Life

Lose It

Rich — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:30:41 GMT

Lose It is an app that is available free on iTunes and can be used with iPhone, iPod Touch or an iPad. It is located in the Health and Nutrition category and is designed to help people lose weight. While it is set up for the general population it lends itself to easy adaption for any individual with a disability. Prior to my accident I was 6'4" tall and weighed 215 pounds. Now, 13 years later, even with major dietary adjustments I weigh close to 260 pounds. Being a quadriplegic weighing myself is difficult, and if you use a product designed to weigh individuals in a sling, very expensive. I have found an inexpensive solution to this problem. I use a Big Buck scale that can be purchased at Cabela’s for $45. It is surprisingly accurate.

The following description of Lose It is taken from iTunes:

“Succeed at weight loss with Lose It set goals and establish a daily calorie budget that enables you to meet them. Stay on track each day by recording your food and exercise and staying within your budget. The average active Lose It user has lost more than 12 pounds and more than 85% of our active users have lost weight. Lose It is completely free -- get started losing weight with Lose It today.”

Lose It is simple and easy to use. It has a large database of food and exercise which can be easily added to. After entering a food or exercise once it becomes part of your personal database and can be selected the next time with a simple click. What lends itself so nicely to adaption is the fact that you can add both foods and exercise to the program. In the exercise category I was able to add Hand cycle and several other modified activities with the amount of time I do them and the number of calories I burn. Existing categories within exercise can be manipulated to reflect your level of partition.

For those of us who have specialized dietary consideration in addition to keeping track of calories Lose It can be set up to monitor Fat, Cholesterol, Sodium, Carbohydrates, Sugar, Fiber and Protein in our daily diet. It also has a bar code scanner to make entering specific nutritional information easier. Lose It has an extensive menu of foods from both the supermarket and many well-known food chains. Simple, user-friendly, adaptable and free, what more could you ask for. Give it a try; you got nothing to lose but weight!!

What were your first thoughts after suffering an SCI?

Brian32746-2606 — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:25:55 GMT

I know that every body who has suffered a spinal cord injury has at one time or another asked the question whether there is really a GOD, because they are now wheelchair bound. I also know that you may ask why,but you will never get an answer for the reason why that will be sufficient enough for you. I even didn't know whether there was a God or not when I was first injured,but I know now that there is a God,because I had my house painted and the painter took me to church two weeks after I met him. While we were at the service Pastor Benny Hinn was preaching the message and even though there was over 3500 people there it seemed like God,the pastor and myself were in the room. The service lasted four hours,but it only seemed like I was there for ten minutes. The message that he preached was what I needed to hear at that exact point in my life. After that service God put into my heart,body and soul the faith,strength and courage that I would need to live my life after being paralyzed with peace,serenity and hope to carry on and endure the constant unbearable nerve pain for the rest of my life. Also,due to the fact that I was told that quadriplegics with a level of injury as high as mine generally only live 5 to 10 years, but I have now lived for 17+ years. God has brought me through so many trials, such as pneumonia,mercer,urinary tract and other infections. I even have had both feet in the grave,because during one hospital stay I was so sick that they couldn't keep my blood pressure up high enough,had a very bad case of pneumonia along with a urinary tract infection and God stepped in right on time when I needed him most. I was on so many antibiotics at one time that I became so confused that I didn't know where I was,where I lived or didn't even know my phone number for them to call my mom because I was asking for her so they had the Chaplin come in and pray with me. Then they gave me a dose of Ada-van so I would fall asleep to let my body get its proper rest and regain some strength to fight off the infections. When I woke up I could remember everything that I had problems remembering before I went to sleep,but did not remember being confused. My doctor proceeded to take me off one antibiotic at a time and after a few more weeks was able to take me off the IV medicine that he used to keep my blood pressure stable,then gave me a blood pressure pill to go home with and in only a matter of a few days later I was back home healthy and continuing my daily routine. If that story is not enough proof that God exists I don't know what else I need to tell you,so you will believe in God for yourself. Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross and died for our sins,to take away all our infirmities and to make our lives full of peace,happiness and joy. I would tell those who suffer spinal cord injuries that maybe the reason why they are paralyzed is,because God knew that they contained inside their heart and mind the character,strength,care and compassion that it would take to help those that they would meet later in life with their same condition to overcome life's various challenges. I know it is sad to say that the reason that I am paralyzed is because God was trying to get my attention and I was so stubborn that it took being paralyzed and in a wheelchair for him to get my attention. I know that God did not paralyze me, because I was being bad but it was in God's plan for me to be paralyzed and in a wheelchair so I could help as many others as possible that are in my same condition. God knew that I had the strength and character that were deep inside me that would come out later in life,so that I would help those who have suffered a spinal cord injury to overcome life's emotional,physical and spiritual challenges that they would face in their lives with me right along their side. I know that he does not hurt and harm his children, but it is in his plan for those that face disabilities such as being paralyzed to help others that are in their same condition to overcome life's various challenges that they may face,because he already knew before they were born that their hearts contained the strength,compassion,care and will to be a blessing to others. I believe that Jesus Christ is not a harmful God , but that he is full of love, compassion, care and wants the best for his children in life. Please don't allow yourself to fall into the trap of believing that there is no God,because you are paralyzed. The devil will play with your mind while you're first injured and laying in your hospital bed, because he will have you constantly asking the question is there a God and why am I paralyzed? There is no answer for the reason why, but it is for you to search and find out throughout your life what God's purpose is for you. God's mercy,grace and strength are sufficient enough for no matter what obstacles you may face after becoming paralyzed. With Jesus Christ all things are possible and you have to believe that you can overcome no matter what challenges you may face in life. Remember you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. If you believe in God, worship him with all your heart, body, mind and soul. He will make all things possible for you and give you the peace that surpasses all understanding. No matter how hard life may be never give up and have faith in God,because he will never leave you nor forsake you and will give you more than you can handle. Please pray, read your Bible and go to church regularly, so God will bless you, protect you and keep you healthy and add longevity to your life. My prayer for everyone who reads this is that their lives will be filled with happiness, peace and joy and that you would have the comfort of knowing that God is on your side no matter what life brings your way. Please also know that even if you don't think you have the strength,courage or will to carry on just close your eyes,then pray and ask God to give you the ability to carry on no matter how hard being paralyzed may be and he will allow you to overcome and be triumphant.

My Life as of Today

Brian32746-2606 — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:24:00 GMT

As I start writing the final chapter of my life's story called In A Split Second From Tragedy To Triumph it is February 3,2012. Life within the past three weeks to a month has become more exciting and has me more goal oriented than I have been in the last ten years. I went to church three weeks ago with my caregiver/family member LaTrenda Paul and we were only planning to go to the first service,but as God would have it he urged my spirit to stay for the second service which the message myBishop preached was exactly what I needed to hear right at that exact moment in my life. I know there was between 500-750 people in the second service,but it seemed to me like I was only in the room with the pastor and God. In the previous 10-12 months prior to hearing that message that my Bishop preached during second service I had faced various challenges which were physical,emotional and spiritual in nature. After I heard the message preached I claimed it for my life and it was like I was like a horse and had my blinders removed which allowed me to see my life more clearly,have inner peace and I was filled with overwhelming joy that is increasing day by day due to the things that are unfolding in my life at this present time. First of all,my roommate Cliff and I have created a food product patent and are in the process of selling the patent to two large companies which has the potential to make us multimillionaires if not at first,but after we receive our royalties on every package that is sold nationally and internationally. Once we sell the patent and the legal bills are paid and I am reimbursed for my money plus once me and Cliff split the money fifty/fifty I am praying and believing in God that I will receive enough money to pay off my town home,pay off my credit card,pay off my back taxes that I owe,give my nurses each a nice bonus hopefully at least $25,000 a piece for Tangela,Angela and LaTrenda while also Irving Valerie a $5,000 bonus since she has been here a short amount of time and also have enough to put away in a savings account for either an emergency or to use to help someone who I meet that is paralyzed that needs financial help. I know that it will take approximately three years for our royalties to be at their highest level,because the company or companies that buy our patent will first do sales test marketing in approximately 50,000 outlets/stores at first and I know how our invention tastes,so I know that we will be reviving enough royalties each month that I will be able to pay my bills and also give the girls that take care of me a nice hourly raise to show them how much I love and appreciate all of them. I met Nadia Kiswani in October of 2011 at the fall picnic that was put on by The Greater Orlando Spinal Cord Injury Network. While me and Nadia were holding a conversation I brought up to her that I was going to start a spinal cord injury support group in my home and she said why don't you hold it in my center which is known as The Disability Wellness Center located at 1501 West FirstStreet Sanford,Florida 32701. On November 12,2011 we held the first support group at the The DisabiltyWellness Center which had a small turn out of those who are paralyzed along with a few family members that they brought with them. I met these two really nice guys David Kellam and Justin Yambo and we became instant friends and have communicate dwight each other by phone often and also spent time during football season watching games on quite a few Sundays. I feel blessed that God brought both of them into my life,because even though Justin has been paralyzed only about two years and David has only been paralyzed since June of 2011,they have inspired and motivated me to get off my butt and go back to school. I'll tell you about the college I'm going to attend and the degree I'm going to get near the end of this chapter. I am presently volunteering at The Disability Wellness Center that was founded by Nadia Kiswani who is the CEO also as the co-host and founder of the Spinal Cord Injury Social Club on every Saturday of the month from 3-6 pm where food plus drinks are provided,door prizes are raffled off and most of all where those who have similar injuries can make lifelong friends with those that also share their same interests,so that they have people to go and do the activities that they like to do so they don't have to do the activities they like by themselves. I co-host The DWC Sovial Club with a gentleman named Hector Del Valle who has a degree in social work plus 25 years public speaking experience while I myself have been 17 1/2 plus years while being a peer mentor for over 12 years or those who have suffered recent spinal cord injuries and even those that have older injuries that are facing challenges who need someone by their side so they know they are not facing these challenges alone. I always make sure when I meet someone new who has suffered a spinal cord injury that I give them my name,address and telephone number plus I tell them that they can call me anytime of day or night,because if they are facing something like an anxiety attack or the sudden loss of a family member that they can call me and I will talk to them until the anxiety or sadness succumbs enough for them o fall back to sleep then I will fall back to sleep whenever I can. I believe that as part of my job of being the co-host of The DWC Social Club I have the responsibility to inspire,motivate and give hope to those who have suffered a spinal cord injury that they can have a high quality life even from a wheelchair. I also believe that another one of my responsibilities is to show them how they can have a higher quality of life by leading by example,while showing them that I am full of happiness,serenity,peace and joy. I also use all the tests that God has given me which led to me having a very large testimony that by showing them how I've overcome every challenge,obstacle or illness by having faith in my Lord and savior Jesus Christ that Theban also live life to its fullest with him by their side and with me helping them o overcome other challenge whether they be physical,emotional or spiritual so hey know they are never alone because they have either God or myself by their side 24/7. God comes first in my life,because he has blessed me so generously,has given me the peace that surpasses all understanding,happiness that has me excited that I can hardly contain it and has given me joy that when I'm around others allows them to see Jesus Christ in me through my words and actions. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ,with Jesus Christ all things are possible and when you serve the Lord he will guide your path while removing those that are in your life that are not a positive influence,so that you are influenced and around people who are positive and joyful. Please o not let any one occupy any part of yourmind,body and spirit that is negative,because all that they will do is drag you down to where they are unhappy which will cause anxiety,sadness and depression which are the three things that you need to have the least in your life. I know that I keep going on and on about Jesus Christ,but I have been going to church since June of 1999 plus since I started going to The Masters Touch International Church in January of 2000 my life has changed so much for the positive due to the preachings that I have heard while being under the leadership of my Bishop Mark Chirronna which I would not be the half the man I am today if it was not for God placing me underneath his leadership. My Bishop Mark Chirronna has been such a compassionate,caring and loving man towards me,because he had always made himself available to me when I was facing what would seem to be an insurmountable challenge,facing depression or for spiritual advice that I needed to make the right choices in my life. His wife Pastor Ruth Chirronna,has also been a big blessing in my life,because no matter what I'm going through once service is over when she's walking towards me she always stops to ask me ow I am doing,always has a kind word to say and also let's me know that I am loved,valued and appreciated her and my Bishop. Ill never forget Pastor Ruth's father Mr. Alf,because from the first day I started attending The Masters Touch we became really close friends,we always checked on each other to see how each other was doing before each service and if I missed a few services he would call me at home to check on me to see if I was alright or if he could get me anything that would make feel better. Mr. Alf also prayed for me every time that we saw each other even though he did not feel wee,because he was battling an illness which showed me how to be strong even while going through a storm in life. I will always remember when Mr. Alf passed away,because even though it was a family only service my Bishop and Mr. Alf's daughter Pastor Ruth invited me to the viewing and his funeral service which made me feel very special. It was one of the saddest days in my life because I not only lost a support system,a prayer warrior who prayed for me always,but most of all I lost a dear friend. God is the alpha and omega,the source of my strength,the peace in my heart,my protector in a time of need,my supreme physician and most of all my friend that will never leave me nor forsake me. My prayers for my carries who are also considered as my family members are that they and their family members always have good health,God meets all their needs while leaving no need unmet,they prosper not only financially but also prosper by having God add longevity to their lives while also being filled with Gods peace,serenity and joy all the days of their lives. I can honestly say that without Tangela,Angela,LaTrenda and Val that I would either be very sick or have already passed away,because they are the greatest caregivers in this world and have given me the best care so that at this point in time I am at the optimum level of health,my depression is at its lowest level plus I am also filled with joy and happiness knowing that I love them and they love me. My prayer also for Tangela,LaTrenda and Angela is that all four of us grow old and grey together and share all life's joy,peace,happiness and I also hope to help them out financially even after I go off to Heaven so that all their needs are me plus every month when they get that royalty check in the mail they will see a portion of appreciation that I had for them. I recently sent in my admission forms online to Oral Roberts University,so that I could get my bachelors degree in Christian ministries from their Distance Learning program,so that I can become either a pastor for adults,a youth minister or do pastoral counseling for those who are lost,hurt or facing challenges whether they be emotional,physical or spiritual. I believe that because God has done so much for me that even though theres no way for me to repay him,because I love the Lord so much I want to become a pastor, so I became his servant to spread his gospel to all those that have not heard of him or let alone step foot into a church. As God would have it Oral Roberts University waived my admissions fee,waived me from having o take the SAT and waived me from having to take the ACT. I know that by faith I will be admitted into Oral Roberts University,because God is opening doors everywhere I turn and making the people excited that I have talked to at Oral Roberts University due to the fact that I am a quadriplegic and yet I am still going to proceed with their Distance Learning program so that I can acquire my bachelors degree in Christian Ministries. I started my classes On May 7,2012 and will be going full time which means i will be studying constantly,so that i can learn the most about God and his word to help others to the best of my ability with Gods help. If I am completely paralyzed from the neck down,41 going on 42 years old and suffer from severe chronic pain yet can still proceed to go through college to get a degree then anyone who is reading this should know that they can do whatever I am doing whether they be disabled or able body especially. I hope that by writing this book to those who have read to this point and are reading the rest of these last few sentences that you have realized that one,nothing is impossible,two you have to have peace,serenity,joy in your heart and also have to forgive those who have caused you either physical or emotional pain so of may have a release in your spirit that will set you free from the harm that they have caused you giving you the highest quality of life that you an achieve and most of all you've learned o life with a never give up attitude while always being optimistic. Thank you for reading my book and may God bless you and keep you healthy,full of peace,prosper you and add longevity to your life . God bless you all from Brian Cross.

WANTED: Your favorite apps

Gerthro — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:53:47 GMT

We are working on a new best apps for people living with paralysis list. We could use your input as to apps and devices you like.

We would like to include community member reviews in this year's list too.

Post you suggestions here. The more the merrier. Please include why you like it.

Have you heard of iPortal (pictured)?

Thanks.

Rob

SSD

Moongink — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:42:53 GMT

What can anybody tell me about appealing an SSD rejection? It appears that they look at your records, talk to people they won't name, and consult providers I haven't seen for more than two years BEFORE I broke my neck.
Here is my real life:
Pre-Tree Incident (that's what I call the accident) I had my hours cut back to 20 per week because I had Fibromyalgia, Osteo-Arthritis, Chronic Myofascial Pain, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome requiring surgery, convergence insufficiency of the eyes and TMJ causing headaches, stereognosis in my right hand, exacerbation asthma, restless legs syndrome, generalized anxiety disorder, clinical depression, ADHD and some say I have Bipolar Disorder. I tended to nod off at my desk and behind the wheel of a car mid morning, 9:30 or 10AM even after a good night's sleep and I took an afternoon nap every day I possibly could for 20 years. When I was working full time, I napped at lunch. Then I hit the tree.
Post-Tree I still have all of that plus a fusion from C5 to T2 which prevents my head being able to move full range and thanks to a nurse who insisted I could walk in the ER when I told her I couldn't and I was wearing a fall risk bracelet, who forced me to get up out of bed to go to the bathroom, I have three lumbar 1,2, and 4 with acute compression fractures. From mid chest down my body feels like it's in a car sitting at idle- a vibration like numbness that no one wants to address because they might have to admit they did it to me. I get up in the morning TWO HOURS BEFORE anyone might make demands on me, in order to work out the pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms that come from being in bed all night. My right hand is still partially paralyzed. My neck pain has been so bad that even on medication I have actually put that stupid collar back on on several occasions since the doctor told me I didn't have to wear it anymore - pain that kept me up all night.
I am afraid to drive the car and I think I'm even getting to be somewhat agoraphobic because I am safe here at home.
So yesterday I got the letter that shot down my SSD coverage even though I have been paying into it so it will take care of me in the event of such a life event. Funny, the night before the letter came I had gone to bed hoping maybe I wouldn't wake up tomorrow - knowing I would but wishing I wouldn't.
I just don't see how I'm going to be able to work - they said I could do something "Less mentally challenging". My brain is working fine my body is what's broken! I can walk about 2 tenths of a mile, I can't sit still, I can't stand up for more than a few minutes. My job is mentally challenging but I'm not afraid of that I'm afraid of something else going wrong - another fall in the shop (I fall a lot) I just don't know what to think. If they're not going to cover me I need to be back to work last January but I couldn't, can't and there's no going back there to do it again...now I'll be in debt up to my bum and I have no way to pay it back.

Some Success

Debra — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:20:15 GMT

I just wanted to let people know that there are some successes in our world. I am an incomplete (c4-c7) and my injury was 8/14/2010. I was having great difficulty affording therapy until 6 weeks ago when I was finally able to pay off my old medical co-pays. I have been going to therapy twice a week since ( was able to negotiate my co-pay from $75 down to $20 per session) Anyway folks, yesterday I was able to take 20 steps unaided! They were tentative and slow, but what a thrill. It is so important to get therapy and those of you struggling to get it, keep pushing. My therapist and I are very encouraged, although guarded, and I can only hope this is an indication of more successes to come.

Why?

Rich — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:13:06 GMT

You can’t be a member of the disabled community without having asked yourself that question many times. Most likely there is no plausible answer, which is why we keep asking the question in the first place. When I speak to groups I am amazed that so many people believe life is safe and that we are almost always secure in our environment even though I believed that myself before my own accident; life altering occurrences were something that happened to others. A while ago I wrote a Blog entitled “Wishes and Daydreams” (April 2010) where I talked about my envy of my nurse’s son who was graduating from high school and entering the United States Navy to become a corpsman. Well, almost three years have passed since I wrote that and he is a corpsman stationed at a large naval hospital on an island in the Pacific Ocean.

Devin was home on leave in February and looked terrific. He’s just 20 years old, is a fine young man and a credit to his family and country. While here, he expressed concern for several of his buddies from corpsman school who had been assigned to the United States Marine Corps and sent to Afghanistan. Devin was concerned for their safety and felt he should be there, too.

Last week he was not feeling well but thought he was just getting a cold. Long story short, he is now in the intensive care unit of the hospital, seriously ill with an unidentified illness serious enough for the Navy to fly his mother and father to be with him. His condition is such that he is not stable enough to be medevac’d to the mainland. How ironic, his buddies are at the end of their tours in Afghanistan and coming home, and he is the one gravely ill. Why?

What a terrible reminder to all of us of the frailty of life. Most of us have already experienced it first hand and had the lesson driven home to us in an all too real way. To stress how precarious life can be, the staff at Craig Hospital, where I went for my rehabilitation, often refers to individuals without disabilities as TABS (Temporarily Able Bodied). We can reduce our chances of having major trauma by following cautious behaviors. The greatest daily risk faced by most Americans is automobile travel. The potential risk of being hurt in a car accident, like most risks, can be reduced by following certain procedures such as wearing your seatbelt, driving within the speed limit, not driving when your ability is impaired by alcohol or drugs, and avoiding behaviors which distract your concentration from driving, like talking on a cell phone. However, all the precautions in the world guarantee nothing. We are still vulnerable and often at the mercy of circumstances beyond our control.

I believe there are a number of lessons here for everyone from this situation, not just the disabled community. We must take time to enjoy every day. We should realize that our situations could still change in an instant. Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, we should accept what has happened to us and make the best of our situation regardless of our own circumstances. Finally, we can stop asking why and just accept what is. We will be much less frustrated, mentally healthier and better off in the long run. It seems to me the best answer to the question WHY comes from Travis Roy who has said, "There are times in our lives when we choose our challenges and other times when challenges simply choose us. It is what we do in the face of those challenges that defines who we are, and more importantly, who we can and will become."

Unused Medicine Disposal

kathy — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:47:47 GMT

GOT DRUGS?
The DEA’s National Take Back Initiative of Unused Medicine Disposal
Saturday, April 28, 2012

The DEA’s collection site locator database should be available early April so you may find a location nearest to you.
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

The Drug Enforcement Administration, The Office of Diversion Control website also provides hyperlinks for the proper disposal of unused medicines.

Stomach Spasms

carriep — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:46:00 GMT

My husband has a C3 incomplete and the spasms have continued to get worse since his injury last April. We are waiting for pressure sores to heal before he can get the baclofen pump, but he's having a time trying to eat. He indicates the spasms make him feel everything will come back up. He has a peg tube so nutrition is not an issue, but does anyone have any advice?

Janelle and her story

Toby — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:34:46 GMT

I have a friend who knows Janelle Honeycutt. Her life changed last year when she was hit by a car while crossing the street with a friend in Florida where she lives. Since then her parents have lost the house, in several weeks they have to move out, and they have spent all their money on her surgeries and recuperation. She never asked for this and continues to live an upbeat life. Here is the link to her story: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/janellehoneycutt/mystory
If you want to help she sure could use it.

Have I Got An App For You

Rich — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:15:53 GMT

Lose It is an app that is available free on iTunes and can be used with iPhone, iPod Touch or an iPad. It is located in the Health and Nutrition category and is designed to help people lose weight. While it is set up for the general population, it lends itself to easy adaptation for any individual with a disability. Prior to my accident I was 6'4" tall and weighed 215 pounds. Now, 13 years later, even with major dietary adjustments, I weigh close to 260 pounds. Being a quadriplegic, weighing oneself is difficult, and using a scale designed to weigh individuals in a sling, can be costly. I have found an inexpensive solution to this problem. I use a Big Buck scale that can be purchased at Cabela’s for $45. It is intended for weighing deer but still is surprisingly accurate.

The following description of Lose It is taken from iTunes:

“Succeed at weight loss with Lose It! Set goals and establish a daily calorie budget that enables you to meet them. Stay on track each day by recording your food and exercise and staying within your budget. The average active Lose It user has lost more than 12 pounds and more than 85% of our active users have lost weight. Lose It is completely free -- get started losing weight with Lose It today.”

Lose It is simple and easy to use. It has a large database of food and exercise which can be easily added to. After entering a food or exercise once, it becomes part of your personal database and can be selected the next time with a simple click. What lends itself so nicely to adaptation is the fact that you can add both foods and exercises to the program. In the exercise category I was able to add Hand cycling and several other modified activities with the amount of time I do them and the number of calories I burn. Existing categories within the exercise section can be manipulated to reflect your level of participation.

For those of us who have specialized dietary considerations in addition to keeping track of calories, Lose It can be set up to monitor Fat, Cholesterol, Sodium, Carbohydrates, Sugar, Fiber and Protein in our daily diets. It also has a bar code scanner for packaged products to make entering specific nutritional information easier. Lose It has an extensive menu of foods from both the supermarket and many well-known food chains. Simple, user-friendly, adaptable and free: what more could you ask for? Give it a try; you have nothing to lose but weight!!

Employment .... any paraplegics considered becoming truck drivers?

Joleen — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:22:46 GMT

I've had quite the roller coaster with employment. I was happily employed fulltime working in a call center type setting until I had to relocate... and unfortunatly this area doesn't have the same offerings career wise as my prior location. I have been blessed to work currently as a personal care assistant for some local folks but I still have my eyes on a bigger career.... prior to my injury I'd driven a semi over the road for awhile, I came off the road to care for my children and always thought that once my children were grown & on their own I'd go back to driving over the road again... then the injury came & I tossed that idea out the window of ever getting back out there until recently.... a few people I know in my local area seem to think that I'd be able to do this again still. I know the driving part in itself I can do just fine (semi's can be equipped same as personal vehicles) and there's an evaluation that would be done to acquire the CDL, doesn't appear to be that much different from the evaluation I went through to be approved to drive my personal vehicle. Just curious if there was anyone around this community that had explored this option for a career?

New book, "Until Tuesday" tells of how a dog saves a man

JLo — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:32:42 GMT

I couldn't decide where I wanted to post this:

I thought some authors, while you're writing, might enjoy a good read.
I thought possibly those in the military might enjoy this.
I thought any dog lover might want to delve into a book featuring a pup.
I even thought that those recovering from an injury, might find some comfort in a good book.

So I actually saw this book in Barnes & Noble last week and if it wasn't for my semester of nine books to read for school as it is, I would have bought it!

Here goes, this is the story of Former Army Captain Luis Carlos Montalván and his dog, Tuesday. Tuesday was part of a service dog training organization funded by a Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grant in 2009, East Coast Assistance Dogs.

Until Tuesday is a New York Times best-seller.The story recounts Montalván's recovery from war wounds, both visible and invisible. The former officer nicknamed “Terminator” struggles with severe post traumatic stress disorder, physical pain from battle injuries, and the seemingly impossible task of returning to a sense of normalcy when he comes home after two tours of duty in Iraq.

“I wrote it because I really wanted to articulate what it's like to come home from war, what the effects are on a personal level, and how it affected me,” says Montalván by phone from New York City, where he is completing a second masters in strategic communications at Columbia University. “Writing the book was probably the hardest thing that I've ever done because I had to relive things over and over. It was a sort of self-imposed exposure therapy. I didn't know it was going to be as difficult as it was.”

Yet amid the stories of American and Iraqi comrades killed and combat wounds that left Montalván with fractured vertebrae, a torn-up knee and a traumatic brain injury, the main premise is of hope, compassion and second chances, thanks to Tuesday.

Learn more about Until Tuesday.

And if you have the chance to read it, be sure to come back and let us know how it is!

Janelle

Sinister success!

Adam — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:58:30 GMT

August of 2010 was my c3/4 injury. October of 2010, I took my first step. January of 2011 I started going to a "regular" gym. My right side recovered first, but my left arm and leg have been late to the party.

Today, one year after setting foot in my gym, I managed to curl a 10lb dumbbell with my left arm. Two weeks ago I couldn't get 3lbs up with that arm (though, the right has had that kind of strength for quite a while now). I think the acupuncture and deep tissue massages have been helping.

I laughed out loud with joy when I did it.

Sometimes ya just get fed up........

Matt — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:03:14 GMT

Fed up I say. Today is the day I am just fed up. Not a good day. As I am sure you can tell. Went out with friends, tried to have a good time but I had such bad muscle spasms and I had an accident (urine). Friends understand and make a joke of it but I just get so damn frustrated. Try to go out and forget and then stuff like that happens. Need my baclofen raised the dosage now just is not doing anything to help, but thats an issue for my Dr. Anyway people..........sorry to be such a downer. But thanks for listening.