Overcoming Adversity Through Pickleball: How One Man Found His Way Back After a Devastating Accident A story of resilience, community, and the transformative power of sport
SAN FRANCISCO - When Terry Nemo reflects on the string of misfortunes that nearly took his life in 2015, he can’t help but shake his head in amazement at how far he’s come. From his hospital bed, wracked with pain and infection, Nemo wondered if he’d ever regain normal function again. Just walking was a monumental challenge in those early days. But fast forward to today, and Nemo is not only walking, but traveling across the country competing in pickleball tournaments with his old teammate. It’s nothing short of a miracle.
And Nemo gives all the credit to the sport of pickleball and the community that embraced him when he was at his lowest. “Pickleball brought me back to who I am,” he says emphatically. “It was the first part of my recovery physically, mentally, emotionally - it helped me find my center again.”
Nemo grew up an athletic kid in San Francisco, excelling at golf, skiing and team sports. That active lifestyle continued into adulthood; at the time of his devastating accident, he was an avid road cyclist logging 100-150 miles per week. On June 30, 2015, his world was upended. Nemo was sideswiped by a vehicle while biking home from work, causing him to badly break his elbow. After surgery to implant hardware in his arm, his recovery took a nightmarish turn. Unbeknownst to doctors, a serious staph infection called MRSA had entered Nemo’s wound. As the bacteria ravaged his body, he fell into a coma and “essentially died,” according to a doctor friend.
After emerging from the coma, Nemo required 13 grueling surgeries to remove rotting tissue. He was pumped full of antibiotics to beat back the stubborn infection. The protein and muscle loss left him practically paralyzed. For months, basic functions like walking down the hallway seemed impossible. Understandably, Nemo fell into a serious depression at his diminished state. An athlete all his life, he mourned his old active pursuits like golf and cycling which he feared he may never enjoy again.
Enter an old friend and the sport of pickleball. Just a few weeks after confiding in his sister that he needed a new life purpose after the accident, Nemo got a call from a buddy raving about this new sport called pickleball. Nemo had never heard of it but his friend’s enthusiasm was catching. Still on unsteady feet, Nemo hobbled out to give pickleball a go just a month later. Though his fine motor skills were shot - a friend had to balance the ball on Nemo’s paddle for his first serves - Nemo was instantly hooked.
The smaller court dimensions were unintimidating, the pace friendly to new players. Most importantly for Nemo, pickleball represented freedom - the ability to again chase shots down, scramble across the court, swing full-out - all things that once seemed forever lost after the infection.
The pickleball community welcomed Nemo with open arms. Patient partners steadied his wobbly serves until his strength returned. Cheers erupted courtside when he bagged his first point. Nemo threw himself headlong into practice sessions, entered amateur tournaments, then pro events. On the pickleball court he found inspiration and purpose that carried over to demanding rehab sessions. “It brought me back to who I am,” beams Nemo.
Just 16 months removed from a devastating saga that could have permanently hobbled the most rugged athlete, Nemo again finds himself traveling for competition. He delights in reunions with his old tennis doubles partner as they take on tournaments together. Milestones that once seemed unreachable - walking unaided, holding a paddle, qualifying for Nationals - all checked off.
As he reflects on his journey, Nemo turns philosophical about the transformative power of finding one’s path - and never giving up the internal fight, no matter the external obstacles.
“If you love yourself enough...love yourself enough to get up and fight,” Nemo urges. “The strongest thing you have is your brain.”
For Terry Nemo, part of the healing journey was discovering pickleball at just the right moment. But hearing his outlook, the power clearly came from within. When fate deals us a tough hand, we can fold - or like Nemo, through grit and grace, forge ahead to brighter days.
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