Sept. 23, 2010
By Tony Mancuso
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - So much has changed for Adam Taliaferro since his helmet collided with the knee of Ohio State tailback Jerry Westbrooks on Sept. 23, 2000 during Penn State's 45-6 loss to the Buckeyes. The Voorhees, N.J., native faced an initial diagnosis of being a quadriplegic following the career-ending spinal injury inside Ohio Stadium.
Move forward 10 years to Sept. 23, 2010.
Taliaferro spoke to GoPSUsports.com from his desk at the Cherry Hill, N.J., office of Duane Morris, an international law firm. He is enjoying a normal life as an attorney and will walk bride Erin Mulshenock, a former Penn State swimmer, down the aisle next September.
Penn State physician Wayne Sebastianelli, head trainer George Salvaterra and members of the Ohio State training staff were the first to reach Taliaferro on the field in 2000. When asked about how far Taliaferro has come in 10 years, Dr. Sebastianelli expressed some of the most powerful words any physician could use. He labeled Taliaferro's recovery, "a miracle. Remarkable. Absolutely heart warming."
Sebastianelli said the initial prognosis looked as though Taliaferro would truly never walk again, let alone live a normal life.
"Based on the MRI and X-ray criteria, the chances would have been much less than a couple percent," said Sebastianelli.
Taliaferro's recovery is nothing short of remarkable.
"Right now, I am living life to the fullest and 10 years later, things couldn't be better," Taliaferro said.
GoPSUsports.com spoke with Taliaferro 10 years to the day from his career-ending injury. He is one of the most inspirational role models in Penn State football history. Here is our conversation.
When you look back at 10 years ago today, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Taliaferro: "When I look back now, I just think about the two people who saved me on that day, which were team doctor Wayne Sebastianelli and head trainer George Salvaterra. Those are the first two guys who come to mind. If it weren't for those two guys, none of this would have been possible. After their quick reaction, it is just what Coach Paterno and Tim Curley and the entire Penn State community and what they did for me. What they did for me was far and beyond what they were obligated to do. I just thank them 10 years later for the support they showed me."
When you first heard the initial diagnosis, how difficult was it to remain positive through the entire process?
Taliaferro: "Just the thought of being paralyzed, I knew how bad it was. From day one, though, I had my parents there telling me that I was going to walk again. I just had so much support there on a daily basis that the thought of not walking again never really crossed my mind. I attribute my success to the tremendous amount of support. When I was in rehab, I saw a lot of people there who didn't have family and friends there to support them all the time like I did. I always had someone there for me, and I had such a positive influence from everyone around me."
Take us through the first few months after the injury. What was it like being in the position you were in?
Taliaferro: "It was hard for me to believe. Just a month prior, I was out there playing Division I college football and in complete control of my body. Then, a month later, I couldn't feed myself and I couldn't do anything on my own. I think it was more mental than physical at first. Once I stopped feeling sorry for myself, I realized that I needed to give 110 percent every second to get out of that position. It was certainly an eye opener to face not being able to do anything for myself. But once I got over that mentally, I was full ready to go."
How difficult, physically, was the process to work towards being able to walk again?
Taliaferro: "It was hopefully the most difficult thing that I will ever have to go through in life. Basically, I was like a baby learning how to walk again. It was like I had totally forgotten how to do everything. First, I had to build up my muscles and strength enough just to have the muscles strong enough to walk. Then I had to actually regain my balance to walk. It was like going through football two-a-days everyday."
After the long recovery process to learn how to walk, take us to the tunnel on the night of the 2001 Miami game. What was going through your mind as you ran out of the tunnel?
Taliaferro: "It was amazing. I really saw what it was like to be a part of the Penn State family. Everyone in the stadium was standing and cheering for me. It is hard to put into words. It was a feeling that came over me that I had never felt before. I had learned to walk only a couple months prior to that moment. The crowd helped me to run that day. It was something I will always remember."
As time has passed, what do you say to the doctors who helped you, from Dr. Sebastianelli to the physicians at Ohio State Medical Center to those at Magee Rehabilitation Center?
Taliaferro: "I spoke to Dr. Sebastianelli this week. I have spoken to the people at Magee Rehabilitation Center and the Ohio State Medical Center. The only thing I can say is thank you. People always look at me for what I have done to recover, but there are so many people that made this possible. Without the group of people you just mentioned, none of this is possible. I am likely in a wheel chair the rest of my life. There is really no `me' without all of them."
How often do you get back to Penn State to see the coaches and fans?
Taliaferro: "I usually get up to three or four home games. I am taking off of work tomorrow and heading up the Temple game. I tell people that it is like a mini vacation. I love it. It is great to see the coaches and former teammates."
What is the reception like when you see the coaches?
Taliaferro: "It is great. It feels like I never left. It is always great to see Coach Paterno, but everyone involved is so supportive."
As you look forward, what does the future hold for you?
Taliaferro: "My main goal is to work and learn to become the best lawyer that I can be. I joined the firm a couple months ago. It is a tremendous opportunity. I am really trying to put in the same work that I did on the football field to be a good attorney."
In addition to his incredible recovery, he has been instrumental in helping the Adam Taliaferro Foundation to raise more than $600,000 to benefit athletes all over the country, who have been seriously injured. It will celebrate its 10th anniversary at an Oct. 16 gala.
Talking to both Taliaferro and Dr. Sebastianelli, you can see what a unique bond the two have created through the rehabilitation process.
"It is a real treasure of a relationship to have an impact on someone's life to that extent," Sebastianelli said. "It doesn't always happen, no matter what type of medicine you are practicing."
Taliaferro's path to a normal life has been anything but easy. Everyone can learn from an incredible recovery by a truly inspirational human being.