Beherns Gets Back on His Feet

Nearly a year ago, doctors fought to keep 19-year-old Bret Beherns alive. The Mahomet teen was catapulted six stories into the air, while working on a cell phone tower. It happened less than a year ago, and now Beherns is pushing past his disabilities. "I think it hasn't even hit me yet that wow, I'm an amputee," says Beherns. 

After his accident, he was in a coma for 13 days.  He says now, he's lucky to be alive.  He broke both ankles, tore his aorta, shattered his back, and had his leg amputated. "It's hard to think... it's like when am I gonna wake up from this terrible dream," says Beherns.

Despite his amputation, his dream of becoming a sports broadcaster never stopped.  He wanted to come back to Parkland College and announce the games.  And that's what he did.  His professors were really impressed. Tom McDonnell, Program Director of Mass Communication, says "every once and awhile you get the kid who says, gee my car broke down so I can't get to class. And you know, you look at somebody like Bret and you say come on.  The car breaking down seems to pale in comparison."

Beherns continues to broadcast games for the college just as he did before the accident.  This year, he even started pod-casting them.  His friends and family literally helped him get back on his feet.  "I like things that are hard to do. I like challenges.  People say I can't do it. I love to prove that I can.  I'm just doing that every day."

Beherns says for him, there's no giving up.