A year after near-fatal accident, Joey powers on

Joey Jacobsen can cross one more item off his "to do list."

With the help of his father Tim, and Keith Hart and other volunteers, the 11-year-old Minden boy and his friends won first place in the youth category for the Dec. 5 Parade of Lights.

What a difference a year makes.

His friends rode in the parade last year as Joey battled back from a near fatal head injury he suffered Nov. 22, 2008, in a wood-cutting accident.

Last year, the theme was "We Believe" as the community championed Joey's recovery.

The theme carried over this year, but Joey wanted a pirate ship, and that's what he got.

"We want to win the best float this year," Joey said as he helped his friends put the finishing touches on the display.

After the accident, Joey remained in an induced coma for several weeks as doctors assessed the damage from the injury.

The 2008 parade was a focal point for the community as "we believe" ribbons were displayed all over town.

"I guess I would like to say thank you again to this amazing community who has never left our side: To Minden Elementary School for taking such compassionate care of one of their own, and to Joey's friends who have stayed by his side and have seen to it that he is kept busy and involved with them," Joey's mother Robbi Jacobsen said.

Joey is very busy, as he ticked off a rigorous schedule of school and therapy in his effort toward rehabilitation.

"Monday and Wednesday, I go to school all day, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I go half a day," he said.

Joey also spends hours every week in physical therapy including sessions at the Carson Valley Swim Center.

He said he is motivated by the family motto of "keep believing," adopted while Joey recovered for months at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno and Oakland Children's Hospital.

"Joey's emotional and mental health is our No. 1 priority," said Robbi Jacobsen, Joey's mother. "Without it, there would be no healing. It has been our families, his friends, his teachers and principal, our friends and Gramma's summer house that have done just that."

Joey spends several hours a week with his grandmother, Betty Jacobsen, and can be seen zipping through Minden in his electric wheelchair, weather-permitting.

He's never out of sight of any number of family members or friends.

"His many, many smiles are the result of all these people's time and attention," Robbi said.

"Tragedies happen. It is how we react to them that show the true character of what we're made of," she said. "You all have raised us up to tackle whatever should be the lasting effects of Nov. 22, 2008. For us, the path ahead is both untraveled and full of challenges. Thank you for walking it with us. Together, we have come so very far."

Joey said his family and friends keep him going.

"I guess you've got to keep believing," he said.

His father Tim said since Nov. 22, 2008, every day is a good day for Joey.

"He works hard every day," his dad said. "He's had the same great attitude from day one."

Joey is looking forward to Christmas.

At the top of his list? A tuxedo.

"I wore one to my cousin Matt's wedding and I wore it the next day, too, even though I wasn't supposed to. I really liked it. I was stylin'," he said, with a smile.