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Our story In April 2006 my life drastically changed. I was involved in an RTC. I suffered multiple injuries including a broken femur, ribs, and pelvis, but the lasting damage was a T6/T7 complete spinal injury and a brachial plexus injury to my right arm. Meaning the only movement I have left is my left arm, head, and shoulders. I was 15 years old and had been riding horses and showjumping from the age of 5. Horses were my life and being told I will never ride again shattered my heart. A couple of years before my accident I bought a young horse to break myself, I did all the work and loved her but due to the crash, she had to be sold. I swore that one day I would get back into horses and find a way to do it all again. Carriage driving was the route I found I’d be able to do so I decided to buy a Friesian sport mare to breed a foal to eventually drive and compete, and I named him Majestic. When Majestic was just 2 I spent every day on the ground playing with him, getting him used to me using the skills I knew about horses from before and adapting it to what movement I have now. Many people were unsure even against me driving such a young big powerful horse but I gained trust with him. I sent him away for 8 weeks to be introduced to the carriage. When he came back my mum drove him a couple of times and although he was still very green I wanted to take the reins. I didn't want my disability to stop me from being the one to do it with him. I found an amazing woman who introduced me to the driving trials and saw past my limitations. The driving trials are fast-paced and could give me the adrenaline showjumping did. I needed that back in my life. I was the one who took him to his first competition and we are improving more and more at each outing. Although people doubted me being able to handle him I didn’t let my disability stop me and never will. We are only 2 years into our competition journey but I train each day. Majestic gave me focus and gave me something to work towards each day. I compete against fully able people and make no allowances for my disability. I just have to work harder.

Pre-Crew My name is Sarah Kalis and I am a wife, mom, and special education teacher. I have loved my work within the disability community, and I truly feel like it has always been my greatest passion. I have been a mom and teacher for a decade. Parenting a typical child while working with those with disabilities taught me early on to never take anything for granted. I thought I had always done an adequate job being an advocate for those with disabilities through my line of work. However, it took me to become a parent to truly understand the depth of the disability world. I am not going to lie, my deep dive into becoming a disability parent was not graceful, and it took place alone, on a NICU rocking chair, with MyChart in hand. Diagnosing Crew My son Crew was born at 31 weeks and 2 days. He weighed only 2 lbs 9 oz. After years of miscarriage and secondary infertility, I was in disbelief I would even have a second child. So, my pregnancy was instantly filled with anxiety. After a rather uneventful, yet nervous pregnancy, I found myself in slight discomfort one day and strapped to an OR table the next. I had developed severe and sudden onset preeclampsia. Crew was without amniotic fluid for an unknown amount of time and therefore was extremely growth-restricted. I was never prepared for a preemie in the slightest. When he was born, I spent the first few days under the false notion that he just needed to grow, and everything would be smooth sailing. Crew quickly blew us away. He needed very little oxygen support and was active, feisty, and beyond adorable. We were battling low platelets and trying to balance some chemistry from my toxemia, but other than that, everyone was truly looking at the glass half full. We had just celebrated Crew no longer needing oxygen, the isolate, and voyaging down to the less intensive floor of the NICU when a routine head ultrasound spotted a brain injury. I knew he was having a repeat head ultrasound that day, but no one seemed worried. When I opened the MyChart results, I was alone rocking my baby when I read the words “Periventricular Leukomalacia.” I scurried to Google. Cerebral Palsy. Google is scary, so I opted to read peer-reviewed journals instead. “Almost all babies with PVL go on to have some type of disability.” I sobbed. I signed up to be a special education teacher, not a special education parent. I instantly felt guilt for that thought. Here I’ve been, for 10 years of my career advocating for all kids CAN do versus can’t do. And I wasn’t even allowing my son the same opportunity to show us what he’s made of. Crew's Crew Crew was finally discharged from the NICU. We immediately enrolled him in Early Intervention and started in therapies. Crew had a slew of specialists, and we settled into our new normal. It took me a while to not look at the CDC milestone app daily. Occasionally I will practice checking off “not yet” for every skill listed to prepare my heart for doctor’s appointments. But Crew has softened so many hearts around him. He has taught us to laugh longer and to love harder. He has taught us the value of inchstones. He moves mountains versus milestones. His giggle is infectious. Knowing that Crew has a mom with a master’s in advocacy, a sister with a black belt in empathy, and a dad with an armory of hope, he will live a great life.

My story Hi! I'm Hend from Egypt. On the last day of the year 2020, I had a fixation surgery to stabilize vertebrae T11 that was fractured a day before in a life-altering car accident. I became paraplegic and had to start learning all about it. I lost my job after the accident, but luckily I got a lot of job offers and was employed by a great company. I live in a country that's not accessible but I go out as much as I can and have fun nonetheless. My life has changed dramatically but I'm surrounded by people who I love: my partner, family, and friends who are providing constant support and making it all easy. I'm able to focus on my physio, work, and how I can make the best out of this situation.

Joe Martin ALS Foundation ​ Learning and Education Daily living and Mobility Contact us USA x x x x x x x About The Joe Martin ALS Foundation's mission is to help families face the challenge of living actively with ALS by providing free home care services. Life is beautiful and the power of people is unstoppable! Andreea Lichi Read More Accomplishing my dreams with cp Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Related Articles

PATH International ​ Outdoor Activities Contact us LA, california USA x x About The mission of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) is a membership organization which fosters safe, professional, ethical and therapeutic equine activities through education, communication, standards and research for people with and without disabilities. Life is beautiful and the power of people is unstoppable! Andreea Lichi Read More Accomplishing my dreams with cp Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Related Articles

Paralyzed Veterans of America ​ Learning and Education Daily living and Mobility Contact us LA, california USA x x x x x x x About The Paralyzed Veterans of America is a congressionally chartered veterans service organization founded in 1946 which has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of our members/veterans of the armed forces who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction. Paralyzed Veterans will use that expertise to be the leading advocate for: quality health care for our members, research and education addressing spinal cord injury and dysfunction, benefits available as a result of our members of military service, civil rights and opportunities which maximize the independence of our members. Life is beautiful and the power of people is unstoppable! Andreea Lichi Read More Accomplishing my dreams with cp Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Healing is happening- what is wrong with me? Andreea Lichi Read More Related Articles