injured . His condition did make it easier focus on that adventure. His life had to be about being husband and father that he never knew, about them. Doing everything he can to give them as close to “normal” childhoods and lives. Not making their childhoods about his new disability but rather their dreams and possibilities, never to entertain limitations.
As a once , big time college athlete . Joseph, shared the field , locker room and gym with first round draft picks, all pros and hall of fame football players. Now, only a spectator, fan and sometime coach. The view from a permanent sitting position he has found the view insightful and enlightening. Sports never being the whole of his life, the new perspective has opened his eyes and mind to so many great things about the people who are in the arena, in addition to the one’s who support them. Coming to the realization that so much of American culture is tied to sports, it has helped become a focused lens of to see the world. A way to see the differences and similarities, the way we compete with and against, things that draw us together and keep us apart. Ways to survive, what it means to thrive, and be a witness to those with championship drive. Hopefully capturing the essence of what we see as the best of what we are capable of. The Sport is only the glimpse that we see, never truly knowing the pain and sacrifice given to reach such successful heights. From the special Olympics to super bowl glory. The beauty of the mind, body and spirit working together, few places in life reveal the character of the human condition in such a way, giving a picture of what could be. It has always fascinated him, the lengths we go to challenge who we are and capable of. Sport has always been more than just a game, dating back to before formal religion. He often tries to share athletic in a light that shows our humanity.
Our hope, is to share thoughts, ideas and feelings that make us think about the way we see others and ourselves. As we navigate through the challenges faced in our universe. Wishing the best for all of us, embracing the life we hsve be dealt, positively influencing the world around us and, closing our eyes for the last time with few regrets and peace entering the unknown beyond.