I was finally able to get back to working out again last week as I resumed my physical therapy sessions at Buckeye Wellness Center twice a week. The neck seems to be doing okay, it’s a little sore but still holding my head on. It felt great to start exercising again, although I was pretty spent after each session. The good news, though, is that after a good night of sleep I felt recharged and pain-free each morning after.
Now that I have the broken rods behind me it’s full speed ahead. I felt I was making some good progress after only a few weeks of working out before I had to stop to recover from my surgery. Thus, I’m excited to see how much progress I can make working out consistently over the next few months. Additionally, the Cleveland Plain Dealer ran a story about the gym a few weeks ago that led to some increased memberships as more and more people are learning about the facility and everything it can offer to those who are paralyzed.
Yesterday there was a guy working out who was at Metro rehabbing the same time I was. Needless to say, he was pretty shocked to see how well I’m doing. The last time he saw me was almost 2 years ago when I could barely tolerate sitting up right in my wheelchair. He was pretty impressed watching me do assisted sit-ups, back extensions and abductor exercises. I am confident that I will be further along two years from now and still able to be just as impressive with my recovery.
I’ve been staying busy behind the scenes working on getting everything in order for the foundation I have started. I wish I could post more details, but I’m still waiting on a few pieces to fall in place. The biggest issue is IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) public charity. I am confident I will be approved, it’s just taking a long time, as most things do when dealing with the government. However, once everything is finally in place I’m looking forward to being able to help as many SCI individuals as possible. Speaking of which, I discovered another way in which I might be able to help people – providing them with the product/resources they need that insurance will not cover. Obviously, physical therapy is one of the first things that comes to mind, but I discovered another one firsthand – a good mattress.
I’ve been using a great air mattress since I moved into my own place last March. It has helped keep pressure sores under control while allowing me to sleep soundly straight through the night. Unfortunately, my mattress was confiscated earlier today and replaced with a generic foam mattress which will probably lead to a new pressure sore. The reason for the replacement was due to Medicare not covering an air mattress. Instead, the insurance company would rather me develop another pressure sore and then need to seek medical treatment for it before considering if I’m eligible to return to using my previous mattress. This backwards thinking will lead to me incurring more costs (all of you reading this will be the ones who ultimately end up paying for it) rather than proactively addressing the issue at the source. I could go on and on about the many problems with our health care/insurance system, but will spare you the details as I’m sure you could list your own problems.
On a more positive note, I will be the Keynote Speaker at an event being held at Perry High School in Lake County towards the end of March. This will be my fourth speaking engagement since I made the decision to use my injury and experience as a positive message of faith and overcoming adversity. It is my hope to eventually parlay this into a full-time motivational speaking role at the national level.
This past week The Sundance Film Festival was held. During the festival, the Sundance Channel announced plans for a new reality TV show called, “Push Girls,” which is about four beautiful women in wheelchairs. The producers hope that that by bringing this series into mainstream television will demonstrate how strong people with disabilities are, and that it’s okay to look and talk about their conditions. Sound familiar? If you recall, I have often talked in the past about my desire to start a reality TV series called “The Quad” that would focus on 4 quadriplegics living together and going about their lives while offering an educational and entertaining glimpse into the world of paralysis. The good news is that this new series obviously legitimizes the fact that this topic is worthy of its own reality show. The bad news is that someone beat me to the punch. Although you never know, sometimes the success of one show spawns several offshoots. Maybe one day “The Quad” will make it to the networks.
On a somewhat related note, I sent my screenplay to a producer this past week. Several years ago I wrote a script for a feature-length film that I would one day like to produce and direct. While this is a long shot, it is still a dream of mine I have not let go of. It’s also something I can do while in a wheelchair. I’m not holding my breath waiting for this producer to get back to me, but it’s still fun to shop my idea around.
On a much more exciting note, Bruce Springsteen will be in town to perform at The Q on April 17. Those who know me, know what a huge fan I am of The Boss! I fully expect the concert to sellout very quickly when tickets go on sale this Saturday. I am hoping I will be able to score some tickets to the concert. However, if anyone reading this has any connections to Bruce or The Q, I ain’t too proud to beg.
There are a few other things happening that I look forward to sharing with everyone in the near future. In the meantime, please continue to keep all of those living with an SCI in your thoughts and prayers, as well as all of the doctors, scientists and caretakers working to advance the well-being of those living with paralysis.
Stand Strong!
Scott