9
WHEEL WORLD NEWS
August 2018
Unfortunately, the car then hit a small tree and rolled multiple times. I was not wearing my seatbelt and was ejected from the car, as it rolled. I suffered extensive injuries in the accident, including a broken left wrist, broken right shoulder, multiple broken ribs, and a complete spinal cord injury at the T-10/T-11 vertebrae.
I had surgery to stabilize my broken wrist, broken shoulder, and spinal cord injury and was moved to an assisted living facility in Scottsdale because I could not move and was unable to begin rehabilitation until my injuries healed. I ultimately stayed at the facility for 6 weeks before beginning my inpatient rehabilitation at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. Then, after about a month of working with the great physical and occupational therapists at Good Sam, I was discharged and moved into an apartment in Phoenix that I shared with my brother.
The biggest challenge that I faced following my injury was dealing with the physical and emotional fatigue that comes with adapting to the new reality of using a wheelchair for mobility. I was extremely fit and active prior to my injury, but I lost nearly 50lbs and most of my strength after my accident because my injuries left me primarily bed-bound at the assisted living facility. And regardless of someone’s level of physical fitness, very few activities will ever prepare a person for the rigors associated with using a wheelchair.
It was a real struggle for me then to build up the physical strength and endurance necessary to go through an entire day in a wheelchair. Thankfully, I received some great advice from others on the proper techniques for transferring and pushing my wheelchair. By using the right techniques, and making a concerted effort to get out of the house and be active whenever possible, my strength and endurance increased exponentially, and I soon gained greater independence.
The emotional fatigue was a much bigger challenge for me, however. Those who know me will admit, if they are being honest,
Continued...