Pushing his limits

Angelique Flores

For the past two months, John Chavez has been swimming about four miles

every day. He plans to finish his 200th mile by Saturday.

It’s an amazing feat, especially because Chavez is blind.

The Fountain Valley man is swimming to raise money for the Swim With Mike

fund-raiser, which benefits the Physically Challenged Athletes

Scholarship Fund at USC.

This will be the 39-year-old man’s sixth year swimming. Over the years,

he has raised $10,000 for the fund-raiser, which will take place Saturday

at USC. He has gathered sponsors who donate by the mile and others who

give flat contributions.

“People will donate one day [to swim], but I knew I could raise more

awareness this way,” Chavez said.

Swim With Mike began in 1981 when friends and teammates of Mike Nyeholt,

a USC three-time All-American swimmer, raised money to help him recover

from a paralyzing motorcycle accident. Leftover donations from the first

year’s event established the fund. The fund-raising has become an annual

event, helping physically challenged student athletes pay for the

academic expenses.

As someone with a disability, Chavez understands the struggle in making

the transition from a life without a disability to a life with one.

“These people are not giving up,” he said of the students who benefit

from the scholarship. “I have empathy for people moving on with their

lives.”

He has certainly made an example by moving on with his own life.

“There are two kinds of people: those that take energy and those that

give energy. John is one who gives it,” said Chris Locke, a friend.

As a young man, Chavez swam and played water polo at San Diego State,

where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business.

While working as a lifeguard in Huntington Beach, Chavez broke his ankle.

The injury required doctors to temporarily insert pins into his foot.

During surgery to remove the pins, his heart stopped for 18 minutes,

leaving him blind at age 24.

He was in a coma for a month and spent the following nine months in

rehabilitation, regaining motor skills and building the strength lost

from muscle atrophy. He had to learn to walk again, to write and to eat.

He also temporarily lost his memories from age 14 to 24.

Besides the blindness, the complication has left Chavez with diminished

sense of touch, preventing him from using Braille. Chavez has since

gained back his physical strength. Looking at him now, it’s hard to

believe he has a disability.

“He lost his vision, but he hasn’t lost sight of being a great human

being,” said Locke, who volunteers her time to do public relations for

Chavez.

Chavez is very active in the community. He volunteers at St. Vincent de

Paul Catholic Church, working with the teen group. He serves on the

Fountain Valley Advisory Committee for the Disabled. And, in between his

entrepreneur classes at the Braille Institute, he and a group of other

students are working to organize an employment resource center for the

blind.

“We’re all going to go through some tragedy in life. It’s not what

happens, but how we respond to it. You have to ask, ‘How do I move

forward?”’ Chavez said.

Chavez lives with his brother and still enjoys outdoor activities:

rowing, hiking, skiing and sky diving. But now he must use a sighted

guide.

Ultimately, Chavez said he wants to get back into the work force, working

in business.

“He pushes his limits and hasn’t let his handicap get in the way,” said

Jennifer Minichiello, former director of aquatics at Los Caballeros Sport

and Racquet Club, where Chavez does his swimming.

Chavez believes his accident happened for a reason.

“This is my way of giving back,” he said.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Chavez at 847-9919 or donate

directly to USC. More information is available at

https://www.swimwithmike.org.