Paralyzed snowboarder: 'I'm still the same person'

PORTLAND, Ore. - A 14-year-old snowboarder who is now paralyzed from the neck down following a snowboarding accident talked from his hospital bed on Wednesday.

Tyler Eklund hurt himself two months ago while preparing for a national snowboarding championship in Nevada during his first season of competition.

"All I remember is a girl saying 'are you OK?' and I said no," he said.

Tyler had stopped breathing, broken several vertebrae and after arriving at Legacy Emanuel, he caught pneumonia. One of his lungs even collapsed.

"I'm just trying to stay happy to keep my dad happy," he said.

Tyler's father, Mike Eklund, spends more than 20 hours a day with his son.

"I know we've always had a pretty tight bond," he said. "He's been like a best friend. We've done everything."

Although Tyler's spinal chord was nearly severed and he cannot move his arms or legs, he is staying positive.

"I don't really try to think about being paralyzed," he said. "I try to think of more of the better things."

Tyler is even making plans to go snowboarding again, although he admits he has to work on walking first.

"One way or another, I think we will be back on the mountain again," his father said.

"I'm still the same person," Tyler said. "I haven't changed."

The Eklunds do not have insurance, so people have donated thousands of dollars to help them pay for Tyler's medical expenses.  If you would like to help, you can make donations through the Sparrow Clubs Web site.  Just click on the "Donate" button and be sure to reference 'Tyler Eklund' in the form.

The family, who is from Bend, is also grateful to the Ronald McDonald House for letting them stay so close to the hospital.

Tyler is going to have to spend at least eight more weeks in the hospital.