I n her final year at Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson, Jazmin Curet was prepared to have a successful basketball season. Unfortunately, she learned what it was like to have a serious injury. Less than a month into the 2011-12 season, Curet tore the meniscus in her knee.
No matter the sport, no athlete wants to end her high school career due to an injury. When Curet learned her time in a Jaguars jersey was over, it made all the sense in the world for her to be upset.
Having surgery on her knee officially ended her run with the team, but Curet did have an advantage in the situation. Her inspirational cousin was easily accessible.
“When I got hurt, after the surgery, he was the first person I talked to,” she said about her cousin. “After talking to him, I stopped complaining.”
Curet’s cousin is Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed on Oct. 16, 2010 while playing football for Rutgers University, the same school Curet will be attending in the fall. LeGrand quickly made Curet realize there was no reason to be devastated about her injury.
Curet said that after speaking with LeGrand, she came to realize, “I’ll heal. Everything will be fine for me. I stopped looking at how my basketball career ended.”
Not only did LeGrand’s ability to play football end in a matter of seconds, but his ability to walk ended, too. In thinking about that, Curet realized that she did not have it so bad.
Although he was paralyzed, LeGrand decided he doesn’t have it so bad either. In fact, he presents himself as one of the happiest people in the world. He has vowed that he will continue working toward his goal of walking again.
LeGrand’s positive attitude during his recovery earned him a Jimmy V award for perseverance at ESPN’s 2012 ESPY Awards.
Upon receiving the award, LeGrand thanked everyone in his life and reminisced about the injury that changed his life.
“I have everything that I want in my life right now,” he said proudly. “I can do anything that I want to do. Even though I’m sitting in this chair, it might not be the circumstances I want, but I’m going out there to try to inspire other people to live to the best of (their) abilities. Don’t forget anything you have. Don’t take anything for granted, because one second it could all be thrown away.”
Three guests LeGrand had with him at the ESPY awards ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles were his mother, Karen, and Jazmin and Cheryl Curet.
Cheryl Curet is LeGrand’s aunt and Jazmin’s mother.
For Jazmin, having the opportunity to attend the ESPY awards was phenomenal.
“He brought me to the ESPYs as a gift for my high school graduation,” Curet said. “I had the most amazing time. I met Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, Victor Cruz, Jason Pierre- Paul, Dr. J and others.”
But of course it was her cousin that she was happiest to be seen with.
“Everybody loves Eric. At an after-party, everybody talked to Eric (and) took pictures with Eric,” Curet said. “So many people talked about what an inspiration he is.”
Thinking about LeGrand’s life, seeing him as joyful as he is despite what he has gone through, Curet decided she is lucky to only have a temporary injury.
“I have an injury that will last a maximum of six months,” she said. “I decided I had to take my attitude and have it mirror (LeGrand’s) attitude.”
Perhaps Curet’s athletic career is not over, though.
“I would like to be able to play again,” she said. “I’ll probably just play a club sport in the fall or in the spring.”
Meanwhile, Eric LeGrand has long-term goals.
“My dream is to get back on my feet and walk again,” he said at the ESPY awards. “(I want to) inspire millions of people out there in this world.”