Despite all the odds against him, one local man lives to tell his story. On this Thanksgiving, our Erin Connolly shows us a man who is just thankful to be alive.
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GLENS FALLS, N.Y. -- Meet Jason Hopper. He's a guy who seems to have it all. He's a veteran, a loving husband and a very proud poppa.
"He's the best little guy ever. I couldn't ask for anyone else," Hopper said.
Before Hopper became a dad to 22-month-old Alex, he served in the Coast Guard as an aviation maintenance technician. He said what he learned in the military has helped shape the man he is today.
"The military did teach me to never give up. The military taught me how to take what you have and make it better," said Hopper.
Hopper didn't know how those lessons would come into play, but they did last May. Riding his motorcycle to work at Warren County Airport, Hopper was struck by a van. Flown by helicopter to Albany Medical Center, Hopper almost didn't make it.
"I look at this picture and other pictures I have of me at the hospital and it's hard to believe that is me. Like I said, I didn't want to believe it for a couple months down the road that I was injured, on life support, on feeding tubes just to keep me alive," said Hopper.
Hopper broke multiple bones in the crash. For his wife Samantha, seeing him like that was heartbreaking.
"I was really shocked at first. I still am in shock to be honest with you. It's really tough. I haven't even really begun to deal with it yet," said Samantha.
"I've got multiple scars on the left side of my face, as you can see, my nose and cheeks, all over my hands, arms and I have a long scar at the top of my head, said Hopper.
"I don't even really notice the marks on his face because I love him so much. You know it bothers him a lot and he'll even ask me from time to time if it bothers me, but you know what, it really doesn't. I don't see it and I love him for him," said Samantha Hopper.
The road to recovery has been a tough one for Hopper. He's still in a lot of pain, but he says it's not the pain that bothers him the most. It's the fact he hasn't been able to provide for his family. That Samantha has had to step up.
"She's now the head of the household. I am no longer. She's taking on a huge responsibility and a great deal of stress with not only me, but with financial burdens," said Hopper.
Hopper was cleared to work in September, but the tough economy, coupled with the fact that his injuries inhibit him from doing hard labor, has limited his options. Samantha Hopper makes just minimum wage and it's just not enough to make ends meet.
"The bills. It's really hard to pay them because I don't make a lot, you know. So it's very overwhelming and stressful," Samantha Hopper said.
Despite a harrowing few months, Hopper remains thankful. He's thankful for the men and women who saved his life.
"You need a lot of courage to be on that helicopter doing what they're doing to make sure you're alive. To be that EMS driver, making sure we're going to get you to the hospital, making sure you're going to live," Hopper said.
He's thankful for his family.
"I'm thankful that I'm able to walk and talk. I'm thankful I'm here for my family. I'm thankful for the sense of taste, the sense of touch. I'm thankful I even have pain," said Hopper.
He's thankful to just be alive.
"Several years ago, I was thankful for the money I got in the card. I was thankful for the 20 bucks I might have gotten from my aunt or my father or my mother. Now I'm just thankful I'm here," Hopper said.
''Very thankful. I've known him since I was 15-years-old. He's my best friend," said Samantha Hopper. "You know, I don't know what I would do if he wasn't here."
"So I see you keep and article that detailed your accident. Why?" our reporter asked.
"This article is more or less a remembrance of how thankful I am to be here. I look at it, I read it and I see a picture of where I was on the ground. You know, where I was, where my life flashed in front of my eyes," Hopper said.
Here is where Hopper displays his best and worst memories. It serves as a reminder, with everything from a newspaper article about his motorcycle accident, to Coast Guard memorabilia, to family photos and right on top, his pride and joy, Alex.
Hopper knows the days forward will be tough. He'll have pain. He needs to find work. But he's proven he's a survivor who will continue to live.
"With a smile on your face, with a positive attitude, you're going to overcome some of those challenges that are in front of you and you're going to do good in your life and that's my mindset right now,' Hopper said.'
Right before you reach Jason and Samantha's bedroom door, a frame reads, "Happiness lives in hearts that love." These two hearts definitely love and on this Thanksgiving, these two hearts are thankful there's a tomorrow.