Cole Nilson Talks About Recovery And The Outpouring Of Support

Just a few of the friends and family on hand for the Second Annual Cole Nilson Benefit Bow Shoot on Saturday. (photo by Ginger Allsup)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The sun was making itself known Saturday, as friends, family and community members found their way out to the 2nd Annual Cole Nilson Benefit Shoot.

The Izaak Walton League hosted the shoot at their facility, while Cole’s brother Ross hosted the auction items and food.

Cole broke his neck in an accident in April of 2014 doing a ‘polar plunge’ to benefit a young cancer patient in Missouri. Cole was no different than many others, jumping in head first to help.

That leap, intended to help change the life of someone else, ended up changing life for Cole and his family and friends.

Even though this was the 2nd year for the benefit shoot, it was the first one attended by Cole, who last year was in Lincoln, Nebraska at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital.

Since that first benefit, Cole was released from the rehabilitation hospital in July of 2014, “So the fall was coming up quickly.”

Those who know Cole, know of his love of the outdoors, which included hunting and in particular fishing. “I wanted to be able to get back out and hunt, so I got a crossbow license.”

The measure of success and recovery is measured in many different ways by people, but for Cole, being able to bag a deer with his crossbow just months after his injury helped him recover more of his own spirit.

“I missed a turkey this spring,” Cole said, groaning about the missed shot. “You don’t have to publish that.”

“I missed one this year, but I have some great friends who have kept me in the game,” added Cole.

The outdoor loving Cole worked for Mahaska County Conservation as a park ranger for 6 years before his injury, and measures his success based upon his ability to once again be engaged in those activities he’s always enjoyed. “I’m never going to stop wanting to do that,” Cole said of his desire to continue to be a part of conservation. “It’s why I got to rehab. It’s like one of those rings up there, it’s a goal to get back, whether I’m on wheels or not.”

Cole poses with the deer he harvested last fall. (submitted photo)

“More and more, it’s the realization it’s going to be on wheels,” added Cole, “But I still have the same goals.”

“I’m camping this weekend. I fish regularly. I don’t want to be a different person than I used to be, it’s just at a different capacity,” said Cole. Cole recently reeled in a 15 inch channel catfish, the largest fish he’s caught and reeled in since his injury.

Recently catching his largest fish to date, Cole attributes it to continued work in rehabilitation. During a February visit to rehab, they used electrical stimulation, which helped to bring about movement of his index finger on his left hand. “Hey, all of a sudden a finger’s moving that wouldn’t move yesterday. People think that’s so silly, but I can now hold on to a can of pop. I can pick up silverware. Things that took two hands, now only take one. It’s a huge difference,” says Cole with a smile. “Unfortunately, I’m right-handed, but you learn how to use things left-handed.”

Cole believes that lots of people have things behind the scenes that they don’t get a lot of attention for like he does, because his is so visible.

“I didn’t have anything to do with planning it, I just have an amazing support group and amazing friends and family,” Cole said of the shoot. “They did it all.”

Even though the shoot wasn’t as big as last year’s, Cole still wanted everyone to get together so he could see everyone he “didn’t get to see last year when I was gone”. An emotional Cole explained, “A lot of people I’m seeing today, I haven’t seen since I got hurt. It seems like it’s been so long.”

Cole expressed his gratefulness to the volunteers who showed up at 6:30 am to set everything up, and to the companies and individuals who have donated. “I didn’t have anything to do with it other than being tankful,” says Cole.

That outpouring of support “has been the best and the hardest thing” for Cole. “Because, everyone walking in has got a shirt on and they got it here last year and I can never repay them. The amount of support that my friends and family and community has shown me, and all I can ever do in any article that ever gets written, and every interview, is say thank-you. Personally, I wouldn’t change how my recovery is going, but mentally, without them behind me, all of the people behind the scenes, it keeps me going.”

“Crystal and Lincoln, the things they’ve been through and stuck by my side,” said Cole as he brushed aside a tear in closing.

You can follow Cole and his recovery pursuit on a Facebook page dedicated in sharing the word about his progress. – Cole Nilson Recovery Pursuit