Gregory Dessert

In August 2017 I made a decision that would forever change my life. Suffering from depression and coping with alcohol, I attempted to take myself out of this world and leapt from a four-story townhome. This resulted in a complete spinal cord injury at the T10 vertebrae, but otherwise I came out unscathed. I had received a second chance at life and I wasn’t going to waste it. Although I can never make up for the decision I made and the negative impact it had on the lives of those who care for me, I appreciate every day I have now. I am a father to three boys, ages 15, 13, and 12, for whom I am able to be there as the positive role model and loving support structure they need. We enjoy every day we have together and make the most out of it for each of us.
One of the best decisions I made for my physical health, and even more so my mental health was to get involved with adaptive sports. I started playing wheelchair basketball in 2018. I am a starting player for the NWBA Adult Division II Orlando Magic Wheels as well as the NWBA Military Division Florida Renegades (an all-veteran team). Four of us on the Orlando Magic are veterans, all very active in the Warrior Games as participants and coaches over the years. In 2023, we were the reigning champions in both divisions, bringing home two national titles! For this past 2024 season, my Orlando Magic team moved up to Division II, which plays at a much more competitive level. Although not as exciting as the previous year’s success, we still made it to nationals in the adult division II and finished the military division 3rd after a close loss in overtime to the champion team in the semi-final game.
I have tons to learn about wheelchair basketball still, but love the process I have gone through, picking up new skills and improving along the way. When I started, I was barely playing a few minutes a game if I was lucky and now barely sit out a few minutes and am winning national titles with my teammates. I make sure to apply this mindset off the court as well. I am currently working towards my Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and have one year left to complete. My boys are academically focused and involved in extracurriculars at school. They also play sports such as golf, football, and basketball, so we tend to have very busy schedules. Above all, we prioritize family and always make sure to enjoy time together.