Man with MD takes the leap into skydiving

From WAVE-TV:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- 59-year-old Mike Crowe suffers from Muscular Dystrophy. Many people would say life has dealt him a bad hand, but to Mike it's not about the hand you're dealt, it's how you play the cards. On July 14, Mike proved that by skydiving with the U.S. Army's elite Golden Knights skydiving team, the very same team that former President George Bush Sr. jumped with to celebrate his 85th birthday.

"Boom, once you're out that door, you're kinda like going whoa", said Mike. "I'm out, we're doing it, nothing hurts, let's have fun." Once the chute is open, Mike says, "You're looking out across a beautiful world."

Mike's first experience sky diving came in 1987 when he and his wife Jeanne were one of the first civilians to ever tandem jump. At the time the tandem harness was in the experimental stage. After that Mike realized there was no reason not to live life to the fullest, disability or not.

"I've had more luck than most people would have in ten good lifetimes," said Mike.

The message Mike wants to send to other people with disabilities is to remember to still are able to do almost anything you want to do and don't be afraid to ask for help when it's needed. "Persons with and without disabilities are going to achieve not only for the person with the disability but the non-disabled person, a much higher degree of understanding of human beings and what potential is there (is) on the positive, not the negative."

Mike has already set up his next jump with the Golden Knights for early spring 2010. In the meantime, he and his wife of 31 years will continue to work to promote openness and understanding for the disabled.