In the late 1990s, professional drummer James Hutcheson got into an accident that changed his life forever.
After being hit by a five-ton truck, the Central Alberta man spent five months in the hospital. Doctors told him he should've died, Hutcheson recalled.
"I had to learn to walk again," said the 68-year-old man.
"I went into the hospital at 147 pounds and came out at 114. I lost 30 per cent of my muscle mass on my left side. Seventy per cent of my body was nerve damaged."
He suffered a traumatic brain injury in the injury as well, but that injury wasn't treated immediately following the accidents. In 2012, a friend of Hutcheson connected him with a local organization that supports individuals with brain injuries.
"I would always sit and tell stories to the woman that worked there. One day she said to me, 'Why don't you write these stories down?'" he said.
"I wrote one every week until I hit 200 and then I stopped."
Hutcheson recently published these stories in a book called That's All: A Collection of Short Stories, Thoughts, and Poetry.
"The stories are heartfelt and strong. I cried writing them, I laughed writing them. The stories aren't all mine, but they're all stories about people you've never heard of doing things you never knew – but it's all about why they do these things," he said.
"This book is my soul. I've put everything I am into this book. ... In the introduction to the book I say that I wish to dedicate this book to the injured, hurt souls out there. They're the ones who gave me a reason to write my stories. I write for those who cannot write for themselves."
All of the book's artwork was created by Hutcheson's wife.
Despite the injury, Hutcheson continues to plays the drums to this day. He began his career as a professional drummer at the age of 16 – he's played in various bands over his 50-plus years as a musician. He also has arthritis, which he first suffered in his early 30s.
Hutcheson will be at the Red Deer Indigo this Saturday from 2-5 p.m., where people can meet the author and hear more about the book. That's All can be purchased on Amazon.ca in paperback, hardcover or E-book.