FROM IMMOBILITY to Momentum with Purpose
By Jen Forsyth
“ Something so simple can change your life so much .”
Claire Senita was faced with a tough version of that lesson as an eighth grader , but she is now using the knowledge she gained on her own journey to give others a chance at hope .
A dive roll in a gymnastics class in 2006 broke Senita ’ s neck and left her paralyzed . It was a devastating injury that came with an even more devastating prognosis .
“ Initially , I was paralyzed from the neck down . We did all the health care and all the rehab in Pittsburgh , Pa ., and they were like ‘ You know , we ’ re not sure if there is anything else we can do ,’ and my parents and I were like ‘ What ?’ Whenever you picture your future , you never picture a wheelchair .” Senita eventually regained feeling in her arms and began to research rehabilitation centers that could help her more . She and her family discovered Journey Forward , a non-profit organization located in Boston , Mass ., dedicated to bettering the lives of those who have suffered spinal cord injuries through intense exercise . From the first time she went to the center , it was obvious to Senita it was where she needed to be .
“ They took me out of my wheelchair , and they had me standing on my feet the entire two hours . They were moving my body in ways that it did before the injury . They had me up taking steps , doing squats , and I was like , ‘ this is awesome ’!”
“ So I knew I had to be there . But they were in Boston , and I was in Pittsburgh . So after I graduated from high school in 2010 , I learned to
Photo : Ray Feather
Claire modeling on the runway .
take care of myself as much as I could and how to direct my care … and I moved to Boston . While I was there , I studied business management and finance at Curry College , and I went to Journey Forward . While I was there I was able to stand on my own , I started moving my foot again , pedaling a bike , crawling , things that they said would never happen again .”
Senita not only regained movement but a new purpose on life . She would take everything she learned in college and therapy and open a version of Journey Forward in Pittsburgh . Surprisingly , a rehabilitation center like this did not exist in the city .
“ Initially , we need $ 350,000 to open the center . We have been working and collaborating with [ the University of Pittsburgh ] and we might use one of their gyms to get started . There is nothing like this in the area , which is mind-blowing . We have been talking to the head of Physical Medicine and Rehab , who thinks this is a great idea . And it ’ s really crazy , because when you think about it , this all just makes sense .”
Location is important to Senita as well . She insists that the new Journey Forward be on the outskirts of the city directly on a bus line , as many disabled individuals rely on public transportation for independence . While she has assembled a team to assist in looking into corporate donations , fundraising efforts are underway to help make her dream a reality , as well as to help many in the Pittsburgh area with spinal cord injuries recover movement that may not otherwise be possible .
“ The whole idea behind paralysis recovery is repetition . So if you keep doing the same thing , your body will find a new way around the injury , and it will start to function how it did .” n