Berry became a Shriners Children’s Chicago patient after his family was involved in a car accident when he was 9 years old. The accident left him and his brother Aaron paralyzed from the waist down, and took the lives of his parents, Robin and Joshua Berry. He reflected on the resilience he’s gained as he prepared to be an alternate as the team heads to Paris for the 2024 Paralympics this summer.
“Shriners Children’s was truly a safe haven for us,” Berry said. “Despite everything going on in our lives, we were just focused on our day to day after experiencing such a life-altering situation. The hospital was like a dreamland for us. We had the opportunity to meet other patients and families who also went through life-changing experiences. My brother and I were able to connect with the staff and enjoy recreational nights, where we discovered our love for wheelchair basketball. Shriners Children’s made us feel OK with what was happening in our lives. The staff was able to bridge the gap between the ‘I’m recovering, going through shock and what's happening to me’ but that I'm also in a safe place.”
Berry said Shriners Children’s helped him navigate through the tough times and introduced him to wheelchair basketball, his life’s passion. Berry and his brother, originally from Houston, spent over three months at Shriners Children’s Chicago after their initial visit. The boys, who were both always very involved in sports, discovered they had a natural knack for the sport, which they continued to play throughout their childhood.
My brother and I were able to connect with the staff and enjoy recreational nights, where we discovered our love for wheelchair basketball. Shriners Children’s made us feel OK with what was happening in our lives.
Fast forward to today, and Berry is now part of the highly competitive U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team that is poised for a three-peat win at the Paris Paralympics this summer, and boasts a roster of highly-experienced veteran players. While Berry is an alternate for this summer, he has also been a standout at the University of Alabama on the Crimson Tide wheelchair basketball team, where his brother also plays. At just 22 years old, Berry has a long career ahead of him at the highest level and knows that in this competitive sport, nothing is given to anyone.
He credits his experience at Shriners Children’s with being a light in his life, when he was surrounded by so much tragedy. His goal is now to be an inspiration for others who have gone through life-changing events.
"My biggest takeaway from being a patient at Shriners Children’s without a doubt is that things will be OK,” said Berry. “I believe in blind faith now, and how I define that is that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and if you can’t see it now, your journey simply isn’t over. Amid so much chaos and sadness, Shriners Children’s was that light for me. I would tell other kids who are navigating a difficult situation that the disabled world is a beautiful world filled with inspiring people. Embrace that. Navigate it with your chest high.”
Peter was the No. 1 ranked recruit in men’s wheelchair basketball heading into the college level. Both brothers eventually received scholarships to play wheelchair basketball through the University of Alabama’s Adapted Athletics program. Berry has been recognized nationally for his impact on the adaptive sports community, and received the Inaugural Insperity Award from the Houston Sports Awards. Berry said he plans to return to the University of Alabama next year to pursue a master’s degree, and his goal is to continue to play basketball professionally overseas. He said he’s looking toward the future, and that he hopes to one day lead the team in the 2028 Paralympics Games in Los Angeles.
Peter and Aaron Berry as young boys play wheelchair basketball on the court at Shriners Children's Chicago.
Peter Berry takes a shot on the basketball court.
The Berry brothers meet a fellow wheelchair basketball player on the court at a basketball clinic.
