Daily Dose

Best gifts for people in wheelchairs

2009-11-20T14:40:00Z

Don't be intimidated when shopping for a gift for someone in a wheelchair this holiday season -- check out the special 2009 Reeve Foundation Holiday Gift Guide. We've gathered some top-notch ideas from wheelchair users about what they really want most.

Pictured is the wheelchair fishing pole holder.

Our experts provide advice on wheelchair-comfortable clothes, picking a bag that rides well, and finding gifts for kids in wheelchairs. You'll find just the right gift for gamers, techies, travelers, fashionistas, gourmets, children, and those who like to explore the great outdoors, along with daily essentials for anybody who uses a wheelchair.

Take a look at our Holiday Gift Guide today and unwrap hidden gems like jeans fitted specifically for those in wheelchairs, stuffed animal "Wheelchair Pals", a wheelchair fishing pole holder, double-handled coffee mug, and much, much more.

Rob

Pushing the brain to find new pathways

2009-11-20T14:33:00Z

The principles of neuroplasticity ("...the brain's ability to change ...") are at the heart of Locomotor Training, the activity-based rehabilitation intervention being done in the Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network.

In this article, Dr. McCormack says that there is little appreciation within the US healthcare industry for the capacity of the human brain and spinal cord to recover after injury or disease. He argues that access to more intense, longer rehabilitation would lead to improved outcomes for patients and ultimately save the healthcare system money.

Read the article.

Susan Howley
Executive Vice President, Research
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Researchers advance understanding of stem cells

2009-11-20T14:26:00Z

Researchers from North Carolina State University have identified a gene that tells embryonic stem cells in the brain when to stop producing nerve cells called neurons. The research is a significant advance in understanding the development of the nervous system, which is essential to addressing conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

Read more.

Keep up to date on the latest in spinal cord injury research.Get our free research newsletter.

Rob

What do you know about myelin?

2009-11-20T08:54:00Z

Paralysis is a big tent. Our Paralysis Population Survey says there are over 5.5 million people living with paralysis in the U.S. Spinal cord injury, sure. But stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and MS, just to name a few, all can bring on paralysis.

One of the things the Reeve Foundation is encouraging the entire paralysis community to do is tocome together, and to use that 5.5 million number as leverage to get the cures -- and I say cures, because there will not be one magic bullet -- we all want.

So, when I heard from Julie, our senior web producer, that her cousin ran a marathon in September, and October, and was running an Ultramarathon (50 miles) today, I wanted to give him some room to tell his story:

Some of you may have heard that I am raising funds to support the Myelin Repair Foundation. This organization is changing the way that drug research and collaboration between academics and pharmaceutical companies occurs. They have accomplished amazing things in just 5 years of existence. In short they have found a mechanism and method to increase speed-to-market for the treatment of myelin repair.

What is myelin? Myelin is sheath-like coating around the axon of the neuron. This is essential for proper functioning of the nervous system.

Why am I interested in this? Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that attacks a persons nervous system leading to demyelination (destruction of the myelin sheath). Multiple Sclerosis has been highly impactful on my life. My father was diagnosed with MS in the late 60s while serving in the US Army. Subsequently I was born in 1972 and grew up watching the progression of this disease ravage both his mind and body.

Unfortunately he passed away in 2005 due to various health complications. Since then I have searched for a meaningful way to contribute to the current and future state of developing treatments and cures for MS. I came across the Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) and found an organization that was taking an incredibly innovative approach to making this happen.

To that end I am raising funds to support MRF.

Sincerely, Dennis O. Smith

Support Dennis.

Thanks for sharing your story Dennis.

Find out about turning your passion for a sport into a mission. Join Team Reeve!

Rob

Have you considered water skiing?

2009-11-17T14:53:00Z

Proving that the human spirit has unlimited potential, Utah Chapter member Ryan Stevenson (pictured at right), paraplegic from a 2006 snowboarding accident, has once again challenged himself to excel in spite of tragedy. Ryan, who is the driving force behind the Reeve Foundation's successful Keep On Rollin’ Charity Car Show decided to jump in with both feet and recently found himself water skiing again.

A wakeboarder and snowboarder before his accident, it didn’t take Ryan long to rediscover one of his passions. As part of the University of Utah Rehabilitation Center’s TRAILS (Therapeutic Recreation and Independent Lifestyles) program for spinal cord injury patients, Ryan ventured out to Last Chance Lakes, a man-made water skiing lake with his snowboarding buddy Jay Hill, who had been with Ryan when he had his accident.

“Jay was one of the starters in the water, who helped me get balanced before taking off,” said Ryan. True to form, Ryan saw success almost immediately, drawing from his previous experience, and skimmed across the water with expert form. “It’s easy to succeed when you have people and programs around you dedicated to help you do just that,” he said. “It felt similar to what I remembered before my accident.”

Also true to form, Ryan was gracious about the no-cost TRAILS event. “I felt like I should have paid for it,” said Ryan. Reeve Foundation associates, friends and family would say he’s earned it and then some.

Bob Wassom
Utah Chapter

Substance may help prevent spinal injury

2009-11-17T14:27:00Z

UPI reported this early this month:

Substances produced by the human body may one day help prevent paralysis following a spinal cord injury, U.S. researchers said.

Dr. Samie Jaffrey, associate professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medical College, said permanent nerve damage may be avoided by raising levels of a compound that converts to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide -- NADplus -- the active form of vitamin B-3.

Read more.

Rob

Don't forget the caregivers

2009-11-17T14:03:00Z

It's National Family Caregivers month. Everyone knows a caregiver, whether it is their official job or just the job they inherited. I remember watching my mom struggle with her mom as Alzheimer's slowly claimed her. My grandmother could get violent at times.

Take a minute before the avalanche that is the holiday season crashes down, and appreciate a caregiver. The National Family Caregivers Association has some ideas how you can do this:

Offer a few hours of respite time to a family caregiver so they spend time with friends, or simply relax.
Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a family caregiver’s day.
Encourage local businesses to offer a free service for family caregivers through the month of November.
Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
Offer comic relief! Purchase tickets to a local comedy club, give a family caregiver your favorite funny movie to view, or provide them an amusing audio book to listen to while doing their caregiving activities.
Find 12 different family photos and have a copy center create a monthly calendar that the family caregiver can use to keep track of appointments and events.
Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community, so they can just relax and enjoy the holiday.
A United States postage stamp honoring the more than 50 million family caregivers in America is officially “under consideration” by the U.S. Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee for introduction as early as 20ll. Sign the petition at www.thefamilycaregiver.org and ask others to sign the petition letter.
Help a family caregiver find information and resources on the internet or to locate a local support group.

We have a list of resources for Caregivers in our Paralysis Resource Center.

Rob

Stepping Out Thanks to Bob and Papa Gino's

2009-11-13T12:35:00Z

Saralee Perel has a new essay for us.You have to love the title: Stepping Out Thanks to Bob and Papa Gino's. If you haven't read her here before, you don't know what you're missing. Her humor and her insights are inspirational.

Today's piece.

Try this one too.

Rob

Become a fan of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on Facebook!

Do you know someone who needs a Wheelchair Pal?

2009-11-13T09:57:00Z

Soft and cute! That is the best way to describe these wonderful armrests. They work on most wheelchairs and on crutches too. They are featured in our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide for People in Wheelchairs along with 25 other ideas in 8 categories.

BTW, if you have an idea to add, please add it here.

Rob

Become a fan of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on Facebook!

New target offers hope for SCI

2009-11-13T09:46:00Z

This is on Harvard Medical School's website. A little on the technical side, it addresses a very basic problem -- scars.

Scars are a mixed blessing in spinal cord injuries—saving a victim’s life, but sealing his fate as a paraplegic. The scar forms a wall around the wound, preventing the injury from spreading, but limiting opportunities for neural regeneration. Cells in the scar release molecules that keep severed nerve fibers from growing past the damaged tissue, so they cannot reconnect to restore motor and sensory function.

Read more.

Sign up for the Foundation's Research newsletter and stay up-to-date on all the research news.

Rob

Become a fan of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on Facebook!

Did you see the wheelchair number on Glee?

2009-11-12T11:55:00Z

This was posted on our Facebook page last night:

In the spirit of tonight's episode of Glee , I decided to spend some time in my wonderful husband's wheelchair. (T-11/T-12 Para) It only took about 2 minutes before I almost ended up ass over teakettle! Wow! Talk about an experience!! Not only is my husband gorgeous, but he can lay down Pergo like nobody's business and he could out dance Artie in a Glee dance-off easily!

Are you watching this show yet? It just makes you feel good. Which is hard to believe, because in one episode last night they dealt with wheelchair accessibility, teen pregnancy, Down syndrome, father-gay son relationships, the high price of health care, and stuttering.

The whole episode. The photo above from Fox is of the wheelchair song/dance which is at the end -- Ike and Tina Turner's Proud Mary.

Here is the cast talking about how hard wheelchair dancing is on ET.

Seriously. Wednesday at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Rob

Become a fan of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on Facebook!

Quadriplegic New Jersey man gets right to bear arms

2009-11-12T11:25:00Z

It's hunting season in our part of the woods. This issue actually came up last year. It just now got resolved.

A quadriplegic in New Jersey has the right to bear arms even though he can't hold a gun or pull a trigger.

A judge ruled Tuesday that James Cap is eligible for a firearms ID, which is required to buy a gun.

Manville's police chief had rejected the 46-year-old's application last year.

Read the story and see a great photo of the rig he uses to shoot.

Rob

PS: We have Here over 100 fact sheets organized alphabetically on various topics including Hunting for People with Disabilities. Check it out under "H."

Become a fan of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on Facebook!

Remember the disabled Veterans today

2009-11-11T09:08:00Z

I've run two 5Ks in the last year. Both times I encountered the same Marine with a prosthetic leg built for speed. The first time I beat him by a few steps. The second time he beat me by a few more steps then I'm willing to say.

Before I started here I would have been afraid to even look at the guy, forget about nearly having a heart attack trying to kick his butt. We talk about the dead, and the returning military folks, but we often avert our eyes when it comes to disabled vets. Don't feel guilty. It's natural. I finally realized that my fears were all about me embarrassing myself.

Well, I got over myself.

Christopher's book, Still Me, got me thinking right. Regardless of the injury, that person is still the son or daughter, husband or wife, friend and neighbor they always were.

Don't let this Veterans Day go by without acknowledging, in some way, what the men and women in the armed forces are doing, and remember the burdens the injured vets carry with them everyday.

Rob

(Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Wahl)

PS: Some military items of interest!

- The Foundation has a Military Outreach Campaign for paralyzed vets. You can call us with questions.

- A couple of days ago, I posted a story from USA Today talking about how spinal cord injuries are on the rise among the troops due to the road side bombs.

- Paralyzed Veterans of America has free e-cards you can send to vets ... and a nice TV spot with Ben Affleck.

- United Spinal Association has a wonderful resource center called VetsFirst.

- Disabled American Veterans has a good advocacy site.

- And all veterans and active duty military personnel are invited to eat free at Applebee's today.

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'Chill' out over the chair, says 'Brothers' star Mitchell

2009-11-11T08:54:00Z

I have written about how much I love the Fox comedy Brothers (photo is of the whole cast) a lot in this space. It's classic sitcom funny! You should have a look.

"Chill" Mitchell is one of the stars, and he happens to be in a wheelchair. The Chicago Tribune recently talked to him about acting from his chair:

"I was an actor first before I was a disabled actor. Just because you are standing up doesn't mean you can act. If they didn't give a person a chance in a wheelchair to come in there and to prove that they can produce, then I would have an issue with that," Mitchell says after an early morning script read for an upcoming episode..

"I think a lot of people gave me a shot just out of respect. And when I got in the room, they saw that I was ready to go. I was ready to go to war. So a lot of times roles weren't even written for me. They changed a whole character just so I could be in the show."

Mitchell found inspiration in actor Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a horse-riding accident. Reeve told Mitchell the worst thing he could do was try to deal with his paralysis by himself.

Read the whole story.

Chill is one of our Reeve Ambassadors, speaking for the Foundation wherever he goes around the world.

Rob

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