Hometown: Gresham, OR
Injured:12/21/03
Diagnosis:C6
Start Date:02/2005
In the months following, he battled severe health complications and his once muscular 190 pound frame had dropped to 129 pounds. He was finally healthy enough to return home from the hospital four months later.
As an athletic high school senior who was on the football, track, and ski teams, Kip was determined to find a program that would help him work towards his goals of recovery. He came to Project Walk® for a trial week in December 2004 and was very excited about the changes he felt in his body after only one week. He returned in February to continue training. Since then, Kip has combined the Home Based Program with return visit to Project Walk® allowing him to make significant gains in overall strength. His core is stronger, his shoulders are more stable, and the contractions in his legs are stronger. Once a very sick young man, Kip has become very healthy; he has increased muscle mass, and his weight is up to 160 pounds! Kip works very hard and is driven in his path to recovery. He always gives 110% to every workout. As Kip's body continues to change, we will continue to adapt the stimulation to increase his function.
Kip began his time at Project Walk®by utilizing the Home Based Program and periodically returning to Project Walk® Carlsbad for expertise and the intensive workouts to push him forward. In June of 2006, Kip became one of the first in-house clients training out of the new Project Walk®Portland facility. Since then, Kip has continued to make great strides in his recovery by training seven hours a week while still maintaining a very active lifestyle which includes playing quad rugby for the Portland Pounders and taking a full load of college courses in pursuit of a business degree.
If you would like to contact Kip, please post on our message board and please check out his website at www.kipjohnson.us for full details of Kip’s ongoing recovery.
Kip was injured during ski practice for the Barlow Ski Team. He lost a ski and was thrown into the trees, which resulted in five broken ribs, a punctured lung, compression fractures at T4 - T6, and severe damage at C5 - C7.