05/20/13 post by –Shane

In these past few weeks I have made great progress.  I can feel my body trying to redevelop and sensation trying to come back.  Slowly as my back heals my sensation should start to return.  What sensation is the question?  Like anything I’ve come to grips with the fact that healing takes time.  And especially with a SCI healing can take a very long time.  Today I received my leg braces.  They still need to tweak them a bit and aren’t going to let me take them home until I’m confident in them and can walk safely.  Its an exciting feeling to be able to walk around my house and kitchen!  I’m anxious to master these new legs and to grow more comfortable and smooth in them.  It’s a lot harder then I anticipated but like anything the more practice the better.  The way I look at it is I’m one step closer with these braces to a full recovery.  I pray in this time it takes until I’m healed I eagerly try and grow closer with my relationship with Christ.  I know with Christ all things are possible and miracles happen all the time.  I pray God gives me full sensation and movement back.  And that my bowels and bladder sensation comeback to me.  I have started my training for the triathlon in September.  I’m anxious to start competing again.  Tomorrow I’m going with a friend I met to play wheelchair basketball with a bunch of guys. Looking forward to getting back in sports!  God Bless!!

 

                                                                        Love Shane,

4/30/13 post by Shane

These past couple weeks have been going well.  I had a surgery yesterday to take a filter out just above my groin.  The filter was put in to prevent blood clots when my accident first occurred.  The surgery went great and recovery was just a day.  I have been pushing the Esko to new heights; getting smoother transitions and more steps each time I use it.  I have almost reached 1500 steps in less than 40 mins of using the Ekso.  I am trying to reach out to any study and research groups to be a candidate for any testing in spinal cord injury research.  This past week my parents and I went to Cape Cod to start opening the summerhouse up.  We are working on installing a ramp for me to use.  For now my dad has to wheel me up a few steps, which isn’t the easiest amongst tasks.  But just like everything else we’ve made it work.  Through out this experience so far I’ve learned that its through trials and tribulations that we develop our character and who we are.  It’s every opportunity that we can take and learn something from that helps us grow.  I’m thankful for the function that I have and being able to be here on this earth with a second chance to grow mentally, spiritually, and physically.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to beat this paralysis.  I’m going to beat this; One step, one prayer, one day at a time.  It’s God’s time right now.  He has the plan I just need to stay focused and follow it. 

            I asked for prayers of sensation and strength back in my legs.  For prayers of strength and will power, to keep pushing forward day in and day out til I’m healed.  I hope all is well and everyone stay blessed! Lots of Love! And thanks again for everyone’s support!

                                                                                                            Love Shane,

4/9/13 –Shane

During these past few weeks I have been progressing to new heights in Ekso.  This past Monday I walked a total of 1087 steps in the Ekso Skeleton.  Setting the bar higher each time I put this suit on.  After walking that many steps I had an aching feeling in my legs.  Right where the heel is there was this aching pain that started lasting several hours.  It was a different feeling then I had before.  Only once have I noticed this pain in my legs and that was the very first time I used the Ekso suit.   Hard to say if this was good or bad but I guess feeling anything at all make it good.  I’ve about reached the six month mark since my accident at this point the swelling should have gone down significantly, but injuries like mine take a long time to fully heal.  I’m anxious to see with the swelling gone down what return I hopefully get back in these next six months.   All I know is that God’s faithful even if the healing doesn’t come.  I have hope for the future with new doors of opportunity opening up for me.  I am trying to get involved through one of my therapist with this organization that talks to kids about spinal cord injuries and preventing them.  I get to share my story and talk to kids about drinking and driving.  I’m excited to be able to talk with teenagers so that they may hear my words of advice and put them to use in their lives as they grow and mature.  As I keep moving forward in this journey I have a lot to give back along my way.   Looking ahead and taking one STEP at a time towards a full recovery. 

 

            I ask for continued prayer for sensation and function in my legs. I also ask for prayers for strength and courage as I go forth.  God Bless! And thank all of you for your continued prayers and love

 

                                                                                                            –Shane,

3/18/13 post by shane

These past few weeks have been going great for me.  Last week I walked with the Ekso suit and went a total of 496 steps!  That was the farthest I have walked yet, but it’s just the beginning. This past weekend I went with the sports association on a ski trip.  We drove to mount Sunapee in New Hampshire.  The instructors started me with dual ski’s that was attached to a bucket seat.  After three runs I told the instructor I was ready for the mono ski.  After about two runs with the mono ski and help from the instructors I was on my way.  I’m glad that I was able to go on the trip with five months post accident.  I’m starting to get involved with different sports and events going on in the disabled community.  There is so much life to be lived even from a wheelchair.  I can just about accomplish any task I set my mind to although I may have to do it differently and may take me longer; I am Able!  I saw this quote the other day and it really stuck out to me.  “I do not accept my disability:  I acknowledge it and consider every aspects of it to learn from it, conquer and move on”.  I am so grateful to be on this earth with my family and friends.  I am so blessed to be in the position I am.  Through this whole accident coming away with just a broken back I couldn’t ask for a better out come.  Yes I can’t walk right now but I have full use of my hands, my abdominals, and my brain.  I can eat on my own and dress my self.  People take for granite the smallest things in life.  Not realizing that every thing we have and do is a gift from God.  Thank you Jesus for all that you do.  I signed up to participate in triathlon September 7th it’s a half-mile swim, 13mile bike and 3mile run.   I’m excited to start training for it.  The pool is going good.  I’m getting fitted and molded for long leg braces soon.  Can’t wait to be walking in them around my house! 

            I ask for specific prayers of sensation in my legs as well as movement against gravity. Thank you for all the love and prayers.  I’m so blessed to have friends and family that support my recovery and me.

 

 

                                                                                                                         Love Shane,

2/24/13–post by Shane

The things of this world aren’t going to matter when we pass.  What kind of car we drove or what job we had none of these things are going with us when we leave earth.  All that really matters is our character.  Through this accident I’ve learned this.  It has helped open my eyes to a lot of things.  Through this journey and the physical things I’ve lost has helped me focus on what is more important.  I feel God has taken away certain blessings to redirect my focus on greater endeavors.  I’ve started working on the Ekso more frequently.  I have taken more than 320 steps the last time I used the suit.  It is getting easier the more I use it.  I have also started swimming more.  At first it was a lot harder than I anticipated.  Swimming freestyle was a challenge but just like anything the more I do it the better I become.  I really enjoy being in the pool.  It gives me an opportunity to be buoyant and walk a bit.  They have me doing therapy four days a week; which I enjoy and helps to keep me busy.  I love working on my recovery any chance I get.  I’m determined and focused.  One day at a time I’m getting closer to my goal of walking again.  I have looked into possibly getting stem cell injections.  I’m still doing research and asking around.  It excites me knowing that this could help my recovery process tremendously.  This week I have a full schedule of therapy.  Including the Ekso machine, muscle stimulating bike, the pool, and walking with long legged braces.  Bring it on!  I’m doing what ever it takes to reach my goal.  Looking into this world of paraplegia and seeing just how many Americans are in wheel chairs and are handicap makes me realize that I want to help in anyway I can.  By giving hope and reaching out to disabled people letting them know that we are ABLE and can achieve anything by putting our mind to it.  We just do it differently.  I ask for continued prayers for strength and sensation.  God Bless!!

 

 

 

                                                                                                            Love, Shane

2/14/13 –post by Shane

            I’ve been doing terrific in therapy!  Although this week was a slow start due to the snow storm that hit this past weekend.  My new bed came in Tuesday it’s such a blessing to have received that.  It’s like sleeping on a cloud.  Today I started the Ekso skeleton suit.  It’s amazing how this mechanical suit works.  I was actually walking! Took 102 steps today.  They have me in the pool twice a week and also walking with the Ekso twice a week.  I’m excited to see were I’ll be in the next few months with all this new therapy.  Lets hope and pray I’ll start to get some more sensation back.  Patience patience patience I keep reminding myself this is a long road to recovery but every day is a day to help my body recover.  I thank the Lord everyday for the blessings I have.  Just being here telling my story.  God is so good! 

 

            I ask for prayers for a full recovery.  That God will show me his good and perfect will.  I also ask for pray that I will get some more sensation back and able to move my legs against gravity.  Thank you every one for reading and all the prayers.  I can’t tell you how much the encouragement helps me.  I’m going to walk again one day!

                                                                                    Love Shane,

2/7/13 –post by shane

The weekend went by way to fast it felt like Tyler, Brittany, and the baby were only here a day.  It was so great to see by brother and hold my niece.  She is adorable.  Can’t wait for them to come back up here again.  This week I’ve made great progress.  I started in the pool, doing laps and walking with ankle weights.  The walking isn’t full fledged but its getting better and easier the more I practice.  I’m also able to stand upright in the pool and help weight go through my legs.  I love being in the water its amazing to finally be buoyant.  I’m able to move and stretch out my back like I haven’t before since my accident.  I also got fitted for the esko skeleton.  It’s this suit that assists you in walking.  Gaylord Hospital where my outpatient therapy is held is the only rehabilitation center in Connecticut that has one.  I am so anxious to finally stand up in this suit and walk.  I also have an appointment to get fitted for a standing frame.  A standing frame is a seat that you sit in and you jack up the seat into a standing position.  Its great to have because it helps with circulation, digestion, and blood flow.  What is even better is my insurance company is going to cover the standing frame.  I played in my first full court basketball game at the YMCA yesterday.  I was pretty close to scoring a basket too!  It was a lot harder than I expected.  But nonetheless it was a good time.   We are suppose to be getting a bad snowstorm up here I’m kinda bummed cause I can’t sled in my back yard.  My Dad and I are trying to figure out a pulley system to pull me back up our hill.  As I move forward in this journey which for me is the only direction to go.  I look forward to my recovery getting stronger spiritually and physically.  Being still and knowing I’m in the Lord’s hands.  He will provide and make my path straight.  I ask for continued prayers up sensation and strength back in my legs.  God Bless.

 

 

                                                                        Love Shane,