Personal Story by Michael Vestal, Mayor of Tonganoxie, KS and 3R Consumer

My new life as a quadriplegic began on the late evening of September 9th, 1970. I was just 19 and my hopes of becoming a Deputy Sheriff ended. I was critically injured in a car accident. I was taken to Kansas University Medical Center, where I was in a coma for 2 weeks. The doctors had told my parents to make plans for a funeral, but by the grace of God and my perseverance, I awoke. I spent the next 6 months recovering from my injuries. I made the decision those months that I would not give up and I would make the best of a bad situation. I was released from the hospital and was on a waiting list to enter a rehabilitation center in Kansas City, Mo. I spent a month in rehab learning how to transfer and learned how to better cope with my disability. I never gave up and was always upbeat and was not going o let anything get me down.

I had been home about 6 months and decided I was going to get back in the work force. I was hired at a sheet metal company where I answered the phone and did billing. I was there for a couple years and the new Police Chief in town knew me and knew my passion for law enforcement. He came to me and asked if I would be Tonganoxie’s Police Dispatcher. Of course, He did not have to ask me twice. I finally was given the opportunity to be involved in something I loved. I started in April of 1974, and never looked back. That job created new opportunities. I was asked to also dispatch for the New EMS service and the Southern part of my County. I worked for those two agencies for about 15 years until our county got a 911 service. I still dispatched for Tonganoxie, as I still do today.

In 1978, I received a Law Enforcement achievement award from the Kansas Attorney General. That was a great honor to receive such an award that only a few have received. In 1980 I was given a Youth Service award from the local Sertoma group and in 1992; I was named Citizen of the year, another great honor.

My career has not just been in Law enforcement. I was asked to run for City Council. I ran and won election in 1989 and served for 8 years until 1997. I took a break from politics until 2007 where I was asked to run for Mayor. I won the election in April of 2007 and am currently the Mayor of the City of Tonganoxie.

I have been very fortunate to have a great support group in my life from family and friends. You must never think your life is over because of your disability, but a new beginning to a different life.

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The Life I Live Now by Michael Vestal

It was a beautiful warm September night,
Not a cloud in the sky, the stars were bright.
I was just nineteen; my life was great,
Until that evening; I met a terrible fate....
I was driving home on Tongie Road,
That is where the rest of my life unfolds.
I was passing a car, not far from home,
I lost control, and I was not alone....
My car hit another, and flew in the air,
It rolled over and skidded on its top in the road,
I was hurt very badly; or so I was told.
Three others with me were not hurt at all,
They ran for help; they made the call....
The next thing I knew, in the hospital I awoke,
It was two weeks later; the doctor said; "Your neck is broke".
At that moment I realized, I'd never walk again,
My life as I knew it had come to an end.
I said, "Why God, why did you do this to me?"
I decided on that day; what will be, will be....
Yes, my life changed, on that fateful September night,
I've never given up, I've continued to fight.
I believe for me, God had his own plan,
It was to help others in any way that I can.
Through the years, a boy became a man,
I learned to live and love life, the way that I am....