PHOTOS: On Oct. 2, 2021, firefighter Brad Henke had just returned from Louisiana, where he and other volunteers from Bellevilleโs East Side Fire District were doing cleanup after Hurricane Ida. Heโd only been back for two weeks and decided to pass some time riding his motorcycle.
But hurricane rains were still trickling into Illinois, and when Henke hit a slick sheet of pavement, his life changed forever. โI hit a wet spot, ended up offroad and hit a cable that holds up a telephone pole,โ Henke recalled, โIt hit me right in the midsection and right around my belly button my back became two very separate pieces.โ
Henke is now paralyzed from the waist down and requires the use of a wheelchair to get around. Right away, he knew falling into despair would only be counterproductive to his recovery. โIt couldโve been better, couldโve been worse,โ Henke said. โI might have been willing to kill for some legs, but there were other guys in rehab with me who wouldโve killed for my arms. Really puts things into perspective.โ
