SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP, OH (WLIO) - He had just started a career he loved as a master barber when tragedy struck. He could have quit, but instead, he persevered and is sharing his story with others.
He is known as "Jimmy Fadez," a master barber from Columbus, and he was at Apollo Career Center speaking with their spa and cosmetology students. In 2022, Fadez was doing a weighted squat when his spine snapped. He was left paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. But that didn't stop him. He opened his own business, and his family built a "standing frame" so he could continue cutting hair. He attends many trade shows all around the country, competing as a master barber. He has also added motivational speaker to his list of trades and hopes his story will inspire others.
"A lot of people in my situation they kind of tend to shut down, and I don't see the reason why. Because, at the end of the day, I'm no different than you. I'm no different than anybody else. The only difference is my legs don't work and yours do. So, there's no reason to stop, so I just try and spread a good word and maybe motivate others that are in my situation to do more, you know?"
This was Fadez's third speaking engagement, and he hopes to do more.
