Pressure Sores: From Development To Healing

Pressure sores are a very serious topic for wheelchair users. They can develop quickly and get worse even faster if proper action isn’t taken. And in some cases, even with the best care, surgery may be the only answer to…

Being A Mouth Makeup Artist

Meet Jessica Ruiz, a talented makeup artist with a unique way of applying makeup to her clients’ eyes and lips. She uses her mouth. Finding her passion Jessica was born with arthrogryposis, a disease which limits hand and arm movements. While…

How To Push A Shopping Cart

When you have to push your own set of wheels, pushing an additional set of wheels can get complicated. Whether you need to push a shopping cart or a stroller, managing to push while still moving forward yourself takes some…

Stay Positive Because It Will Get Better

“I just know that anytime I’m having a bad day…that’s going to happen to anybody whether you’re a quad, para or able-bodied." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN_2xpkZUrQ “If it’s a bad day, it’s a bad day. Let it go. Do what you gotta do…

Leg Bag Setup And How To Empty

Shawn Fluke, a quadriplegic, shares his setup and management of his leg bag so help others avoid spilling and splashing. https://youtu.be/fgBmypBT-NM “When I pull up to the toilet, I usually try to pull up at the same 90 degree angle so I can…

Mobility of a C5-6 Quadriplegic

Shawn Fluke, a C5-6 quadriplegic, takes off his shirt to demonstrate the muscles he’s retained function in since he broke his neck. https://youtu.be/U1xOpnLv71c He starts off with his shoulders. “I have pretty strong shoulders, I work them out a lot,” he…

How To Manage Autonomic Dysreflexia

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a serious condition that affects individuals with spinal cord injuries (typically those with a T6 level or higher spinal cord injury). https://youtu.be/ltci5M48-bU When an AD episode occurs, it must be addressed immediately. If left untreated, it…

Seek Empathy, Not Pity

I sometimes find myself lacking it. This is something I struggle with on almost a daily basis. It’s almost embarrassing to type and to think I actually feel this way, but I do. Maybe it’s because I don’t expect someone…

Tetraplegic Adjusts To New Life

“It’s been a big year, girls and boys. It’s been a really big year.” These are the words of Amanda Lowry as she sums up the first year following a diving accident that left her a tetraplegic. A film crew…