Hockey
An Inspiration To All
Have you ever played a sport in which your entire life evolved around and suddenly your dreams were shattered in the blink of an eye?
Well one such in dividual is 26-year old Craig Cunningham who comes from Trail and turns 27 September 13th and credits his Mother, Heather who endured more than one tragedy in her life dating back to 1996. She was left with the responsibility of raising three young children when her Husband was suddenly killed in a car accident, thus teaching Craig the meaning of responsibility. Were it that they were able to get a hold of an Atlanta Car Accident Attorney to help with a legal case that could have assisted with the finances at the time after, perhaps history would have played out differently. Personal injury attorneys (such as a personal injury attorney in Arlington Heights) are there to help those who are involved in serious car accidents, so any passengers in the car would have understandably been given the support they needed. Unfortunately, Heather’s husband was not one of the lucky ones.
With his Father, Alvin passing away, it left his Mother to work two jobs at both a hospital and a daycare she ran, ever since the devastating accident to Craig this past season. To try and make ends meet, most people who have lost a significant other will try and take on more and more jobs to try and cover the cost of bills, or even to fund the funeral of the person who has passed away. However, contacting a lincolns personal injury lawyer service, or one more local to you, could help you financially if someone close to you has been in a car accident, like Craig’s father.
Craig’s friend Landon Ferraro believes that there is nothing that Craig simply can’t do or won’t try to be a better individual.
Cunningham knows and has a strong work ethic dating back to his rookie days with the Vancouver Giants as he played a “key” role in winning the Memorial Cup Championship while registering five goals during his 48 games.
From his first 5 point season with the Giants in only 48 games in 2006-07 to his final season in the WHL with Portland in 2010-11 where he mastered 17 goals, 25 assists in 35 games played.
His travels took him to Providence Bruins in the AHL in 2011-12 and eventually played with the parent club in 2013-14 in albeit only 2 games, but the following season was different playing in 32 games gathering 2 goals and 1 assist.
He moved on to the Coyotes in 2014-15 where he finished with 4 points in 19 games and from there his career had been a seesaw ride. His life changed dramatically when he collapsed in a game in Winnipeg prior to the opening face off while suiting up for the Tucson Roadrunners where he had an acute cardiac arrest which was caused by ventricular fibrillation. This caused his heart to stop beating where he required 85 minutes of CPR where an on ice medical team and the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital and Banner-University saved his life. Doctors performed miracles on Craig and his will and determination has left him setting goal after goal for himself and to others.
The night was November 19th and it changed his life in more ways than one, but having his Family by his side as well as numerous well wishes from those who knew him and some that didn’t, motivated him beyond belief.
Not knowing what his life would be like after hockey, he soon found out and up stepped the Coyotes offering him and giving him a position in the scouting department for the club.
The injury to Craig was one in which it impacted the circulation in his left leg and on Christmas eve December 24th his leg was partially amputated when
The later changed his life and when many were saying and thinking he would never skate again, he shocked the hockey world, by lacing up his skates with his prosthetic leg. This kind of medical help can cost a lot. If the injury happens because of someone else, people will often look to a Seabrook injury attorney to assist, but this case was different. That doesn’t change the sheer will and determination it took him to get back on the ice, though.
He was assisted by physical therapists as well as former teammates from the Roadrunners and when asked he mentioned “I forgot how hard it was to skate, but was happy to get back out there, remembering how I used to skate and feel now.”
He’s back and while his life has changed this is something that ALL ATHLETES should think about, because there’s more to life than sport.
Craig is an inspiration to everyone and NEVER SAY NEVER!!!!