Torey Hett:When handed lemons, make lemonade
Outgoing, positive attitude serves Torey Hett well at school, work, and in life
Staff writer
There's an old saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."
Marion teenager Torey Hett has taken that philosophy to heart and lives it everyday — not only with his positive, upbeat attitude, but by making people see past his disability which has placed him in a wheelchair.
Usually when one uses the word "wheelchair," the word "confined" is attached to it, but Torey doesn't see that device as being confining.
"Early on in my school career they had me walking using crutches. But now it's just accepted that I use the wheelchair," Torey said matter-of-fact. "The wheelchair is faster."
That's for sure. Anyone who might have seen "Seussical the Musical," this past weekend had the opportunity to see Torey in action. Playing the role of Vlad, he whirled around the stage — with his wheelchair outfitted like a World War I plane — cavorting in the play's only fight scene.
"The choreography is a little tricky," he explained, "but our choreographer does pretty good adjusting to how I do my moves."
Participating in the musical is just one of many activities Torey is involved with at Marion High School. He's been in past musicals, has served as manager for the football team since seventh grade, is a band member, participates on the forensics team and in track, and is an aide in Ginger Becker's fourth grade classroom at Marion Elementary.
"I don't really do all that many activities at school," he said modestly. "But I like to occupy my time."
Outside of school, he holds down a part-time job at The Big Scoop, participates in wheelchair races, enjoys hunting and fishing, and is involved with his youth group at Aulne United Methodist Church.
Basically, he lives his life like most any other teen.
Torey credits his parents, Jamie Shirley and Dave Hett, with helping him develop his independent attitude early on. Torey said his parents and step-parents always have been very positive about his situation. Also, he has three younger sisters, Katie Hett, McKenzee Remmers, and Phoebe Hett, who keep him in line.
"I'd rather be outgoing and positive instead of mad and depressed," he said.
Born Jan. 19, 1987, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion, Torey's parents learned their baby had spina bifida, a birth defect of the spinal cord.
As a child, Torey used braces and a walker to get around. Three or four years ago, he underwent back surgery to help correct scoliosis.
"They attached rods to my back, but that affected my hips," he said simply. "So now I use the wheelchair."
While in elementary school he began physical therapy.
"I still see a physical therapist every other month to make sure I'm doing all right," he said. "Sometimes my tendons get tight and they may go in and release the tendon. I have very little mobility. I can lift my knee up. Maybe kick it a little bit."
Besides physical therapy, Torey's family has tried various techniques over the years to improve his mobility. One involved traveling to Toronto, Canada, where a procedure sent electric impulses through his legs.
"That didn't really pan out," he said. "Another time we tried something where they attached electrodes to my head."
For anyone dealing with paralysis, health issues are a given. Life for Torey is no different.
"I've had a lot of surgeries and doctor's appointments. I get medicine and take pills. It's just normal," he said.
Sometimes, however, the health problems are a little more severe. A staph infection last fall sent him to the hospital and a back surgery kept him out of school "quite awhile."
"The schools here have always been real good in working with me," Torey said. "A para came over to help me out and get me caught up. The school adapted what they do so I wouldn't get so far behind."
USD 408 has been helpful in allowing Torey the opportunity to be involved. For instance, he travels to away football games riding with the equipment bus driver. And in band, a fellow student is dispatched to help out.
"When I'm in band. I can't play the trombone and use my hands to move the wheelchair at the same time so there's a kid who pushes me," he said.
Torey feels he is no different from any other teen and finds opportunities to laugh at both his good and bad luck.
"I had just gotten out of the hospital after my staph infection and my blue van caught on fire," he said, shaking his head. "I was able to get out and wasn't hurt. But I had to get a new van."
Torey began using a specially-outfitted van, operated by hand controls, to get around after he turned 14.
"My mom got a hold of Tim Williams and he had a van with a lift. Mom wanted me to see if that (kind of van) would work for me," he said. "But it was faster for me to just take out the middle seat and get out on the side door."
Now Torey uses a white van, which he enters and exits faster than many able-bodied adults can drag themselves out of their vehicles.
Torey's ability to maneuver quickly has served him well in his many endeavors, including racing.
"When I was nine I went to Derby to the wheelchair races. All I had was my regular wheelchair, but the organization that puts on the races let me borrow a racing wheelchair. Now I go down about every year," he said.
"Racers are grouped based on their level of disability and age. I usually do pretty well."
Torey's ability to maneuver serves him well in his job at The Big Scoop, where he has worked part-time since December 2003.
"I do a little bit of everything there but cook," he said. "Lucy and Amy make it fun to work there."
In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and fishing.
"I have a deer permit. My mom has 30 acres and my dad lives south of Aulne so I have places to go hunt," he explained. "In September I was in a hunt for disabled people at Marion Reservoir. It's a great atmosphere.
"I saw a lot of does. I have an either-sex permit, but I'd rather use it on a buck," he said with a smile.
Torey said his permit allows him to hunt from a vehicle or he can use a blind.
His love for the outdoors may translate into a career choice. A senior at MHS, Torey said he's already visited with conservation officer Marvin Peterson.
"Right now, I'm leaning toward going to Emporia State and wildlife management," he said.
Another option might be to attend the University of Illinois where his adeptness in handling the wheelchair might come in handy.
"I went to a wheelchair camp there awhile back to learn different techniques. The coach asked me to consider going to college there," Torey said. "So that's been another thing at the back of my mind.
"It's a possibility," he continued. "But I would like to study and research wildlife."
Along the same line, Torey can see himself getting involved in the art of taxidermy.
Besides his interest in wildlife, Torey also enjoys drawing and can see himself studying to be an architect.
Another career choice also manifested itself since he began working as a teacher aide in Becker's MES classroom.
"I might like to be a teacher or a preacher," he said. "I've been running the sound system at our church in Aulne and we just started up a youth group.
"I like to talk about what I believe," he explained.
With his various experiences and positive attitude, Torey said one of his goals is to be a role model for others. Torey points to television reporter Joe Hockenberry who has managed to accomplish many things despite his paralysis and confinement to a wheelchair.
"I don't want people to see me as just a kid in a wheelchair," he said with a smile. "I'd like to be an inspiration to other people."
