Aaron Kornylos Struggle In Crossbar :: essays research papers fc

The Toughest Bar to Cross   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The protagonist of “Crossbar'; has had his life altered violently and is now trying to cope with the effects of this great change. Aaron Kornylo is a champion high jumper until a piece of farm machinery severs his right leg and changes his life forever Now Aaron lives in anger, bitterly denying the inevitable: he must learn to accept his loss.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Until a farm accident changed his life forever, the young man of this story enjoyed the life of a world-class athlete. Before he was injured, Aaron Kornylo was one of the best high jumpers in Canadian sports history. He enjoyed the attention his victories brought him. Aaron recalls, “standing proud on the dais... being vested with his Commonwealth Games gold by Prince Charles himself'; (Gault 61). To Aaron it was a perfect life, or “his personal vision of the best of all possible worlds'; (Gaul 62). He was an accomplished athlete, “the best... Willow Creek had ever produced'; (Gault 62). Then people revered Aaron, and he was completely satisfied with his life. All of this changes abruptly and violently when a farming accident almost kills Aaron and necessitates the amputation of his leg. With his leg severed by a harvester, driven by his father, Aaron is continually haunted. He relives the incident through a nightmare of his: “first the noi se- the machine’s noise- would have to come, closer and closer and... then the pain, so terrible that the brain in it’s mysterious wisdom shut down the system... just after the scream'; (Gault 60). Forced to have his leg amputated, “the surgeons in Saskatoon had done a fine job, very neat... but he didn’t feel like giving [any] thanks'; (Gault 62). Looking down at “the rounded stump that had once been his right leg'; (Gault 62) Aaron would have no choice but to “get used to... that hated wooden leg'; (Gaul 62). The physical part of Aaron’s injury is the only visible sign of his problem, for this young man is now struggling with the prospect of life as an amputee.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His life drastically altered by the loss of his right leg, Aaron will have to learn acceptance and place hope in his future. Aaron is presently having a difficult time coping- both physically and mentally. He does not and will not accept the loss of his leg. By thinking of his lost high jumping career Aaron is saddened: “wiping at his eyes, [he] opened them and returned to his room, to everything he had been and would never be again'; (Gault 61).