Life can change in an instant. For James Sa, that moment came just before his senior year of college. What began as a lighthearted mud race ended in a dive into shallow water that shattered his sixth cervical vertebrae.

Left paralyzed and face down as waves of race participants unknowingly trampled over him, James’ world was turned upside down. “Tomorrow, you’re going to break your neck,” James would later write in a heartfelt letter to his younger self. “You’re never going to walk again. This will take some time to get used to. Your hands will be paralyzed as well. The degree they are impaired will be up to fate. But five years from now, you’ll look back and realize just how lucky you were.”

ICU Battles and Unbreakable Bonds

James spent forty harrowing days in the ICU. His lungs collapsed five times. He had chest tubes, tracheotomies, and faced moments where he stopped breathing. Through it all, his mother stood by his side.

“She watched your body try its best to kill itself every day,” James reflected. “Not once did she waver. Gratitude is going to be a major component of the rest of your life.”

Friends drove hours to spend full days with him at the hospital. Together, they formed a support system that would help James navigate the emotional and physical toll of his new reality.

The Long Road to Rehabilitation

After intensive care came rehabilitation at Craig Hospital, a facility known for helping individuals with spinal cord injuries. The journey wasn’t fast, nor easy. “You’ll have to work twice as hard for half the gain,” James wrote. “All that matters is that there’s a way at all. No shortcuts.”

Simple acts became grueling challenges:

• Learning to push his wheelchair down long hospital hallways
• Spending hours getting out of bed
• Feeling exhausted from crossing a carpeted college dorm room

But every painful push, every slow rep, every moment of frustration added up to progress. James began bench pressing again, starting with just 45 lbs. Over time, with relentless persistence, that weight grew.

“You’re not fighting only when you’re under the bar,” James explained. “You’re fighting every second of the rest of your life, from the moment you wake up. Every day is a competition you need to win.”

Discovering Wheelchair Rugby

A turning point came when James watched the documentary Murderball, which introduced him to wheelchair rugby.

“You’re going to want to become a rugby player,” he recalled. “You’re going to want to be on a national team. Keep pushing.”

Rugby offered more than sport—it gave James purpose, community, and a way to channel his competitive spirit. Despite the challenges of navigating an unforgiving world in a wheelchair, he refused to lose momentum.

“Remember that on any journey, the place to start is the beginning. There are no shortcuts, no tricks, no lucky breaks,” James said. “You’re going to be embarrassed when people see you constantly pushing up and down hallways. Get over it. You’re going to be fast one day, I promise.”

That promise became reality. James went on to earn back-to-back Division II National Championship titles with his team, San Diego Sharp Edge, and helped propel the team into Division I, where they’re now ranked among the top in the country. In 2016, James received his first invitation to the Paralympic Selection Camp—a testament to his unrelenting drive.

Mentorship and Advocacy

Beyond his athletic success, James has become a mentor and advocate for others with physical challenges. Through local sports organizations and mentorship programs, he offers guidance and inspiration to those facing similar journeys.

As part of his work, James encourages athletes to ask themselves “Now what?” when facing adversity.

In a message to the community during the global pandemic, James wrote:

“We’re intimate with the truth that some things pass with permanent consequences. Whether you’ve lost a limb or require a wheelchair, we all know the trials of finding normalcy again. In the face of fears and heartbreaks, ask yourself: now what?”

He emphasized that resilience is built through choice:

• Setting up makeshift gyms during lockdown
• Counting driveways and alleys as training mileage
• Facing the fear of standing out and replacing it with courage

“As athletes who will always look different to the common eye,” James said, “the only thing we should fear is losing our will to triumph. Be fearless in continuing your story. And when you can’t be fearless, be courageous.”

Building a Legacy

James often reflects on how his story is part of something bigger—a ripple effect shaping the future for others:

“Forty years ago, my predecessors were just aimlessly playing catch on an abandoned basketball court. Today, there are children who never have to worry about sitting out during recess, young athletes competing in sanctioned high school sports with dreams of scholarships, and parents in wheelchairs raising families filled with love and hope. How incredible the ripples are when we choose courage.”

He knows none of it happens alone. “We have stories worth telling because a community believed in us. Now, we have the opportunity to repay that kindness through who we’ve become.”

Today and Beyond

James continues to train, compete, and mentor new athletes entering the world of wheelchair sports. His journey—from ICU patient to championship athlete and advocate—is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to adapt, grow, and inspire.

He admits that setbacks are part of the process:

“You’ve lost a lot and given up a lot. The worst were the days you wasted in bed. You’ll never get those back. But for every day you lost, you won one, if not two. It’s never too late to get up and try again. The only time we show true conviction is in the face of failure.”

James Sa’s story is far from over. It’s a continuing legacy of resilience, community, and triumph over adversity—a reminder that even in life’s darkest moments, courage can light the way forward.

Join James in Changing Lives

James Sa’s journey shows what’s possible when determination meets opportunity. You can help create more stories like his—where athletes of all abilities find strength, purpose, and community through sports.