Alex
This installment of our Spotlight feature was written by Alex's wife Dina. Recovery from a spinal cord injury is very different for everyone and Alex's journey highlights those who are fortunate to experience significant return of function below the level of their injury.
My name is Alex. I live with my family in Sacramento. All my life I was physically fit and enjoyed different sports and activities. On May 12, 2023, I fell off a skateboard, while simply riding down on the sidewalk of a busy street. I was immediately paralyzed from the collar bone down. I was transported to the nearest Trauma Center and later that night was told that I had an incomplete C4-C6 SCI caused by my fall, complicated by the cervical stenosis and ossification that have been silently accumulating in my neck. The next morning I had surgery to decompress my cervical spine. Nine days later I was blessed enough to be accepted for rehab at SCVMC. I was transferred there and spent the next 37 days working hard in rehab and resting to restore my strength and heal my body.
The staff at SCVMC was amazing! I received wonderful care from every single staff member that worked with me. From MD's to RN's to PT's and OT's as well as all of their assistants and team members, everyone was wonderful, knowledgeable and competent in the care they provided.
On Mondays, I used to meet the volunteers from NorCal SCI, Kevin, Dan, Arash, Nick, Debbie and others at the support group held for all the inpatients at SCVMC It was really an eye-opening experience for me. I learned that SCI injuries are all different and the level of function is also different for everyone. I learned that life goes on no matter what level of function you have and that there is support /hope for people with SCI. I also learned that there is a window for recovery and that I needed to work very hard and optimize my time to get the best chance of most return of function.
Upon coming home, I was working with PT and OT regularly through my health insurance provider, but the amount of time that was spent with these professionals was very short. I understood that I needed more time, more one on one therapy.
I applied for the Neilsen-NorCal SCI Grant and was accepted. I began attending the SCI FIT Gym here in Sacramento in September. The staff was amazing as well. They worked really hard with me, encouraging me as well as pushing me to get as much function back as I can. The trainers at SCI FIT used the special Restorative Therapy program on my right hand and we used the NeuroMuscular Stem machine at home to help regain function in that hand.
I then also applied for the Franklin Project grant. And on November 5th, my wife and I left our home and our 2 kids and headed to Neuroworx in Salt Lake City, Utah in hopes of getting even more mobility back. At this point I was 6 months post injury, with the ability to walk very small distances with a walker and a brace for my right leg.
I arrived in Utah in a wheelchair and 5 weeks later I walked out with just a cane! The staff at Neuroworx worked really hard with me, to get me to relearn how to walk again. I worked 3-4 hours a day with PT and OT as well as just on my own. I used their Stem bikes and the gym equipment.
They were amazing! They were all knowledgeble and encouraging. They pushed me to succeed!
Upon returning home from Utah, I finished my Neilsen grant at SCI FIT and was also discharged from my regular PT, because I was able to walk and had "over achieved" any expectations of an SCI person.
I would like to add that a lot of people prayed for me, as I did as well, and God heard my prayers and helped me recover. Glory to God.
Alex
Written by Dina (Alex's wife)
For more information and to see if you are eligible for our grants, please visit the following pages on our website - The Franklin Project, The Neilsen-NorCal SCI Grant, and The Road to Recovery Program.