If you are a runner, you know EXACTLY what the pain cave is. Most likely you winced when you read the title. If you are not a runner, you know what the pain cave is but don’t realize it. Let me explain. For a runner, the pain cave is where you go when the wheels are coming off. Its mile 20 of a marathon when with each step, your body starts to shutdown and cramp and refuse to move forward. Everything hurts so bad that all you want to do is stop. All of that pain, the cramping, and the blisters, it’s your body’s defense mechanism against hurting itself permanently, and as a marathon runner, you have to push through that. Being in the cave is dangerous, because that’s where it’s easy to decide to quit. You lose all perspective.
For you non-runners, does this sound familiar? Instead of running, think about some of the most difficult experiences in your life. It’s kind of like the pain cave huh? You sink within yourself and lose perspective. You don’t know if you can go on. You might quit… on life.
Well, I am going to share an amazing story with you. This is very often how I pull myself out of the pain cave and keep going. Because when I think about Chris, and the fact that he lives with pain everyday, I realize that I can put one foot in front of the other. I know when I finish my race, I can put down my pain, and he can’t. He has to carry it with him. He hits the “wall” every day.
Chris Stoll is my brother-in-law. My brother. On July 7th, 2013, he lost control of his motorcycle and during the process Chris told me, “Something caught my helmet and ripped it off my head which caused my head to pop off of my spinal cord. My spinal cord was damaged by stretching, it didn’t break, which is why I am a C1/C2 incomplete.” Basically he had what is called an internal decapitation. I’d encourage you to Google it for more of the medical details. The doctors gave him a 20% chance to make it through the night.
Chris continues “While I was in the hospital they told me I would never walk again. I knew I could move my left big toe, so I just kept moving it non-stop. Well, after about three days, I could move my whole left foot. Then it was on!” From that day until Chris took his first step was a grueling seven weeks. He had to learn how to walk again. “It hurt so bad, but I went into rehab the sixth week and told myself I was going to walk again or die trying. I knew my life had changed and I knew it all depended on my attitude. I was determined to give it all that I had so I wouldn’t look back and wonder “What if.””
Miracles do happen. It’s a miracle that Chris is alive. Not only that, Chris is able to walk! Scratch that, Chris is able to grill! He’s in pain everyday, and it limits his ability to work in the job that he had before the accident, but he has reinvented himself. “My BBQ gives me a purpose. When I see people eat my BBQ and smile and tell me how good it is. Priceless. People only see the final product; they don’t see that it takes me days to do one meal. I go to the store to buy the meat and I’m done for the day. Then another day to prep. Another to cook. It beats me up pretty good but it gives me a purpose.”
When I have tunnel vision, and I’m deep in that pain cave, I start telling myself, “If Chris can take three days to move his foot, I can move mine right now. Don’t quit. Walk again, or die trying.” Thank you Chris for being an example of how to overcome adversity and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
If you want to see some world class BBQ, check out Chris on Instagram: plazoo_bbq
Be warned, you will get hungry!
Follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner
If you like this and want to read more like it, subscribe and you will be notified when there is a new post! Thank you!
Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments box and we can have a discussion!
God bless you Chris….don’t give up, & keep on cooking!
I actually spoke with Chris again last night because I wanted to share with him the level of interest people had in his story. This post has zoomed to the top of the most viewed posts on the site in less then a day! I told him thanks and said that I felt there is so much more to his story that we can share. He has graciously agreed to share more! He is a walking, living, breathing miracle! His approach to life is so inspirational that he is an example to us all. Stay tuned, because we’ll be sharing more of his story and more of his world class BBQ in the future!
First of all I would like to say superb blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts before writing. I’ve had trouble clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out there. I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Many thanks!
I carry around a notepad to capture ideas that pop in to my head and then if I need to get going, I will do a 10 minute free write where I just take 10 minutes and throw every thought in my head on paper and see what comes out… ✌️Joe the Runner
Well, I am obviously very late in reading this….life has been getting away from me of late. Today, anemia bothering me again, I was feeling tired and sorry for myself, until I read this. What an inspiration this man is, what a blessing to have him as a brother. I am going to share this with the boys and use this as a topic to discuss the strength of the human spirit. Chris, you are nothing short of miraculous, not only medically, but spiritually. Thank you for being a shining beacon of hope to not only runners, but humans everywhere who feel they are faced with insurmountable odds. Much love to you and yours xx
Shereen, I feel EXACTLY the same way. When I talk to Chris, life is boiled down to what is really important! I’ll pass this on to him…
Thank you so much for the kind words. Life is short , even though I live with pain every day. I choose to live with a smile. Don’t get me wrong I have bad days. I just can’t stay there. Hope you find peace and happiness. Thanks again for the kind words!!?