Sports scribes like to break out the big words to detail notable accomplishments.
Mercurial, herculean, monumental, colossal are a few of the adjectives rolled out to describe extraordinary athletic achievements.
Yet, just one word comes to mind while journaling James Patterson’s return to competitive men’s rugby.
Impossible.
Consider: Unconscious in the cab of his rumpled pickup truck on a snowy Jan. 31 night, bleeding from a fissure in his skull, his neck fractured, his jaw shattered; Patterson was rushed from the scene of an accident with a tractor-trailer unit to hospital for acute medical intervention.
His chances for survival were dodgy.
“I have no memory (of the accident) because I was knocked unconscious and I was in an induced coma for a few days,” the 19-year-old Cochranite recalls of the highway collision in whiteout conditions at Alder Flats. “It was pretty scary, especially because of my head injury and everything.”
One-hundred and 33 days later, he was on Mitford Pond rugby pitch at the fullback position, running amok and creating his trademark high-level havoc against marauding Sacacens in Calgary Rugby Union Second Division men’s play. In less than five months, Patterson has gone from death watch to full-contact men’s rugby terror.
Impossible.
“He’s looking awesome, man. That’s something pretty special. A guy who was on his death bed; five months later he’s playing rugby again,” marvels Grizzlies player/coach Ty Hawes, grinning like a Cheshire cat at the return of one of his stars who helped Bow Valley defeat visiting Calgary Saracens 17-10 in their June 13 fixture. Patterson was on the pitch for the full 80 minutes in a hard-fought, chippy affair.
“He’s very grateful to be back on the pitch and the boys are all grateful to still have him in our lives. He’s an awesome guy and we’re so happy to have him back on the squad.”
Fraught with uncertainty and doubt, Patterson’s road to recovery is a study in dedication and determination.
“That (not playing rugby again) was the beginning thought, especially because of my head injury and everything,” he admits. “It started off for the first six weeks, I had my jaw wired shut because it was broken. Broken neck, I was in a collar for four months.”
Through all the physiotherapy and neuro-rehab sessions he pushed, and persevered.
“I definitely put the work in,” he relates. “It was hard at first. You just have to get over it.”
Now he’s reaping the rewards back on the rugby pitch, in the middle of all the action CRU Second Division men’s rugby brings.
“It’s all I’ve been waiting for, really,” Patterson says, gesturing towards teammates on the sidelines following his first Grizzlies match since the accident. “It’s awesome just being back playing with my buddies.
“You just want to be part of that team.”
Mission: possible.
