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» Home » Archives » 2008 Articles » July 2008

July 2008

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» Good News & Bad News-Reeve Paralysis Act

Published 07/31/2008 | Advocacy , July 2008 | Rating:

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.

When we first started pushing for legislation to fund research for a cure for paralysis, we were rookies. In our innocence, we thought legislation was a pretty basic process. Introduce the bill and get it out of the committees that look it over. Get a majority of the House of Representatives to support it, and then repeat in the Senate. The President would sign it as a formality, and voila, we'd be ready for our next mission.

» On a roll for spinal cord research

Published 07/31/2008 | July 2008 , Research Funding | Unrated

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.

» Canine Companions reaches out to disabled vets

Published 07/30/2008 | Independence , July 2008 | Unrated

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.

» Pressure mapping system identifies right cushion to prevent sores for wheelchair users

Published 07/29/2008 | July 2008 , Medical Tech | Unrated

According to Patricia Valenza, a physical therapist at Sunnyview, pressure mapping is a thin mat, measuring approximately 18 by 18 inches that has 256 sensors for sensing pressure at different parts of the sitting surface.

“When a patient sits on the mat, the sensors read pressure at individual locations on the thighs and buttocks,” said Valenza. “This data is transferred to a computer, where we can analyze it and determine where pressure sores may occur.”

» Fund-raiser will help injured student find more independence — with a converted van

Published 07/28/2008 | July 2008 , Tech Funding | Unrated

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.

» Overseas treatment risky

Published 07/28/2008 | Stem Cells , July 2008 | Unrated

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.

» Wave Broke Modestan's Neck, 'Miracles' Put Him Back on His Feet

Published 07/27/2008 | July 2008 , Recreation | Unrated

The fog had burned off, the sand at Pismo Beach was beginning to sizzle and Modesto Realtor Fred Miller finally was hot enough to join his teenage daughters in the surf.

It was July 25, 2007, the second day in the family's annual weeklong pilgrimage to Pismo, a trip they had been taking for nearly 20 years. Miller's wife, Leanne, stayed on the beach while Miller and his brother-in-law, Phil Morino of Modesto, took their boogie boards into the ocean. Two of the Millers' daughters, Natalie and Jacqueline, then 17 and 19, had been surfing for a few hours.

» Clinton woman to get stem cell transplant in China

Published 07/27/2008 | July 2008 , Treatments | Unrated

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."

» Turlock man back to defend gold at wheelchair games

Published 07/26/2008 | July 2008 , Athletics | Unrated

Three weeks after the auto accident, Joe Velasquez remained in his hospital bed in Pocatello, Idaho. His neck was broken, his spinal cord severely damaged, and he was connected to a respirator, unable to move.

It was no way to spend the Christmas season of 1983, not with a wife and two children at home.

One morning, Velasquez became aware of two doctors at the foot of his bed discussing his condition.

» Spinal injury not stopping Plum City man

Published 07/25/2008 | July 2008 , Community Living | Unrated

Gordy Luebker to realize his determination to full recovery from a spinal cord injury.

And one glance at the list of activities supporters and volunteers have lined up for an Aug. 2 benefit on Luebker's behalf says a lot about how others feel about him and his family.

"Every time I'm out, I have someone stopping me, asking, 'What can I do to help? What can I donate?' The response has been just phenomenal," said Kim Sweeney, a longtime family friend who has been instrumental in the fundraising event.

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