By Jolene Farley
Hills farmer Tim Baker has adjusted remarkably well to a life-altering event on Sept. 18, 1999.
"I don't know if it was the wind or what, but it took me off the ladder backwards," said Baker.
That fall began a new chapter in Baker's life, and he has since been adjusting to life as a paraplegic.
Luckily, when Baker fell off the ladder he was working with four or five other men so an ambulance was called and he was transported immediately to Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls.
At the time of the accident Baker's wife, Michele, was home on maternity leave from her job as an elementary teacher at Hills-Beaver Creek school so she was able to accompany Tim on the ride to the hospital.
After arriving, doctors soon told Michele it was unlikely Tim would ever walk again.
"It took awhile for me to accept it," said Baker.
Baker is thankful he had family and friends during his month-long stay in Sioux Valley.
He said his biggest motivators during that time were Michele and Peyton and all his family and friends "who just knew when to be there."
"They finished the addition to the shed and got the crop out before I got home," said Baker.
After leaving the hospital, he continued physical therapy every other day for about a month and a half.
Baker was always confident he would be able to continue farming. He raises beef cattle and farms around 1,000 acres of land with his brother, Alan.
His family built a ramp outside his home and a lift in his garage to ease movement in and out of the house.
The Cattlemen's Association sponsored a fund-raiser to purchase the John Deere Gator he uses to get around the farm.
His brother and brother-in-law added lifts to his tractors and combine.
With the added equipment, Baker is able to feed cattle unassisted morning and night.
"With the help of my wife and my nephew, Greg (Leenderts), we make it all work," he said.
Baker admits he "gets out of a lot of the bad stuff because of his accident. When we break down, that's the other guys' problem."
He has not visited a doctor's office since completing his rehabilitation.
"I'm thankful for all they did for me, but until they can do more, I pretty much take care of myself," he said.
Except for an occasional headache, he has no other lasting health problems beside the loss of the use of his legs.
He stays up to date on developments in the treatment of paraplegics. "I keep track on the Internet of what's going on," said Baker.
A lot of good things have come out of his accident, according to Baker.
"I've learned a lot of patience, big-time ...and my faith in God is not what it should be, but it is stronger than it was," he said.
Baker looks at all the things he can do instead of the things he can't do. He is frustrated occasionally but attributes that to a lack of organization.
"Sometimes it is kind of fun trying to figure out how you can do something," he said.
Baker recently ran for the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board and was elected for a four-year term. His first official meeting is Jan. 14.
"I don't really want to change anything," he said, adding that the district is on the right track.
He said his main reason for running for the board was his daughter, Peyton.
Baker said he admires new H-BC superintendent Dave Deragisch, who coached him in high school football.
"I hope people are even more optimistic," he said. "You always leave with a smile when you talk to Dave. The school has so much to gain by him."
Baker will never force the school to change anything because it isn't handicapped accessible.
"I kind of look at it as nothing is going to change for me," he said. "What happened to me is my problem, nobody else's."
Baker said most people treat him the same as they did before his accident, but he said there are a few who "don't know what to say." But Baker said he wants them to "just be there" for him.
He doesn't like to look at himself as being handicapped. "I don't look at it that way ...it's just a way of living."