‘Don’t let anything hold you back’

It’s been five years since Bend’s Tyler Eklund crashed during a national championship snowboarding competition in Reno, Nevada.

The freak accident paralyzed Tyler from the shoulders down, leaving him confined to a wheelchair and forcing him to use a ventilator to breathe.

But he hasn’t let the injury stop him from living life to the fullest.

NewsChannel 21 caught up with Eklund at his home, where he told us what he’s been up to since the horrible accident.

“It’s been a long, long road but definitely worth it,” Tyler Eklund said.

Five years ago, Tyler was doing what he loves doing.

“Definitely riding my snowboard was the best thrill,” Tyler said. “The best thing I could have ever picked up.”

And he was good. So good that he went to a national competition in Reno, Nevada.

But during a Sunday training run, Tyler took a fall which broke a vertebrae in his neck.

The injury paralyzed Tyler. He now must use a ventilator to stay alive.

“It’s been a struggle in the beginning, but I’m definitely figuring out ways to make life better, to live life pretty much to fullest,” Tyler said.

And nothing is stopping him.

Over the past five years, Tyler has fished, shot guns, hunted, jet-skied and rode in friends’ cars.

“Nothing is really too hard to do,” Tyler said. “If it is, we definitely make a way.”

Helping him make a way is his girlfriend, Carmen, from Bend who he met more than a year ago on Facebook

“She means a lot to everybody,” Tyler said. “Especially, she’s very dearly to me.”

Carmen has learned everything about Tyler’s condition, going to all his doctor visits and wanting to learn what his needs are.

But it’s Tyler’s dad, Mike, who has been his primary caretaker and Tyler’s biggest hero from day one.

“If it weren’t for him, I definitely would be lost,” Tyler said. “I wouldn’t have life today.”

Mike helps Tyler get up in the morning, get dressed, get him in his chair, make sure he takes all his meds and get the overall care he needs.

“A lot of people don’t realize the amount of care and attention Tyler needs,” Mike said. “Mainly because of the ventilator.”

If that ventilator becomes disconnected, Tyler can’t breathe.

While Tyler can get to places using a customized van, there is still a lot of planning that goes into it. because of the size of the ventilator.

“He can get in,” Mike said. “He can get there, but he can’t because its too long, too big or he can’t, or we have to get him out of his chair because the ventilator has to go with him everywhere he goes.”

Mike says you just can’t leave him in a bubble.

“He wants to get out and do things,” Mike said. “So we try and MacGyver up what we need to do to try to make it happen.”

A picture sits on the floor of Tyler’s bedroom, a painting he drew using just his mouth.

“I painted, ‘Don’t let anything hold you back,’ because you can’t really let anything hold you back, no matter what happens,” Tyler said.

Tyler hasn’t even let his disability keep him from snowboarding.

The annual Dirksen Derby, a fundraising snowboard race which was started after Tyler’s accident, allows Tyler to purchase some adaptive items.

“The stuff is so very, very expensive, and to get some nice things that he likes to have and show off, like his van,” Mike said.

Not only does it allow Tyler to ride, but listen to his favorite music.

Snowboards hang on Tyler’s bedroom wall, not to remind him of that horrible accident in July 2007, but to serve as another reminder.

“I just remember what my sport was, how much I love it, and how much everyone has been for me,” Tyler said.

For the caregivers who are with him on a daily basis, Tyler serves as an inspiration, just like the painting on the floor says. to “never let anything hold you back.”

“I haven’t at all let anything hold me back, and with others, don’t let anything hold you guys back,” Tyler said.

The 6th annual Derksen Derby is this December.

The event has gotten so big that the race has expanded to a two-day event.

The family, meanwhile, hasn’t been able to hire night caregivers, so either Tyler’s mom, dad or girlfriend sleep on the couch to make sure he’s okay.