16 replies to this topic

[Kirk S]

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Kirk and I am a retired U.S. Military member living in Germany. I tripped over a street car track in Sept 2004 and Broke my neck (C3/4), spent 1 year in the hospital.
I just found this site and it's great.

[KarenFerguson]

Welcome & glad you've found the site. What's Germany like for someone in a chair? Hubby and I have always wanted to travel there.

[Kirk S]

Kirk S, on Jan 2 2009, 04:1 9 PM, said:

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Kirk and I am a retired U.S. Military member living in Germany. I tripped over a street car track in Sept 2004 and Broke my neck (C3/4), spent 1 year in the hospital.
I just found this site and it's great.

In Germany it's really good. I want to visit my mother in July for her 85th birthday. She lives in Laguna Woods. But I am really scared, because I Haven't been on an airplane since my accident.

[Newsjunkie]

My brother-in-law has a c4-c5 injury since January 2008. He lives in Stuttgart in Germany and is in a nursing home since October. He was in a spinal injuries unit in Tubingen until August, then spent two months in a general hospital while waiting for the nursing home place. While he made progress in recovering function in his left arm in Tubingen, he has regressed in recent months. He is only able to move to his wheelchair when the physiotherapist is there. He spends most of his days lying down in his room with only two physio sessions per week. As you can imagine, my sister is very concerned and would be very interested in knowing what kind of therapies and care you've been able to access in Germany. Are you now able to live at home? We feel that there must be more that can be done but finding it hard to work through the system. My sister is from Ireland originally.

[JesseB]

Hey kirk

welcome!

[Trinity]

Welcome Kirk!
T x

[Newsjunkie]

Sorry, I meant to say welcome to Kirk but got carried away!

[Kirk S]

Newsjunkie, on Jan 2 2009, 11:06 PM, said:

My brother-in-law has a c4-c5 injury since January 2008. He lives in Stuttgart in Germany and is in a nursing home since October. He was in a spinal injuries unit in Tubingen until August, then spent two months in a general hospital while waiting for the nursing home place. While he made progress in recovering function in his left arm in Tubingen, he has regressed in recent months. He is only able to move to his wheelchair when the physiotherapist is there. He spends most of his days lying down in his room with only two physio sessions per week. As you can imagine, my sister is very concerned and would be very interested in knowing what kind of therapies and care you've been able to access in Germany. Are you now able to live at home? We feel that there must be more that can be done but finding it hard to work through the system. My sister is from Ireland originally.

I am living at home and doing good. Up until last May I could walk (if you want to call it that) with a walker a short distance and go up and down stairs. But in May I found out I had a bad disc in my lower back and had to be operated on. Well I had to wait about 1 1/2 months to be operated on and had to use my wheel chair, which wasn't good for me. After the operation I started therapy again and now I can "walk" with my walker again and I use my wheel chair as little a possible. I have therapy 3 times a week for an hour each time but, I do a LOT of training on my own ( 3-4 hours a day). Some times (as you all know) it's a real pain in the butt. But I learned to keep going and never give up.

[Nickleblue]

Hi Kirk :-)

[noles1984]

Welcome

[Texas Angel Ang]

Welcome Kirk -- it's a great site!!!

[dxeplt]

Hello 2 all:
My husband had a horse riding event on Dec. 18th 2008. He has a C5 injury and is in a quad state. This IS the most devastating event I have ever endured in my life. I am 38 yrs. old and we have an 11 yr old son. No immediate family, and I feel like a fish flaling onshore. Drs. all say different things. Neuros say give it 4 2 6 weeks for swelling and such then will see improvement. Reg. Drs. on floor say if he has not regained anything by now..dont expect it. Im on an emotional roller coster. My husband is very aware and no brain damage. He is on a vent but pulling his own 4 the last 3 days. Workin on getting him transfered to the Shepperd Spinal Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Heard it was the BEST PLACE 2 BE. New place 2 be in my life...what wil become of our family? Pls help!
Vet

[Kirk S]

dxeplt, on Jan 6 2009, 04:47 AM, said:

Hello 2 all:
My husband had a horse riding event on Dec. 18th 2008. He has a C5 injury and is in a quad state. This IS the most devastating event I have ever endured in my life. I am 38 yrs. old and we have an 11 yr old son. No immediate family, and I feel like a fish flaling onshore. Drs. all say different things. Neuros say give it 4 2 6 weeks for swelling and such then will see improvement. Reg. Drs. on floor say if he has not regained anything by now..dont expect it. Im on an emotional roller coster. My husband is very aware and no brain damage. He is on a vent but pulling his own 4 the last 3 days. Workin on getting him transfered to the Shepperd Spinal Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Heard it was the BEST PLACE 2 BE. New place 2 be in my life...what wil become of our family? Pls help!
Vet

I know that is very hard on you and your son. It was very hard on my wife and 2 sons. The only thing I can say is give your husband alot of support and keep pushing him. You also need to take care of yourself. My wife came to the hospital everyday and I realized that it was too much for her, so I pleaded with her to only come 2-3 a week. You also need to keep on the doctors, as they say the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

[wheeliebear75]

Welcome aboard.

[Scribbler]

Kirk S, on Jan 2 2009, 05:58 PM, said:

Kirk S, on Jan 2 2009, 04:1 9 PM, said:

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Kirk and I am a retired U.S. Military member living in Germany. I tripped over a street car track in Sept 2004 and Broke my neck (C3/4), spent 1 year in the hospital.
I just found this site and it's great.

In Germany it's really good. I want to visit my mother in July for her 85th birthday. She lives in Laguna Woods. But I am really scared, because I Haven't been on an airplane since my accident.

Welcome to the site "Captain" Kirk... If you can walk with a walker then you have no need to worry about going on a plane, the cabin crew will take care of you. You can always shout out, "Warp Factor 4 Scotty"...

I cant beleive a US Military guy is worried about flying, maybe an ex Royal Air Force pilot should fly you there?

I hope you get as much out of this site as I do, and thanks for introducing yourself.

Live long and prosper...

[Kirk S]

Scribbler, on Jan 7 2009, 12:30 PM, said:

Kirk S, on Jan 2 2009, 05:58 PM, said:

Kirk S, on Jan 2 2009, 04:1 9 PM, said:

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Kirk and I am a retired U.S. Military member living in Germany. I tripped over a street car track in Sept 2004 and Broke my neck (C3/4), spent 1 year in the hospital.
I just found this site and it's great.

In Germany it's really good. I want to visit my mother in July for her 85th birthday. She lives in Laguna Woods. But I am really scared, because I Haven't been on an airplane since my accident.

Welcome to the site "Captain" Kirk... If you can walk with a walker then you have no need to worry about going on a plane, the cabin crew will take care of you. You can always shout out, "Warp Factor 4 Scotty"...

I cant beleive a US Military guy is worried about flying, maybe an ex Royal Air Force pilot should fly you there?

I hope you get as much out of this site as I do, and thanks for introducing yourself.

Live long and prosper...

It's not that I'm worried about flying, i'm worried about a BM and not being able to make it to the restroom

[noles1984]

Kirk S, on Jan 2 2009, 04:1 9 PM, said:

In Germany it's really good. I want to visit my mother in July for her 85th birthday. She lives in Laguna Woods. But I am really scared, because I Haven't been on an airplane since my accident.

Flying is very easy. I did fly right after my accident 34 years ago so crews today are much, much more experienced and capable with disabilities as opposed to the 1970s.

As far as a BM, try to reduce your intake of food about 2 days prior to your flight. That should help. I've been doing that lately as my assistance for BMs was slim and unsure. How about more nutrients in liquid form?

Edited by noles1984, 07 January 2009 - 03:06 PM.