Shane Tucker
On March 21st, 2023, Shane Tucker was driving on a rainy morning in the Santa Cruz mountains when, out of nowhere, a 100 mph wind moved in from a storm front. This caused a large tree to fall across the road, and the vehicle in front of him drove into it. He got out to assist the driver that struck the tree. While doing so, a large branch from a redwood tree broke out from approximately 150 feet up, striking Shane in the head and back. This caused a burst fracture of his L1 vertebrae that pinched his spinal cord, causing paralysis below the belly button with no sensation.
After lying in the road for over an hour till emermercy help arrived, he was transported to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Neurosurgeons there performed surgery on his back, fusing his T11 to L3 together to stabilize and decompress his L1 vertebrae.After being in the intensive care unit for ten days, he moved up to the Rehabilitation Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. There, he started his physical and occupational therapy for the next three weeks, making promising improvements in his recovery with his girlfriend and family by his side. The doctors diagnosed Shane's spinal injury as an incomplete T9 ASIA D when he started his rehabilitation. When he was discharged, he improved to T12 ASIA D.
"NorCal SCI held peer group meetings once a week at the rehabilitation center. After attending the first meeting, I found comfort and started to cope with my new injury after talking to a dozen other people on Zoom and in person who suffered spinal injuries in the past." said Shane. "Someone there told me to look up the NorCal SCI website for grants that they offer and to apply online. Once I got home after being discharged from the hospital, I applied for The Franklin Project and Neilsen Grant. Arash Bayatmakou and Dan Scrivner reached out to me soon after and set up a Zoom meeting appointment. After having the meeting, I was accepted for both grants!"
The Neilsen Grant gave Shane the opportunity to get physical therapy at SCI-FIT Fresno. While there, he made big improvements on his recovery within a short amount of time and was walking short distances assisted with trekking poles three months after surgery. Shane said, "Steve Nava and his team are so great to work with. They are very knowledgeable and push me to do my best. The whole staff has a positive attitude, and communication is outstanding."
Even though Shane was able to walk short distances assisted, his dorsiflexia and foot movement were not functional.
In July of 2023, Shane started the Franklin Project with Neuroworx in Sandy, Utah, for the next five weeks. "Every physical therapist has a PhD. at Neuroworx, and the treatment I received was next level." said Shane. "Pool therapy is where I noticed a lot of improvements in my recovery, but the game changer was the transcutaneous epidural stimulation. After my first treatment, I was able to move my right foot later that evening."
According to the National Library of Medicine, Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is a non-invasive form of neuromodulation in which electrodes are placed on the skin and used to stimulate the spinal circuitries via an electrical current.
After five weeks of therapy at Neuroworx, he was able to walk out of the building on the last day without the use of trekking poles while walking short distances.
While driving back home in Clovis, California from Utah, Shane and his girlfriend, Wendy, drove through Yosemite National Park to see Bridalveil Falls. Shane insisted on walking to see the falls. After hard work and determination, he made it to the falls viewing area, and to Wendy's surprise, Shane proposed to her, and she said, "Yes."
Shane said, "After everything we have been through together, and the fact that God has blessed me with a second chance to walk, I want to spend the rest of my life with Wendy." Shane also says, "NorCal SCI has given me the greatest chance and opportunity after my hospital stay to recover as much as possible from my SCI. I honestly have no idea where I would be in my recovery if I was not introduced to NorCal SCI. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity NorCal SCI has given me and to everyone that I have met along the way who has shared their story with me."
After the Neilsen Grant ended, Shane continued using SCI-FI Fresno two hours a week to this present day. He has gained his dorsiflexion back in both feet and almost has full functionality of his toes except for his big toes. "I continue to notice small improvements each week in my recovery and pray that it continues." said Shane.
If you would like to contact Shane directly, you can email him here - climbin79@gmail.com and follow him on Instgram here - @climbin79
Check out the Neilsen Grant and the Franklin Project and how you can apply.