The Power of Video

I don’t know the statistics, but every day a tremendous number of new videos are posted online. It is mind-boggling once you start looking at something or searching for a particular topic. There are just SO many videos!

Well, I’m hoping Push to Walk can contribute our fair share to this online phenomenon! Through a great website that helps nonprofit organizations buy things at discounted prices (www.techsoup.org), we have purchased 6 Flip cameras. Our goal is to loan these cameras to our Push to Walk staff, clients, family members, etc. who can help us record happenings in their lives that are related to spinal cord injuries. The videos can be anything related to social activities, adaptive sports, accessibility issues (good and bad), special occasions – anything that would be fun, informative and of interest to others (or just of interest to the film-maker!). There are no rules; no right or wrong activities (within reason, of course!).

We already have our own YouTube channel, (www.youtube.com/user/pushtowalknj) but we want to increase the number of videos we post. We hope you’ll want to help us with this new project! Please let us know if you’d like to contribute to this effort for Push to Walk! It should be fun!

Cynthia

Enjoying Results

Spending time recently with my old friends the treadmill and the TV, I saw a commercial about GE that really hit home. The workers were shown doing their respective jobs, each making pieces of a jet engine. When the engine is installed in a plane and that plane is tested or used on an actual flight, the employees are on the airstrip watching the plane take off. You can see the pride in the employees’ faces as they see the result of their hard work pay off and actually being used.

These same feelings can be seen in our trainers’ faces as they work with Push to Walk clients who have spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Each workout, little pieces of progress are made, and over time, they amount to some incredible results! Sometimes those results are a person being able to sit up by themselves, bend over and pick something up from the floor, or reach for an object and not fall out of their chair. All these accomplishments are important and worthwhile, no matter how small.  Watch this video to see just another example. While the efforts on the part of the trainers are huge, the client is upright, moving his legs and walking with help. You might even say “a considerable amount of help.” But he IS walking, and that is a wonderful accomplishment. The video is the first one on the left. Happy viewing, and thanks for watching!

http://www.pushtowalknj.org/clients/clientlist.htm

Seeing (Push to Walk) is Believing!

For those of you who know me, you already know I can go on and on about Push to Walk and all the good our program does for people with spinal cord injuries. After awhile it probably sounds like “blah, blah, blah!” As any good spokesman for a cause they believe in, we can tell great stories, explain what our trainers do, and what our clients accomplish. BUT, when someone sees our gym, talks to the clients and experiences a workout for him or herself, NOW believing happens! This is what it’s all about!

This was the case when I recently had the pleasure of showing our gym to Lou Pallo. Yes, the famous Lou Pallo of the Les Paul Trio. Legendary in his own right, Lou and Les played together many years and for many shows. (www.loupallo.com) Thanks to our friend Vince Genella, another VERY talented guitarist (www.vincegenella.net) who introduced us to Lou, Lou and his current trio have agreed to donate their talents for entertainment at Push to Walk’s upcoming Wine Tasting on June 14th at the Grand Chalet in Wayne, NJ. We are very grateful to both Lou and Vince for taking an interest in Push to Walk and helping us raise money so we can continue to provide specialized exercise workouts to people with spinal cord injuries.

But back to my main topic – seeing someone or something in action, with your very own eyes, is SO powerful! It makes all the difference in the world! You can then understand, or ask questions, give feedback, etc. There is no substitute for seeing and feeling something for yourself. So come and SEE Push to Walk for yourself! We love to have visitors and show off our gym, our trainers, even our clients! Once you see it, you’ll understand why we are so passionate about what we do!

Cynthia

Home Modifications and Accessibility

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend!

A Push to Walk client passed along a newspaper story about a man and his company who renovate upscale Manhattan homes, and now he has added accessible and universal design to the services he provides. This would seem a natural area for Martin Watters to focus on – he uses a wheelchair himself. The company is called ADA Lifestyles of New York. Check them out! (http://www.wattersconstruction.com)

This article reminds me of how many people and families affected by spinal cord injury, paralysis and an array of other disabilities have “normal” homes that become nearly impossible to navigate once a wheelchair is needed. Our own home, a ranch up until a year before Darren’s injury, but now with two stories and lots of steps, had to be changed quite a bit to accomodate Darren’s wheelchair. Outside of providing primary care to a newly injured family member, this is one of the most important, expensive and stressful areas that need to be dealt with.

Our own town of Kinnelon, New Jersey was extremely helpful in getting the renovation project moved along very quickly. The Mayor and Council, our architect, builder and sub-contractors all pulled together to get our project started and completed in record time. But I know many others who are not as fortunate. It is often the cost of such projects that is prohibitive (especially on top of all the other costs if it’s a sudden spinal cord injury), the lack of resources to aid in the design, the workers to do the job. When I hear of people waiting weeks and months just to get a ramp so they can get in and out of their houses safely and easily, it breaks my heart.

In this newspaper article from The Journal News (www.lohud.com), it references how Rockland County, NY has adopted a law with design standards for accessibility and recommends a speedier process for town permit applications for modifications. Sounds like some good progress, and perhaps other counties will follow their lead. I certainly hope so!

I know of a local agency in New Jersey, DAWN (www.dawncil.org) who received funds from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to help people offset costs of certain home modifications in certain counties of New Jersey. I hope there are other resources out there, too, that can help. If you know of any, please pass them along and I’ll be sure to include them in a future post and on our website in the links section (www.pushtowalknj.org).

For now, let’s all think about how we can help make our homes more accessible to visitors in wheelchairs and the little things we can do to help people feel welcome. And if there’s any way we can assist others to find the resources they need to make their own homes more accessible and functional, let’s put our heads together and help! This is an area where people working together can truly make a difference to someone with a disability of any kind.

Cynthia

Personalities Don’t Change after SCI

Happy Friday!

A video has been making it’s way around the net about Josh Dueck, a skier who has just performed a back-flip. If you don’t know his story, you might say “what’s the big deal?” Extreme sports have become more mainstream and the X Games were just on TV a few weeks ago. Skiers were doing all sorts of crazy stuff! But Josh’s story is a “little” different.

Josh is an accomplished skier who nailed a back flip on a sit-ski. Yes, a sit-ski. I have watched this video a few times now, and must admit I have mixed emotions. As a mother of a son with a spinal cord injury, I cringed at the idea. Always a “worrier,” I couldn’t even watch Darren play quad rugby at first (now I love it!). I think about the “what ifs.” As a skier myself, I have absolutely NO IDEA how people accomplish jumps, flips, spins and the likes. I am happy to have my two skis on the snow at all times. Just the idea of being airborne would send me right into the lodge! Being the mother of two expert skiers, I know the urge was always there to “push the envelope” as they got better and better.

But now I watch Josh Dueck doing what he loves – skiing, screaming down mountains, taking jumps and flying thru the air. How wonderful to see him doing what he has always dreamed of. Yes, he is using a sit-ski, but does it really matter? What this has reminded me of is that people who sustain spinal cord injuries are still the same person they were before their injury. A quiet, shy person is still quiet and shy. Using a wheelchair doesn’t make him or her a new, outgoing personality ready to work a room. A loud, aggressive person who was annoying is still annoying now. And a daring, adventurous athlete is still willing to take risks, go beyond the limits and see what can be accomplished.

For this, I love Josh Dueck. I love seeing that he is still pursuing his dreams and “going for it.” I love seeing that he has a support team willing to help him reach his goals. And I love that he is sharing his accomplishments.

Perhaps in a future blog post, I will touch on what we DON’T see in the video – what it takes to practice and train for such a demanding sport, the challenges of the clothing, the weather, the equipment, getting to and from the mountains…………… so much we might all take for granted, but is certainly not easy for an athlete with a disability.

For now, enjoy the videos for all they have to offer – and all they have to show us what determination and dreams can mean.

A shorter video about the back-flip:  http://youtu.be/4xjUUf_sK84 and a longer video (which I totally enjoyed) about Josh’s “story”: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/josh-dueck-sit-ski-backflip_n_1263159.html (this is a longer video is lower on the page).

Happy viewing, and let me know what YOU think!

Cynthia

Push to Walk Bracelets

Check this out! We now have our VERY OWN Push to Walk bracelets! We had these made to help us celebrate our 5th Anniversary, and we’ll be doing some fun videos, photos and client stories as well. You might say we are jumping on the bandwagon, since every organization or cause seems to have these (or does that really mean that we’ve missed the bandwagon??) But I see kids and adults with arms full of these things! Well, here’s ONE more cause to add to your arm!

We’ll be selling these for $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00. Let us know how many you’d like!

Help support Push to Walk and our clients with spinal cord injuries and paralysis who are working hard to regain strength, function and independence!

Help us make a difference!

Help Spread the Word!

Just Do It!

After a busy weekend, and one that included a HUGE Super Bowl win for the Giants and two great wins for the Devils, I have to admit I’m not feeling very inspired or creative for my blog this morning. So this title refers to me as much as others! I had to sit and write this entry, so the “just do it” motto applies to all of us at one time or another! And while it might seem cliche or overused, the simple slogan really has some merit and applies to SO many people and situations.

I checked some of my regular sites for inspiration, and it didn’t take me long to find something on the Reeve Foundation website. I read about a woman (Saralee Perel) who wrote how she was inspired to do one small thing which had big consequences and positive results.  The old movie “City Slicker” encouraged her to do just one thing, keep it simple, and take charge. You can read her story at http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.mtKZKgMWKwG/b.7958339/k.6979/The_First_Step_is_Not_About_Walking.htm.

Saralee’s writing reminded me of a relatively new client we have at Push to Walk. A young man of thirty-something, he came to us two years after sustaining a spinal cord injury from a motorcycle accident. Depressed, frustrated, angry and upset are some of the words he has used to describe himself. Now coming for regular exercise workouts, he is starting to feel better both physically and emotionally. His fragile sense of self is still challenged every day, but little by little, he is starting to have more good days than bad. With a strong family to support him, he is starting to engage more in life. He has joined Team Walk to Push for the upcoming NJ Marathon, and has undertaken a fund raising campaign to help himself, Push to Walk, and Dr. Wise Young’s Clinical Trials for an SCI cure. Having a goal that is outside the borders of always being focused on yourself is a huge step after sustaining a spinal cord injury. I commend this person for making the decision to come to Push to Walk, see what we have to offer and throwing himself into an effort to make himself feel better, in several different ways.

Sometimes, the idea of “just do it,” sounds too big, too scary, too overwhelming. What have you been putting off? Start small, think positive and you will be amazed by the results!

Enjoy your day! Cynthia

SCI & Technology

I always find it amazing to read about technology – what already exists, what is newly developed and what is on the horizon – for people with various disabilities. Of course, I am more interested in products that help people with spinal cord injury and paralysis, but it is mind boggling to follow what some of the leading institutions and researchers are working on.

Several efforts are well underway in producing an “exoskeleton” that will enable people with paralysis to walk. I am anxious to learn more about both eLegs and Re-Walk, and hopefully see them in action with actual people. There is also a group from Duke University heading up the Walk Again Project, which sounds very exciting.

These kinds of technology really tie in well with what we do at Push to Walk, because our goal is to help people regain strength, function and independence. Having core strength is crucial to a person who wants to be upright, either in a standing frame, on their own, or with the use of an exoskeleton. If a person does not have the strength and endurance to be upright, even the best technology is not going to help him/her. We feel that we provide that important piece to the puzzle.

I am grateful to all the brilliant minds who have made this area a focus of their research and work. Thank you to those individuals, companies and universities who are dedicating themselves to this cause! Here are a few links so you can check them out yourselves:

Duke University – http://www.walkagainproject.org/

eLegs – www.eksobionics.com

ReWalk – http://rewalk.us/

If you search on the names, you will find information, photos and videos that are sure to amaze you! If you are someone who has tried any of these devices, please let me know what you think. If you are aware of other technologies (not only walking but assistive technology of any sort) that might be helpful to learn about and pass along, please let me know! At Push to Walk, we are always interested in learning more about new and helpful information!

Thanks! Cynthia

Welcome, Stephanie!

I am so excited to introduce Stephanie Lajam, our new Communications and Special Events Coordinator at Push to Walk.

Stephanie first interned with us in the Summer of 2009, when she was a student at The College of New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies in May 2010. During Stephanie’s internship, she wrote several client bios for our website, and was involved in many of our writing and communication projects at that time. She worked very well with our staff and clients, and I was pleased to hire her part time when Push to Walk transitioned to a new fund raising software towards the end of 2010. Having her work with me and learn the ins and outs of the new software was great, and I hoped I could hire her full time when the time was right.

That opportunity came at the beginning of 2012, and she has jumped in whole heartedly to work on all of our communications and special events. From handling social media to traditional communications, and all aspects of our fund raisers, events and software, Stephanie is a hard worker and very conscientious about the quality of her work. She also exhibits great compassion for our clients and our cause, so it is a pleasure having her part of our Push to Walk team!

Please welcome her to our family!  Cynthia

Boyd Melson Improves to 8-0!

In a unanimous decision Saturday night at the Roseland Ballroom, Boyd Melson beat Shawn Williams, improving his record to 8-0. I’m not a huge fan of boxing, but I do enjoy watching Boyd. Knowing that he is so passionate about raising money for SCI Clinical Trials in the U.S. makes me a huge fan! At times I feel like his mother, worrying about him getting hurt; at other times I am rooting for him to knock out his opponent. I pretty much hold my breath during each round!

Boyd donates all of his winnings to Dr. Wise Young at the Rutgers SCI Project, has formed Team Fight to Walk, and has enlisted the help of other boxers to support the cause.

Check out his website: www.teamfighttowalk.com and www.boydmelson.com. Boyd is a special kind of person, and I am glad to know him!

Roseland Ballroom, Jan 21, 2012