Local Paralyzed San Diego Resident Empowers Others Nationwide
Carlsbad, CA (PRWEB) July 09, 2013 -- Little did Jennifer McCallson know that when she broke her neck, injured her spinal cord, and became a quadriplegic that one day she would be teaching others how to live an independent, happy, and thriving life.
After a cheerleading maneuver gone catastrophically wrong, Jennifer McCallson, left the comfort of her family and hometown of Pleasant Hill, CA to attend physical therapy at the world headquarters of Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center in Carlsbad in hopes to be able to walk again. After 9 years of hard physical work, sometimes 16 hours a week, Project Walk's unique exercise based therapeutic approach to spinal cord injury has helped McCallson regain some use of her paralyzed body, and most importantly her life.
It is estimated that the annual incidents of spinal cord injury is approximately 40 cases per million population in the U. S. or approximately 12,000 new cases each year. A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any given point in time. Whether individuals are injured in a high-risk situation such as combat or performing a mundane task such as walking on a recently washed floor, spinal cord injuries can alter a person’s most basic daily activities forever. Without adequate rehabilitation services, this life altering injury can lead to depression, inactivity, and dependence on family members and friends. Although many scientists are optimistic that advances in research will someday make the repair of spinal cord injury possible, there are thousands of individuals with that rely on others for their most basic needs.
Project Walk’s Client Services Manager, Gigi Betancourt explains, “Although Project Walk mainly focuses on the physical aspects of recovery from a spinal cord injury, it is always exciting to see when our clients begin to expand and recover in other areas of their life. Jennifer is an example of a client who has enriched all areas of her life, emotionally, socially and academically, while continuing to physically recover at Project Walk. Project Walk is proud to have a client such as Jennifer who encourages others in similar situations to move beyond their own perceived limitations.”
Jennifer is off to New York this July to help others with spinal cord injuries at Empower SCI. Empower SCI is a non-profit organization, partnered with Stony Brook University, that provides victims of spinal cord injuries nationwide a second chance at rehabilitation and a fresh hope of leading a fulfilling and limitless life, regardless of physical ability.
Empower SCI's two week residential program will take place July 14-27 on the campus of a Stony Brook University, on New York's Long Island, where participants will not only receive traditional physical and occupational therapy that is customized to their individual needs and goals, but also attend group classes led by peer mentors, one of which is McCallson. The classes focus on health and emotional issues that are common among individuals with spinal cord injuries, along with how to overcome obstacles of everyday living. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of adaptive sports such as hand cycling, kayaking, surfing, and wheelchair rugby and tennis.
Empower SCI is the only program of its kind in the entire United States, and its impact and success is undeniable. Typical outcomes for participants after attending Empower SCI's program is the ability to facilitate an improved quality of life, greater independence with both physical and occupational functions, increased social integration, and improved ability to identify and complete vocational rehabilitation or return to higher education. Participants accredit their experience at Empower SCI for their emotional and physical gains and their newly acquires skills that are unattainable in a clinical setting. Chris states, “I’ve learned more in one week than I have since I've been home, and I've been home 6 months!" Robbie claims "To know what's possible and to become empowered is a good thing and it [Empower SCI] helps you get on with your life after." Ryan comments on the uniqueness of Empower SCI, "In the real world we don't get a chance to be amongst people who are in the same shoes as we are. Having those experiences with those people has opened my eyes to a whole different world." And lastly Tim reflects on his emotional journey at Empower SCI expressing, “I have a better acceptance of my situation. Being ok living in the moment and being in a wheelchair. There are plenty of great things to do and that there are other people out there doing them."
McCallson attributes her drive to continuously expand herself and her abilities to the life altering effect of attending a program very similar to Empower SCI, which is no longer running." It was at that program where I realized that everything was going to be ok, and that I was going to be able to figure out how to achieve all of my hopes and dreams, the only thing that could stop me was simply my own doubts and fears," McCallson states. "If I can give someone in my same situation even a fraction of the hope and peace I received when I participated, then my efforts are greatly successful!"
Since attending that program McCallson earned her BS in Sport Management, learned to live independently, has returned to the workforce part time, volunteers heavily in the spinal cord injury community, and is involved in a serious romantic relationship. Additionally, McCallson is a certified Peer Mentor with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, works with mentees through San Diego's HeadNorth Foundation and recently started a peer support group at Project Walk called Moving Forward. McCallson looks forward to giving back to Empower SCI and hopes to continue to help others with SCI realize their life's full potential.
Jessica Goodine, Empower SCI, http://www.empowersci.org, (802) 272-8993, [email protected]
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