by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Capt. Stewart McQuillan

They say the desire to be up in the great blue yonder is something you’re born with. If that’s true, then that certainly explains Captain Stewart McQuillan’s lifelong passion for aviation, the world’s first paraplegic to fly a helicopter.

A hardy veteran of the Royal Air Force, McQuillan’s father and grandfather were both pilots and he himself began flying at 11 years old, but he’s much more than just a pilot.

He’s also an electrical engineer and the brain behind a groundbreaking device that allows those with paralysis to fly a helicopter (or any other rotary device).

For a fearless story that crosses oceans and endless skies, read on to be inspired by Captain Stewart McQuillan. Read this entry

by Tiff -

Adapted Skydiving Part Deux: The No Fear Club

One of the sweetest releases of life in a wheelchair is without question skydiving. When you’re barreling through the sky at 200 miles an hour, it’s hard to think about your limited mobility. In fact, it’s pretty much an afterthought.

And we believe this freeing thing is something all people with disabilities need to experience. For many people with disabilities, skydiving takes them out of their “spot” and into a more tactile world. It’s hard to not feel alive when you’re skydiving.

For videos that touch on the braveness required for skydiving, here are three that do just that, including a few tough paraplegics and quadriplegics who are determined to do what they want t no matter what. Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Jessica Kruger

At only 21 years old, Jessica Kruger from Vancouver, Canada has already put a huge dent in her mission to change the way the world perceives beauty. Last year she put her hat in the ring for a nationwide modeling contest in Canada sponsored by Lise Watier, and she totally won.

Since winning, this college student and quad rugby player has been all over the news sharing her story and spreading the message that beauty can come in all forms.

Get ready to be inspired by a woman dedicated to a higher mission that, as always, can be helped by a dress and a pair of Steve Madden heels. Read this entry

by Tiff -

Give That Skin Some Love, and Pressure Relief

Possibly one of the most annoying tasks that come with paralysis is pressure relief. No matter how time consuming and hard it can be, there’s no getting around it; it simply must be done. If you don’t, you could get a pressure sore that could leave you bedridden for months.

Most of us unfortunately learn the hard way about how important pressure relief is. We end up with skin breakdown, and before we know it we’re on our sides in bed, staring at a laptop screen and binge watching some mediocre television show. It is a living hell to be sure.

This is why learning the pressure relief techniques that can be done in a wheelchair is hugely important no matter your level of injury. Read on for three different pressure relief techniques, each tailored for a specific SCI level. Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Travis Roy

A product of the die-hard hockey world in the northeast U.S., Travis Roy grew up loving hockey, and after he became paralyzed while playing hockey for Boston University, he’s been committed to doing everything possible to not only improve his situation, but the situation of others like him.

He’s put on many hats to make his reality. Travis founded a nonprofit dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injury (as well as raise money to support people living with a spinal cord injury), he’s written a memoir, he’s become a mouth painter and he’s gone on to become a popular motivational speaker.

For a peek into the life of someone who inspires big time, read on for the impressive story of Travis Roy.

by Tiff -

Getting Even Smarter: More Ways to Climb Stairs From Your Wheelchair

When it comes to climbing stairs, that’s not really in the vocabulary of someone who uses a wheelchair on a regular basis. Most of us resign ourselves to the first floor and that is that. However there are some people in wheelchairs who are the exact opposite and would never let a puny thing like a step dare get in their way.

I love these people too. They show the world that people in wheelchairs can be quite unexpected. Just because some of us can’t walk, it absolutely doesn’t mean we’re weak.  These very strong individuals include paraplegics and those with minor to moderate spinal bifida and cerebral palsy.

It’s a feat, a work of art, the way some individuals climb stairs without leg movement. Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Chelsea Rae Huggins

A woman of remarkable beauty, Chelsea Rae Huggins is the ultimate meaning of keep on keeping on. Once a rising makeup artist who went on to transform her love of painting faces into painting on the canvas, she truly understands the importance of beauty.

There’s power in beauty and in art, and the art Chelsea Rae (also known as SPINALpedia member raehuggins) has created has garnered her a huge following on Facebook. Her purpose in life is without question to help share beauty with the world.

A southern girl with big dreams, read on for the transformative story of Chelsea Rae Huggins. Read this entry

by Tiff -

3 Amazing Wheelchair-User Weight Loss Stories

It’s not very often you hear someone in a wheelchair say, “Oh it was easy to lose that weight.” Usually it’s the exact opposite. We’re not moving as much, we’re not doing a lot of stuff, which means we’re not burning as many calories.

For us, losing weight is a uphill battle. However like all things in life, there are those who totally prove this wrong.

From a mother and wife from Georgia who wanted to become the sexy wheelchair wife for her husband to a newly injured paraplegic who used his injury as a catalyst to lose weight, here are three amazing weight loss stories from people who use wheelchairs.

Read this entry

by Tiff -

SCI Superstar: Barney Miller

You may have heard of disabled surfers before, such as Christian Otter Bailey and Jesse Billauer, but if you’re not familiar with the disability scene in Australia, chances are you’ve never heard of Barney Miller, a quadriplegic surfer who’s been feverishly raising money for spinal cord injury research since his injury.

What’s even more exciting is that Barney’s fundraising has recently gotten a huge boost thanks to an exciting new partnership Barney has signed on for with Red Bull, who’s decided to take on his cause by naming his fundraising goals the main beneficiary of a brand new worldwide marathon.

Also a fiance to one of Australia’s most well-known singer songwriters, read on for the story of Barney Miller. Read this entry