LAUREL, Miss. (WHLT) – Jason Cooper, a Pine Belt man, faced a life-changing accident in 2019. Doctors told him he would never walk again. But Cooper refused to give up. He used that challenge as motivation to rebuild his life. Now, he helps others do the same.
Cooper was a star athlete at Heidelberg High School before the accident. In 2019, he was involved in a car crash that left him paralyzed from the neck down.
“I’m a C-3, C-4, complete quadriplegic,” Cooper said. “That means I could not move my arms or legs at all.”
At only 19 years old, Cooper was told he would likely never walk or play sports again. “The things I could do before my wreck, I probably won’t be able to do them again,” he said. “I won’t be able to play football, basketball, or any sport.”
But Cooper refused to accept that outcome. Instead, he took it as a challenge. He committed to intense rehabilitation and worked out three times a day. Slowly, he began to regain movement in both his arms and legs.
During his recovery, Cooper said he found a new purpose. He felt that God was guiding him to become a fitness trainer.
“Many people don’t get a second chance in life,” Cooper said. “This is a gift from God. Some people hide their blessings, but I want to share mine with the world. If I can help someone overcome their struggles—whether mental or physical—that means everything to me.”
Today, Cooper trains clients at a gym in Laurel. He helps them push past their limits, just as he did. He is also working on a documentary about his journey. The film, titled “Adversity,” is set to be released this fall.
