This is a picture of me jet skiing in Labadee, Haiti. I wanted to share this experience with others who have SCI. I was injured four years ago. I am 48 years old and was a daily runner and weightlifter/contractor prior to my SCI. I was very energetic and always on the go. The first two years was hard for me like everyone else that has SCI.
I am very Blessed to have a wonderful wife. I confined myself to my home feeling embarrassed and lost for those first two years. I basically put my wife and family through hell and never realized it. It was always about me. Well it wasn't. SCI effects everyone around us whether we realize it or not. I did some research and thought a cruise would be the ideal vacation for my wife and I . I wanted her not to worry about me and I wanted to be more independent. Well you can on a cruise. We took a royal caribbean cruise to the caribbean. I felt this is important to let others know how independent we can be on a ship. The cruise lines really go out of there way for ADA. They have always treated me with the utmost respect. It is the most inexpensive vacation you can take for a great time. I was overwhelmed by the island of Labadee, Haiti. Royal Caribbean took this island over and placed a lot of thought to it. They designed the enitre facilitiy to accommodate ADA. I wheeled from the ship to the island. They set all their piers and docks up for wheelchair users. You can wheel right in the water if you want. Really nice ramps and dock areas. I wheeled directly to this jet ski and transferred on and off. I felt real again. Having a little independence is important to all SCI people. Just having fun on this jet ski for one hour made my whole trip worth while. I didn't care if I did anything else for that week. I was in heaven. So if you want a inexpensive vacation with the family, look into a cruise. All I recommend is make sure you require a full handicap room. Not a modified cabin. The bathrooms are to small in a modified cabin for a wheelchair user. I wish you all well.
Best Regards,
Joe

I was asked to explain a little more about this picture. I thought it might inspire some of us with SCI. Many of us prior to SCI have been involved with some type of sports or athletic ability. I was a daily runner and loved lifting free weights. I was a very aggressive individual who thought life couldn't be any better and never thought life could change in a split second. I was devastated like most and thought the world was over and I never wanted to wake up again. My strong once body became a pile of flab and jelly. I lost all my muscles and was very weak the first two years. I was always depressed thinking about the past. How good I had it and never realized or appreciated it. I really believe we become very humble after an accident like SCI, that changes our worlds and everyone around us. I started to focus on the positives. What can I do to make my life and my families life better? Well, first off was to start working out. I always had a philosophy, a healthy body yielded a healthy mind. I started out with a healthy diet and started lifting free weights. Slowly over time I was gaining muscle and strength. It was helping me transfer better and feel better about myself. I kept on pushing and pushing. The first year I looked back and said life is getting better. My wife noticed a happier Joe which helped our relationship. I still was facing nerve pain and somedays just wanted to never wake up. Prior to SCI I kept a daily log of my running each day and exercises. It helped me focus on my activities by keeping a journal or log book. I decided to do this with eating and working out. I signed up for a body mass clinical study and was taught how many calories I needed a day to maintain my weight or cut back to loose. I kept a daily journal going and before I knew it , I was loosing weight and getting stronger. I had my mind set on doing pull-ups. At first, my wife thought I was crazy. I figured how to do them. I bought a fire rope and tied it to a cable machine that I had. I gained the strength over time to climb up the rope. I then focused on a pull-up. After six months I was completing ten pull-ups. I am 48 years old and meet many young SCI individuals. I tell them if I can do it, you definitely can do it. It is mind over matter. I hope this picture inspires many to start a log book and focus on a project. It could be from exercising to completing puzzles. I believe it takes each and every one of us two years to go over the hurdle and face reality. We then take one day at a time and make the best of it. I know words are easy to say, but one SCI to another we can do it. It is sharing each and everyone's stories and experiences that will make us better individuals. I wish all of your a Blessed and long happy life.
Best Regards,
Joe