Growing up, Ben's father constantly said, "Remember where you came from." At the age of 14 after surviving a life-threatening accident, this translated to "Remember the Pain." Ben refuses to use his disabilities as an excuse, but instead as a driving force for improvement. Like this tattoo, his injuries are a constant reminder of what happened, and how far he has come. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)
Ben Goss, 23, moved to Arizona from Massachusetts after an accident that left him paralyzed. A sports complex in Mesa, Ability 360, allowed him the opportunity to continue participating in athletic events. Ben Goss is currently one of the top players on the Ability 360 Wheelchair Rugby (or murderball) team. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)
Despite his diasabilities, Goss continues to do all the things he enjoyed as a child, like off-roading. Goss was proud to show off his 4x4 Toyota Tacoma that is specifically designed to fit his needs. Nearly 10 years after the accident, Goss works each day to create a sense of normalcy in his life. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)
Goss's Tacoma is pretty high-tech! After lifting himself into the driver seat, special equipment has been built into the bed of the truck to latch to the chair and drop the wheelchair into the truck. Once he arrives at his destination, Ben is able to press and hold a button that then allows the chair to be dropped by the driver door so he is able to exit the vehicle. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)
Ben Goss has suffered from shoulder issues ever since the accident. In the middle of practice he gets tipped backward toward the floor where he can stretch his shoulder to relieve himself from some pain. He told us that regardless of how much he warms up before a game, it isn't until the end of the game when his shoulder finally starts to feel comfortable. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)
"My dreams haven't changed at all," Goss tells us. "I just have to go about them a little differently." Ben Goss has been determined to overcome each of his challenges since the moment the car accident occurred, he told us. He says he hasn't lost any hope for his athletic future. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)
"There's nothing like Ability 360 back home," Goss tells us. Athletes have moved from across the country in order to participate in adaptive programs at Ability 360 in Phoenix. Like many, Goss left his family in order to continue his athletic career. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)
Goss grew up playing lacrosse and has always been highly competitive. He said he loved the aggression of the sport and desired to find a contact sport that he could play. "I've found that same agression with murderbll," he told us. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)
Bella is a therapy dog and is the Rugby Team's biggest fan! She never misses a practice. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld).
Goss tells us that he refused to allow his parents to spend money to rennovate his childhood home in order to accomodate his needs. This was his first step in overcoming his challenges, he told us. (Photo by Olivia Steinfeld)