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Clayton's Ed Petner swims for a cure
Pat Welter reports on Petner's story to get back on his feet, one stroke at a time.
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Pat Welter reports on Petner's story to get back on his feet, one stroke at a time.
WELTER EXPLAINED, ED HAS FOUND A WAY TO GIVE BACK. >> WELCOME MY SHOE. THE DIVE IS DIFFERENT FROM OVER. AND SO IS THE BUT PETR CAN SWIM. >> HAVE ENTERED IS ALIVE. AND THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL I MEAN, IF I COULD HAVE MY LEGS ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD. I THINK IN SOME WAYS MY LIFE. AND SHES NOT HAS BEEN POSSIBLY BETTER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 20 YEARS AGO AT WAS ENJOYING LIFE AS A RETIRED MANHATTAN CEO, HUSBAND AND FATHER OF 4. MY HAIR USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, COMBED PRETTY MUCH THE WAY I'M CLARK KENT'S WAS. AND SO PEOPLE USED TO CALL ME SUPERMAN. SUPERMAN HIMSELF WITH A STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE WHAT HAPPENED AT ON AUGUST 23RD 2003, HE WAS ON VACATION BIKING FOR MORE VIOLENCE IN CONNECTICUT WHEN HE WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY A CAR. >> I DO REMEMBER THE MOMENT OF IMPACT, BUT I DO REMEMBER FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. AND I REMEMBER TERRIFYING THINKING OF MY KIDS LEUVEN LOSING THEIR DAD FOR KIDS. >> ED SAYS HE BELIEVES THE ONLY WAY HE LIVED WAS THROUGH DIVINE INTERVENTION. >> AND THEN I FELT THIS WARM HUG LIKE YOU CAN IMAGINE. IKE OF OYSTERS SAID. THESE EXACT WORDS, RELAX. YOU GO. THE ACCIDENT LEFT HIM PARALYZED FROM ABOUT 2 INCHES OVER THE VALLEY. BUTTONED DOWN. >> AND THE THE FORESIGHT TO MARION OR SO THAT WAS GOOD. >> WE LOST THE USE OF HIS LEGS, BUT STILL HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR. I FEEL GOOD AND HIS ATHLETIC ABILITY EVERY YEAR ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE SWIMS A MILE MOST OF THE TIME I'M CONCENTRATING ON WHAT LED THEM ON AUGUST 23RD OF THIS YEAR. HE SWIM 13.1. A HALF MARATHON TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE FOUNDATION. I'M DOING IT FOR A CAUSE AND REALLY CARE ABOUT. AND I WANT TO WALK AGAIN SOME DAY. THERE'S CURRENTLY NO CURE FOR PARALYSIS, BUT GOOD LUCK TELLING THAT TO THE MAN WHO SAYS HE ALREADY BEAT THAT WHEN YOU NO LONGER FEAR DEATH. I MEAN, WHEN YOU LITERALLY LOOK FOR THE DEATH, WHICH I DO KNOW, I'M HAPPY FOR EVERY MOMENT >> IT REALLY CHANGES YOUR LIFE.