by Tiff -

Episode 6: Service Dogs for Quadriplegics

Service dogs make the lives of thousands of people with spinal cord injuries safer, happier and healthier everyday. The joy a service animal can bring to your life is priceless, but for quadriplegics, even moreso. The amazing tasks and companionship they provide cannot be beat. In Episode 6, Tiffiny has on three guests, all with quadriplegia, who share their lives with their service dogs. Show run-time is 1 hour, 21 minutes.

Listen here:

Guests Descriptions and Time Stamps Can be Found Below:

Guest #1) Erin Thompson (1:45 mins): A new college graduate from Minnesota, Erin is a C5-6 quadriplegic and her service dog is Mia. Follow them @miatheservicedoggo and @mizhoneybadger

Guest #2) Allie Leath (25 mins): A brand new service dog mama to Taylor, who she received this Summer, Allie is 32 years old and a C7 quadriplegic.

Guest #3) Dan Guillou (50:45 mins): Paralyzed for over 30 years, Dan is a C5-6 quadriplegic from Oceanside, California originally from Wisconsin and Narha is his service dog.

by Tiff -

Life After Paralysis Podcast Episode #3: Adaptive Camping

In Episode #3 of Tiffiny’s podcast for SPINALpedia Life After Paralysis, we chat about the in’s and out’s of adaptive camping, with all-terrain chairs, cots vs. transferring to the ground, tents and accessible lean-to’s and more discussed. Three avid campers on wheels also join in – Greg Niedzielski, Jason Thurston and Ty Hockett. Run-time is 43 minutes. 

Listen here or listen in the player below.

by Tiff -

SCI Health Series: Preventing Skin Breakdowns

Check out our second article in our new SCI Health Series – Preventing Skin Breakdowns. It’s never a bad idea to read up on the best ways to take care of your skin post-injury. In this fresh-skin post, we’ve outlined everything you need to do to keep your skin pressure-sore free, and happy happy. Read more

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Peter Soby Jr.

One look at Peter Soby, a 47 year old C5-6 quad, and you can just tell he is someone special. Forget the wheelchair; you feel it the moment you look at him. A writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and motivational speaker rolled into one, he has done it all since graduating from college with his degree in speech communications.

And he hasn’t let his spinal cord injury prevent him from tackling this very image-conscious world. His whirlwind story may include a spinal cord injury but he’s followed his creative drive. For a taste of this life adventurer living in sunny California, read on for the unforgettable story of Peter Soby. Read more

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Rob Wudlick

Even though he’s only 30 years old, Rob Wudlick’s journey since his spinal cord injury has been one-of-the kind. A fresh SCI research advocate, newly injured people like Rob are refusing to accept spinal cord injuries as permanent, and what they’re doing to help the SCI community is helping in big ways.

Other than working out since his injury using activity-based therapy (and being one of the most positive guys in the gym), he’s a founding member and Chairman of the Board for a nonprofit dedicated to curing spinal cord injury, Get Up Stand Up (GUSU), and is busy hitting the pavement at Capitol Hill (in his home state or in DC) whenever he can. Read on for a snapshot into the life of an unexpected advocate. Read the rest

by Tiff -

Working 2 Walk 2015: We Came, We Saw and We Left with Hope

For the last 10 years a great event to further spinal cord injury (SCI) SCI research has been happening: The Working 2 Walk (W2W) Symposium – a 2-day event sponsored by the United2Fight Paralysis Association; and Spinalpedia was there!

We met so many impressive advocates with paralysis and heard the latest on several promising research programs, it would’ve been impossible to leave without hope. Please enjoy our W2W 2015 review. Read for more

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Martyn Ashton

Considered one of the best mountain bike athletes in the world, Martyn Ashton is new to living with a spinal cord injury but his spirit is strong as ever. In 1993 when he was just 19, he sprang on the mountain bike scene, and in later years he became one of the biggest YouTubers doing his long beloved sport.

But in 2013 his story took a turn, and Martyn, while filming a sequel to his all-time popular videos, broke his back. He hasn’t stopped doing what he loves though thanks to his longtime riding buddies. Read more

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Pieter du Preez

The first quadriplegic in the world to complete an Ironman triathlon, South African and Paralympian Pieter “Supa Piet” du Preez has been busy showing the world anything is still possible after a spinal cord injury, and boy does he make it look good.

Also fully independent despite a C6 injury, as well as an actuarial analyst by day with a company that also sponsors his training, this married man hasn’t let his injury stop him from reaching for his dreams. Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Robert Thompkins

There is a beautiful thing happening in San, Diego California right now and it’s not the beaches or the beautiful weather. It’s the good vibes Robert Thompkins is putting out, a paraplegic chairskater who’s sharing his passion for his emerging sport in an amazing way. Read this entry