My name is James Phillips. I was born with cerebral palsy—specifically, spastic diplegia, which affects my lower limbs and makes movement difficult. But I’ve been blessed by God and given this challenge to show the world what’s possible when you believe. With God, everything is possible; without Him, nothing is.
I’ve always pushed myself to do things a fully able-bodied person might do, even though my body wasn’t built for it. From ages three to seven, I used a rolling walker and got around great; I could even run with that walker. Once I began physical therapy at school, I transitioned to using crutches and became more independent. I could handle grass, curbs, and even steps, and I felt freer than ever.
Years later, as an adult, I sustained an injury during a CrossFit workout and was told I needed a hip replacement, which I underwent. During the surgery, I briefly died on the operating table. One day during recovery, when I was regaining my ability to walk, I heard a pop. By the next morning, my life had changed completely. I woke up to an overwhelming nightmare of pain—pain like I had never experienced before, pain that kept me from walking or taking care of myself, pain that never seemed to stop.
For more than three years, I saw doctor after doctor, and none of them could tell me what was wrong, what had happened, or how to make the pain go away. It wasn’t until about a year ago, when I began treatment at BioAdvanced Medical Center in Tijuana, Mexico, that I finally got answers. There, they told me that my nervous system was “fried like an egg,” which explained why I was unable to move and why I was in excruciating pain.
Now, thanks to their help, I am well on the way to regaining my health and mobility.
But during those agonizing years, I spent countless hours in my wheelchair. One day, as I sat outside, watching the world go by, I was overcome by a deep sense of guilt. For 35 years, I had enjoyed freedom—walking, spending time outside in nature, participating in adaptive CrossFit competitions, and living an active life. But what about those who were born into a world far more challenging than mine? What about those who lost their mobility in a car accident, from a stroke, or some other unexpected event?
This realization ignited a new mission within me. I began speaking with others in the adaptive community and researching all-terrain wheelchairs that would give people with mobility impairments the ability to explore the outdoors—whether fishing, hunting, or even dancing with their loved ones. Eventually, I discovered there was only one real standout option that was head and shoulders above the rest: the Action Trackchair.
There are programs for military veterans that assist in acquiring these life-changing devices. These all-terrain chairs—ranging from $15,000 to $25,000—can restore independence, but the cost is out of reach for civilians on fixed incomes or government assistance.
That’s why I co-founded the Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation. Our mission is simple: to ensure no one is left behind. We aim to raise the funds needed to provide these life-changing chairs to civilians who otherwise have no other options. We believe everyone deserves the right to experience life to its fullest, and together, we can make that possible.
Please join us in this mission. Whether through sharing our story, spreading the word, or making a donation, you can help change someone’s life forever.
Thank you for your time, and always remember—every day is a gift from God. What we do with it is our gift back to Him.
James Phillips
COO and Co-Founder of Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation