Hi All

I was just wondering if anyone would like to share their spinal injury stories?

I was a bit embarrassed about mine for the first couple of months and gave people the ammended version so i didnt feel like a fool.

I was in orientation week at university and went out with a few friends for a night on the town for someones birthday. When we returned back to the college residence we continued drinking in the dorm. I decided to sit outside the window on a ledge, on the 3rd floor. There was a tall skinny tree a few feet in front and i thought it would be a great story for breakfast the next day if i jumped to the tree and slid down to the bottom. I had always done random "daredevil" things as such, jumping off a train (slow moving), climbing to the roof of mcdonalds etc. Anyways i jumped and made it to the tree but the force kept my body and legs moving. This turned me almost upside down and i hit the ground on my shoulders/torso. I dislocated T8 and the doctor said it was the worst dislocation and worst stretched spinal cord he had ever seen.

So yes for the first few months i was a bit embarrassed that people would think bad of me, and some people did i heard frequent rumours of people saying "well shes the one who jumped its her fault" and well yes it was a silly thing to do but i kept telling myself that many others would have made similar mistakes and that the result was not neccessarily ALL my fault. Just as someone in a car accident who wasnt wearing a seat belt gets the blame. Maybe?

I would also like to share with you a story i heard the other day of a freak spinal injury. A man was out on a boat in the middle of the ocean, water as deep and wide as imaginable. He dived off the boat at the exact time a turtle was swimming past. The collided and he broke his neck. What are the odds?!

Cheers Kristee

Hi Kris

No need to be embarrassed, you sound like me. I had always done stupid things after a drink but nothing that seriously damaged me until I decided to dive into a lake at midnight in December, without checking that it was only knee deep. Broke my neck c5/6 - worst hangover I've ever had

To be honest, i cant believe i wasn't paralyzed years ago, prior to my injury i have loads of stupid falls, one being where i swung from a rope swing, and reached maximum swing when the rope decided to snap and i fell on my head, and was seriously sick for the whole, migrane, and weird dizzy sick stuff, i actually heard my neck click when i landed,

it scares me today to think that i could have had a much worse injury than i have.

Hi Kris...

Try not to be so hard on yourself. We all do unadvisable things when we're young...in fact, I'm pretty sure that's part of the job requirements.

You probably don't need the extra worry or stress that any embarrassment may cause. And it's entirely possible that, by telling your story, you may cause another free and wild spirit to pause and reflect before taking on any feats of daring themselves.

So try to allow for a little self-forgiveness...I'd bet you'd extend the same to a friend, or even a stranger, in the same circumstance. Am I right? You deserve nothing less from yourself.

Hello!

How old was you when you had your injury? It has been 5 years for me! I'm C2,4,5,6.. I can walk with a brace on my right leg, I can move my left leg.. I'm also driving, with a Left Foot Excerlator, it took me 2 years to get them, the DMV made a misplace on my driving license.. I lots all my friends, only have 1 true friend, I don't know what happen to my other friends.. The friend I got now I don't know what to say to her, I'm not the same me, I don't know what to do with her.. I have lots of bad days always feel alone.. My brother can't not look at me.. He was the on driving that night of my accident, he still thinks it is his fault and he say's he don't want to hurt me anymore than I'm..
I feel dumb saying this.. But it feels so good to get it out.. If u want to here more about my accident u can e-mail me at a_2878@yahoo.ca or we can talk here..

Hi all

I was injured 20 months ago in bus accident in Germany - i´m from Denmark. It was one of these buses where it i possible to sleep in. Unfortunately the driver also fell asleep and drove in to a truck which where standing stil due to an other accident. I was lying in front of the bus and broke my back at L1. The injury is complete.

I have been to the US two times since I was injured - think that it is very easy to get around over there. Anyone have any travell experience ? from Europe ???

Henrik

My husband was hurt at work on his family's cotton farm. He got underneath the cotton picker while it was running to do maintenance work. This sounds stupid but it is common practice. They don't turn off the heavy machinery during the day because it takes too much gas to turn it off and on.
Anyway, the exact moment he climbed under his uncle looked under and didn't see him because he was still behind a tire. As Bruce sat down his uncle climbed into the cab and took off. It folded Bruce over like a burrito. He is T12/L1 incomplete.
The accident actually did much more damage to his organs than his back or bones. He died 3 times and he had to have his spleen removed. They also had to pull all of his organs down into his gut because they tore his diaphram and ended up in his chest. He had kidney failure and was on dialysis but he is doing fine with that now.

Don't feel bad or stupid about your accident Kris...I think you sound like a load of fun!! I think Bruce's accident sounds like a bad country song!!!

Hello Everyone,

I came across this site as I was looking for information on spinal cord injuries and I was truly amazed by the courage and honesty you guys show. I was looking for information in the hopes of trying to help my father, who until 3 months ago was a very healthy, active 78 y.o. man. He went into the hospital for hip surgery and came out paralyzed. Apparently, they discovered a malignant melanoma in his spinal cord which as a result let him paralyzed.

He went through 2 months of rehab and on his second day home, ended up popping his hips out and was rushed back to the hospital again, where they performed a total hip replacement.

He has been home for over 1 week now, but he just seems to be getting depressed and I am truly worried about him. He won't get dressed (just wants to stay in his hospital gown) and this is making it very difficult for him to try and transfer himself. It's almost like he has given up on even trying to do anything for himself. I know he was originally worried about his hips popping out when he would transfer himself and I totally understand that, but he now has "a brand new set of hips" and he still does not seem interested in helping himself.

Everyone in our family is trying to reassure him that things will get better once he gets into a routine (and we as a family are also trying to reassure ourselves that things will get better) and that we are all here to help with whatever he needs (both mentally and physically), but I sure could use any advice.

Kristee, you sound like you really have your head screwed on straight! I have a son the same age as you and I could see him doing exactly the same thing. He lives on the 3rd floor apartment at his university.

I, too, found this site while trying to find information on SCI.....an old friend of mine was injured on September 4, 2005.............from what I heard he was taking blood pressure meds and evidently they made him dizzy....what I do know as fact is that he was walking down a flight of stairs and passed out.....due to the fall he severed his spine at c2, complete.......we are all heartsick and his prognosis is unknown at this time........they won't let me see him yet (immediate family only) but his family has established a website which they update daily to keep everyone informed of his condition..... as can be expected, he has had some decent days and some truly awful days, but he is a fighter, and if anyone can make progress after such a devastating injury, he can.................I looked around this site and I am absolutely amazed at the strength and spirit of those of you who have been so tragically injured..........you are truly an inspiration, and I mean that sincerely..............after my friend's injury, I have vowed to never, ever complain about anythng again. Ever! Thank you for allowing me to post here. I almost feel guilty that I am healthy and fully able-bodied...there but for the grace of G-d go I, as I was an absolute idiot in my youth ( I am 47 now)....I did innumerable stupid things in my youth that could have resulted in SCI, yet by sheer luck, I have survived in one piece........bless you all and stay strong! Peace

Respectfully,
Bigpapa

Hi all, I thoroughly enjoy this site, everybody seems so geniune!!

My brother was a harsh alcoholic back in the 1980's, it's a wonder he didn't kill anybody the way he used to drink & drive. Anyways, this time around, he was drunk in the back seat of his friend's car. Their car stalled on a bridge, & another drunk driver who just left the scene of an accident he caused, came barreling over the bridge, & rearended the car that my brother & his friends were in. Nobody else was hurt but my brother.

C2-C3 injury, the Dr's said not to hope too much!

After 2yrs of rehabilitation, etc. he pulled thru. MVA happened back in 1982. He's an incomplete, left side returned, but he's on a respirator while he sleeps. It's been a long haul, but he's still here. He used to be able to walk with a walker, but he's gotten lazy.

Can't get him motivated to do anything. Constant urinary infections, anybody know how to keep those under control? Also, can't seem to get the weight off of him now either. He's 48 years old now.

I've been his caregiver right from the start, & wouldn't have it any other way.
He's a fighter, & I hope everybody with a SCI doesn't give up hope!

I injured my spinal cord in a surfing accident in 1978, when I was 19. I fractured C4, crushed the anterior section of C5 and dislocated C6. I'm a complete quad, with levels ranging from a strong C4 on my left side to a very weak almost C6 on my right. I was an inexperienced surfer, and was without my eye glasses when I fell off my board, not realizing how shallow it was. I'd been camping the week before and dove into a variety of bodies of water, so it was merely a matter of time before I did it right.

But, heck, life is as good as can be expected, and you can't beat the parking!

hi everyone
my name is jennifer im 19 years old i have a L1 Burst Fracture. On May 20th 2005 I was in a motorcycle accident I spent 3 monthes in the hospital, I also have a 11 month old son to look after well its been 5 months and im walking useing my cane
doctors say the future looks good so just remeber never to give up

Mine was a classic motorcycle accident.

I was travelling down a road, minding my own business, and a car pulled out of a juction on my left(turning right) giving me about 20 feet to stop. I didn't manage it and collided with it just behind the front wheel and fell to the ground. They didn't stop imediatetly and proceded to run over my chest with the front wheel, crushing 5 of my ribs, breaking my collar bone and scapular too.

My level of break was T8-T10 right to left, the three vertibrae had to be fused, but now it's around T7 all over due to attrophy of the cord. I spent almost a year in hospital, 4 months on bed rest, and the rest trying to get my right arm to work as best it could.

All that was 7 years ago and i still find things frustrating, but have come to terms with the injury - although it took 3 or 4 years to truely accept it...

My husband was injured 12 years ago in a MVA. He was thrown from the car 150 feet. His injury is at T12. We have been married for 3 years this month... he is an amazing guy.

The past couple of years have been very hard. He has had multiple surgeries on his abdomen as a result of surgery on his bladder. In the course of the recovery from that he developed pressure sores on his hips. He had an unsuccessful flap surgery done on his right side in Feb and one on the left in July. He is scheduled to have the right side redone next week. Even through all of this he remains strong and infallible. He truly is my Superman!!

If you need to talk e-mail me...my hubby had an unsuccessful flap done a year ago and we are still battling it. We've got it almost healed (2cmx1.5cm to go)...I can give you some tips that helped us out. We've been married for 1 1/2.

I feel a bit of a fraud on here, i suffered a lesion of the L5 after an accident at work, I spent two years in hospital and was told I not walk again. I had bowel and bladder dysfunction. after about 6 years I was in a real state i kept telling doctors I had feelings in my toes, they kept saying impossible. I have been like this for 15 years, then four years ago I was taken into hospital and given treatment to build up my muscles in my legs. Slowly I started to move my legs, then I sort of started to shuffle around. Then the doctors sent me to rehabilitation, so far I have fallen over more then walked, broke my nose twice, my arm twice my leg my ankle my cheek bone my eye socket, my other leg. Then last year with leg braces I took my first steps, if you can call it steps. It is so difficult because I have no feeling when standing, so I see my face stuck in the floor very often.

Rob

Hillary..

I would love to hear your tips. It's nice to know there is someone out there who has gone through this! I'm new here though... so help me out... how to I email from here??

Amy

Click on my name (it is over my avatar) and it will give you the option to send a mesage. Or, you can go to the members icon in the top right corner and find my name.
We've tried almost everything for his sores so I can give you the things we've tried and what has worked/hasn't worked....I'll give you names of everything though b/c everyone is different...what didn't work on Bruce may be your miracle.

Rob, I am sorry you feel the way you do, it is not going to be easy, and it will require daily hard work with therapist and without the therapist. I think you need to work fromyour top to your bottom, or at least that is my approach to sci. You must strenght firts what is working fine, and continue doing ROM, E-Stim, and weight bearing. I would start you weight bearing in prone, and then move you to four legs,then to low kneeling and high kneeling. When your upper body is very strong and enough to carry your whole body weight, I would take the chance of put you in parallell bars with bilateral lower extremities braces, and probably a hip piece too, and just work on standing tolerance until you can swing a leg and take a steps. Every case is different, and the motivation of the patient is the key for the whole walking process. It is not goign to be easy, but it can be done. Falling is part of rehabilitation too, but it seems you had take so many faals and hurt so many times, that your fear is growing, and I won't blame you. Sit down withyour therapist, and talk about the whole approach of your PT treatment and what are you willing to work. Don't let them try to just get you up and walk if you whole body is not ready, because with the lack of sensation, and obviously with the damage of the motor abilities you must likely will fall if the they can't hold you up.
When the lseion is incomplete you have some sensation below the injury, it is not consistently,but yes you can hae the ability to feel the touch, the pressure, pain. so I don't know why the medical staff told you it is impossible. If your goal is to walk with the level of your lesion it canbe done, but again will require very hard daily work, and a very eager rehab approach because it is not goign to happen overnight, it will take time, It is a mtter of trial and fail and find what it works for you. GOO LUCK

Rob-
Have you ever tried treadmill-gait therapy?
It is a therapy where they put you in a harness over a treadmill. They start the treadmill at a very, very low speed and two people sit and move your legs for you. It helps to retrain your spinal cord to the idea of walking.

My everybody

My husband Nico had a motorbike accident on 7th August 2005. He broke C4, C5, C6, T6, T8, 8 ribs, punctured lungs and laserated liver. He spent 2 weeks in ICU then was transferred to a Spinal Cord Injury Unit for rehab. He suffered from a pulmonery embalism the 2nd day there and was again in ICU. The Doctors told us to expect the worse, and the worse did happen twice, but he's such a fighter and he survived against all the odds.

Now, 14 weeks later he is showing remarkable progress. His SCI is at T6 so is paralised from chest down. We've been told to expect he'll be in rehab until at least Spring so we've a long way to go yet.

We celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary in hospital in September and I have to say I love him soooooo much words cannot describe. He's my hero, my soulmate, the love of my life and I thank God he's still with us.

xx Cat xx

Hi Cat,

Which spinal unit is he at?

I went to Lodge Moore, which is now at The Northern General in Sheffield.

Simon.

John was the driver, slightly intoxicated, late at night, drizzling rain. Looked down to get a CD, went onto the shoulder and nose dived into the semi deep ditch. He was thrown from the windshield and landed about 50 feet away into the woods. He only remembers vaguely waking up face down in a mud puddle desperatly trying to turn over. It took 30 minutes for someone to find him. He was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital about 45 miles away. Then airlifted to LSU in shreveport. Had surgery that morning and doesnt really remember anything about the hospital stay. After a week or so, he was transfered to tyler texas to rehab. Complete T6-7 para.

Hi Simon

He's in Pinderfields Spinal Injuries Unit, Wakefield.

xx Cat xx

Yes the treadmill was great, the problem I have was some doctors have said is it worth doing it. Since our hospital is deep in debt it is hard to get people to help. But the best I have found was the harness in the swimming pool, little weight but you can see your leg muscles working, cramps is now my biggest set back, massive cramps. I have started using weights, you do not realize how much muscles you loose from your arms and back.
It's hard work.

Hi Cat,

Hope everything's going ok at Wakefield

As you're from Yorkshire, I thought he may of been sent to Sheffield, although I did know they were very busy in August, especially the acute ward.

Anyway, if there's anything you want to ask on these forums, feel free, there's not much that one of use won't have experience of one way or another!

Regards

Simon.

In 1978 I was in a MVA that was caused by me. I rolled my truck into a pole going about 100 miles an hour. I did my rehab at Shadoke in Hamilton for about 6 months. My brake level is T9 incomplete. Then about two years after that I was in the back of a pickup with some friends going to anther New Years Eve party when the driver passed out and slammed into the back of a park car. I was thrown and hit back of the cab and broke the rods that were supporting my spine. So back under the knife I went to remove the rods. My therapy this time was done at Lynhurst.

Gosh....that is horrible! I would stay away from motor vehicles!

I know what you mean hillarymcarter, though that was back in a time when I was wild and crazy. Thank god those days are now far behind me.

You know, I always told my husband that now that he was badly hurt I felt like I didn't have to worry about him anymore. Like...lightning doesn't strike the same place twice. After this story, I just might change my mind on that assumption!!
I'm glad to hear you came out of it the second time without much more damage than you retained the first time!

Ive really slowed down when it comes to dangerous stuff, when i see my brothers or other people doing dangerous stuff, somtimes i really get scared, like my brother has just started rugby, and already two of his team members are off with injuries, and rugby is one of the common sci causes,

Or when im watching those you've framed type programs and you see people falling on their heads, and im thinking, christ he's gotta of broken his neck, but no they just get straight back up,

also when i begin driving, which was after my injury, it took so much courage for me, mainly because i was scared of having a crash and being even worse off,

but i know that you can't live like that.......what if.......what if......but to be honest its will always in the back of my mind, mainly because of the fact that im 18, and i suppose ive got a lot of years for somthing else to happen,

its not that you've just gotta monitor your on driving, you've gotta monitor everyone elses, you can drive as safe as you possibly can, but all it takes is for some idiot to jump a red light.

Regarding Rugby - actually sci injuries from rugby are very rare these days - maybe one or two a year. There's a lot of new rules to prevent injuries and it's orders of magnitude better than it used to be.

Don't know why but I asked around in the unit I was in and the biggest cause by for is Road Traffic - and the majority of these are Motorbikes with cars and pedal cycles lower down the scale. After these it's medical issues. Some way down the likely hood scale then comes work place injuries and sports with horse riding and motorcross featuring quite high up the list. Diving into shallow water is up there too.

My story - Mountain Bike accident in March 2003. Descending a steep rocky mountain road from one of the high peaks in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales my front wheel came out while I was travelling at probably 20 -25 mph and I was catapaulted over the handlebars landing on my head and then cartwheeling down the path. I completly destroyed T3 and did a decent job of breaking T2 and T4 as well. There's a picture of the Air Ambulance landing to rescue me below. That's me in the pile on the floor under the paramedics in the foreground.


It's difficult not to worry about the lightning striking twice thing and skiing a bit closer to trees than I'd intended to does concentrate the mind ! Hardest thing is to give the kids the freedom to do all those things that kids do - cycling, trampolining, horse riding but you can't just wrap them up in cotton wool.

You all shared such inspiring stories. I was injuried in an MVA last month. This past month has been pretty scary in dealing with the injury and difference in mobility. I had a L1 burst fracture (probably from the seatbelt) and had the fusion/decompression thing. I've spent the last couple of weeks in an rehab facility and of course hoping for the best returns. I've been told that I'm fortunate that my injury is relatively low (and incomplete), however, it still doesn't make my circumstances any easier to deal with ... my family, friends and church have all been praying for the best.

I'm just starting to jump on the internet to learn more about my injury and ran across this board. I'm hoping to learn about others peoples experiences after similar injury, though I know no-two-injuries are the same. If you've gone through something similar, I hope to hear from you about your rehab experience.

well my story is totally different to any i have read so far, i have been injured exactly a year on the 21st of november well thats at least when i walked into hospital. there is so much to my story i dont know were to start. to cut a long story short i was a v.fit and healthy able bodied person which was captain of my home ladies football team aswell as a cross country runner, and swimmer. i just started my first yr at college doing sport and exercise science which i am continuing now. when i was taken into hospital i was misdiagnosed 3 times and then informed it was all in my head!!!! by the 3rd day in hospital i had lost some sensation in my feet and also movement the tops of my lgs were still moveable, even though i had lost control of my bladder and hadnt had a bowl result the full period i had been in hospital on top of the agonising burning neurological pains in my stomach and a 40 temperature and surieal heart rate and blood pressure. i was then misdiagnosed again with guillian barre syndrome followed by transverse mylittus, the doctors transfurred me to Hull royal infermary were they misread an MRI scan and at this point the neuroligist informed me i was lucky they didnt have to open my back up (i now know that if they had this would have had an 85% chance that this operation would of gave me full contol of my lower body)and dismissed me. i was then sent back to my hospital were they treated me for transverse mylitus i soon lost all movemnt from neck down this is were they then moved me back to hull were they did another MRI were they realised i had puddles of 'puss' going up my spinal cord and a spinal abcess at the T6/7 legion.
lol im gonna shut up now coz i started this whole thing off with 'to cut a long story short' a yr on i am a paraplegic t7 complete injury with no control, sensation or movemt from the chest down. i am living my life to the best i can even though were i live isnt ideal for a w/c user at all steps and hills everywere, there is soooo much i could write but dont want to bore you. i could do with a few tips on life in a chair!!! even though im living with it everyday and also the thought of if my regular infection would of been treated properly i would of been back on my feet in a week... but hey thats life!!

My accident occured in 1997.
I was 16 at the time.
I was coming home from a movie when the driver of the car (who was my boyfriend back then) lost control of the car, went off the rode and crashed into a high voltage power pole.
The front-right side of the car was crashed and I got trapped between the front and my seat.
I broke several bones in my body, my pelvic, my right femur, 6 ribs and 4 vertebrates.
My spinal cord was severed at T5-T6, my splint raptured and one of my kidneys also raptured, which made me bleed very heavily internally.
Luckily for me we were less than 5 minutes from one of Israel's largest hospitals, otherwise I would not have made it.
I was unconcious for 4 days, underwent fusion of my broken vertebrates, and then was in the hospital for another 2 months followed by 6 months at rehab.
I am married now and I am 17 weeks pregnant!

Whooooooooooo-Hoooooooooooo!

Dana....CONGRATULATIONS!!

Hi everyone I'm new here. I'm a 21-year-old female who has been paralyzed for 3 years now. About one month after my high school graduation I was in a car driven by my friend a guy fell asleep at the wheel and hit us head on. My injury is t11 complete.

My sister woke up on Feb. 18, 2004 a perfectly normal 31 year old woman ready to go to work, waiting for me to get my lazy butt out of bed, and she started saying her feet were tingling and she was having pain in her right side. She usually had this pain when she was about to start her monthly so she didn't think much of it. Well, she went numb from the waist down a little while later. We spent from 9 am until almost midnight that evening in the ER. she was transferred to baltimore after being turned down by other hospitals. Next day they said she had a disk that had collapsed and they did surgery. She is paralyze T 12.

Hi, i was injured on 20th august 2005. I was on a 50cc scooter and a car was driving on the wrong side of the road, and hit me and i broke both femurs, smashed knee cap, cracked ribs ,punctured lung, smashed spleen, brokeen arm, and spinal cord damage at t9,t10,t12. i am now t9 complete. i am still in rehab at stanmore hospital in london. as i am 16 i cant go on the spinal unit so i am on a kids ward with loads of screamin kids!!! but the hospital gave me a laptop to use so i can go on these websites to help me find out info. I cant find any other teens with sci thou.
If there is any or any advice for teens email me:


gibbs89@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks Jack

I went out on my bachelor party, with the fiance's dissaproval, and had a few...alot to drink. I had my designated driver and friend with me so I had no worries. I was at to a country club in which I hated the place and the music and could not believe that my friend would even think of taking me there, no offense to those country lovers. I tried to have fun in which I rode the bull a few times and did the whole line dancing thing. All I remember after that is getting to my friends truck and passing out in the passenger seat. Next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital 2-3 weeks later with my fiance there, I was so happy to see her and our upcoming upcoming baby there. I then learned that I was not able to walk in which I replied 'that cannot be' then I tried to get up and walk, that led to a big crash on the hospital floor, but I didn't care cause I had the love of my life there and together we could get through anything. I suffered a T7 pinched SCI. I was later tranferred to Craig Hospital and on that day my life came crashing down my fiance told me that she did not love me anymore and that I wouldnt be allowed to be involved in my childs life. I am devastated by this news. I am in pain all the time and I'm am plagued by depression and thoughts of suicide. I dont want to be in world like this where all I do is suffer. I NEED SOME HELP AND ADVICE.

Thank You,

Anthony

I was in a motorcycle/car crash. Can you guess which one I was in? lol. I was in Ozark, AR heading North on hwy23 (the Pig Trail) when a car decided to decellerate in my lane and proceed to turn. The car swerved in my lane about 100 yards in front of me and I caught the front passenger side of the car. I flew 156.9 feet though the air before landing and tumbling to a stop. I was awake the entire time. I had some severe injuries as you can read in my signature.

Here are some pictures from the scene....

Hi Anthony...

Your story is heartbreaking to hear. I know it's probably not much consolation right now, but that 'fiance' really did you a favor in the long run. Now the door can open for a more genuine relationship to develop with someone who truly means the 'for better or worse' part.

But if the child is yours, then I don't see how she can keep you from having a relationship. She'd have to have a damned good reason, and in the eyes of the law. Fight for that. You'll never regret it.

You may not be up for a fight right now, but you can start the wheels in motion. These things move so slowly anyway, so you probably won't be bombarded with a lot of 'busy work' too soon. Do you have someone who can work beside you on this?

Things get better...and that's not just a platitude...they really do get better! You didn't mention when your injury happened, but if it was relatively recent, in the last year, then there's surely some positives ahead...whether physically or emotionally.

You've taken quite a huge hit all at once. Keep in mind that nothing is static...everything changes. And I believe that the natural tendency is for change toward the good.

Keep fighting the good fight! We're here if you need to talk, vent, curse or whatever the situation calls for.

Blessings~

Joed

Summer of '02 i think. Cliffdiving with some friends when someone yelled at me not to jump as I was making my run to the edge. Tried to stop myself and ended up just slipping off the edge and falling 50ft breaking c4-5-6 and a couple ribs etc...luckily incomplete and amazingly never hit my head. Spent a total of 9 months in rehab at 3 different rehab centers. Like Gibbo i was 18 at the time so most of my rehab i wasnt able to be on the SCI unit but an adolescent/ young adults program which turned out to be better in the long run. Some of the hardest and best times of my life. Showed me what lifes really about and im grateful for that. Now a c-7 incomplete. Take care

Have been a T9 Complete para since February 14, 1989. Almost 16 years ... wow time does really fly quickly!

Was 29 years old just finished my first graduate degree ! Short story ... .( there is like everyone here ,a much longer one for those who want to know just ask )

I was heading to a great day of skiing when I came across black ice under fresh snow. The laws of physics being what they are I managed to to do a triple "clutz" and wound up sliding off the road and down an embankment. The nice part was this was just a one vehicle accident (mine) and nobody else was with me to also get hurt. To answer your silent questions, no I wasn't speeding and I was wearing my seat belt.

Add a big tree at the bottom of the embankment and what I thought was no injury accident except to my pride and my car ... result was a closed SCI bruise/bleed that happened over a few hours and the result was a T9 Complete injury. Most of it now , is hillarious becaise of the process of how that day unfolded.

Needless to say there is a significantly longer story ... but I am going to just indicate that on that infamous day, I managed to avoid paying the ski lift fees , got aa new vehicle from insurance and also got a helicopter ride back to the city! I was actually able to put my grad school education to work and figured out what had happened to me when they sent me by helicopter from the small regional hospital.

It is amazing what an education and time to think will allow one to conclude even before the doctors would or could tell me.

Life rolls on ... pun intended!

Hi Caregiver,

Your sister's story sounds very much like my boyfriend's story - his was three years ago. If you want to talk about it, send me a personal message. I dont' have answers, but I'd like to compare notes.
Upstate

Hi Caregiver,

Your sister's story sounds very much like my boyfriend's story - his was three years ago. If you want to talk about it, send me a personal message. I dont' have answers, but I'd like to compare notes.
Upstate

truelly inspirational stories

Hi everyone,
i was just surfing and came accross this site. My little brother broke T9-12 dislocated one of them and broken most of his ribs on his left side and two on his right in a motorcross accident, he was air flown to hospital at 2am on new years eve. At only 15 its such a tradgedy to happen to someone so young, our whole family are simply devastated. we all feel so helpless. He is going for an operation on thursday to fuse his spine as they couldnt put him under surgery while his lungs were so damaged, its early days yet but he is doing well, breathing on his own and has started to eat. weve always been so proud of him, hes so strong and fit, loves his sport. ive always called him my little 'big' bro cos hes soo tall. I am just wondering if anyone has had something similar and what we can do to make his long months to come in the hospital easier for him. At the moment he is laid flat on a hospital bed not able to move or feel from his belly button down. he wakes up in the morning upset and confused, not knowing where he is. are there any stories out there where a probable complete spinal cord break in that area has occured and that person getting back on their feet?

my son john had an atv accident eight months ago when he was 19 years old. he was having the time of his life as this was his first time riding. unfortunately, he had the accident which left him with a broken back and a spinal cord injury at the T9 level. they operated on him and put two stainless steel rods in his back to keep his spine straight. he is an incomplete and is currently using leg braces and a walker to get around, the wheelchair when he needs it. some days are hard for him because he was used to being independent and living on his own. i have been looking for a site like this to ask questions and talk with other people who have had similiar incidents as now he is back home living with us (his parents). thank God he is still with us , and was using a helmet.

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