Harold Crowe struggles every day to regain full use of his body after a serious accident robbed him of many simple tasks in life, including walking, talking and writing.

Crowe was working a night job as a security guard for a company in Bloomington, when on Aug. 13, 1996, he opened the gate for a truck to drive through. As the truck passed, an oncoming car did not see Crowe and hit him. Crowe was rushed to the hospital with spinal cord injuries, a broken leg and broken elbow.

I didn’t know if I was going to live, and I never thought that I’d be able to walk again, the 45-year-old Crowe said. Being in the hospital recovering, I needed someone to help me eat, move and do other common tasks that I usually do on my own.

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After five months in the hospital, the doctors determined Crowe was in good enough physical condition to move to a rehabilitation center where he could receive more personal assistance. On Jan. 6, he was admitted into rehabilitation at the Center for Comprehensive Services, 610 S. University Ave.

CCS has programs that give personal care and therapy to people with head and spinal cord injuries so they will be able to re-enter society and live a normal life style.

In Crowe’s program, he received vocational, physical and occupational therapy. A schedule was made each week for Crowe, which allowed him to receive therapy in areas that he needed it the most.

After getting his cast off, Crowe re-injured his leg attempting to walk. The new injury led to a decision for an operation to put pins in his leg. The pain Crowe felt when applying pressure on his legs was the biggest struggle to overcome in recovering the use of his legs.

After I re-injured my leg, I was intimidated to walk again because I didn’t know if my legs were going to be strong enough, Crowe said.

Crowe had been in rehabilitation for about a year when on Sept. 25, he was released to go home.

When I got here I was in a wheelchair, and now I’m walking with just a cane and some assistance, Crowe said.

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Crowe got tired of being at CCS and being dependent on others, but the stay made him even more determined to recover and get back into society.

I want to be at home with my family and friends. I got lonely down here sometimes, Crowe said. My brother and mother were at my side when I was rushed to the hospital in August. All I remember hearing them say was, Everything would be all right, we’ll get you through this.’ My family has been my inspiration for my determination to recover and walk again.