Hey Dennis.  How are you.  Where are you from.  I am a paraplegic also. Complete. Lets talk I have done a lot of research on spinal cord injury since may 4 2002 the day of my accident.  I understand a lot.  If you want to chat just write to me I may know some things that may be of some use trust me.  My name is Luis I am 20 years old.  Our injuries differ.  I am a T-5.  Ypu should have more use of your trunk that I do but our injury is relatively the same. (paraplegic) Do you have home therapy equipment?  Questions about catheterization? sex? spinal cor injury? anything? I know a lot.  We are still ver independant.  Life is not so bad!  This is my story:

In May friend came up (to New York) from college in Florida, to visit his family. He metioned to me that he would be driving his girlfriends parents car back down because she needed a car down there. I told him I woul go with him. We left at 8pm Friday May 3rd.  He drove through New Jersey and Maryland. I drove through Virginia and North Carolina.  We switched driving at South Carolina because I was tired.  I did not buckle up (for whatever reason: trust or tiredness)  I fell asleep in the passenger seat. He fell asleep while driving. When he woke up he realized he was going off road.  When he steered to go back on he oversteered. The van slid driver first sideways into a lot of trees.  The car crashed into the trees at 80mph.  I was not buckled up so I bounced around in the van.  The police officer told my parents that my head was beneath the dashboard and legs on top of the head rest.  I had both lungs collapsed, broken shoulder blades, 3 broken ribs, and broke T-5 T-6 and T-7 and had a nasty gash on tho top of my head.  It was a miracle how I was found.  God is good. (My friend is ok he was buckled up)

A passer by saw steam comming up from the side of the road.  He pulled to check it out and realized it was a van. He called 911 where the police were 2 minutes away. The miracle is he was an army medic on his way home from work.  The second car to pull over was a nurse on her way to work.  The right people were there at the right time.  I spent 2 months in MUSC until I came back to NY for rehab for 1 month.  My life is better than ever.  I am happy an grateful.

I can be some help trust me just write back... Take care hope to hear from you soon...

PS: I will send you some info from my other yahoo acct. louistorresjr O.K. just in case you get them and wonder who sent you them

 "dennissr_74960 <dennissr_74960@...>" <dennissr_74960@...> wrote:

Anyone with a T12, or L1 injury that would like to share info about
healing process, treatment, and life in general in dealing with the
injury please E mail me.
I am a recent result and would like to correspond with someone in the
same situation.
I am a 53 year old educator and still working and also trying to cope
with all of the problems that go along with the injury and
adjustments.
Sincerely
Dennis



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