Scott MacDonald
Ten years ago Scott MacDonald stopped on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike to help victims of a seven car pileup. Hours later, MacDonald got in his car to drive several more hours to his Navy base in Virginia.
“I was coming down from having all that adrenaline go through me and I got really tired and fell asleep at the wheel,” he said.
The accident left MacDonald fighting for his life and, at 27 years old, paralyzed from the chest down.
He knew that his days working in top secret communications as a Navy radioman were over, but it didn’t take him long to find another passion.
After a medical discharge, MacDonald began reshaping his life — studying political science in college and volunteering with a nonprofit as a peer mentor.
“I worked with people who had new spinal cord injuries,” he said. “I would encourage them to take baby steps. I would tell them, ‘You might not want to get out of bed today, but let’s try to sit up.’”
MacDonald earned his degree and began working for former Rep. Chris Shays as a veteran caseworker. When Rep. Jim Himes won control of Connecticut’s fourth district, MacDonald approached the Congressman and asked him if he’d like to hire him as part of the Wounded Warrior Program.
“I feel very grateful to work with Congressman Himes to address the needs of people in my community, especially veterans and those who are disabled,” he said. “I love taking care of people.”
At 37, MacDonald is still volunteering and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in foreign policy. But the list of accomplishments doesn’t end there.
He’s currently training for another triathlon.
“I don’t consider myself disabled; it’s more of an inconvenience. It just takes a little more time. You can do everything,” he said.
