By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Almost two years after suffering serious injuries in a sledding accident, Otsego sixth grader Jaden Shaffer made his return to the basketball court during a game with Plainwell on Thursday, Dec. 8.
And a triumphant return it was.
In a moment coordinated between Otsego coach Jake Knash and Plainwell coach Barbara Johnson, Jaden received the game’s opening tipoff. He then passed the ball to Lucas Fuelling, who made a layup to give Jaden the assist.
Jaden, who still wears a brace on his left leg, and his teammates immediately began to celebrate, with fans of both teams cheering loudly.
Jaden’s mom, Tenneil Shaffer, said seeing her son back on the hardwood was an emotional sight.
“It is a moment we thought would never happen again,” Tenneil Shaffer said. “We are very grateful that he was able to get back on the court and enjoy a sport that he truly loved before his accident. It meant the world to him even though it was only for 30 seconds or so.
“He was beyond excited all day in preparation for the game and our hearts were filled with joy.”
Since the beginning of the season, Knash had been trying to figure out a way to get Jaden in uniform and in a game.
“I wanted to give him the opportunity to contribute,” Knash said. “He comes to practice with us a few times a week and he works so hard.”
Originally, Knash wanted to get Jaden a basket. And while Jaden is able to make shots, he isn’t yet as consistent as he would like.
That’s when Knash moved to Plan B: getting Jaden an assist.
“A few weeks back when we played Plainwell, I ran the idea by their coach and she was all for it,” Knash said. “She thought it was a great idea and said she’d make sure we could make it happen. I then took the idea to Jaden and his parents and they were very supportive of the idea as well.”
So, the Otsego team started working on the tipoff play a few times a week. Jaden also was worked on his catching and passing skills on his own, with the help of Otsego eight-grade player Owen Santman.
And when the time came, everything went perfectly.
“The entire moment was very emotional for me and for many people who were in the stands,” Knash said. “To see how far Jaden has come is unbelievable. His teammates and classmates absolutely love him.
“This is the type of stuff that our community is all about. Times like this show us that sports are so much bigger than the wins and the losses. Sports gives us a platform to teach kids so much more about life and how to treat each other. Otsego has been such a great place for me to teach and coach for the past 15 years and this is another example of why our school is so special.”
The Plainwell community also showed what makes it special.
“Plainwell has been very supportive of us since the day of the boys’ accident,” Tenneil Shaffer said. “They are a great community, and we are thankful for all that they have done and especially to allow Jaden to have this special moment.”
Jaden was 10 years old, while brother Jurien was 13 when they enjoying a day in the snow in February 2021, being pulled on a sled behind a snowmobile. But the day took a tragic turn when the sled hit a tree on the side of the trail.
Jurien suffered a broken leg, while Jaden sustained a broken pelvis and a traumatic brain injury that affected his speech and motor functions.
Jaden’s recovery has been on ongoing process since that day.
“It’s been a long road,” Tenneil Shaffer said. “And we still have a long road ahead of us. His left side still needs a lot of work, his memory still lacks at times and he still has a tremor or ataxia in his right hand.
“We pray constantly that he continues to heal.”
Jaden’s parents elected to take a break from therapy—Jaden had been going five days a week—so he could concentrate on basketball. He now has regular visits with a chiropractor along with his normal doctor’s appointments.
“He is constantly improving, but the process is slow,” Tenneil Shaffer said.
But moments like the one Jaden and his family experienced during the basketball game against Plainwell help make the process easier to handle.
“Otsego has been so supportive to us,” Tenneil Shaffer said. “We are thankful for all the times that Jake Knash has helped Jaden and also for coordinating this to happen. It is a day we will always remember.”
And it’s a day Knash will always remember.
“I was very excited to be part of this with Jaden and his family,” Knash said. “I have Jaden in my PE class as well and he is a very special kid. He is truly showing our community what courage looks like.”