How much longer?? Only 10 or 15 more years!!

THE CURE!!!!!  A cynical rant!!

       It is so frustrating listening to people talk about the cure for spinal cord injury. I have been in the chair now going on 25 years and I have listened to the CURE BS every since I have gotten paralyzed. They have the cure, it has been proven to work, they have tried it on mice, and they are walking again. Blah Blah Blah!!! I am so sick of hearing 10 to 15 years we should have the cure! Well I have been listening since I became paralyzed back in 1990. Stem cells do work they have proven it now get of your butts and lets get it out there!!!! 10 to 15 more years is just total BS!! I attended a forum the other day and it was same old routine we have made remarkable advances and in 10 to 15 more years we should have the cure. Well I for one am not going to hold my breath and have accepted my life the way it is. But I'm willing to bet in 10 to 15 years I'll be able to write that in 10 to 15 years we will have the cure!! Whatever!! Oh did I mention in 10 or 15 years they will have a cure?? :-) I'll believe it when I see it. Well got to get back to the book, good progress, things are starting to flow still planning to meet the deadline of memorial day weekend for completion!! :-)

ReWalk - Walk again: Argo's Exoskeleton Technology

)



Rewalk!!

     The technology is amazing!! The Rewalk Argo's Exoskeleton is offering the ability for individuals to walk again!! The technology is just short of the Bionic Man's abilities!! For some who have lower limb paralysis or a disabling condition in which they have no control over their lower limbs, the ability to walk has now become a possibility again. It is a lot of work to learn to walk again but for some it will mean the world to them. The possibilities are basically endless with this technology because this is just the beginning of the road to recovery for some. Repetitive motion has been shown to have positive effects to some as the muscles receiving the motion trigger something in the body which enables messages to start going through the spinal cord once again. Now this is not a proven science but the movement of the muscles in the same way one was using them to walk before is sometimes remembered somehow and movement is sometimes regained. Just the ability to stand up is very beneficial to the body as the circulation of blood and weight bearing on the bones helps with bone density. The body is meant to be in an upright position letting gravity has its effects on the digestive and circulatory systems.

    The technology is expensive and for most will be nothing more than a dream and a hope..... for now, but who knows what the future holds. For some that have been in the chair for a while the bone density night not be strong enough to support the weight of the body. Ostio-porosis or weakening of the joints, or bone deformity from being set in a position for too long, all might have complications if one is planning on trying the Exoskeleton. Not that I'm trying to discourage anyone because I think the  ability to walk again would be awesome, but I just want people to be aware these problems might pose a problem. But the Exoskeleton has been used to walk and even climb stairs with the proper practice. It is incredible technology and I'm very interested in what the future holds for the disabled who have lost the ability to walk. I for one would not mind trying it but the practicality for me I don't think is there as it would take too long to put on, be too slow, and just be too cumbersome for me. I'm ok with being in the wheelchair as I have accepted life as it is, not that I would turn it down if it was offered to me, but putting my life on hold to do therapy to move at a snails pace compared to how fast I can get around now just doesn't interest me. Well that's just my opinion, I have been in the chair for 24 years, kinda stubborn, and set in my ways, but that's just me. :-)

    In bowling this week the Grantman got a break as I did not bowl this week because I cracked a crown I had on my tooth and had to get it repaired. He bowled pretty good though with games of 148 121 146 for a 415 series. So maybe it was just fate letting me take a break this week and not get beat again this week! Good bowling Grant I'll be back next week!!    



   

Could it possibly be Won and done???

Could it possibly be Won and done???

 

 

        Many of you who follow my blog know I was a professional bowler before my car accident in 1990. I have actually been in the spotlight, (Not on TV) but I have won tournaments and been at the top of the heap so to say. I have also realized in an unkind way that I am unfortunately getting older. Yes the "Silver Flash" might have seen his Bobsled career peak already. I'm 49 years old and still have a lot of get up and go in me but I don't feel the desire to be the best Bobsled driver there is. What I do feel is I'm a bowler and a motivational speaker and that is what I need to concentrate on. Who knows maybe I just got lucky and hit the turns at the right place to bring home first, but I can tell you this, it was a blast and an experience I'll never forget!! I now have a new sense of total awe to the men and women who go down the ice in, skeleton, and two and four man bobsleds. They are amazing and in my opinion brave to want to do it competitively knowing they could be seriously hurt. To my new friends and bobsled teammates maybe I haven't quit just yet it depends if the love for bobsledding is growing in my blood. But we set out with a goal in mind to get notice that we can be competitive in bobsledding and we can do it safely. Hopefully the Paralympics has seen and taken note of our accomplishments and will consider including it in the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. I was proud to have been asked to compete in the exhibition and feel I exceeded my expectations and showed there's still a little bite in this old dog!!

      I plan to blog every Wednesday night and either Saturday or Sunday every week from now on. I had some people say they enjoyed reading my blog but just were never sure when I would do a new blog. So now you can hold my feet to the fire! Might not feel it because I'm paralyzed but I'll smell something burning at least.  :-) And for those wondering about my competition with the Grantman Grant Buehler, it's still on and he has bragging rights this week as he beat me with games of 128 127 and 179 for a 434 to my pathetic 125 120 126 for a 371. Well that all for now please comment and tell your friends about the blog so I can get more followers!!       

Bobsled Update!!

Bobsled Update!!

    Well gang as most of you know I have returned from my Bobsled adventure somewhat amazed and surprised!! It was an awesome adventure and I met so many new great friends!! I have to say I had one goal in mind for this week and that was not to crash and try to do the best I could. Well not only did I do that but I came home victorious!!!! Yes I not only survived this week but I took first place in the USABSA Adaptive Bobsled Race in Park City!! I had nine other competitors all of which did very well as no one wrecked!! I have to tell you it is the most exhilarating and intense rush I have ever experienced!! I owe A BIG THANKS, to Dave Nicholls, Twila Victory, and Matt Bailey for giving me the opportunity to help get notice that the disabled can race in bobsleds and be very competitive. Not to brag, well yes I think it is, but me and the most incredible brakeman Gina Beredino Kothe were the only team that topped 60 miles and hour for their run with a run of 60.2 miles an hour!!! We had four or five of our competitors that continued on to Calgary Canada and I wish them all the luck in the world as they represent our country in the bobsled competition up there!! To my new friends I hope we can keep the Adaptive Bobsled team we have become together and make it an official Paralympic event!! Thanks for your camaraderie and friendship!

Bobsled update!!!!

Bobsled Update!!

     Ok gang here is the update for my Bobsled experience! We were finally able to get on the ice as drivers, to do the Park City bobsled run! I have to tell you it was better and more intense than any roller coaster ride I have ever been on!! Nerves and anxiousness were pulsing through my body as I was loaded into the bobsled as a driver! The instructors gave us the brief outline of the track and then we did  track walk, (slide for me) to see how to enter and exit the corners. We were tethered to a rope and slowly lowered in our wheelchairs through out the run to see the track. They told us about how the sled drives and that it is more of a feel as to what the sled is doing to make your small adjustments. What I mean by small adjustments is there are two guide ropes in the sled attached to the runners that steer the sled. You have two D rings you hold onto to steer. We went from the Junior start as we have not had the experience to go from the top of the track yet. To adjust you simply tug one the D ring with small movements and it turns the sled into the corners. From the top of the track you pull 5 G's that basically suck you down into the sled. We didn't feel the full 5 G's because we went from the junior start but you really felt the pressure when we hit the turns. Well after our schooling and final instructions we were put into the sleds for competition. The whole reason for us doing this was to help get the Adaptive Bobsled event into the 2018 Paralympics!! Just to be invited to participate was such an honor, and I owe a big thank you for Matt Bailey for letting me know about this incredible opportunity!!
   Once strapped into the sled we were then pushed onto the track with butterflies abound in our stomach's!! After all eight runs were complete I'm very happy to say that not only did I survive but I had the fastest time for competition and came in first!!!! I was more focused on not wrecking, hitting my marks, and just arriving alive with the sled upright, than thinking about winning the competition. Then once the run was over I finally stopped focusing on the track to look up to see the score board read number 8 sled 46.3, 60.2 miles per hour 1ST place!!! Then reality set in that I had not only arrived alive but I had actually won the competition!!!
    To be a member of the USABSA adaptive bobsled team has been such a thrill and I'm not sure where it will take me, but I hope I at least have had a contribution to making it a Paralympic sport! A special thanks goes out to Dave Nicholls and Twila Victory for doing all you have done to make this an official Paralympic event!!!