South Ogden teen, paralyzed in mishap, moves past tragedy, inspiring others
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- Max Togisala celebrates his homecoming Thursday, April 7, 2022, after his stay at the hospital. Family, friends, neighbors and well-wishers lined the street to welcome him after a February skiing accident that rendered him paralyzed.
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- Family, friends, neighbors and well-wishers line the street to welcome Max Togisala outside his home in South Ogden on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
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- Max Togisala smiles while observing the crowd gathered outside his home in South Ogden on Thursday, April 7, 2022, to celebrate his homecoming after his stay at the hospital.
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- A sign welcomes Max Togisala home from the hospital Thursday, April 7, 2022, after a skiing accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
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- The Togisala family thanks the community for showing support after a February skiing accident that paralyzed Max Togisala. Family, friends, neighbors and well-wishers lined the street to welcome him back on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
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- Family, friends, neighbors and well-wishers line the street to welcome Max Togisala outside his home in South Ogden on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
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- Family, friends, neighbors and well-wishers line the street to welcome Max Togisala outside his home in South Ogden on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
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- Max Togisala celebrates his homecoming Thursday, April 7, 2022, after his stay at the hospital. Family, friends, neighbors and well-wishers lined the street to welcome him after a February skiing accident that rendered him paralyzed.
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- Members of the community welcome Max Togisala home Thursday April 7, 2022.
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- Family, friends, neighbors and well-wishers line the street to welcome Max Togisala outside his home in South Ogden on Thursday, April 7, 2022.
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- Max Togisala of South Ogden, paralyzed in a Feb. 19, 2022, ski accident, is photographed March 26, 2022, at Craig Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital in Salt Lake City.
SOUTH OGDEN — What began as tragedy — the ski accident last February that left Bonneville High School senior Max Togisala paralyzed — has morphed into something completely different.
“It’s been unreal, really unreal,” said Amber Togisala, the 18-year-old’s mom. “It’s been the most wonderful, miserable thing we’ve gone through.”
Max has maintained an unusually upbeat demeanor through it all — anger, bitterness and depression, understandably, might be more typical emotions — surprising his family and inspiring others who have endured similarly dire incidents.
“Through his smile, it’s changed lives,” Togisala said. “It’s given them hope.”
At the same time, the community has rallied around Max and his family, generating a double dose of positivity. “I think this is one of the miracles that has happened, watching the community come together for this special young man,” said Jill Hildebrand, a neighbor and one of the many supporters who have watched as events evolved.
The accident at a ski resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, that left Max paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair occurred on Feb. 19. Max has been receiving medical care and physical therapy ever since, mostly through the University of Utah health care system.
Thursday marked a milestone, though, as he returned to his South Ogden home for the first time since the incident, generating a hero’s welcome.
Family, friends, Bonneville High School students and other well-wishers lined the street leading to his home, cheering the young man as he enters a new phase of life. Contractors, builders and others banded together to retrofit the family home to accommodate Max, handling the work — done as a gift and now nearly complete — in lickety-split fashion. “It literally unfolded in a matter of a couple weeks,” Amber Togisala said.
She’s documented Max’s response to the ski accident on her Facebook page, saying he accepted his circumstances in quick fashion.
“44 days ago our lives changed. Some would say for the worst, but in 44 days I’ve literally witnessed my son grow into this STRONG inspirational man. His outlook on life has completely changed and he pushes himself daily to be better,” Togisala wrote in an April 4 post.
Central to it all has been his faith. The family belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Max’s faith has truly strengthen(ed) my faith and he has humbled himself before the Lord and allowed his grace to help him see life in a completely different perspective. I’ve always known Max was strong, but the strength he has shown in the last 7 weeks is something that can’t come from lifting weights or working out daily, it’s a strength that comes from above,” Togisala said in the same April 4 post.
Max had been planning to attend Central Wyoming College, where he was to play on the golf team. That has changed, but he still intends on going to college somewhere, possibly pursuing studies in physical therapy or engineering so he can improve upon the wheelchair design.
No way is he backing down or giving up. “He is more determined to make those things happen,” said his mom.