March 2020
10
around me, along with teammates telling me I was going be ok. The ambulance showed up and soon a helicopter showed up also. I was wheeled to the helicopter and air-evacuated to St. Joe’s Hospital where they fused my C5-C7. I was in rehab for 3 months with friends and family visiting almost every day. My friends were my rock during that time. I went back to high school in March of 2006, while also going to outpatient rehab. I was able to graduate with my class in 2007. Now, I run the Joe Jackson Foundation with my father. We give grants to individuals who are 26 years old and younger and have an SCI adaptive equipment, driving lessons, and adaptive scuba lessons. I am also a member of the USA National Wheelchair Rugby team and play locally for the Ability360 Heat.
One challenge I faced after my injury was being known as an AB for 3 years and then coming back to school in a wheelchair. It was odd, but my friends treated me the same. This was huge in my recovery. The high school and community raised thousands of dollars to help with medical bills, home modifications and a new car. This was completely unexpected and greatly appreciated.
I had to relearn how to do everything that I used to do with the level of function I had left. Using a catheter to urinate, putting on shorts/pants laying down, eating by holding the silverware without true grip, driving with hand controls. As a quadriplegic, I’ve become very innovative when it comes to figuring
driving with hand controls. As a quadriplegic, I’ve become very innovative when it comes to figuring out how to do simple tasks differently. You just learn how to get things done in different way and sometimes it can be time consuming. Practice makes perfect.
My advice to someone who is newly injured is to set goals. Two big goals of mine were to drive (freedom) and be completely independent, which I am. It took 2 years for me to be completely independent with everything. Be PATIENT. Navigating life as an AB took a long time, so does navigating life in a chair. Bounce ideas off of other people in chairs, you never know until you ask. Stay active. The stronger you are, the easier day to day activities are like transferring.
-Joe Jackson