Jeff Schlecte grew up near Waco, Nebraska with a love of agriculture.
After he graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he took a job with the Livestock Marketing Association in Kansas City. Ten months after he started his new career, his life nearly ended. The date was October 25th, 2005. Schlechte was driving from Joplin to Springfield, Missouri.

He rear-ended a stopped semi truck in a construction zone going 70 miles an hour. Doctors gave him little chance to survive. But after three long, long years of therapy at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln Jeff is now walking.

Jessica Foster is Jeff's Physical Therapist, "It's amazing. He's come a really long ways, he makes me proud."

Jeff has recovered from what his mother Sandy calls, "Your worst nightmare."

Doctors in Springfield were ready to give up, "We were given the choice a couple of times to take him off life support."

Jeff had broken both femurs and his arm, he lacerated his liver and suffered severe brain trauma. After a month in Springfield, Jeff was flown to Madonna and the recovery process was underway, Jeff says, "It's been the hardest thing I've ever done." For Jeff, the climb has been steep, "I went from nearly dead to where I am now, which is quite a ways."

Jeff's mom couldn't be more proud, "It doesn't surprise us, he's always been very determined...never say never."

Jeff's goals include one day walking without assistance and also taking a trip down to Springfield, Missouri to meet with the doctor who early on, gave his parents the grim diagnosis.

Jeff and his unwaivering determination have definitely proven a lot of people wrong.