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BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Erica Bowen works out on a stairmaster at Nevada Fitness in Minden on Thursday.
At just 25 years old, Erica Bowen woke up crippled in a hospital bed.
A serious skiing accident in Garmisch, Germany, left her with a broken back and nearly every bone in her legs shattered, including her ankles.
The two-and-a-half story fall onto what Bowen recalls only as "a firm surface" left doctors warning her that her injuries were so bad, both of her legs might need to be amputated.
Coming out of unconsciousness, her first question was to her friend, Wendy. "Do I have any feet?" she remembered asking.
"I spent all but a month of ski season in traction," says the former rock-climbing instructor. Spring was spent in a wheelchair and it wasn't until summer that she was able to start moving around with the aid of crutches.
A serious skiing accident in Garmisch, Germany, left her with a broken back and nearly every bone in her legs shattered, including her ankles.
The two-and-a-half story fall onto what Bowen recalls only as "a firm surface" left doctors warning her that her injuries were so bad, both of her legs might need to be amputated.
Coming out of unconsciousness, her first question was to her friend, Wendy. "Do I have any feet?" she remembered asking.
"I spent all but a month of ski season in traction," says the former rock-climbing instructor. Spring was spent in a wheelchair and it wasn't until summer that she was able to start moving around with the aid of crutches.
Though doctors were encouraged by her progress, they gave her little chance of ever being able to walk under her own power again. But a diagnosis of self-pity and a prescription for sitting around the house didn't satisfy the indefatigable athlete.
Bowen did more than go for a second opinion. She forged one on her own.
"I decided I needed to prove that I could do anything, and I really had to prove it to myself," she says.
So, in the fall of 1996, she set out to run a 10K race. "I could hardly walk for a week after, but I did it, and I have not stopped pushing since."
After passing the first test of physical endurance, the woman who was once nearly written off as permanently bedridden studied ways to improve her muscle structure to compensate for the lack of bone strength left from the accident.
Bowen did more than go for a second opinion. She forged one on her own.
"I decided I needed to prove that I could do anything, and I really had to prove it to myself," she says.
So, in the fall of 1996, she set out to run a 10K race. "I could hardly walk for a week after, but I did it, and I have not stopped pushing since."
After passing the first test of physical endurance, the woman who was once nearly written off as permanently bedridden studied ways to improve her muscle structure to compensate for the lack of bone strength left from the accident.
"I decided to learn proper technique for muscle training, so I was certified in 1999 as a personal trainer."
Less than 10 years after the accident, she now lives in Genoa and works as a personal trainer at Nevada Fitness in Minden.
For Bowen, celebrating her comeback by conquering a marathon was not enough. With the encouragement of her training partner, Kelly Langdon, Erica took her comeback another step forward and completed the Aug. 29 River City Change of Pace Sprint Triathlon in Sacramento - swimming, biking and running her way into the top 15 of her age group.
"Without Kelly's support and all the cheers and well wishes from my husband, friends and clients at Nevada Fitness, I am not sure I could have endured all the pain."
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Bowen says she's ready for more.
Less than 10 years after the accident, she now lives in Genoa and works as a personal trainer at Nevada Fitness in Minden.
For Bowen, celebrating her comeback by conquering a marathon was not enough. With the encouragement of her training partner, Kelly Langdon, Erica took her comeback another step forward and completed the Aug. 29 River City Change of Pace Sprint Triathlon in Sacramento - swimming, biking and running her way into the top 15 of her age group.
"Without Kelly's support and all the cheers and well wishes from my husband, friends and clients at Nevada Fitness, I am not sure I could have endured all the pain."
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Bowen says she's ready for more.
"I'm looking forward to my next triathlon," she says.
And, yes, Erica Bowen still skis.
"I have a pass at Kirkwood," she laughs.
Contact Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.
And, yes, Erica Bowen still skis.
"I have a pass at Kirkwood," she laughs.
Contact Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.
