Road to recovery
July 30, 2021
Five years after his remarkable comeback following a cycling accident, Dean Otto shares his experience in a new book.
by Michelle Boudin
Dean Otto was lying on the operating table about to be put under when Dr. Matt McGirt, a Charlotte spine surgeon, told the father of two there was just a 2% chance he’d ever walk again. Otto had been out for a bike ride on a Saturday morning in 2016 when he was hit by a truck and knocked unconscious into the middle of Providence Road, the remnants of his bike wrapped around him. He’d shattered two vertebrae and had a broken pelvis, tailbone and leg, and a few broken ribs.
Incredibly, Otto defied the odds, and after three months at Carolinas Rehabilitation, he began to walk again. Perhaps what was even more incredible, he not only forgave but befriended the man who hit him, Will Huffman. The two men, along with the surgeon who saved Otto, ran a half marathon on the anniversary of the accident, making national news.
For years, people have encouraged Otto to write a book about the experience, but he says he never wanted to profit from it. “It was a struggle,” Otto says. “I waited a long time, and I wasn’t going to do it, but more and more people said, ‘your story will inspire and help people in recovery.’”
Otto’s new book, 2% Chance: A Journey in Resilience, Recovery and Rebirth, is told from four different perspectives — the three men, and Otto’s wife, Beth.
“The real crux of the story is that this horrible thing happened — a guy runs this guy over — and how that event changed all of our lives, and how all of us have become better men for having gone through that together and the bond we’ve built.Matt’s a better surgeon, I’m a better dad, husband and worker — all because we went through this.”
Otto, 56, says he felt it was also important to talk about the part of his past he believes saved him. “The table was set for my recovery because of my alcohol addiction and the coping skill sets that I needed to learn to be able to get through this ordeal.”
The Foxcroft resident attributes his 12 years in the 12-step program with saving his life, back when he started in 2009 and again in the year following his injury.
“It allowed me to accept life on life’s terms that this happened to me and it was way bigger than I could handle. I had to give it to a higher power to help manage it. That’s when I was [lying] in the middle of the street and said a prayer, and that’s when I forgave Will. I wouldn’t have known how to do that had I not gotten sober. I can’t have resentments — they could lead to a drink, and I have to rid myself of them. I learned in the program about gratitude and helping people. There’s no way I would have gotten through this. I probably would have carried a resentment for the rest of my life.”
Instead Otto, who works in software sales, has poured his energy into helping others with spinal-cord injuries. He raises money for Carolinas Rehab and the Adaptive Sports and Adventures Program (ASAP), which offers activities from curling and snowboarding to kayaking and swimming for people with disabilities.
“I was sitting outside on my patio and looking around at my life and realizing this is all great, but it doesn’t really matter. The thing that matters is my family and my friends, and that I’ve got an opportunity to do something really meaningful in my life. And if sharing this story and writing this book can help a lot of people, then I’ve got to do it.” SP
2% Chance: A Journey in Resilience, Recovery and Rebirth is available on Amazon and at rdeanotto.com. Otto plans to donate a portion of proceeds to ASAP for people with disabilities.
