On a Sunday in August, Mike Phillips’ world came tumbling to the ground. While on a walk at Riverside Park near his Lexington home, Phillips climbed a tree, not an unusual occurrence for the agile 32-year-old.

“I’ve climbed a bunch of trees in the park,” he said. “It started pouring down rain, and I came down a little too fast and slipped.”

He fell 40 feet and broke his back, severely damaging his spinal cord. He is now paralyzed from the chest down. Continue Reading »

What are stem cells?

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is alive.

When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell or a brain cell. Continue Reading »

Ever imagined, what it would be like to lead a disease free life and be a part of a world where every body is hale and hearty? Well, it may sound utopian right now but with researches on stem cells on full swing, a few years down the line, it is a definite possibility.

On Oct. 16, 2006, Carron Morrow, from Alabama was successfully cured through a pioneering study in which stem cells were used to regenerate her failing heart. Not long after the surgery, Morrow began to feel like the same old energetic person. “I knew within two months something was going on,” Morrow said. “I could sing a whole song at church.” She soon got back to her job, and subsequent tests confirmed that her heart was functioning normally once again. Continue Reading »

Although Kenneth Martin is confined to a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury, his imagination knows no limits.

The independent living coordinator of L.I.F.E. Inc., a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping disabled adults lead independent and productive lives, Martin enjoys painting in his spare time and hopes to become a full-time working artist one day.

“I love the freedom to express certain concepts in a visual form,” he said. “I like expressing universal experiences that people of all cultures can relate to.” Continue Reading »

Exercise therapy for injury raises woman’s spirits

At the end of each year, the Times-Call checks in on area newsmakers from the past year and brings their stories up to date in the annual Where Are They Now series.

BOULDER — Marnie Ohlfs holds a ball above her head and moves into a sit-up. She repeats the exercise 20 times, then 20 more. Continue Reading »

Ronald Griffin was meant to be a caregiver. Following in the steps of his mother and grandmother, he entered the industry straight out of high school. You can see his passion when he talks about his work. And his client, Michael Barnfield, says he sees it, too.

“Ron was created for this position,” Barnfield said. “He was born to do this.”

As a personal assistant, Griffin helps 26-year-old Barnfield with the day-to-day tasks that we often take for granted. Continue Reading »

(San Diego’s East County) — “When I first had my stroke, I couldn’t speak or move my right side. I couldn’t walk,” recalled Austin Junkin, 80, of Lemon Grove. “Now I can do anything. I lift 100 pounds with ease,” he said, demonstrating his physical prowess by hoisting weights above his head inside the Challenge Center at Sunset Park in La Mesa.

Challenge Center isn’t any ordinary gym. The facility specializes in helping severely disabled patients, including those with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, attain dramatic improvements even after other physical therapy programs have failed. View Video. Continue Reading »

Wikk’s highly specialized custom elevator activation switches are featured in The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre in the Vancouver General Hospital site – The ICORD’s (International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries) new home in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Greendale, WI (PRWEB) (PRWEB) December 19, 2008 — Wikk Industries, Inc., a Greendale, Wisconsin-based global designer and manufacturer of the AccessAbility™ automatic door activation solutions line, developed custom INGRESS’R® elevator cab and hall switches (http://www.wikk.com/sw_spec2.html) for all three elevators in the ICORD centre – an “interdisciplinary research centre for the development of effective strategies to provide functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI),” according to www.icord.org. Its mission is to give mobility and access control back – enhancing the quality of life – to people with SCI. Continue Reading »

Gabe Rodreick, who suffered a spinal injury in Costa Rica, hopes to get back to a top rehab center.

Gabe Rodreick of south Minneapolis was on an exchange trip to Costa Rica in July when he suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a scuba diving excursion.

Upon waking in the nearest hospital, the 16-year-old learned he was unable to move his hands and legs. Not too long afterward, Gabe’s determination to regain his strength and hopefully walk and play the piano again kicked in. It hasn’t let up since then, said his mother, Carolyn Rodreick. Continue Reading »

Every year, over 2 million people are injured in automobile accidents. Some of the most common and often overlooked injuries are to the spinal cord, back and shoulder.

Every year, over 2 million people are injured in automobile accidents. Some of the most common and often overlooked injuries are to the spinal cord, back and shoulder. Injuries such as herniated discs, contusions, lower back sprains and rotator cuffs are just a few of the serious injuries that can occur. Continue Reading »