Possible New Opportunities, cure & hope for Spinal Cord Injured Individuals

 USA Today reported recently that studies show that four spinal cord injured individuals have been able to voluntarily move previously paralyzed limbs. The study was published in the journal Brain.I had a complete spinal cord injury 26 years ago and had pretty much decided that a cure for paralysis would not come in my lifetime. I still don’t know whether it will but this was an interesting study and results.When a study funded by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, one of the most reliable advocates for spinal cord injury in the world, is discussed in USA Today, it gives even me hope for treatment. I’m not a skeptic, but after over a quarter of a century with a spinal cord injury it takes a lot to get me excited about real treatments. I decided early after my injury that even though I never wanted or asked for this traumatizing event in my life, I was going to focus on what I could still do instead of what was no longer available to me.Yes I was devastated at first! Yes there was a long road through rehab! And yes I’m still a quadriplegic with no use of my hands, limited use of my arms and no movement or feeling from my upper chest down, but I have had the opportunity to travel across the United States, to Mexico, Europe and Canada. And it is given me the opportunity to inspire thousands and prevent future injuries by speaking directly to audiences.Life has been good to me even though I haven’t had much hope to ever walk again, but now with these findings I’m excited and looking forward to what happens next. This is thrilling news and I just hope for the 1.3 million people in the world who are affected by spinal cord injury, progress continues to be made toward getting us on our feet again.