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Choosing Life: The Story of Jim MacLaren

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A 300-pound, 6-foot-5 All-American football player, Yale student and aspiring actor Jim MacLaren's life literally ended after he was hit by a 40,000-pound city bus in his early twenties. Pronounced dead at the accident scene, he awoke from a coma eight days later, his left leg missing below the knee. Fast-forward a few years. MacLaren, supported by a prosthetic leg, becomes the top amputee triathlete in the world, completing the grueling Ironman and setting a marathon record among amputees. In 1993, his athletic career comes to another cruelly abrupt halt when he is again struck, this time by a van during a triathlon. Doctors declare him a quadriplegic. But that didn't stop Jim either. "I am not my body," he says. "I am a man, and I am alive. As alive as anyone who is jamming a basketball, scoring a touchdown or hugging their child."
Be The Change
1

Learn more about Jim Maclaren's current activities.

2

Support Choose Living Foundation, that Jim endorses.

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Next time your life gets you down, look to Jim's life as inspiration.

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Reflections (4)

Evangelyn
I am very impressive of Jim
mia tagano
Here is an update on the passing of Jim Maclaren : RIP Jim

http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/farewell-jim/
Sharon
Thank you so much for sharing your story and reminding me that it is LIFE that I need to choose, not darkness and depression. God Bless you and everything that you do.
Jules
AAWWW Jim, you are indeed much much more than a man. You are a very special soul sent here to teach us. I thank you.
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