Four Paraplegic men are literally pushing themselves across the country in a bid to raise $10 million for promising spinal cord injury research at McMaster University.

The four athletes, aged 43 to 65, have journeyed more than 5,000 kilometres since they strapped themselves into their hand cycles on June 10 in Victoria, B.C.

So far they have picked up only a few cheques from kind strangers along the way, but they say the main goal of the Wheel to Walk tour is to spread the message about the research being done by the Neurorestorative Group at McMaster. Continue Reading »

Dear fellow advocates-

Here at U2FP, we have good news and bad news. The bad news first-Yet again, the CDRPA did not pass into law. The good news? It came closer than we knew was possible, once upon a time. More good news, there is still a chance for passage; the fight is not yet over. Continue Reading »

OCEANSIDE —- A former Marine Corps reservist disabled by a spinal cord injury says many similarly injured troops he talks to are reluctant to apply for assistance dogs.

“They still have that warrior mentality,” said Lance Weir, volunteer coordinator for Canine Companions for Independence in Oceanside. “They’re still looking out for that person next to them. Very often they’ll say they don’t want to take a dog away from someone else.”

Weir is working to dispel that notion.

He will introduce war veterans to assistance dogs during the nonprofit group’s open house for current and former members of the military and their families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 9. The event takes place at the Canine Companions campus, 124 Rancho del Oro Drive. Continue Reading »

COSTA MESA, Calif., Jul 30, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. OXBO today announced that a study to be published in the August 2008 edition of the “Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine” demonstrates that Oxycyte(R) can help reduce damage caused by oxygen shortages in a spinal cord injury model. Oxycyte is the Company’s perfluorocarbon (PFC) therapeutic oxygen carrier.

The investigators in the study and authors of the article are Jason L. Schroeder, M.D., Jason M. Highsmith, M.D., Harold F. Young, M.D., and Bruce E. Mathern, M.D. All are with the Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond, Virginia. Continue Reading »

A new pressure mapping system at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital that helps clinicians determine the suitability of a wheelchair cushion is making life a little easier for people with spinal cord injuries, including Douglas Bartling Jr., 30, of Little Falls.

Bartling, who was paralyzed in a diving accident last summer while on vacation in the Adirondacks with his fiancée and his family, started to develop a Pressure Sore on his buttocks last March.

“I came in, and used the pressure mapping, and I got a different cushion,” said Bartling. “I went home, used the cushion for the weekend and it got better, and I haven’t had another problem since.” Continue Reading »

Quadriplegic Musician’s Lifestyle (Part 1)
Quadriplegic Musician’s Lifestyle (Part 2)
Quadriplegic Musicians Lifestyle (Part 3) Continue Reading »

Stem cell procedures lack evidence

PHILADELPHIA — In February, Marcela DeVivo took her baby son to the Dominican Republic and paid $30,000 to have him injected with blood stem cells from aborted fetuses.

Nathan, who turns 2 next month, was born with the hemispheres of his brain fused. He is physically and mentally handicapped.

DeVivo is among a growing number of Americans spending up to $75,000 in the hope that clinics in developing countries have realized the dream of regenerative medicine: using stem cells to fix the so-far unfixable. Continue Reading »

GODFREY – Kelly Dorris’ life has changed over the last two years – but it certainly hasn’t stopped.

After experiencing a severe spinal cord injury two years ago, Kelly, now 22, was determined to continue to live her life to the fullest. Her career goals are a little different, but she says that’s exciting. She has learned to adapt to a new way of life, but she says that’s OK. She feels God has plans for her and believes everything happens for a reason.
In an effort to help her to regain even more of her independence, her family, friends and local residents will be holding a “Van-Raiser” benefit in her honor Friday.

A college student at the time of her accident, as soon as she was able, Kelly began researching schools that she felt were particularly friendly to someone with her Disability so she could return to her studies. She ultimately decided on Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she has been a student for the last two semesters. Continue Reading »

This Photovoice project is the result of 10 people with spinal cord injury photographing issues of accessibility of the community around Charleston, SC. Continue Reading »

Sonya Watson hasn’t walked since a terrifying wreck left her a quadriplegic, but she still dreams of getting out of her wheelchair.

This week, those dreams will take her to the other side of the world where she will undergo a controversial stem cell transplant.

“I am doing this because the doctors told me I would never walk again and I don’t believe that’s true,” said the 25-year-old Clinton woman. “I can’t get stem cell injections here at all.”

Watson was just 17 and driving her grandmother to the eye doctor one day nine years ago when, she says, a defective speed-control system on her 1995 Ford Explorer caused her to lose control. The car flipped several times, leaving her with a broken neck. Continue Reading »