Project Walk®- Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

During the fall of 2007, Amy suffered a spinal stroke due to a ruptured blood clot on her spinal cord at the level of T7-8. Not as common as a traumatic SCI, the spinal stroke that Amy suffered was still severe enough to render her wheelchair bound; she maintained minimal levels of sensation and movement, but she was unable to ambulate independently without the use of her chair. While Amy quickly progressed through in-patient physical therapy, her family discovered Project Walk through the suggestion of an acquaintance. Realizing the importance of timely action regarding their daughter’s recovery, her parents committed to enrolling Amy in an intensive exercise-based recovery program on the recommendation of Project Walk Specialists. Having visited the Portland facility while their daughter was still participating in in-patient therapy, Amy’s parents felt that Project Walk was the only option that offered their daughter the environment, motivation and skills necessary to continue on her path to recovery. After partaking in an initial evaluation and training session with the Specialists at Project Walk, Amy committed to a recovery program, dedicating 2 days a week with the immediate goal of standing in her friend’s wedding in March as a bridesmaid; ultimately Amy would like to walk with her 7 month old son.

Amy was released from the hospital on November 20, 2007 and began her workouts at Project Walk the following Tuesday. Getting into the facility for workouts so soon after her injury has been one of the greatest contributing factors to Amy’s recovery. The time-lapse between her injury and beginning PW was only 7 ½ weeks. Her body has not been given the time to adjust to her wheelchair, and it still remembers what it feels like to go through certain motions. The memory retention of her body has enhanced Amy’s ability to connect with, and succeed in performing the activities she is asked to do during her workouts.

In the short time that Amy has been participating in workouts at Project Walk, she has seen many improvements to her abilities. Barely able to transfer herself out of her chair with the assistance of a specialist during her first week in the facility, Amy has seen her strength and coordination increase by measurable amounts. She can now crawl approximately 30 feet with minimal assistance from a specialist, stand with the assistance of one specialist or a walker, walk 40+ feet with a walker and the assistance of two specialists, transfer herself with the assistance of her legs (as opposed to another person), and has started doing full sit-ups without receiving help from her specialists.

A direct correlation can be seen between the abilities that Amy is currently experiencing and the limited time spent in her chair. While timelines are never placed on what clients may achieve during their recovery, Amy personifies why it is important for clients to have access to Project Walk immediately after being discharged from the hospital. A body that is not formed to a wheelchair can more easily transition into a positive recovery.

To help Amy and others like her achieve what is considered medically impossible, click on Donating to Project Walk.

If you would like to contact Amy, post on our message board.