This spring, 12-year-old Nathan Reich once
again stood on the pitching mound during his
little league game and threw a strike out. It was an emotional moment for Nathan and his family, and a long time coming.

There was a time when doctors feared that Nathan would never use his right arm again, let alone walk.

Less than two years earlier, Nathan and his friends were enjoying a day on the golf course when the unthinkable happened. Nathan was hit on the back of his head by a golf ball from the foursome playing behind them.

Unable to move his right arm, Nathan was rushed to the Phoenix Children’s Emergency Department. The impact had caused a blood clot in Nathan’s brain. The clot later caused a seizure, leaving Nathan completely paralyzed on the right side of his body.

Doctors waited and watched, and decided against surgery – something that would have caused permanent cognitive damage. Nathan began inpatient therapy at the Hospital with intensive speech and physical therapy sessions designed to refamiliarize him with the right side of his body. “The therapists really kept him going,” says his mom Ardin.

Nathan was unaware that his paralysis could be permanent, and his typical happy-go-lucky attitude never waned. He remained upbeat and positive during his hospital stay. “There were no tears or feeling sorry for himself,” says Ardin. “He was so positive and worked so hard to get it back.”

Incredibly, after one week the clot dissolved and Nathan was able to walk. A few weeks later he was able to move his arm again. Less than two months after the accident, Nathan was back on the golf course practicing for upcoming competitions.

Today, Nathan still lacks fine motor skills in his right hand, and has learned to eat and write with his left. He now shoots basketball with his left hand, but still golfs and pitches right-handed – evidence of Nathan’s determination to not let his injury keep him from doing the things he loves.

Nathan hopes that he’ll again be selected for Arizona’s little league all-star team. He was chosen to pitch for the team shortly before his injury on the golf course, thanks in part to having already pitched 11 shut out innings that season. Since Nathan is used to beating the odds, chances are he’ll have the opportunity to represent the team again.