BURLEY, Idaho — In July 2019, a car accident left a Burley man paralyzed and struggling with his mental health. Now, he's overcoming barriers and sharing his story to inspire others to never give up.
Alex Zavala's journey changed two summers ago during a drive home through Murtaugh with his wife.
“That's when my car accident happened. We had an impact on the light post. I landed in a coma for a month and two weeks, and my wife was pregnant in the passenger seat, but thank God, nothing happened to her and the baby,” Zavala said.
Zavala said the life-threatening accident left him paralyzed and took a toll on his mental health.
“I was done with life. I just wanted to give up. I actually thought about taking my life away a couple of times just because I just felt I was in everybody's way."
But, he says, the love and support of friends and family helped him overcome his struggles.
“I came to the point that I realized they needed me here. It doesn't matter if I'm in a wheelchair. Even a hug a kiss from their dad is a really big thing. It proves to me that they need me here by seeing the smile on their face,” Zavala said.
Zavala started training with Terry Lamb. To most locals, Lamb is known as the ‘Tatted Ninja’.
“He helps moved around. He helps me lift weights. Thanks to him and my therapist, I was able to remove those bars from my wheelchair,” Zavala said.
Zavala has been sharing his story to inspire others facing challenges in life.
In January, Zavala was part of the "Defying All Odds" virtual event, a collaborative effort with PAuSe Mini-Cassia.
PAuSe Mini-Cassia is a non-profit organization dedicated to suicide prevention and raises awareness through education in schools and in the community.
“Just because you're having a bad day doesn't mean you have a bad life. Who knows what God has planned for you and might give you a bunch of blessings that next day,” Zavala said.
