On November 3, 2006 I was in a car accident in which I broke my neck and sustained a C5/6 spinal cord injury.  I was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital where my parents were told that I would be paralyzed from the neck down and would be unable to regain any feeling or movement, but I have proved them wrong thus far.  On November 8^th I had surgery to stabilize my neck and a week later may parents and I had decided to have me transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA.  After arriving I was informed my neck was not stabilized well and had another stabilization surgery on the back of my neck.  I was in Atlanta for almost four months receiving occupational and physical therapy.  After returning home I continued this type of therapy for six months.   It was then discontinued because I was not showing improvements fast enough.

Once I was discharged from therapy I started researching spinal cord injuries and found some information about a surgery that is performed in Portugal called an Olfactory Mucosa Autograph.  After talking with the surgeon, my parents, brother and I went to Portugal and I had the surgery on May 30, 2008.  A cyst was removed from my spinal cord and olfactory stem cells were removed from my nose and placed in the injury site.  Since the surgery I have regained some feeling and movement, but continuous training is needed for improvements to continue.

My goal is to be able to walk again one day.  It is going to take a lot of hard work, but I know that it is something that I can accomplish.  With hope, faith, and determination I believe this is possible.  Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23