Is there any hope?
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free skin care · Sun May 01, 2011 6:33 am

Hello -

This past Chrismas - two days before - my niece's boyfriend, who was spending a year working in St. Croix - was at a party and due to the couple he rode with's fighting, chose to ride home (less than a 10 minute ride to where he was staying) with two guys who had been drinking. Nate was not wearing his seatbelt. The driver hit another driver and the result was a horrible crash that miraculoulsy everyone but Nate walked away from unscathed...Nate suffered a spinal cord injury that has left him without the use of his arms and legs. Awful. Awful. He was flown from St. Croix up here to Mass General (Boston) and received the news that he wouldn't walk or use his hands. I believe the injury is at the C5 on his spine?
He then went to a rehab where he has spent the past several months, though little progress has been made. I saw him at Easter and my heart was just breaking... he "celebrated" his 27th birthday in March, was an avid surfer, skiier, captain of his hockey team - a beautiful young man really. My nice has been suffering horrible panic attacks because I think she's wondering if she can handle this life. He has time and again told her she needn't stay with him but she just feels awful about it. They had just begun to expore the possibilty of a more serious relationship.
He has a strong, strong mom who will do anything to help her son (she's an athlete herself) and they are exploring every option out there. For instance, I believe they are on a one year waiting list for a doctor in Canada who works with spinal cord injury patients and through some kind of stimulus might at least be able to give him the use of his fingers and hands (he is an architect). He has spoken to several people who have been in his position who can now use their hands or walk with a walker..just so he can have some kind of hope.
I guess my question would be if you have heard of anyone in a similar situation who has recovered, or if you've heard of any new developments for the treatment of spinal cord injuries?
I know if Nate could turn back time he would have never gotten in the car and he would never have not worn a seatbelt...I just would love to be to offer words of hope.

xoMaria

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2011 7:26 am

I also have a friend who was in a similar accident. He became a quadriplegic and is slowly recovering now. Any injuries to the "C" vertebraes are very serious though because they basically connect the nerves in your body to the nerves in your brain. So if you injure those, any part of the body below the neck will unfortunately suffer some type of immobility. As for my friend, he is slowly recuperating. I'm not very close with him, so I'm not sure about the progress of his condition but he has been able to leave the hospital, but in a wheelchair. You have to understand that these types of injuries are very hard to cure and heal incredibly slowly because the structure of our nerves are so unique.

Your friend WILL get better, but just not what he used to be. He will be able to go out to the mall. He will be able to take a stroll in the park. He will just need someone to help him get around. It's always sad to see athletes suffer these types of injuries because their whole life revolves around being able to move the body. However, accidents happen and the best thing anyone can do is to just be there and support them. What my friends did was create a charity, so that the patient's family can afford not to work and spend all their time helping him get around. It's a gradual process so remember to stay strong. I wish you, Nate and his friends and family the best. Just tell him you'll be there if he needs you and he'll be extremely grateful, even if he doesn't actually call for help. Just knowing that there's someone who cares is good enough for anybody.

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2011 12:21 pm

Miracles happen EVERYDAY!

free skin care · Tue May 03, 2011 6:25 pm

I'm sorry to hear that, mariav. That's really really sad.
I don't know if this is of any use at all since I don't know anything about the medical details... but in high school one of my classmates jumped into a pool and somehow broke his neck. We got him out of the pool and to the hospital. The doctors said that he would remain quadriplegic for the rest of his life. It was just terrible. HOWEVER, within 2 years he had recovered enough to walk with assistance. I lost touch with him but a few years ago a friend told me he can get around just fine with a walking cane. Again, I'm not sure if the medical circumstances are comparable but I hope this helps to show that there is hope!

All the best!!!!

free skin care · Tue May 03, 2011 6:44 pm

SoftSkin wrote:

Miracles happen EVERYDAY!

VERY TRUE. I have heard many stories where people with brian and spinal injuries, tumors, surgeries were told they would not regain use of legs or worse. With time all have overcome and are capable of getting around and functioning normally. There is always hope, I sometimes wonder if doctors give worst case scenarios so as not to get hope up? Just know the body is amazing at healing, but that takes time with this type of injury. Best to him, and God Bless.

free skin care · Wed May 04, 2011 2:14 pm

DarkMoon wrote:

I sometimes wonder if doctors give worst case scenarios so as not to get hope up?

That is such a mistake, in my opinion. I'd like to see research where one group was told they'd improve and the other that they wouldn't. The mind is so powerful and can be programmed.

free skin care · Wed May 04, 2011 2:22 pm

SoftSkin wrote:

DarkMoon wrote:

I sometimes wonder if doctors give worst case scenarios so as not to get hope up?

That is such a mistake, in my opinion. I'd like to see research where one group was told they'd improve and the other that they wouldn't. The mind is so powerful and can be programmed.

I agree, yet with some people they seem to respond to an assessment like this with even more determination to prove the doctor wrong. Others I think might just give up with this diagnosis.

free skin care · Thu May 05, 2011 9:55 pm

Quote:

I guess my question would be if you have heard of anyone in a similar situation who has recovered, or if you've heard of any new developments for the treatment of spinal cord injuries?
I know if Nate could turn back time
he would have never gotten in the car and he would never have not worn a seatbelt...I just would love to be to offer words of hope.

I'm including some links that I think may offer hope, and help.
Journey Forward is in Canton, Mass. The Shepherd Center is in Atlanta, GA.
Will keep Nate in my thoughts and prayers.

http://www.journey-forward.org/bens.htm
http://www.journey-forward.org/aboutus.htm
http://www.shepherd.org/

free skin care · Thu May 05, 2011 10:34 pm

DarkMoon wrote:

SoftSkin wrote:

DarkMoon wrote:

I sometimes wonder if doctors give worst case scenarios so as not to get hope up?

That is such a mistake, in my opinion. I'd like to see research where one group was told they'd improve and the other that they wouldn't. The mind is so powerful and can be programmed.

I agree, yet with some people they seem to respond to an assessment like this with even more determination to prove the doctor wrong. Others I think might just give up with this diagnosis.

No, they are trained to tell as close to the truth as possible. whether they follow through or not is up to the individual doctor

free skin care · Fri May 06, 2011 5:29 am

health2u wrote:

Quote:

I guess my question would be if you have heard of anyone in a similar situation who has recovered, or if you've heard of any new developments for the treatment of spinal cord injuries?
I know if Nate could turn back time
he would have never gotten in the car and he would never have not worn a seatbelt...I just would love to be to offer words of hope.

I'm including some links that I think may offer hope, and help.
Journey Forward is in Canton, Mass. The Shepherd Center is in Atlanta, GA.
Will keep Nate in my thoughts and prayers.

http://www.journey-forward.org/bens.htm
http://www.journey-forward.org/aboutus.htm
http://www.shepherd.org/

Health2u - can't believe you mentioned this. Nate starts at Journey-forward next week! (He lives in MA).

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. I will keep you posted of Nate's progress.

xoMaria

free skin care · Sat May 07, 2011 5:02 pm

You'd be surprised at what people can heal from. I crushed my skull in a horseback riding accident fifteen years back. Brain damage from not breathing for so long, crushed bone in my head, memory loss, the whole thing. I'm fine now. To be honest, I was not okay for about three years. I stared at either the ground or the sky, and my mouth hung open a lot. Great for your junior high/high school social life, huh. Anyway, I snapped out of it by the time I was about 18, and you can't tell a thing ever happened to me. I'm a reasonably intelligent with a successful career. The body heals. My prayers are with you and your family, its hard to deal with the things life throws at you. It takes a long time to repair, but our bodies as well as our spirit are truly amazing.

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