Arctic Bay (Apr 19/04) - In June 2000, Lazaroosie Aola was seal hunting near his home community of Arctic Bay when his snowmobile ski got lodged in a break in the ice.

Johnnie, left, calls his dad Lazaroosie Aola in Arctic Bay, "amazing."

Johnnie Aola, Lazaroosie's son, remembers the accident launched Aola over the handlebars of his sled.

In an instant, their lives changed.

Lazaroosie broke his neck in the crushing tumble. Lazaroosie became paralyzed, and confined to a wheelchair.

For someone whose life was defined by hunting, this injury could have meant the end of joy in life.

But Lazaroosie, or Lazarus as his family and friends call him, has never let his injury get him down or define who he is.

According to Johnny, Lazarus is the same man he always was -- telling gripping stories, going out on his four wheeler or on his ski-doo, and camping.

"He is amazing, knowledgeable, courageous," said Johnny. "He keeps going. He wants to be still active even he though he can't walk."

Born near Arctic Bay 76 years ago, Lazarus always led an active Northern life hunting, experiencing perhaps more brushes with death than many hunters ever do.

"Before I was born, he was out hunting one day, and a spear went through his body," Johnny said.

"There was a blizzard, so you couldn't see very well. The harpoon was stuck in the ice."

The spear that sliced through young Lazarus' body remained stuck there for hours before he received doctor care.

When Johnny looks at his dad today, he knows he is looking at a true survivor.

Johnny lives with his dad now, and helps him get around, along with Daniel Aola, another one of Lazarus's sons.

His sons like to be with him. But Lazarus often likes to wheel himself around outside by himself when the weather is good.

The Arctic Bay housing corporation and the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) have done their part to ensure Lazaroosie lives well.

Recently Lazarus's home was retrofitted with front and back entrance wheelchair ramps, and wider doorways. The accessible home he lives in has opened up the world to Lazarus and his positive spirit continues to draw everyone to him.