Thirty-six years ago, Scott Chesney suffered a stroke in his spinal cord. Today, he reflects on his experience living with #spinalcordinjury and his hope for the future in the first episode of Onward with Scott Chesney.
Reigniting Hope to Reclaim Movement
December 28, 2021
On this day, December 28th, thirty-six years ago I awakened to paralysis, the result of a rare congenital arteriovenous malformation (AVM), in other words, a rare stroke in the spinal cord. While I am one of the most hopeful people you will ever meet even 36 years into this paralyzing experience, I must keep it real and say that with each passing day, month, year, and decade, hope fades. Hope still resides within me and always will, but has been buried by time and experiences lived through paralysis. As a result, I have somewhat lost some of my drive, determination, and desire to stand, walk, and move the lower part of my body…until now!
About three months ago, I asked myself, “Have I done everything in my power to reclaim movement?” The answer was a definitive, “No” and the reason or excuse was “After nearly 36 years of needing a wheelchair, why should I get myself all excited and put energy and effort into something that probably won’t happen in my lifetime?” Just typing those words drains my energy. Please don’t get me wrong. I have had an amazing quality of life through the many blessings in disguise of paralysis that have taught me so much about myself and the world in which we live. And life can and will be better when, not if, I reignite hope and reclaim movement.
Enter ONWARD. When I put out the call that I was willing, ready, and able to reignite hope and reclaim movement, ONWARD answered. They are the real deal and it was an honor and a privilege to join their team to help them deliver life-changing technology and products to the SCI Community. Being a part of this SCI Community, I am really excited to reclaim movement for myself as well when it is time. This feeling is more intense than simply feeling hopeful. It is certainly not a matter of if anymore, but when. While learning more about the technology and its benefits to the research subjects more each day, I am really envisioning my legs moving again, standing on my own two feet, walking away from the wheelchair, improving my bladder, bowels, and sexual function, and better regulating my blood pressure. To me, all of the functions just mentioned equate to movement.
Moving forward, I want to make sure that I, as well as my extended brothers and sisters, are fully prepared in mind, body, and spirit to reclaim our movement. Each month, ONWARD with Scott Chesney will be providing you with updates from the company, interviewing the team at ONWARD that is committed to our movement, sharing tips, strategies, techniques, and resources to best prepare you/us for this movement, and so much more.
We must take our exercise routines, diets, mindsets, therapies, etc. to the next level to best prepare for this technology that IS coming. We are partners in this technology and must make a daily commitment to ourselves to receive and utilize this technology most effectively. Why? Because we deserve it and have waited long enough…whether it is a month that you have been paralyzed, a year, 10 years, or 40 years. Stay tuned friends because in many ways, our journeys are just beginning!
-Scott Chesney is a paid consultant for ONWARD
-Scott Chesney's views are his own
Recommended links:
ONWARD's website - www.onwd.com/
Scott Chesney's website - scottchesney.com/
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation - www.christopherreeve.org/
27 дек 2021
