If you could not drive it would you sell it?

[herman maire]

Johnny,

Thats incredible that your getting motion in your arms and legs back .... I for one would keep the cars, I may be a little crazy but I just love looking at my porsche's parked in the driveway...... looking at how the sun reflect off the paint at sunset/sunrise or even as the rain falls and beads off, like I said... im a little crazy . The worst part is I never get tired of looking at them. Oh, and your 911 is just stunning.... I could see myself staring at that baby for a ton of hours . If it puts a smile on your face, I say keep it, who knows.... maybe focusing on your hobbies has helped your recovery.

[SCHNELE]

Best of luck to you and if I may add you have a tremendous wife. To have the obvious support that you have is priceless. Keep them all!

[Johnny B]

thanks for the kind words guys.

You are right I have a tremendous wife, at the time of the accident she was my girlfriend of about 7 years and when she was told I would be paralysed from the neck down and she would basically have to do everything her reply was, "whats the difference I did everything before the accident anyway". I am very lucky with such great family and friends to support me, my wife tells all here freinds she had to break my neck to get me to marry her.

[jabb]

Keep the car.... Someday you will drive it. In the mean time keep doing what you are doing. Good Luck. Nice Ride

[KFC911]

I'm subscribing to this thread. Johnny B, you story is inspirational, and I don't want to miss the pics of you behind the wheel someday... keep the car

[Johnny B]

Wow thanks Keith, never thought my stuborness would insprie people always knew I was a stuborn swine for a good reason

many thanks

[nostatic]

I normally rail against garage queens. I think that these cars were made to be driven hard and often, and when they sit in the garage staying pretty it is a shame.

Your situation is different. As long as the car gives you inspiration and the desire to draw another breath, keep it within arm's reach. We all need something to keep us going...some of us just have bigger hills to scale.

Thanks for climbing so others can watch and draw strength...

[CarlP]

Hey, keep the car(s)! You're partially complete on the miracle, and passenegr seat and pleasure of looking at them in your garage aren't bad. Best of luck!

[Emission]

The car inspires you.

Your story inspires me.

Good luck, keep us posted... AND DO NOT SELL THE CARS!

[berettafan]

Good woman you have there!

And VERY good attitude!

With all the advances in paddle shifted transmissions coming online you just never know what might be possible.

[Johnny B]

I have thought of paddle shifts as a last result but feel in a way that would be like admiting defeat.

I will beat this situation and drive the car as it was meant to be with a manual gearbox.

thanks to all for the kind words and support

[oldE]

Johnny,

Congratulations on your progress since the accident. Also, congratulations on marrying a great gal.
In your case, the Porsche is not just a car, but represents a tangible goal and a milestone on your road back. I'm hoping one day somebody is going to shake their head and ask you just how many sets of tires you wear out in the course of the year.

Enjoy the car.
Les

[V12man]

Keep it - I will be happy to drive it for you anytime
(who wouldn't), or have you as a passenger in mine.

PM me sometime, I would love to look at it and shoot the breeze - and I am local to you.

[NY65912]

JohnnyB, I admire your courage and perseverance.

I vote not to sell the car unless finances warrant. I know I would not.

Back in '94 I was injured at work with a spinal injury. I was paralyzed on the left side, left leg hardly worked, couldn't urinated or defecate, excruciating pain. I spent 6 months like this and pondered what I would do if it was permanent.

I decided that I would find a way do always do the things I wanted to do.

Thankfully I had surgery to fix the problem (although with complications) and within a year back to normal. I know that my story pales in comparison to your situation but I say keep moving forward. Your tenacity is to be admired by all.

Good Luck

[Johnny B]

Guy PM sent

Heh Mike thanks for the encouraging words, my brain, or the lack there of, refuses to believe this is perminant. For the first few weeks i couldnt move anything major, then i got a toe to move and that was a major struggle. Now a lot more works, you never know what to expect tommorrow.

After over 2 and a half years without any forearm muscles whatsoever i woke up one morning to find they had started to reappear, so go figure cant wait for the damn accelerator foot to come back completely.

thank you once again to all

[3.2 CAB]

Hi Johnny, I am in sort of the same boat. A drunk driver hit me head on at over 110MPH. It left me with severe spinal and neck injuries. I am still recovering from a 14-1/2 hour surgery from April of 2005. I also have titanium plates and screws in my neck from C-3 to C-7, They gave me only a 20% chance of surviving the surgery from the April 2005 surgery. I have had 7 major surgeries since the crash. It took me about 20 years to find the car that I had been looking for before the wreck. In the last 4 years only 1700 miles have been put on the car, and I have been trying to decide if I should sell it or keep it. After searching for it for so long, I really don't want to part with it. I can still drive it, but it is a major ordeal, and plays havoc on my body. The last time I drove it was in August of 2005, right before I was to have more surgery. At least I can still walk around, but not normally. I go out to the garage and start it to keep it up to par, and that gives me such a thrill just doing that, because I know that there are very few like this one around, and it is the only on like it in the state. The big money would come in handy, but I just can't seem to part with it and I know what you are faced with. But after searching for this car for about 20 years, it is just something that I can't seem to part with. I wish you all the best with your ordeal. Good luck, Tony.

[Johnny B]

Hello Tony,

thanks for message, KEEP the car, never sell it!!!!!!!!!!

As i said earlier there is always someone who has been through more than you and you are that person, wow 7 surgeries, I only had one and they did some welding in my neck as well, titanium and a bit of hip bone.

At this stage i cannot walk without a walking frame as my balance is not great so i hit the floor faster than a 917 down the Le Man straight. My right ankle and leg do not work properly YET so it means i am stuck to driving a horific old ford auto, but it gets me around and for this i am very grateful.

One day i know all will come right and when i get behind the wheel of my Porsche i wont stop driving until i run out of fuel.

whats life without a bit of a challenge, no one ever said it was easy.

[KFC911]

Good luck to you too Tony! One of my best buddies (of over 20 years) had a horrible fall before I met him, and was told he would never walk again. He has also had several major surgeries (one was a 17 hour ordeal a few years into our friendship). He was just as determined as you guys are to recover and has, to the point that someone who didn't know his history would probably never have a clue. The mind (and stubborn determination) are powerful tools and although they can't overcome every condition, miracles DO happen. I wish you both the best...

[Johnny B]

many thanks Keith

[Johan123m]

I would keep it!

Next to driving my car I also enjoy working on it almost as much!

(and also...looking at it!)