Accomplishments
OCTOBER 1, 2002 - Here is a list of things that I am able to do one year after my injury. As I progress, I will add new items at the bottom of this page.
COMPUTER
I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking to work with my computer. With it, I can use my voice to do anything on the computer including surfing the Web, sending e-mail, design web pages, and run my business. I have just started using a trackball. Although it is still slower than using my voice, eventually it will speed up my use of the computer.
WHEELCHAIR
I started using a power wheelchair back in May. I mastered the joystick within one day. However, I still had to have someone else place my hand on the joystick for me. Finally, by the end of August I was able to reliably get my hand on the joystick myself. Within the last two weeks I have finally mastered the other controls which allow me to recline, tilt, adjust the foot rests, and raise or lower the chair.
VENTILATOR
One year ago, I was using the ventilator 24 hours a day. By the time I left Kessler, I was down to nighttime use only (about ten hours). For the last month, I have been averaging about two hours a night. And, the last three nights I have not used it at all! I'm on my way to getting rid of the ventilator. (It is very common for a person with a C2 injury to be ventilator dependent for their entire life.)
WRITING
Using a fine point marker and some clever use of Velcro, I have managed to print several words on a piece of paper.
EMPLOYMENT
I go to work three days a week, about four hours per day. I spend my time there managing and advising employees, talking to customers, as well as working on the computer.
NOVEMBER 22, 2002
I am officially done with the ventilator! I had my trach tube removed today.
DECEMBER 20, 2002
I can now stand while Lois balances me with only one hand. On a good day I can stand for up to 3 minutes.
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DECEMBER 30, 2002 I stood up on my own for the first time. With assistance, I stood up and then grabbed a bar to stabilize myself. I was able to stand for three minutes with no other support. I then repeated it twice. |
 Click here for larger image |
As shown above, I was standing with no support. In order to increase the value of this exercise, I decided to try some squats while I was in this position. Lois placed my wheelchair directly in back of me for safety. After successfully completing one set and resting, I was ready to take on my second set. I was feeling pretty strong so I kept going deeper and deeper with each repetition. By the fifth repetition, I was all the way down to a sitting position in my wheelchair. I managed to pull myself up to a standing position not just once, but fifteen times! This was a landmark day - it was the first time I was able to get out of my wheelchair on my own power! Click here for a short video.
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JANUARY 29, 2003 Today, I stood with absolutely no support for 10 seconds. It was a little bit shaky, but I managed to keep my balance the whole time. I will keep attempting this to work on all those little muscle movements that we unconsciously use for standing. |
 Standing with no support! |
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FEBRUARY 2, 2003 I had a record long set on the LiteGait/treadmill today. My average sets run from 5 to 7 minutes. Today, I was able to walk for 15 minutes totally unassisted! |
 Walking on the treadmill |
FEBRUARY 10, 2003
Today I set three new records. I stood without any support for one whole minute. While holding on to a bar, I stood for 11 minutes. And, I completed 20 repetitions of sit to stand squats in one set.
FEBRUARY 14, 2003
Two new records today. Stood for 13 minutes. Completed 25 repetitions of sit to stand.
FEBRUARY 28, 2003
Stood for 20 minutes while hanging on to a bar.
MARCH 7, 2003
Stood for 24 minutes while hanging on to a bar.
MARCH 9, 2003
While lying on my stomach, I normally support myself on my elbows. Today, I was able to perform a full arm extension five times!
MARCH 12, 2003
Stood for 30 minutes while hanging on to a bar.
APRIL 9, 2003
Stood for 40 minutes while hanging on to a bar. While standing, I also did hip rotations, calf raises, arm extensions, and weight shifting from one leg to the other.
MAY 4, 2003
Supported myself on my hands and knees with no assistance. Although I've been in this position before, I had been using an ab ball to help support my trunk. I did five sets of about three minutes each, resting on my forearms between sets. The fourth set I managed to push myself back up with no help! While I was in this position, my therapist lightly pushed me from side to side and forward and backward to work on my stability.
MAY 7, 2003
Worked on my standing again today. I tried going one-handed today - I alternatively lifted one hand off the bar, stood for a couple minutes, and then switched to the other hand. I repeated this about 10 times. I could feel this working my trunk stability.
MAY 11, 2003
Used my platform walker for 45 minutes. So, not only was I bearing my weight for a record amount of time, I was also walking!
MAY 16, 2003
I was up on the platform walker for one hour today.
MAY 19, 2003
Stood with no support for three minutes.
MAY 29, 2003
While standing today, I was doing the alternate hand thing - switching from left to right and back. I was feeling pretty stable, so while hanging on with the right hand, I slowly let go and hung both arms down by my side. I only stood for 30 seconds, but it was the first time I was able to initiate free standing with no assistance.
JUNE 1, 2003
Went outside with the platform walker today. I was up for an hour, which I've done before. But, I was out on the street - I did about one hundred yards downhill and one hundred yards uphill. Those last few yards were tough, but I did it!
JULY 2, 2003
I was able to lift my hand and place it on my wheelchair joystick in a controlled manner. Normally, I have to push my hand up the right side and rotate my fingers up on the joystick. Arms are getting stronger!
JULY 18, 2003
I lifted a fork with some pizza on it to my mouth! This is the first time I have fed myself since the accident. Lois then set up a water bottle with a straw and put it in my right hand. I was able to lift it up several times and give myself a drink of water! These are the first steps toward my goal of being able to feed myself.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2003
While holding on to a bar, I did 50 consecutive squats. At the low point, my knees were bent at a 90 degree angle. At the high point, I went as high as I could without locking my knees.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2003
I initiated a free stand today and stood without any balancing help for two minutes.
NOVEMBER 8, 2003
Walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes without stopping. (Using the Lite Gait harness.)
NOVEMBER 17, 2003
I initiated a free stand today and stood for 10 minutes with no help. My
posture was excellent. While standing, I did some minor weight shifting from
one leg to another and also moved my arms around a little bit.
JANUARY, 2004
No exact dates here - I'm just going to list my accomplishments for the month.
Walked on the treadmill for the first time without using the Lite Gait. My therapist stood behind me and stabilized my trunk by hanging onto a gait belt that I was wearing. I did five one-minute sets.
I initiated a free stand and balanced myself for 15 minutes without help. I'm getting much better at making the minor corrections necessary to keep myself upright.
I've done two sessions of walking with a standard walker this month. I still have to have someone behind me helping with my stability, but I feel that I will soon be taking some independent steps using the walker.
FEBRUARY 5, 2004
I did another session of walking with a standard walker today. My therapist, Bill Reynolds, was stabilizing me from the back with a gait belt. After a few minutes of warmup, I took five steps on my own with no help from Bill! This was the first time I took steps on my own since October 1, 2001. It was a great moment!