A Goal to Help Others

By: Sonia Lima

Name: Vinny Integlia
Injury: C5, C6
Mechanism: Dove into ocean wave
Date of Injury: Summer 1977

Vinny Integlia shared his story with us about three years ago on our website. Integlia, who is living with quadriplegia, was injured at the age of 18 when he dove into an ocean wave in Middleton, Rhode Island. We thought it would be a good time to see how he's doing.

Integlia, 51, endured six months of rehabilitation, and learning how to live life in a wheelchair. Integlia and his mother, Mojca, created a foundation to raise money for spinal cord injury research. In 1986, he graduated with a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois. In 2003, Integlia moved with his parents to Tucson, Arizona where he still resides now.

An eye for an eye
Integlia then developed a sinus infection which developed into bone swelling under his left eye. He had surgery and recovered. A biopsy was taken and showed that he was positive for Squamous-cell Carcinoma of the left maxillary sinus. Years later, Integlia had his left eye, sinus, and a piece of cheek bone removed. He also survived pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism.

A couple of months after, cancer reappeared on his neck and 32 lymph nodes had to be removed. Integlia has been told that he is one of the two quadriplegics in the U.S that has undergone that procedure.

Integlia says that his remaining eye isn't doing so great. "It has something called central serous retinopathy," explains Integlia, "which is basically a pocket of water behind the retina and it skews my vision a lot. My vision is 20/150, so it's hard for me to drive. I take buses mostly everywhere."

Integlia has a crew of four care takers and two backups. "I have people who help me to my personal care, as do many quadriplegics," explains Integlia, "but I live on my own. I am independent and always have been."

Future endeavors
Currently, Integlia is continuing public speaking, which he started doing 33 years ago, to high school students, adults, and church groups. He is also concentrating on his website, The Art of Survival.

Integlia's ultimate goal is to be part of an advocacy group that would have an impact nationwide. It would be a program for people living with spinal cord injuries that would help them pay for their personal care attendants.

"So if someone like me wants to get personal care in Florida," explains Integlia, "there should be programs available to pay for those people, and we wouldn't have to be dirt poor to get them. You can be a millionaire; it is all based on your income, your salary, your savings, and your assets. I would like to see that in every state."

You and me against the world
Integlia wrote a book, You and Me Against the World. The first chapter is featured on his website. "It is doing very well; I am working on exposure of it now."

"It's great," explains Integlia, "because whenever I go out and speak, I can just refer my audience to my website and the first chapter is there."

Most of Integlia's days are spent marketing the book and his website via the Internet. "I am in the process of looking for a marketing person," explains Integlia, "and getting out and speaking more."

When it comes to public speaking Integlia says, "If the audience is kids, it's a little different because it's hard to keep their interest. I have spoken to over two-thousand people since I started this. And it originally started as a dream."

Integlia has other plans in mind. "It's really not about the money," says Integlia of his book. "I don't really care. It's really about impacting other people's lives. My theory is that if you can change one person's road, if you can make their path easier, or you can help them in anyway, just one person, one soul, then your life is fulfilled. That's what it's about."

More on Vinny here.

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