Caylan's Story
It was 2004 and Caylan was 20 years old. Having passed his firefighter examinations, he had been working in British Columbia, thoroughly enjoying his job out in the wilderness. In his skill tests, he came in second for strength and endurance, which was impressive considering his lean frame. It took less than a month, though, for Caylan's world to be turned upside down.
At 2:00am on July 30, while en route to a Candle Lake Volley Ball tournament in Saskatchewan, Caylan and his brother were involved in a motor vehicle accident. Caylan's spine was severed in different locations; he also sustained head injuries, five broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and many deep lacerations to his body. His brother, Christopher, suffered two cracked ribs, a cut shoulder, severe whiplash, and post traumatic distress disorder.
Caylan spent seven agonizing weeks in the Intensive Care Unit at the Saskatoon Royal University Hospital. Rods and screws were inserted to fix his upper and middle thoracic spine at the T1, T2, T3, T7, T8, and T9 vertebrae. At the T5 and T6 vertebrae, doctors found increased sclerosis.
Ultimately, it was Caylan's physical and inner strength that saved his life.
Caylan's name is Gaelic for "Fire of Spirit." One could say that his spirit was ablaze with the will to live. His grit and determination pulled him through the tragic circumstances. With his positive attitude, Caylan has continued to grow and not stagnate. In 2008, his inspirational journey was covered in The Reflector, a Mount Royal College student publication. Click here to view the article.
Years after his accident, Caylan still has many goals, which are fueled by his passion to work in the field of social justice. For him, it is all about making a difference through collective change.
The Caylan Boyse Foundation
When Caylan was lying immobilized in the hospital, awaiting his first surgery, he decided that if survived the procedure, he would start a nonprofit organization. Furthermore, because of his love for music, he would start Calgary City Hard Core, an organization that promotes the alternative music scene. By the age of 21, both the Foundation and the business were a reality. This proved to him that with the right attitude, anything is possible.
Today, Caylan is assisted by his mother, Helen McPhaden, and a team of staff members. The mission is clear: to bring awareness to spinal cord injury and its aftereffects.