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Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis Resource Center

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 Newly Paralyzed This New Injury Packet is designed to help those who are beginning to locate spinal cord injury (SCI) information for someone who is newly injured. Navigating your way through this new world can be overwhelming. We have developed a list of the top ten questions to start you on your way. 
 Emergency Management Once a person is injured, the first priority is to stabilize the patient's breathing, blood pressure and spinal column (in most cases using a back board and a cervical neck collar). A patient with a suspected SCI will most likely be brought to or moved to the nearest Level 1 Trauma Center, which provides the highest level of surgical care to trauma patients, with a full range of specialists and equipment available 24 hours a day. 
 Spinal Cord Injury Types The location of the spinal cord injury dictates the parts of the body that are affected. After a complete examination, the doctor will assign a level of injury. The doctor will also determine if the injury is complete or incomplete. The level of injury and function may change; the initial level of injury may not be the same level upon discharge to rehabilitation. It is important to remember that these are general guidelines and that individual outcomes will vary. 
 Secondary Issues Blood clots can be common in the first few months after a spinal cord injury and later whenever illnesses occur. Walking and leg movement promote blood circulation and prevent blood clots from forming. However, when legs lack the ability to have movement or walk, the risk of blood clots increases. Excessive bed rest may also raise your risk. 
 Rehabilitation Centers After stabilization, the person with a spinal cord injury needs to go to a specialized hospital called a rehabilitation center. It is very important to locate the most appropriate rehabilitation center in order to receive spinal cord specific care and facilitate maximum recovery. 
 Health Insurance Being uninsured or underinsured does not mean there are no avenues to get health coverage. Hospitals that accept federal money must provide a certain amount of free or reduced fee care. Check with the hospital's financial aid department to see if you qualify for reduced or charity care. 
 Social Security Benefits The two main Social Security programs that support people with disabilities are the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You should apply for both programs as soon as you become disabled. You may be eligible for one and not the other. 
 Clinical Trials Clinical trials are conducted on a wide variety of disease and conditions including topics related to spinal cord injury. 
 Funding Depending upon the cause and the nature of the injury, you should seek out various insurance policies that may cover medical emergencies (homeowners, auto, and Worker's compensation) in addition to your health insurance. If you still need assistance, there are some non-profit organizations that provide grants for individuals. 
 Research We think about the usefulness of stem cells in two ways: the here and now and the future. In the here and now, stem cells are a powerful tool for scientists to use as they explore the underlying causes and mechanisms of injury and disease. Human embryonic stem cells can help reveal how organisms, including human beings, develop, which will in turn enable scientists to better understand how the body might repair itself after injury and disease. Stem cells can also be used to screen and test drugs. 
 Adjustments and Depression Adjustment to paralysis is a process of changing one's thoughts and feelings and is something that takes time. The goal of adjusting is to rebuild one's identity and to find a new balance in relationships. The stages of adjustment can include grieving, taking control, talking about your disability, taking care of yourself, and looking ahead. 
 Basic Conditions A to Z Paralysis is not defined strictly in medical terms, but there are many health and wellness issues specific to people with mobility related disabilities. 
 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurological disease affecting 30,000 Americans with about 5,000 new cases occurring in the United States each year. 
 Brachial Plexus Injury Brachial plexus injuries are caused by excessive stretching, tearing, or other trauma to a network of nerves from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. 
 Brain Injury The brain serves as the control center for all of the body's functions including conscious activities (walking and talking) and unconscious ones (breathing, heart rate, etc.). 
 Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy refers to a group of conditions that affect control of movement and posture. Due to damage to one or more parts of the brain that control movement, an affected person cannot move his or her muscles normally. Symptoms range from mild to severe, including forms of paralysis. 
 Friedreich's Ataxia Friedreich's ataxia is an inherited disease that causes progressive damage to the nervous system. It can result in muscle weakness, speech difficulties or heart disease. 
 Guillain-Barre Syndrome Guillain-Barré (ghee-yan bah-ray) syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. 
 Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disorder of the brain and spinal cord involving decreased nerve function associated with scar formation on the covering of nerve cells. In many cases, MS symptoms include various stages of paralysis. 
 Muscular Dystrophy Muscular dystrophy literally means the wasting away or atrophy of muscles. 
 Post-Polio Syndrome Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) has been eradicated from nearly every country in the world since the approval for use of the Salk (1955) and Sabin (1962) vaccines. 
 Spina Bifida Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect (NTD). The term means cleft spine, or incomplete closure in the spinal column. 
 Spinal Cord Injury Spinal cord injury involves damage to the nerves within the spinal canal; most SCIs are caused by trauma to the vertebral column, thereby affecting the spinal cord's ability to send and receive messages from the brain to the body's systems that control sensory, motor and autonomic function below the level of injury. 
 Stroke A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells. 
 Syringomyelia / Tethered Cord Post-traumatic syringomyelia and tethered spinal cord can occur following spinal cord injury. It can occur from two months to many decades after injury. 
 Transverse Myelitis Transverse myelitis (TM) is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation across one segment of the spinal cord. The term myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord; transverse simply describes the position of the inflammation, across the width of the spinal cord. 
 Paralysis and Its Impact A secondary condition is any medical, social, emotional, mental, family, or community problem that a person with a primary disabiling condition likely experiences. 
 Secondary Conditions Find out about the resources available on the various aspects of paralysis that are common to many conditions. 
 Autonomic Dysreflexia Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a potentially life threatening condition that can be considered a medical emergency. It mainly affects people with injuries at T-5 or higher. 
 Bladder Management Paralysis at any level almost always affects bladder and bowel function. This is because the nerves controlling these internal organs are attached to the very base of the spinal cord (levels S2–4) and are therefore cut off from brain input. 
 Bowel Care The digestive tract as a whole is a hollow tube extending from the mouth to the anus. The bowel, the final portion of the tract, is where waste products of digested food are stored until they are emptied from the body in the form of stool, or feces. 
 Depression Depression is found two or three times more often among people who are paralyzed than among the nondisabled – it is common but not normal. 
 Pain Pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself. 
 Respiratory Health As we breathe, oxygen in the air is brought into the lungs and into close contact with the blood, which absorbs it and carries it to all parts of the body. 
 Sexual Health Sexual identity is a significant and encompassing aspect of one's personality – sexuality plays an essential role in how we feel about ourselves, how we relate to others, how others relate to us. 
 Sexuality for Men It is important to note that healthy sexuality involves warmth, tenderness, and love, not just genital contact. Still, erections and orgasms are the top issues after paralysis. 
 Sexuality for Women Generally speaking, sexual expression in the paralyzed female is less affected than in the male; it is physically easier for the woman to adapt or redefine her sexual role, albeit a passive one. 
 Sex on Wheels Watch Gary Karp give a talk on the impact of traumatic change on sexuality and intimate activity. 
 Skin Care The skin is the largest organ system in the body. It is tough and pliable and protects the underlying tissues against air, water, foreign substances, and bacteria. 
 Spasticity Spasticity is usually caused by damage to the portion of the brain or spinal cord that controls voluntary movement. It may occur in association with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, anoxic brain damage, brain trauma, severe head injury, or certain metabolic diseases. 
 Upper Extremity Care Got arm, shoulder or wrist pain? If you're pushing a wheelchair, you are not alone. About half of those with spinal cord injury eventually experience upper extremity pain. 
 Rehabilitation and Recovery An overview of the types of rehab that can assist in the recovery process along with some helpful points to consider when choosing a rehabilitation facility. 
 Overview/How to Pick a Rehab How do you choose the right rehab setting once you or your loved one is past the very early or acute phase of paralysis or disease? 
 Exercise and New Function Christopher Reeve demonstrated to the world that he had recovered some movement and sensation. While he could not walk, did not regain bowel, bladder, or sexual function, nor could he breathe without a ventilator, his limited recovery was significant. 
 Functional Electrical Stimulation Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) applies small electrical pulses to paralyzed muscles to restore or improve their function. 
 Military Outreach Campaign The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center (PRC), the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), and the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) have resources and expertise to enhance the care and recovery of active military and veterans with paralysis and/or traumatic brain injury. 
 Research Paralysis is the result of some sort of disconnection between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the body. 
 Research at Work Paralysis is the result of some sort of disconnection between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the body. 
 Funding Great progress in paralysis research has been made over the past few years, and continues to be made each and every day. 
 ALS Research Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research: ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) involves a cascade of cellular events leading to the death of neurons (called apotosis). 
 Cerebral Palsy Research Biomedical research has led to better prevention of cerebral palsy and also to better diagnosis and treatment of people with CP. 
 Clinical Trials Resources to help you understand spinal cord clinical trials, including the International guidelines for Experimental Treatments for SCI and a tool to help you find an appropriate clinical trial. 
 Living a Healthy Life The variety of tech tools available to people living with paralysis are considered assistive technology. 
 Active Lifestyles The language of the creative process is universal. 
 Arts and Creativity By participating in the arts, people with disabilities greatly contribute to our workplaces and communities, help bury old stereotypes regarding disability, and create a global culture truly representative of all people. 
 Fitness Exercise is good for everyone, regardless of the disability, spinal cord injury level and final functional capabilities. Some people exercise to lose weight or shape up. 
 Recreation Recreation, leisure and play activity that includes all ages and abilities is a great equalizer. For people with spinal cord injuries, paralysis and other disabilities, recreation can be a gateway to physical and health benefits. 
 Sports and Competition Sports offer many opportunities for people to make the best use of their abilities, to become part of a cooperative team effort, to experience the joy, and sometimes the misery, of winning and losing. Plus, competing in sports is simply fun. 
 Winter Sports Different forms of skiing are available for both people living with paraplegia and quadriplegia. 
 Enjoy the Snow If you have a disability and winter has you singing the blues, why not make the best of the situation and have some fun? 
 Travel Away from the controlled environment of home, of course, most of the planet is not paved. Even in modern urban settings, things are not always accessible. 
 Traveling with Your Wheelchair We asked four wheelchair travelers to tell us all about the ups and downs of their trips around the world, and provide some tips to keep in mind for your next adventure. 
 Top 14 Travel Tips Don't reinvent the wheel, contact people who have traveled. Talk to people in other countries about the accessibility there. 
 How to Stay Healthy on the Road From Cristina Sadowsky, M.D., physician at Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, we got some health and safety travel tips that apply to people in wheelchairs (and others). 
 Living with Paralysis: Biographies Enjoy these inspirational stories about people living -- actively living -- with paralysis, spinal cord injury and disability. 
 Eric Gibson  
 Lei Chang  
 Patrick Ivison  
 Pete Denman  
 Jennifer Kayler  
 Amy McKnight  
 Rozanna Quintana  
 Julie Morrow Perez  
 Ruben Rios  
 The Verni Family  
 Gardening from a Wheelchair Being able to plant your favorite flowers, pick fresh herbs for a delicious dinner, or simply be delighted in the great outdoors are all possible when gardening from a wheelchair. 
 Cities for Wheelchair Users Every American deserves access to our country's cities-it's the law. But what does it really mean for a city to be accessible? 
 Summer Safety Tips According to a recent study commissioned by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, there are, right now, over 200,000 people living with spinal cord injuries caused by sporting and recreational accidents in the United States. This summer, don't put yourself at risk for serious injury by forgetting simple safety tips. 
 Summer Safety Checklist According to a recent study commissioned by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, there are, right now, over 200,000 people living with spinal cord injuries caused by sporting and recreational accidents in the United States. 
 Rights and Benefits Know your rights under the American Disabilities Act. 
 Basics of the ADA The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in July 1990. The law guarantees full participation in American society for all people with disabilities, just as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 guaranteed the rights of all people regardless of race, sex, national origin, or religion. 
 ADA at 20 The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in July 1990. The law guarantees full participation in American society for all people with disabilities, just as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 guaranteed the rights of all people regardless of race, sex, national origin, or religion. 
 Insurance and Medicare Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. 
 Social Security and Disability There are two main Social Security programs to support people with disabilities, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). 
 Vocational Rehabilitation VR assists those individuals to secure gainful employment commensurate with their abilities and capabilities through local job searches and awareness of self-employment and telecommuting opportunities. 
 Work and Benefits For many years people with disabilities were effectively penalized for taking a job. It was easy to see why such disincentives existed: Any income a person made above the limits set by the government was deducted from his or her benefits and jeopardized the only source of health insurance available to people with long-term health conditions. 
 For Caregivers and Kids Caregiving is not a role people usually choose. It seems to choose us, emerging from events and circumstances beyond our control. 
 Caregivers Caregiving is not a role people usually choose. It seems to choose us, emerging from events and circumstances beyond our control. Spinal cord injury, debilitation or sudden illness may come without warning. 
 Kids The interests of kids with disabilities are at the heart of numerous policies and programs set forth by nonprofit groups, resource centers and state and federal agencies. 
 Back-to-School Back-to-school supplies include books, pencils, new clothes and for some, wheelchairs. Here are some insights from professionals, parents, and students of all ages who will be hearing the school bell ring this coming fall. 
 Assistive Technology A look at the many ways to adapt a car or truck so people with limited body function can drive. 
 Cars and Driving Driving a car can become a reality for many people who are paralyzed, even people with very limited hand and arm function. There is a wide range of driving equipment and vehicle modifications on the market today. 
 Computers Technology plays a vital role in the lives of millions of people who are paralyzed. There are numerous assistive technology (AT) products on the market today that enable people with disabilities to achieve greater independence and enhance their quality of life. 
 Home Modification The world isn’t flat or paved, of course, and for the most part no one was thinking about people using wheelchairs or walkers when they designed all our buildings. 
 Wheelchairs, Seating, Positioning The common saying is wrong: people are not "confined" to their wheelchairs – they are in fact liberated by their wheels. 
 Gift Guide Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 For Kids Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair this holiday season. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 Tech Savvy Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 The Outdoorsman Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 Cooking Connoisseur Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 Everyday Essentials Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 For the Traveler Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 Fashion at it's finest! Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 For the Gamer Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair. We gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users and scoured all types of manufactures for their best bets. 
 Ask the Experts Our Experts Tell You how to Buy Clothes, Bags, and Gifts for Kids 
 Paralysis Facts & Figures The Reeve Foundation's One Degree of Separation: Paralysis and Spinal Cord Injury in the United States shows over a million more people in the U.S are living with paralysis than previously estimated, and five times more people living with spinal cord injury. 
 One Degree of Separation According to a study initiated by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, there are nearly 1 in 50 people living with paralysis -- approximately 6 million people. 
 Average age, average length of time since paralysis and SCI The average age of those who reported being paralyzed was 52. 
 Gender, paralysis and military service 54% of those who reported being paralyzed were males, while 46% were females. 
 Household income Household income for those who reported being paralyzed is heavily skewed towards lower income brackets and is significantly lower than household income for the country as a whole as reported by the United States Census. 
 5 Concrete and Actionable Steps The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has long recognized that finding cures and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis and spinal cord injury requires working on several fronts: research, information and education, and advocacy. 
 Prevalence of Paralysis Approximately 1.9% of the U.S. population, or some 5,596,000 people, reported some form of paralysis based on the functional definition used in the survey 
 Ethnicity and Hispanic identity Paralysis is disproportionately distributed among minority communities, including African Americans and Native Americans, when compared to ethnicity data from the United States Census. 
 Costs of Living with SCI According to The University of Alabama National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the costs of living with SCI can be considerable, and vary greatly due to the severity of injury. 
 Find Resources in Your Area  
 Borrow from Our Lending Library  
 PRC Library Loan Request Form  
 Multiple  
 Chuck Close: A Portrait in Progress  
 Team Everest: A Himalayan Journey  
 So Much/So Fast  
 Free Paralysis Resource Guide  
 Fact Sheets A to Z Here are over 100 fact sheets organized alphabetically on various topics from Aging with SCI to Wish Granting Agencies. They are all downloadable. 
 State Resources These are the fact sheets with disability resources for each of the 50 United States. Click on a state to view the fact sheet. 
 International Resources These are the fact sheets with disability resources for 31 countries. Where possible the country fact sheets are in the native language of that country. 
 Tell Us Your Story Center We want to hear from caregivers, family members, medical professionals, scientists, and anyone living with paralysis. Send us your pictures, your video, your essays. 
 Tell Us Your Story We want to hear from caregivers, family members, medical professionals, scientists, and anyone living with paralysis. Send us your pictures, your video, your essays. 
 Amazing Gracie's Devotion This month, I began writing one column after another for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, but nothing clicked. I finally realized my mind's been on a subject that I've been postponing putting into words. But now it is time. 
 Disability and Addiction Bob and I would never have believed that a spinal cord injury could destroy our marriage. Other marriages, maybe. But never ours. 
 Ms. Wheelchair America Put aside your preconceived notions about the tiara and sash. While the winners still sport these emblems, the journey they take to earn them is quite different than the Miss America ladies. Unlike that nationally televised pageant, The Ms. Wheelchair America judges focus on different criteria. 
 2010 Best Dad on Wheels Contest Do you have the "Best dad on wheels?" We want to hear from caregivers, family members, medical professionals, scientists, and anyone living with paralysis. Send us your pictures, your video, your essays. 
 2010 Best Dad on Wheels Contest Rules Do you have the "Best dad on wheels?" We want to hear from caregivers, family members, medical professionals, scientists, and anyone living with paralysis. Send us your pictures, your video, your essays. 
 The Magic Has Only Just Begun  
 That's What Sons are for The thought of being home was enough to bring tears to my eyes. But missing my family made my depression that much worse. 
 Nothing's Impossible Brad Burns says he is happier now than he was before the auto accident that left him living with quadriplegia in May 2008 at the age of 24 ... and he has a Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation tattoo to prove it. 
 From Doctor to NRN Patient When Stanley Yoo, 31, landed on his neck while warming up on a trampoline before an adult gymnastics class, he knew all too well what had really happened. 
 Two Friends. Two Injuries. Having been classmates and friends since the 1980s, Danny Heumann and Alan T. Brown share a unique story that has now brought them together again as members of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Board of Directors. 
 Curling Paralympian  
 How Christopher Reeve Helps Me It has taken me seven years to consciously relive the events of January 22nd, 2003. I was fifty-two. It's not that I've developed courage to face what happened. I relive it in my dreams. Many nights my husband, Bob, wakes me because I'm screaming. I should have stopped repressing the memories years ago. 
 Valentine's Day with Heart A late change in the weather along with Walter and Jeffrey's love and determination to help, brought me a Valentine's Day that remains special to me all these years later. Sometimes, Valentine's Day is more than a box of candy and a bouquet of flowers. 
 My Valentine Bob became my full-time caregiver. I felt like a burden, but didn't tell him. Bob was overwhelmed, but didn't tell me. We cried by ourselves. If only we had cried together, we'd have grieved and started to heal. No longer best friends, the words to "Always" were meaningless. 
 A Thousand Words Donna Lowich is an Information Specialist in the Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center. Donna was spinal cord injured over twenty years ago and has since dedicated her life to helping others living with paralysis. 
 Just Show Up While walking in the woods near our home on Cape Cod, I met a man who taught me a three-word lesson that has altered my life. 
 You Can't Stop This Dancer Having attended the University of Southern Mississippi for theater and dance, Marquez suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken back (C5, C6, and L4), and a broken pelvis; all essential parts of your body for dance. 
 Bicycling into the Future A former professional skier, Sederholm, 55, was seriously injured in a skiing accident in May 2005. He suffered traumatic brain injury, broke his C6 and C7 vertebrae, and was in a coma for 26 days. 
 Service Dogs to the Rescue! Service dogs do more than just help the visually impaired navigate a crosswalk. Someone living with paralysis could use a service dog, typically Labrador and Golden Retrievers, to pick up any dropped item, fetch packages in grocery stores, turn lights on and off, make emergency telephone calls, help with balance, and even make transactions with money at a bank or store. 
 Flying Against the Odds In 2004, a skydiving accident left Jim Carlaccini with a T-12 complete spinal cord injury. Always having an interest for aviation since a young age, he didn't let the accident stop him from getting back into the air. 
 Sporting Back to Life A year after his accident, Hernon developed Back 2 Sports, a company dedicated to helping others with spinal cord injury get "back to life" by participating in sporting activities and the outdoors. 
 Sex After Surgery After my spinal cord surgery, the very last thing I wanted to resume was sex. My husband, Bob, didn't care about that. What drove him nuts was all of the insane double messages I was giving him. 
 Conquering the North Pole On April 13, 2009, David Shannon became the first person living with quadriplegia to reach the North Pole. 
 Realizing Impossible Dreams "So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." Christopher Reeve 
 A Dramatic Change of Life The injury rendered Susan mostly paralyzed from the neck down, requiring her to be placed on a ventilator. 
 Standing Up for What is Right For three years I had a poster hanging in my fourth grade classroom. It said, "Stand Up For What Is Right, Even If You Are Standing Alone." I knew it was a good lesson for my students but I didn't know how frightening standing up for what is right can be. 
 The Path Along the Pines Like the cycle of life in which tides ebb and flow, so it goes with relationships. As often happens with couples when one partner becomes disabled, my husband Bob and I have had our share of receding waters ever since my spinal cord injury. 
 The Beat Goes On Along with a decompressed skull fracture, a concussion, and short-term memory loss, Gerling became a C6/C7 incomplete quadriplegic. 
 Finding Hope A driver in the opposite lane fell asleep at the wheel and crossed into Rick's lane, hitting his car and sending it spiraling out of control. Rick ended up with a C-3 vertebrae injury, which rendered him paralyzed from the shoulders down. 
 Gaining Independence In February 2007, Brian Waldersen was in a car accident that would change his life. He injured his vertebrae at the C-7 level and rendering him paralyzed from the chest down, including his hands. 
 Come Sail Away Maureen decided to walk her bicycle to a ferry, when she tripped and fell off of a 13-foot seawall to the ground below. She broke her lumbar one (L1), and was paralyzed. 
 Donna's Story Donna Lowich is an Information Specialist in the Foundation’s Paralysis Resource Center. Donna was spinal cord injured over twenty years ago and has since dedicated her life to helping others living with paralysis. 
 A Christopher Reeve Type Injury The doctors had no way of knowing that Matthew Keil was a huge Superman fan and long time admirer of actor Christopher Reeve when they gave their initial diagnosis. "He has a Christopher Reeve-type injury," they told the family. 
 On Duty in Baghdad While on duty in Baghdad, Jay was shot in the back of the neck at point blank range. The bullet severed his spinal cord, paralyzing him from chin down. 
 Shot on the Fourth of July James is now a retired veteran with a C3 level spinal cord injury, ventilator-dependent. 
 Obstacle Course of SCI He fell 35 feet from a free-standing ladder and landed on his neck. He pinched his spinal cord at the C-4 vertebrae and flipped his C-6 and C-7 vertebrae. He was immediately paralyzed from the neck down. 
 Paralyzed Chinese Gymnast Sang Lan Sang Lan, a former member of the Chinese national women's gymnastic team who suffered a severe spinal cord injury during competition at the Goodwill Games in New York in 1998, visited the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on July 15, 2008 to pay her respects to her hero, Christopher Reeve. 
 One Precious Step at a Time Two vertebrae in my neck had disengaged and within a very brief period, began a direct route on their way to compromising my spinal cord completely. "Even after surgery," the doctor said gently, "there's still a 50% chance you'll never walk again." 
 Care Giving is a Two-Way Street After surgery, we were euphoric that I wasn't completely paralyzed. My neurologist called it, "the honeymoon phase." We knew it would last. Our entire marriage was a honeymoon. But soon, reality hit hard. 
 Someone to Watch Over Me Six years ago, when I came home from a Boston hospital after my spinal cord injury, I was wearing a huge rock-solid brace that went from my chin to the middle of my chest. 
 From Trauma to Triumph Not long ago, I woke up one morning and discovered I couldn't walk. The doctor said that two vertebrae in my neck had quickly shifted, resulting in choking off my spinal cord. 
 Compassion in Action She was paralyzed, and although no doctor would ever say she would never walk again, they did everything to prepare us for the fact that the rest of her life would be spent in a wheelchair. 
 The Art of Survival Thirty-one years ago, at the age of 18, I dove into the ocean at a beach in Middletown, Rhode Island and broke my neck. I survived a spinal cord injury that left me quadriplegic. A friend of mine pulled me from the ocean and saved my life. 
 Paralysis Community Our goal is to connect patients, families, friends and caregivers so we can share support, experience, knowledge, and hope. Please take advantage of the community and its many forums and blogs. 
 Sporting Back to Life In October 1997, a dirt biking accident left Tom Hernon, now 45, paralyzed from the waist down, but it strengthened his optimistic attitude. 
 Stepping Out "You have to start getting out of the house," my husband, Bob, said. "Your spinal cord surgery was ages ago." "But I still can’t walk," I whimpered, lying on the couch watching the 43rd "ER" I had recorded. 
 Lessons in Forgiveness My Dad had a spinal cord disorder that developed when he was in his late sixties. I have a spinal cord injury that occurred when I was fifty-two. Until then, I never understood how hard so many things were for him. I have yet to forgive myself for the lack of compassion I showed when I was a kid. 
 Lifting His Way Over Paralysis Though John Quinn worked out regularly prior to a motorcycle cycle accident that paralyzed him at the age of 21, staying in shape later took on new meaning and a new lifestyle. 
 Do Women Gain Weight After SCI? But I know you'll feel better and fall less when you exercise in ways that will specifically help your SCI. And if exercising and losing 20 pounds helps you cut off a few inches from your stomach... 
 Cooking with Erin Poyle At age 35, living with quadriplegia for 18 years, Erin Poyle is a self-taught chef who finds cooking to be an outlet for her. "When I don't feel well, I cook," says Poyle, who is living with a C5 spinal cord injury after a motor vehicle accident in 1991. "It's therapeutic. It takes my mind off things." 
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The information provided in the Paralysis Resource Center was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number 1U59DD000338 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.