Motocross ride leaves its mark

In June of 2006, Wesley “Wes” Bandemer made a decision.

The six-year motocross rider decided to take a break from the dirt tracks to focus on his football career.

As an offensive and defensive athlete for the Morgan City Tigers, the six-foot, five-inch Bandemer was leaving to attend a camp at prestigious Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind.

However, Bandemer also received an invitation to compete in a race at River’s Edge Motocross Park in Geismar the week before he left. So, he decided to make that his final race until after football season to protect his football career.

“I really wanted to play football,” the 19-year-old said. “I had a couple of colleges looking at me and was hoping to go to school on a football scholarship. I wanted to take a break from racing not to get hurt.”

One of the downsides to motocross riding is every rider has their crash. That day Bandemer had his, and it changed his life forever.

After going through a practice run days before the actual event, Bandemer, who was 16 at the time, felt confident in his chances to bring home a seventh first place trophy in his young racing career.

On June 10, 2006, Bandemer headed into the starting gate. After starting off strong he went into a jump, but went just a little too far left.

Bandemer landed the jump but the shock of his Honda CC 250 threw him off the bike and planted his face into the ground. Upon impact, the rest of his body twisted over him, causing him to lie motionless.

On that day, the son of Brian and Michelle Bandemer never walked again.

“I knew right away something was wrong,” he said. “I was able to stay conscious through everything, but I just knew.”

able to stay conscious through everything, but I just knew.”

Bandmer had shattered his C4 vertebrae and damaged his spinal cord from C3-C7. Even though his spinal cord wasn’t severed, the doctors still gave the Morgan City teen a two percent chance to ever walk again.

What followed were four months in a hospital where Bandemer had to endure hours of surgery getting bone fragments removed and replaced by donor bones, as well as getting two rods and a plate inserted into his neck.

His mother said for nearly four months she and her husband were living on an hour-to-hour basis not knowing what to do.

“It was very overwhelming,” Michelle said. “We lived day to day and there were some days that we lived minute to minute because it was so emotional. We couldn’t think about the future. We could only think about today and getting through the next surgery.”

“We have four kids and my husband and I were in the hospital with him for four solid months and the girls were home with family and friends during that entire time. We didn’t know what we were doing,” she added.

When Bandemer was finally able to return home, his family and friends who hadn’t seen him in four months welcomed him home with a warm reception.

It was also the beginning of what became Bandemer’s new life.

Bandemer admitted that before the accident he had taken many things for granted. But now confined to his black motorized wheelchair, Bandemer must rely on those around him to do the things he used to do on a daily basis.

“I’ve learned how to appreciate life a lot more,” he said. “But at the same time I am still very fortunate to have my life. You don’t realize how much you take things for granted until you’re put in a situation like this. Yeah it sucks that this had to happen, but life goes on. I just have to keep living.”

Professional motocross rider Jeremy Lusk recently died from his accident at an event. Bandemer said he feels fortunate to still have his life.

The adjustment to his new life was equally as educating to Bandemer’s parents.

“It’s been a learning process,” his mother said. “He was flat on his back for the first three months and he was in ICU for the first five weeks where he couldn’t move at all. When we came home from the hospital he couldn’t sit up without passing out. It was a very long process.”

Bandemer’s journey to recovery has taken him to Carlsbad, Calif. for a program called Project Walk and also to Germany to have a stem cell procedure done.

“Stem cells were just something I wanted to try,” he said. “They take bone marrow out and insert it in a different place. With my spinal cord as damaged as it was, I figured it couldn’t hurt.”

Even though he still can’t walk, the teen uses a personal trainer and workout equipment at home to continue the rehab process.

While he still can’t move his hands, the therapy has gotten him stronger and he can move his head, neck and shoulders at will.

“The recovery process for an injury like mine can be up to seven years,” he noted. “I’m only in year three. I just have to keep going.”

He’s still able to do most of the things he’s done before. He uses a head mouse to talk on the computer and can also use the computer to call someone on the phone.

Last year, he continued his education by enrolling in Young Memorial Louisiana Technical College in Morgan City for drafting. He anticipates graduation around this time next year with his associates degree.

“This isn’t going to hold me back,” a determined Bandemer said. “I still want to get a good job, get married, raise a family and do all the normal things everyone else wants to do. I’m no different now than I was then.”

Getting back into school has made him realize how afraid some people are to ask about the injury.

“There is a big thing, people don’t know how to approach me,” he said. “I can’t move my arms so they don’t know what is wrong with me. I start the conversation and start talking and they learn that I’m just as normal as I was before. Everyone has questions, so I’d actually rather have people ask me what happened than me just have to tell them.”

Although he is hindered, Bandemer still keeps up with everything going on in the motocross world. In fact, he had the chance to go to the X Games in 2007 to see the professionals compete live.

He’s accepted the fact that he may never walk again, but he’s still determined to stay involved.

“I love motocross so much, it’s always been my passion,” he said.

“It’s something I wish I could stay involved in in some way and

hopefully I’ll have the chance to continue to be around it.”

“If and when I ever walk again, I’m getting back on my bike. People might think I’m crazy, but why go through life scared. There’s a reason this happened to me and I’ve accepted it. If I had to get injured, I’m just glad it was while I was doing something I absolutely love.”

Morgan City native 19-year-old Wesley “Wes” Bandemer has had three years to adjust to his new life since suffering a neck injury in a motocross accident that left him paralyzed. Today, Bandemer gets around in his wheelchair and has since enrolled in college to take up drafting. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER