“I finally went back with a clean sheet of paper and I did some drastic things with braces and things like that,” Kunz explained. “We have been working with Daryn Pittman at Ultra Shield and working on seats with Dave Sharpley. At times like this, you get a lot of suggestions and talk to a lot more people. You take all of that into consideration. Daryn and Dave have been so good and Dave talks to Dr. Trammell a lot. I don‘t think anyone has really been hurt by the cages, but we must make them better.”
Only time will tell how things will go from here. The left hand still creates some challenges and Pursley still needs to get stronger and work on his stamina. Even before his accident Pursley worked with sports psychologist Kevin Keyes of Moti Performance on the mental side of the game. He credits this work as key to avoiding depression and doubt along the way.
Kunz likes what he sees.
“I actually think he is a little better now,” Kunz said. “He‘s smarter. He has more finesse. He‘s not as rough around the edges where he is just pounding down the cushion. He can run the slick now. You see this with older guys who get hurt and do a little sheet time. They keep doing better and better. They don‘t want to get hurt, so they get smarter.”
Most would agree Pursley never needs to visit victory lane again to be considered a winner. This is a young man who put the bit between his teeth and beat the odds.
There is one memory Klint Pursley will always take away from the darkest of times. Composing himself he recalled, “Sometimes when we were in a hospital room, I would be standing there looking out the window and maybe have a tear in my eye thinking why, why, why? Then out of the blue Daison would say ‘Dad, it‘s going to be all right.‘”