LAKEPORT, Calif. – Life is made up of many little stitched-together miracles, moments of capability that some may take for granted, but which others – who face personal challenges – dream of having.
For many teens, dribbling a basketball down a court and participating in a game would be one of those taken-for-granted moments, but for one local youngster, getting the chance to go out on the court and make a basket was, well, a pretty big deal.
Jaden Bussard, 13, is an eighth grader at Terrace Middle School. His parents are Jared and Tiffany Bussard, and he has a little sister, Presley.
This year he's student body president and team manager for the eighth grade boys' basketball team. He's an “A” student who is a member of California Junior Scholarship Federation, 4-H and Junior Interact.
Next year he'll be entering high school. His favorite subjects in schools are math and history. He likes to draw and wants to be a graphic designer.
“The kids love him,” said Mike Damiata, now in his fourth year of coaching eighth grade basketball for the school.
Jaden has a great personality, and jokes and laughs with his fellow students and teammates. “He’s just one of the guys,” said Damiata.
“He has always wanted to play sports,” said Tiffany Bussard.
But that desire has come with one big obstacle – cerebral palsy. Jaden was born with it.
Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that impairs motor and muscle function. Those who have it have a number of physical challenges includes balance, muscle control and coordination, control of motor skills and speech.
Tiffany Bussard said her son had major surgery at Shriner's Hospital last January to straighten his legs.
Specifically, surgeons cut his femurs in half and rotated them, she said.
The teen still carries the hardware around in his legs, with screws in his ankles and rods and crews in his femurs.
Jaden also has worked at the Sutter Lakeside Mobility Park to improve his strength and coordination.
“I've been able to be a little bit more flexible and I can jump,” he said, noting his body is straightening and he's continuing to work on his physical therapy at home.
“It's gotten better,” he said.
However, his mom, added, “It's been a long, long road.”
When Jaden was younger, he played in a youth soccer league for five years – and has the five trophies to prove it – but recently, “I've been getting into basketball.”
It's not that he enjoys being a spectator or watching professional players. “I just enjoyed playing it,” he said.
So he went out for the Terrace Middle School basketball team, the season for which runs from the end of November until the first week of March, Damiata said.
Damiata said there is competition for spots on the team, with tryouts and cuts.
Jaden gave his all during the tryouts, according to his mom – running until he was nauseous from the effort.
So while Jaden didn't make it onto the team as a player, he was made the manager, and took on a set of duties including keeping statistics at games and helping with equipment.
Jaden is at most practices, and works out along with the team, although he doesn't have a uniform, Damiata said.
“He is part of the team. There is no doubt about it,” Damiata said.
Tiffany Bussard and Mike Damiata's wife, Rachelle, are friends, and had talked about Jaden having the chance to play at some point.
Then, the chance came in a game against Cloverdale on Dec. 1, Tiffany Bussard said.
Mike Damiata said the Cloverdale team's coach asked if they could have an extra three minutes of play at the end of the game, as he had a player with autism who he wanted to give the chance to play.
Damiata replied that he also had a player he wanted to get some court time – Jaden.
“I was sitting on the bench and I was keeping stats when one of my friends came up that was on the team and he asked if I want to play, and I'm all, 'Sure,'” Jaden recounted.
His friend gave him his jersey, which Jaden slipped on. He didn't have time to change the rest of his clothes, so he headed out onto the court wearing jeans and sneakers.
Jaden can be seen in the video above, running to the right and heading toward the basket.
A teammate passed him the ball and he took a shot. He missed.
Another teammate got the rebound and passed the ball back to Jaden, who set up and took another shot.
This time, it was almost all net.
“It felt awesome,” Jaden said.
“Everyone was cheering,” Tiffany Bussard said.
“It was great. He was so excited,” said Damiata.
Damiata said Jaden got a wonderful reaction from the crowd.
As he's looking at the rest of the season ahead, and even high school beyond, Jaden is realistic about the fact that he likely won't pursue other sports.
“I can’t do a whole bunch,” he said.
However, the experience on the court earlier this month meant a great deal to him, and has been an inspiration.
Even with challenges – especially the big ones that are hard to see around – it's important not to give up.
“Just follow what you would like to do,” he said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.