Former Claremore athlete recovering after accident

Friday, April 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- Twenty-year-old John Patterson of Claremore was supposed to be a starting catcher for Coffeyville Community College in Kansas season, but falling asleep while driving his pickup on February sixth changed all that.

The truck flipped four times, ejecting Patterson. He lay for hours in the cold with head and other injuries before being discovered and taken to a hospital.

Today he is scheduled to be released from Kaiser Rehabilitation Center, following what doctors are calling a miraculous recovery.

He didn't start to emerge from a coma until March, but still had trouble talking. By April 12th, he had shed his wheelchair. His speech is improving and he continues to grow stronger, constantly going above and beyond his physical therapy schedule.

He says the accident has taught him important lessons, including to work hard and live life to the fullest.