Okotoks resident Zak (Zachary) Madell is not a wallow in self-pity kind of guy. He was only 10 when he developed a staph infection that put him into septic shock and led to the eventual amputation of both legs below the knees and a partial amputation of both hands.
Asked if that period of time was tough for him Madell offered a surprising answer.
“Not really, it’s all based on your attitude and mine was pretty good,” said the 16-year-old.
Madell credited an ability to find humour in his situation and his decision to look forward at what he could still accomplish rather than looking back at what he’d lost as the keys to staying upbeat during what was a traumatic experience.
A Grade 11 student at Holy Trinity Academy, Madell has continued to possess a positive mental attitude. It’s something that paid big dividends for the War Amps charitable organization last October. A member of their CHAMP (War Amps Child Amputee Program) the local teen was enlisted as a junior counselor at a 2010 national multiple amputation seminar in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
It was Madell’s job to mentor younger child amputees by offering advice and relating his experiences of dealing with his disabilities. He was honoured for his invaluable efforts at the seminar with a CHAMP Ambassador Certificate.
However, for Madell he said interacting with the children was the true gratification for him.
“I really enjoy helping the kids,” he said. “If they have questions I like to help them out with those things. It’s always nice to be able to do something for others.”
Rob Larman, director of the War Amps Playsafe Program, said the younger members of CHAMP really look up to junior counselors like Madell.
“The counselors are the children that have already gone through the difficult stages of elementary school and dealing with challenges in the playground and learning how to do different things with their artificial limbs,” he said.
Larman has had the chance to witness Madell in action as a mentor and has been impressed with what he’s seen.
“I have seen many of the kids approaching him and asking questions,” he explained. “His projecting of that positive role model image at all times really allows the younger children to feel they can overcome some of the obstacles they face on an ongoing basis. Zak is a pretty good kid. We’re very proud of him and his accomplishments in being able to overcome his disabilities and project that positive image. We think the world of Zachary.”
Madell said his upbeat message focuses on helping recent child amputees who may be scared or sad regarding their situation.
“I try to let them know that even though they can’t do everything they used to do they now can find new things they like,” he explained.
In Madell’s case one of the big things he has discovered since his amputations is a greater love of sports. He currently plays wheelchair basketball a few times a week in Calgary, participates in wheelchair rugby and has played sledge hockey in the past. He enjoys the competitive element of these activities where the opposition isn’t looking at him as a guy with a disability but just as an equal.
In less than two years Madell has made his way onto the Team Alberta wheelchair basketball team that will go to Halifax for the Canada Winter Games in February. He is also on the Junior National Team vying for a berth in the world championships in Colombia in 2013.
While the multiple amputee generally finds himself accepted and appreciated he admitted there are still those times where someone unwittingly makes him feel likes he’s different.
“Sometimes it tough with younger kids who don’t know what happened to me and they just stare a lot,” Madell explained. “I find I just have to explain to them what happened and usually it’s better.”
With a year and a half of high school still left, Madell is already formulating plans for after graduation.
“I am going to take a year off and just work because I’d like to do some travelling later on,” he said. “I think that would be a neat experience. I’d also like to go as far as I can with wheelchair basketball.”
