[gustifer]

As for myself, I'm 13 years into this journey. I'm the last surviving of about 7 other SCI's whom I was in rehab with (that were at least c7 up. There was a few para's there too but never kept much contact. I don't know why). I have a friend here who is 35years post and is one of the longest living quads today. Though now he is having trouble with a tumor in his bladder. His wife is also a quad and she is 17 years post. They live together alone and have been for I think 10 years now. I have a few other friends but I'm not sure of their exact time. Anyways, I just wanted to get an idea of how long everyone has been rolling on and see what makes of it.
Gus

[Doug]

1 year post..my mentor is a c-5-6 quad thats 41 years poast

[LilCube]

be 15 years on February 28th

[Yong]

Hi everyone,

My name is James and I am a newbie to this board. I was searching YouTube for some videos on wheelchair transfers and came across this site. What a treasure find!

To introduce myself, I am a 21 year old college student in Atlanta, Georgia. I currently go to University of Georgia. Before my accident, I was a candidate in the officer program for the US Marine Corps. SEMPER FI! Haha.

I was injured in a motorcycle accident and am a T6 complete. I'm five months post injury and still trying to figure this whole thing out.

If you're ever in the ATL area and would like a local friend, let me know!

[wheeliebear75]

As of 4/28 it has been 17yrs. I know how long it's been.........but it isn't something I make a special note of.

[KimAndSophie]

It's been 3 years for me on Oct. 4th.

[KarenFerguson]

I've been disabled since birth (premature birth with bleeding in my spine) - that's 26 years for me - (L3-L4 incomplete). Hubby (a C5 quad) has been living with an SCI for 12 years.

[Rudy]

I am a 45 year old C3-4 quad. This March will be 30 years since my accident

[josh27c]

December 21st will be 5 years and I'm still here, going STRONG!

[4Wheels]

26 Fu#king years last June...... Tree fell in front of my car while on my way to work at night.... I've kept plenty busy working, DJing, running lights and sound for my old band, repairing electronic equipment..... But it still sucks...

Jim

[Susi]

I'll be 5 years this December.

I have learnt a lot about myself during these 5 years. Found tolerance, patience (well still working on that), faith, and learning to go out again amongst the public.

Been home bound pretty much these last 4 years (my choice), and only since july found the courage to work part-time again.

Different experience, but learning to live with embarrassment factor.

Here's to all us brave souls, whatever year we were injured in.

[adi chicago]

complete quad c6-c7 since april 2002.

[smokymtn memories]

I don't have an exact date, don't know when my accident was. It's been since about Dec 05 since the major problems started.

Hey Adi, welcome to the forum. Hope your flu/cold is better.

[adi chicago]

smokymtn memories, on Oct 16 2007, 03:31 PM, said:

I don't have an exact date, don't know when my accident was. It's been since about Dec 05 since the major problems started.

Hey Adi, welcome to the forum. Hope your flu/cold is better.

hi smokynmtn ........yes thanks god my flu/cold is better day by day ....the fever is gone.

[Justbnadude]

adi chicago, on Oct 16 2007, 04:49 PM, said:

smokymtn memories, on Oct 16 2007, 03:31 PM, said:

I don't have an exact date, don't know when my accident was. It's been since about Dec 05 since the major problems started.

Hey Adi, welcome to the forum. Hope your flu/cold is better.

hi smokynmtn ........yes thanks god my flu/cold is better day by day ....the fever is gone.

I was injured March 27. 1987......... MVA

[LuckyinKentucky]

October 27th 03

[Elzeen]

31 years for me as a T12 para

[milosh]

21 years

[ParaforGod]

Aug 4th was 7 yrs. for me

[gustifer]

Boy, where does time go. One minute you're like "Huh, what, how am I supposed to live like this?" The next it's "I've been living like this for how long?"

[Beachmom]

My mom's been a C4-5 for 28 years. She has never let anything keep her down! Had to raise a newborn and a 3 year old by herself back in 1979! She had a bad case of pressure sores, but recently had surgery, and has bounced back amazingly! I didn't think she had the strength in her for the invasive surgery, but her body just keeps going STRONG!!!!!!

[4Wheels]

Beachmom, on Oct 18 2007, 09:52 PM, said:

My mom's been a C4-5 for 28 years. She has never let anything keep her down! Had to raise a newborn and a 3 year old by herself back in 1979! She had a bad case of pressure sores, but recently had surgery, and has bounced back amazingly! I didn't think she had the strength in her for the invasive surgery, but her body just keeps going STRONG!!!!!!

I think thats a great thing she has accomplished.........
You should be very proud of her.....
I wanna puke when I see stories of mothers just cranking out kids for bigger welfare checks.....
Then pawning them off on others to raise......

Jim

This post has been edited by 4Wheels: 19 October 2007 - 02:47 PM

[Avocado Baby]

26 years for me

26 years for me

[HCHC]

Hi guys&girls my first post!!

Little over seven years and still rolling strong

[xMaddiex]

It's been two years post for Jason, since the beginning of October.

[allis53ca]

it was 4 years this past sept..c-5 no hands.not easy, but better than dead...

[woodman]

Twenty years, come April 18.

When I broke my neck, I figured that there would be a cure to come along in 10-20 years. HUH! What a f*cking dream!

It was 1988, and technology seemed limitless.

I had almost no control of my body. I knew it was time for a shit whenever a turd decided to pop out of my ass, and since there was no way I could control it, I usually shat all over myself to where I had to be cleaned-up.

Remember, this was back in the 80's when technology held the prospect for great potential, so when I asked my Dr. about this and he suggested "digital stimulation", I was thrilled!

"Digital", is a term I interpreted in the same way a compact disk was "digital" technology for sound.

"This is great," I thought.

"They've developed some digital technology that will allow me to regain my ability to take a proper shit"

At first, I thought they were going to shove a microchip up my ass that would give me back control over my bowels.

MAN! That was wishful thinking

Then the doctor ruined it by explaining the actual process.

[nomis]

Best laugh I've had all week, Woodman. Cheers.

[dom]

yeah woodman! they cloak these terms in often unidentifiable language to make you feel better-digital evacuation [digging out a turd] isc-[sticking a tube up your eyepiece]pain management/bowel management/programme this programme that,it sounds like we are all robots and need reformatting

[Murray]

Woodman - excellent story! Or as excellent as one can get, considering the circumstances!

On the matter of this string's question: I concur with an earlier post which mentioned unresolved issues, pre-sci, that bore on self-acceptance after injury. I have had epilepsy since age 15. My parents did a superb job of not restricting my activities throughout boyhood and adolescence. I participated in athletics in school, surfed, got into the expected amount of mischief for a "normal" young male. After leaving home, I continued what I later found was compensating - I climbed major peaks in the Pacific NW, fought forest fires, worked at a half-way house for delinquent boys, coached hs football, helped run a summer backpacking program in the Cascades, worked construction, worked a 20 acre farm, and drank like a fish. One morning after a bender, I got up, went to work - forgot my meds - was hanging some siding on the gable end of a friend's new home, and had a seizure. Fell 30 feet.
After hospitalization, among other things, I spent about six months in counseling. Guess what? Unwittingly, I'd spent the greater portion of my life trying to make up for being epileptic. Now that I was paraplegic, there was no escaping the reality of self-acceptance, regardless of appearance or of others' perception. A good lesson. A late one, sure. But, a good one.