Reeve en Español
Comunidad de información y apoyo para las personas que viven con parálisis y sus cuidadores en español.
Comunidad de información y apoyo para las personas que viven con parálisis y sus cuidadores en español.
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See Us
garrisonredd
Moderator Posts: 161 Moderator
My name is Garrison Redd and when I was initially paralyzed at 17 years old I never knew that a couple of years later I would have a bachelors degree in Finance become a Team USA para-powerlifter competing to go to the tokyo 2020 paralympics/ olympics, also Model, do a Tedx Talk, and become a symbol for perseverance. So for anybody that is newley injured or knows someone that was recently injured tell them that the sky is the limit. Also when one door closes another door will open. check out my instagram to learn more @garrisonredd https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k2SKQdWnbNeK3pL4IKigobPlQU3MvZ3c/view?usp=sharing
Comments
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I am sharing the story Chris (@prayforchrisroadtorecovery on instagram) I was injured August 24th, 2018 from a diving accident in Colombia. I stood in there hospital just laying there for 4 days because they kept pushing surgery off. Finally they let me get discharged to go back to the states to have surgery. The medivac team rescued my wife and I, they brought us to Florida a number 1 trauma unit and had surgery the very next day. The surgeons told my wife we haven’t seen something this bad in over 13years. So After having 2 major spinal surgeries and being out there for about a month in a half we were medivaced to NY. In October which is when we came back to NY and that’s when I started inpatient rehab. I was 32 when the accident happen and just turned 33years old.
Once I got to the rehab they told me I was a c5 complete quadriplegic. I just went to see a Spinal Doctor since being home and she said I am not a c5, I am a c7 because of what I can move, then straight out and told me you will never walk again.
I am able to move both arms (one is stronger then the other), slightly move my right thumb, slightly wiggly some toes if I can concentrate to send signals down. As of right now I can’t workout like I use to, play sports or work but I see it in my future.
My daughter definitely keeps me going and makes my days amazing, especially when I’m feeling down. And my beautiful wife who takes care of me and our baby everyday shows how strong she is. They both give me the strength to keep fighting and never give up.
When I’m having bad days I usually just want to stay in bed but my wife is my back bone and tells me I must get out of bed because being there all day won’t make the situation any better “Happy wife Happy Life” lol
Being I use to love working out and now I’m limited, my wife ordered me what is called “active hands” it wraps around my wrist and folds my fingers over into a grip where I am able to hold weights. That’s how I do my home exercise.
Don’t take life for granted enjoy every minute of because in a blink of an eye your life can change completely, Live Love & Laugh.
My support system is strong, they are all fighters and have stood by me since day 1, as they tell me “ I have an Army behind me”.
Being newly injured I would definitely tell someone with the same injury be Strong & Never give Up because it’s a emotional roller coaster that can take over your mind. Do Not let science Define your faith. Doctors aren’t always right, that being said they told me I would be on a trach the rest of my life and I proved them wrong !!!!
As hard as it is I know things will eventually get easier in some way. Being told very bluntly 6 months post accident that I will never walk again (all other doctors would sugar coat it) makes me want to push harder and I went right back at her and said sorry doc your wrong I will walk again one day 🙌🏼💪🏼.
lauragracebeck -
#ReeveSeeUs I’m Patty Kunze, a T 3-4 complete paraplegic as the result of a car accident in 2009 at the age of 48. I am a wife, a mother to two sons, and a Registered Nurse. Since my spinal cord injury, I still retain all of these roles, maintain my nursing license, became a peer mentor, and write helpful medical articles as “The Rollin’ RN.” Prior to my accident, I was teaching students to become valuable, knowledgeable nurses and now I write about topics as they relate to spinal cord injury in an easy to understand language for all to read. It seemed to be the natural progression and my calling. I have encountered some of the most fascinating individuals since acquiring my wheels, that I never would have had the pleasure of otherwise. My friends define me as “inspirational.” I rather not be known as “inspirational” but as a wheelin’ leader to show others that your life can still be brilliant, even while sitting in a wheelchair. When people discover I’m paralyzed they gasp and I say, “it’s no biggie, my LIFE is good.” @therollinrn
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My name is Brooke Pagé, I am a caregiver and wife to Evan, who is a C4 Quadriplegic.
How do people see us? How do we want to be seen?
When we are out and about, or with friends, we hope people see us as couple who lives life to the fullest, who absolutely are each other's rocks. A couple who always find a time and a place to crack a joke in good fun at the expense of the other, but who wouldn't have it any other way.
A couple who refuses to hide in the shadows or never be seen; A couple who adore one another for their quirks and unique qualities.
People who love to try new things no matter what obstacles stand in our way: food, wine, cooking and travelling are our shared passions
We hope they see a pair of individuals who have come together based on shared interests and passions, who never want to stay in the same place very long for fear of missing out on LIVING; People who want to experience the world together and not be held back by any constraints
A couple who values freedom above all, and will customize our life how WE want it, not how anyone else thinks our life should be. We make it happen regardless of the people who tell is its impossible.
We hope that they see us as the couple who believes absolutely anything is possible, and if we aren't in a good place at any point in time, we will help one another reach our goals no matter what.
"See us" for our strong shared morals, our similar sense of humour, our love of life, our ability to make the most out of any situation, and our belief that we can, together, do anything we want to do.
So next time I am "lap riding" on my husband's lap while he is cruising in his power chair to get us to a dinner reservation or wine tasting on time, and I get a look of "how cute" or "wow good on him" because people are not used to seeing it, I hope that they see us as something that is more than the girl sitting on the guy in the wheelchair, getting from point A to B.
- Brooke
Your WAGS of SCI
(Elena and Brooke) -
#ReeveSeeUsHi, I'm Allen Rucker. I became a T-10/12 para in 1996 through a neuroimmune disorder called transverse myelitis, extremely rare (one to four in a million) and out of the blue. I am a professional writer and author or co-author of 13 books. One of those books is a memoir about paralysis -- "The Best Seat In The House, or How I Woke Up One Tuesday and Was Paralyzed for Life." I also write a bi-weekly blog for the foundation web site and speak and write a lot about disability.The longer you live with it, the less your paralysis will define your life. You'll develop resilience to whatever problems it presents as well as resilience to other adversities that might occur. You have more grit that you ever imagined and a life-altering trauma like paralysis will bring that out. It is not a test that you asked for, but it is a test and if you are reading this, you have passed it. Get up, get out, and enjoy your life to the fullest!
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I love your words @Crucker keep motivating
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@garrisonredd, thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it. The Reeve people have given me a platform to share my thoughts -- a blog, ReeveConnect, this new SeeUs site, etc. I also write for other disability outlets, but this seems like home to me. Again, thanks for the encouragement. We all need it. AR
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#ReeveSeeUsMy hope is that people see me as a busy successful guy making a difference in the world! Yes, my life changed in December of 1996 when 2 guys entered my jewelry store to rob me and shot me, and I began life as a T-5 complete paraplegic, but the only real thing that changed since then is that I use a wheelchair to get around. It didn't change my style as a goal driven individual who is always working to help make others lives a little better.
I work at a great place, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, and get to help change and improve lives on a daily basis. Yes, like everyone else, I am tired at the end of the day, but there's still a lot of great years ahead for me to enjoy, so I'll keep doing this as long as I can.
Thankfully, those who know me see me, and not the chair, and that makes life even better!
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My name is Cole Sydnor, I am 24 years old, and happily in a committed relationship with my girlfriend Charisma, who has always seen me for who I am, not what I am. I became a C5-C6 quadriplegic after I dove into shallow water and struck a rock just beneath the surface of the water on a summer day in 2011. I was 16 then, and, as many young men do, wrapped my entire identity around the boyish masculinity afforded to a teenager by an able body. It makes sense then that becoming disabled stole from me my identity; I could hardly see who I was anymore. Dating became non-existent in my life, for how can you expect others to see you when you can’t see yourself? Fortunately, I met a woman who is not bound by expectations, and despite not even knowing myself, she knew me, and has drawn that person out every day since we’ve been together. Now I see, too, and feel like a new man. We started a YouTube channel in the hopes that through others seeing us more will understand how powerful an interabled relationship can be. I hope that the world will see us wheelchair users for WHO is in the chair and not WHAT. To see that we are still funny, smart, courageous, athletic, and good looking! #reeveseesus
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💥||SEE US||💥
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I made this collage for Dan while he was still in rehabilitation after he sustained a high grade, C3 & C5 Spinal Cord Injury- 3 years ago. I purposely placed each photograph that lines our first 3 years together (of us mostly sitting). What do I see now, when I walk past this collage hanging on our wall? I see US, just the way we are today. I see my best friend, a talented cook, a “dog-dad”, a critical thinker, a loyal and honest human being, an inspirational soul, full of life and laughter. Someone asked me the other day, if it was hard having Dan in a wheelchair? I said no, I don’t even notice that he’s in a wheelchair most days until he asks for me to get something down from the cupboard. Because I still just see the person I met almost 7 years ago. I hope this campaign resonates with some of you, we are so much more than an appearance. In a society fueled by first impressions and chasing the never ending ideal image, it’s easy to forget that we are SO much more than the things we buy, or have or use. We are HUMAN. We are all of the characteristics that define our soul. We have so much more to offer. Dig deep and unleash your inner potential and be SEEN for who you truly are.
Elena Pauly
(WAGS of SCI)
Your WAGS of SCI
(Elena and Brooke) -
In 2006, I was struck with transverse myelitis, a rare inflammation which paralyzed me at level T10 of the spine. A lot of things became uncertain including my future, “who” I was and life in general. But I decided to spend the next 12.5 years going on with life and accomplishing things as I normally would have, even if I wasn’t in a wheelchair. That includes having two kids and being the CEO of my household. My family forgets that I have a disability because I wear so many hats 🎩and do absolutely everything (stay-at-home Moms out there, do you hear me?!?! 🙌😂)!! I’m the family chauffeur 👩🏻✈️, the family 👩🏻🍳chef, the nurse that heals boo-boos 👩⚕️, the home 🏠organizer, the family planner 📆, the tutor 📓, the family cheerleader📣. I’m the Wife of Prince Charming. A Mother. A Daughter. A Sister. A BFF to some really amazing women. Swimmer 🏊♀️. Advocate. Motivater. Artist/painter👩🏻🎨. Fashion/glamour lover💄👠. First-time mono-skier. The truth is, I’m still Aimee, the same person I always was, life is great and the future looks bright! #reeveseeus -
#ReeveSeeUs My name is Zack Collie and I am 24 years old. I suffered a spinal cord injury in 2010 at the beach when I dove into a wave and hit a sandbar. For the past almost 9 years I have been confined to a wheelchair, but have NOT let it define who I am and hold me back from my ambitions. A big accomplishment that I achieved since 2019 is reaching 100,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel and that is just one of many. One thing I like to always tell people is that I am still the same “Zack” I was before my accident, but am now sitting down all of the time. I still love hanging out with friends, doing fun activities, be active, spending time with the people I care about and so much more. From when I was first injured there was hardly any awareness about spinal cords injuries and if you had one your life was over. My life has changed in so many ways and I found the women of my dreams who I want to spend the rest of my life with. She accepts me for who I am and looks past my chair. Meeting a girl and dating was one of my biggest fears and insecurities after my accident because it was such an uncommon thing to go through. I am grateful to be living in a time where spinal cord injury recognition is becoming more popular. There is a lot more to each and every one of US than our chair. Life is NOT over after a spinal cord injury, it is a NEW beginning.
Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be. -SONIA RICOTTI -
I am a 67 year old man, paralyzed almost five years ago by a back surgery that went very badly.
In those five years, I have discovered not only my own strength, but the strength of my husband, my friends and my family. I am making a remarkable recovery, thanks to my outstanding therapists and doctors, and thanks to those who love me. They have provided incredible support, and I would not be where I am without them.
Although I am learning to walk again, I spend much of my day in a wheelchair. But it does not define me. If you really see me, you will see an optimistic person who goes to the theater several times a week, is a news junkie, shares great meals with friends, and who volunteers for non-profit organizations. You will see a person on a spiritual path, exploring just what matters in this world, and how to be a better person it it
You will see a man who is loved, and loves in return.
What you will not see is a defeated, depressed, or resigned individual. I am determined to keep improving. Every day I express my gratitude for all the goods things in my life, and it makes all the difference in my attitude all day.
I am proud to be member of a community that insists on being seen for our hearts and minds, not for our physical limitations. See me. See us.
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My name is Joseph Preti and I am a T2-T3 incomplete paraplegic. Before I tell you about myself, I have to comment on everyone else's posts. As I was reviewing everyone's "See Us" I was amazed at the abilities, attitudes, successes and overall love of life you all have. You have my love and respect.
I was injured in October of 2010 due to a fall brought on by my type 1 diabetes. I had a severe episode of hypoglycemia and somehow managed to fall from the third floor down onto the second floor inside our home. I don't remember anything about the fall, in fact I don't remember anything until waking up in ICU a week later.
I was 59 years old at the time of my injury and therefore had a long life of being able bodied. This made the transition to being paralyzed extremely difficult for me. After my accident I kept asking God, "why didn't You just let me die. I would rather be dead than in this wheelchair." I felt alone and isolated. Even though I was very happily married and with three children, I felt alone. No one else could imagine what it was like to be paralyzed.
It took me almost a year and a half to rejoin the land of the living. It started when I attended a program that is now defunct called Project Walk. There I met so many other people living a great life even though they were in wheelchairs. They new firsthand what it was like and in spite of being paralyzed, laughed, went to school, had careers and overall loved being alive. It was a great learning for me.
I came out of my depression and started getting busy with living life. I wanted to be of service to others so I became a peer mentor for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. I am also a peer mentor for a great rehab program called Empower SCI which is held every summer at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York. In fact, this year, they expanded their program out west to the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. Additionally, I serve as a Regional Champion for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. As a Regional Champion, I contact my federal legislators about matters of importance to the disabled community. I have our two Federal Senators and my district Congresswoman as my contacts. I have been able to get letters of support for legislation increasing funding for the Paralysis Resource Center. Additionally, I serve on the Board of Directors for a non-profit called The Here and Now Project. We are a support group for people living with paralysis and their caregivers. We hold health fairs, have an annual barbecue and hold support meetings throughout the state of Washington.
I was retired when I was injured. I have three children, all of which are married with one granddaughter. I have been married for 46 years to the absolute love of my life and get this, I lucked out. Not only is she gorgeous and completely devoted to me, she is a retired RN so needless to say she is an excellent caregiver.
I am also a musician and have set up a digital recording studio in my home. I play piano and write and record my original compositions. I have written songs for my mom and dad both of whom are deceased, all of my kids, my wife as well as other music as well. My life is filled with so many blessings that it completely overwhelms me at times. I always tell people that there is a line from the movie "Shawshank Redemption", that Morgan Freeman, Red, says, " either get busy living or get busy dying." I am too busy living to even think about dying and I am so grateful.
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Thank you for joining and sharing your story with all of us!!!! Your perspective is awesome and how you describe the process to bring yourself back to center is commendable!!
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@iamdadman Nice to meet you and thank you for sharing your story! We also agree that Project Walk is an amazing program which helps so many people! It is amazing to read all of the programs you are involved in! You rock! Keep up the amazing work!
- Cole and Charisma -
I'm Kent from Nebraska and have been a paraplegic all my life since a birth defect. I walk with crutches and lower leg braces and have an ostomy because of the paralysis. But my real issue these days is bowel management. My physician says I have all the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome without actually having the constipation that often is associated with it. The challenge is dealing with the somewhat regular episodes of diarrhea that are particularly troublesome because my partial paralysis has me without full control of sphincter muscles. I've increased my fiber (Citrucil, bran flakes, fruits primarily), I exercise, drink a lot of fluid, take a probiotic, but I'm often on edge as to when cramps and diarrhea may strike. Any suggestions?
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reeveI was om daily prednisone fpr 30 years for multiple auto-immune disorders.My pain specialisr said my spine spine had disintegrated. After i gpt up and got in my motorized chair i could no longer get back in... bed. I called my husband called 911 and firefighters
got me back in bed..the last time i left my house was tp get my pain med and baclofen pump refilled . . my worse day was May 12th call firefigshters again to put me in daughters car. Pain doctor said he had never seen my condition before. I had a mentor from C and D
reeve center..I had just gotten a pamplett on autonoomic dysreflexia. i had so many of the symtoms!
i have to stop now .have an apt with an old neurologist July 29. thank you -
I am a lifelong volunteer, i'm a dreamer, a thinker, a doer, a carer, and a sharer. Pre injury I volunteered alot with the homeless, and had an amazing opportunity to .. well literaly tie 2 rival gangs together (who normally would kill eachother if given a chance) make them depend on eachother, face eachother, face what they did to eachothers families, and completely change the course of their lives.it was shortly after this that I broke my back. strangely enough, on the road from the house i grew up in, to where the most amazing all volunteer org was founded, at a tiny grass airport I played at as a high school kid.
(i'm 2nd to left, far left is kryzstof lipinski the 4th disabled glider pilot instructor in the world, 3rd trained directly by us, and he holds 2 state records)just 2 weeks out of rehab I tok my 1st flight, I think it was just a couple weeks later started taking lessons.I soloed I think it was the following year, but life had other plans for the time being.I ended u traveling alot, spending alot of time deep in national forrests for weeks, even months. before a syrinx took my from t4-t5 para to c5 (left) c7 (right) quad I would take the hard way ..for the challenge.. over the boulder rather then around.. down the stairs right next to the ramp..i ended up in philly, (right back where i was from the teens) when a kitchen i knew from my travels (called everybodies kitchen, legally registered to "everybody" thats a full scale industrial kitchen on a schoolbus, that serves 1500+ gourmet (99% vegatarian) meals 3 times a day and gives away a ton of produce every other day they have been doing it about 40 years straight)they showed up in a crack hood 3 blocks from my house. now, i must paint you a picture: when they arrived, kids wandered the street throwing stones at strangers (and windows) a 10 year old even pulled a gun! only 3 houses were still habitable.. and i mean had 4 walls and a roof. there was a hermit hut, with a trash filled yard, but the whole hood was used as a dump.. (even a rusted backhoe was dumped there) everyone walked in the street.. cause the sidewalks were too crumbled to walk on there were dealers dealing everywhere you looked ..obviously, they wore led lights so you knew who was dealing..well after 3 months the kitchen had to move on, leaving me an a mentaly challenged guy to try to fill the whole that was left..we couldn't run a full scale kitchen, so did the next best thing. turned every last abandoned lot into "lots of love" a totally open to all community garden (no memberships, no assigned beds, no fees no restrictions) and a 3x5 block area became a (voluntarily) crime free zone. the so called "criminals" declared it a hands off zone ..and protected it. the kids who used to throw stones ran out to hug you instead. nothing you left there, even lying right out in the open, would ever be stolen, and the drugs and prostitutes and gangs moved blocks away, out of sight.i spent a whole decade there..at 1st, i got looks.. whos this dreadlocked guy in our hood picking up trash and digging in our lots.. alotta suspicion and nasty looks.. but that ended rather quickly within weeks people just started to wave and smile more.. they started to gather there as a community center.. in fact, late at night you could see cops and dealers hanging out by the fire (we had 3 firepits, and an adobe oven) and talking over what they could do to uplift the community and solve it's many problems.
I recently returned to soaring with freedoms wings international soaring for people with disabilities http://www.freedomswings.org/i'm now on the board of directors & really hope to finish getting my glider pilots liscence, and, hopefully eventualy instructors rating too. so I cansomeday give back the gift that really helped me so much way back when i was 1st injuredmy name is pete goldeni am me.. thats it just me
happy to be alive and living free and being the best me i can be
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Hello . My name is Pamela .Call me Pam. I am new here in the forum but. I have been making donation to Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for years. I’m 37 year old. I live in NY. I Have Cerebral Palsy since I was born . , also I have hearing loss, I use hearing Aid. I use eye glasses too. Because of my disability I use a walker. Now I am trying to find a job. I applied for normal job but because of my disability they don't give me a job. I am very good with computers. I speak three languages English -Korean and Spanish. I have my own YouTube Channel. I have not used it to talk about me because I'm worried what other people may think. Maybe soon I will make a video who know. I am fan of Christopher Reeve. Superman movies are my favorites. @Zcollie I don't know how you can make videos and talk about you on camera so easy about your life. I was impressed . I like your dog so cute. Is my fist time talking about my disability here. So I hope you like my story.
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@kkarisuma27 Hello and welcome to our forum. I am glad you are here. It sounds as if you are a strong and independent person. Keep knocking on those doors and one of them will open for you...
Joe
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@kkarisuma27 Thank you and I am glad you think Sedona is cute haha. She is awesome. I hope one day you will talk about yourself on your YouTube channel. I always know there will be people out there who will judge me but I do not care what they think. The love and support I get from everyone else far outweighs the few rude and negative people out there. You have to just take the step of putting yourself out there(:Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be. -SONIA RICOTTI
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@zcollie Sedona is cute. I will try to do a video. Maybe like you said I should not care what other people think. As long as I do what I want. I will try to put myself out there . Maybe I can find somebody to get me a job who know. I have never done it before, but if I should try .
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I'm Shannon. I was born with an L4 spinal defect. The doctors were never able to find a root cause for me.My condition was never classified as an injury. But Because of this I have to self- Cath and I had to wear ankle foot braces when I was younger. I've never let this get in my way.
