Josh Hinton in the hospital recovering from his accident in a bounce house. Hinton explains how his injury doesn't stop him from serving. (Stacie Faulk)
Josh Hinton, a Stansbury Park, Utah native and incoming freshman, lined up for a bounce house obstacle course on the last day of BYU New Student Orientation on Aug. 29. Using his skills as a track and cross-country runner, Josh was off at the sound of “Go.”
“I dove through the tunnel (at the beginning of the course) and immediately didn't feel anything,' said Josh, an 18-year-old from Stansbury Park, Utah. 'I don't know what I hit.'
Josh laid still. He knew something was wrong. He directed friends, who had gathered around the mesh sides of the bounce house, to call his family.
The ambulance arrived at BYU and the paramedics deflated the bounce house and loaded Josh onto a gurney. Despite the fact that he couldn't feel his body, Josh kept his trademark smile and humor. After Josh fell asleep, the doctor’s diagnosis was given: Josh had fractured two vertebrae and shattered another one in his neck. He was paralyzed from the chest down.
Josh’s rapid recovery is a miracle to the many people who are praying and cheering for him. As far as the Hinton family is concerned, Josh will not allow his injury to get in the way of an education at BYU and a full-time mission for the LDS Church once he recovers, and activities he loves, like dance. Despite possibly loosing movement in his legs forever, Josh said, 'Even if all I have is feeling in my left pinky, I would be dancing again.'