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HI, I'm looking for something to read that will inspire. Something that makes going to therapy a little easier and maybe even something to look forward to. I want to read about someone with a spinal cord injury who worked hard and got great results. Any suggestions?
Cole, Jonathan (2006) Still Lives: Narratives of Spinal Cord Injury
McBride, Joe (2006) A Tale of Two Gimps: Such is Life
Epstein, Marcy Joe (2008) Deep: Real Life with Spinal Cord Injury
Karp, Gary & Klein, Stanley (2004) From There to Here: Stories of Adjustment to Spinal Cord Injury
Callahan, John (1990) Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Hockenberry, John (1992) Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence
Galli, Richard (2002) Rescuing Jeffrey: A Memoir
lots of us on this site have SCI or care for someone with it. we are all proof of what are outcomes are. if you could describe the injury your wanting info about someone here surely could tell you there store including mine. just remember no 2 peoples injuries are the same. i would gladly tell you mine if your interested. im 3 1/2 years out. walking with a cane. started my recovery totally paralized.
HEY THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR STORY. I AM 18 MONTHS POST INJURY. I HAVE SOME VOLUNTARY MOVEMENT IN MY LEGS AND 100 PERCENT FEELING. I HAVE A C-6-7 INJURY. SOMETIMES I CAN MOVE THEM MORE THEN OTHER TIMES. I CAN STAND WITH MINIMAL ASSISTANCE. CAN YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. josepalomares30@yahoo.com
Tiger, are you aware that the use of ALL CAPITAL LETTERS is an indication that you are angry and shouting on the internet?
Hi Ida,
I don’t know your injury so it’s difficult for me to inspire you. As you heard, no two injuries are alike.
Feb. 2007 I became a paraplegic through an infarction to my spinal cord. How this happened is not the issue. I woke up and could only move my one shoulder and one toe. After I got to a rehab center further tests showed I was T10/11, ASIA C. This meant I did not sever my cord and had some movement and feelings (ASIA C) and the T10/11 injury meant I could not function normally from below the diaphragm down.
The rehab center started immediate physical and occupational therapy. It was absolute torture in the beginning. But each day it got better. The pain was the worst. I saw improvement in my movement and balance quickly.
I did therapy every opportunity. I joined extra groups and trials. I did butt and stomach exercises while in bed. I tried to make every moment count and fill them with some kind of exercise therapy.
I was slated to be part of an experimental group but when I was examined for qualification into the group I was told I am now an L2. This was good and bad news but I have to take it as good.
I still cannot walk but can use full leg braces and a walker. This helps with all sorts of physical problems including skin, bowl, muscle and general mental health.
Hard work and a good attitude do pay off.
Good Luck.
Carole
Hey, I really appreciate the entry. You're just the kind of person I need to communicate with. I have a friend who needs encouragement. I need someone to turn to. The injury is due to an auto accident 4 years ago. The spine was crushed. So far, he has just slight movement in his arms but he is so faithful to get out and travel 30 min. to therapy 3 times a week. He works hard. He needs to hear stories of others who have made it. I found one on the internet and brought it to him. It was life to him. His wife is giving up asking him to "come to terms with his condition". I guess all those trips to therapy are wearing on her financially. She feels like he is always the center of attention and well, I want to bring some sun shine here. I don't see it coming from anywhere else. I will bring your correspondence to him and read it maybe the two of you could communicate though me. All I know is things are bad for him right now. Thank you for your kindness.
dec.4,2004 i was doing a favor for my brother. i hit black ice in my new silverado. the truck started to come around and caught the edge of the road causeing me to flip several times. i was thrown clear and the truck cab was crushed. i opened my eyes unable to move anything but turn my head. 7 days later i woke up wearing a halo(head gear). i shattered my c5 and damage to c6. 5 different drs. told me i had a 5% chance of moving my hands or arms but never walk again. 1 week later i moved to a rehab hospital with very little movement in my right wrist. immediately they started sitting me up, moving my legs for me while i hung over a treadmill and did my hand and arm movements for me also. not to mention my voice and breathing excersizes after i learned to swallow food on my own. almost 2 months into it i could lift my arms about 12 inches with still no hand movement. i could walk 50 steps like frankenstein with 2 people holding me up and my feet wrapped holding my toes up. i could finally sit and balance after i was sat up. month 3 the halo came off and i balanced myself standing for the 1st time. 3 of the 5 drs. came to see me just to see my legs move from my own power. i still had almost nothing for hands. at 4 months i could finally grip a walker but barely, and walk 300 ft. now they sent me home.i still couldnt get up from a lying position without assistance. i hit 6 months of rehab hard till my insurance said no more. it broke my heart. at 18 months my dr. said im at my best and i needed to accept it. at that time i could use a treadmill holding on tight...lol...and i used a hand squeeze device. i always kept hope that i'll beat this and to this day still see changes.2 1/2 yrs i got up off the floor on my own for the first time. and just last week i did full deep squats where my butt touched my heels on my own. my right side works better but more feelings on my left. still places i have no feeling but im still not giving up. i use a walker around the house unless i'm feeling brave :) and a cane when i go out being careful not to stumble. and i drive a normal car. my joints seem to be getting tighter but im gettin by.
i believe that everything drs. know about SCI is based on what they learn from our injuries and studies of these injuries. but like i always say--NO 2 PEOPLES INJURIES ARE ALIKE.--and with that being said i believe mine is 1 of them that they scratch their heads on cause i'm beating what i've been told will never happen 3 1/2 years ago and still seeing changes. i believe if you keep moving and trying you will continue to see changes. NEVER GIVE UP!!!
i hope my story inspires you and others who read it. last thing i want to say is FuschiaFan, i hope your on this site for a very long time. you're a wonderful help to everyone and i know i speak for everyone.
THANK YOU!!!
marty
To: Marty T 67
You inspire me! Tough road, I will be sharing your story. Thanks for taking the time. I hope I can ask you questions in the future.
The Foundation just started collecting stories. There are a couple to read here on the left hand navigation. More to come.
http://www.christopherreeve.org/story
Hi to everyone who is interested in personal stories!
There is a very interesting and eloquent personal story being 'published' right here on this list ~ it's called "Introspections" by "SirVab" and is about the injury he suffered on the rugby field. So far I think he has written three installments, the first in March. I am anxiously awaiting more!
~leslie
I think there is a delicate balancing act between being hopeful, optimistic and being realistic.
My husband is 3 years out from his accident and while we don't want to give up, we try to live with what is real right now.
Some days are more challenging than others but each is a lesson in determination, strength and courage.
As with any health issue, everyone is different. It is important to keep asking questions and then figure out how the answers may apply to your own situation.
Best of luck-
Mary
hi ,im jerry im a t12 incomplete i fell 2 stories an broke my back its been 14 months so far but im still having lotsa pain i thought id be up walking by now an i am with braces at therapy only, im startin to get lotsa muscle spasms in my toes an feet that i didnt have before so is this a sign things are waking up now?i also have full use of the sphincter muscle an can push no problems, im feelinglike thngs are not coming back trying to find sum hope... thnks jerr
Hey Ida, I m totally with you. If I go to the bookstore it is rare to find anything that deals directly with SCI recovery. Usually if you find anything it is about people doing things while still injured. (which is OK) I have SCI T8 6 years post. I go to rehab five days a week, ride a handcycle 40 plus miles a week, and try to stay as active as possible. It helps with my pain (chronic nerve pain and stabbing pain in back) and my mental outlook.
When I was first injured they gave me little hope. I
went through various programs that were interested in making me "functional" in the chair. They taught me to do wheelies and with my broken scapula literally lifted me up off the floor into the chair and said, "great job" All they were interested in doing was writing me off.
I could go on but to make a long story short, I now go to the Detroit Medical Center, which is a cutting edge SCI recovery program. I have been there for 2 years 2 to 4 times a week. I can do things I could not do, and feel I am making progress. Four months ago I got hooked up with a trainer Randy Carver who has been working with SCI people for 35 years. He has quite a story himself and claims he has seen 5 people get up and walk after SCI and brain injury. I have seen some of these folks and it is true. Since I have been with him my core has gotten stronger as well as my quads and gluts (sp, rear end)
It is a long, slow process, like climbing a mountain. I am not at the top so I cant write a victory story. I did write a book, "Walking This Walk" amazon.com. It is about my struggle with my faith and how having a SCI has challenged my faith. It may or may not help you. Hopefully in a couple years I will write a story about getting to the top of the mountain but for now Im still climbing.
Listen to your heart, if you think you can or think you cant your right. This is a true statement. I have been fortunate to have support from many directions and I am thankful and have taken advantage of it. Not sure of all the ins and outs of your situation but I encourage you to take advantage of rehab, standing, crawling, walking with braces and any other thing that facilitates walking. Keep the vision clear, you want to get to the top. You will always go in the direction of your most dominant thoughts. I will pray for you, Brad Erlandson
Thanks so much Brad. Your story is inspiring to me.
If you give me your e-mail, I'll send you my autobiography that took 7 months using 1 finger! Mine is tfox@bendnet.com
Ida,
A really great book and amazing true story is 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly'. It's an autobiography beautifully written by Jean-Claud Bauby who was the editor of the french magazine Elle. He had a massive stroke in his brainstem when he wad 45 that left him totally paralyzed and 'locked in' as they call it. He still had all of his mental faculties but had no movement at all except he could blink his left eye. Once the doctors realized he was still mentally aware inside they had him work with a speech therepist. She developed a system where she would say the alphabet, but rearranged by saying the most frequent letters first. Once she said the letter he wanted to he would blink his eye. He would layout in his mind what he wanted to write from 6am-10am then a transcriptionist would work with him the rest of the day to write his book. It's a beautiful story I highly recommend. It was also just made into a fantastic movie of the same name that more than adaquitly capture the mood and feeling of the story.
Ida,
You'd be interested in my bio. E-mail me at tfox@bendnet.com
Ida,
For my bio, e-mail at tfox@bendnet.com. If not, just keep doing what you're doing. (Last chance!)
you may want to go to paralysis.org and check out the library catalogue. You can borrow books and videos, they will even mail it to you.
Go to this link:
http://www.youseemore.com/ReevePRC/default.asp
Would love to read your bio, but your email doesn't work for some reason.
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