Live to Walk Again

Episode 241 Emily Abraham

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Emily Abraham who is an Occupational Therapist, Spinal Cord Injury Advocate, and the partner of Kyle McKittrick. Emily joined us on the show after the tragic passing of Kyle in December after checking himself into the hospital with an unknown issue causing extreme autonomic dysreflexia (AD) that eventually caused an inoperable brain bleed. Emily gave some great information and things for any person dealing with an SCI to watch out for if you're hospitalized, especially surrounding AD as many nurses and doctors are not familiar with this serious condition that can arise at a moments notice for any injury T6 or higher. Kyle was a major voice and inspiration in the spinal cord injury community after suffering a C6/7 SCI in 2018, he played wheelchair rugby with the Las Vegas Highrollers, and truly lived life to the fullest. Connect with Emily at her IG page listed below and please check out the link to the Christopher and Dana Reeve's foundation printable wallet card with information you can provide a doctor or nurse about autonomic dysreflexia. Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

 

Emily Abraham:

IG: @em.abe

 

AD Wallet Cards:

https://www.christopherreeve.org/todays-care/living-with-paralysis/free-resources-and-downloads/wallet-cards/

 

Episode 240 Eddie and Chris Canales (Gridiron Heroes)

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Eddie and Chris Canales who are the father/son team that founded Gridiron Heroes to help support kids and their families who suffer spinal cord injuries playing high school football. We talked about Chris's injury as a senior in high school, the game they attended a year later were another student-athlete suffered a spinal cord injury and served as the catalyst for Gridiron Heroes, and the lack of support they receive from the NFL. We also discussed the CNN Heroes award they received, donating wheelchair accessible vehicles to some of these players and their families, and the unfortunate reality that the numbers of spinal cord injuries in high school football are not coming down. Connect with Chris and Eddie and the Gridiron Heroes at the links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Gridiron Heroes:

www.gridironheroes.org

FB: @gridironheroes

Twitter: @gridironheroes

Donation Link: https://gridiron.dppro.net/give

 

Episode 239 Rick Futia & Jag Jefferson

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the honor of speaking with Rick Futia who is a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor and Disability Advocate and his nephew and author of the book Rickicello: The Rockstar Life of a Paraplegic Paisan; Jag Jefferson. We spoke about the Mountain Dew commercial that essentially led to Rick becoming paralyzed, getting nearly 9 months in rehabilitation after the injury, and the difficulty adapting to life in a wheelchair early on. We also spoke about Rick becoming one of the bay area's most eligible bachelors in the early 80s, the story of his family immigrating from Italy in the 1950s, and the importance of friends and family after suffering a spinal cord injury. Connect with the guys at the website and social media links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Rick Futia/Jag Jefferson:

https://rickbio.com/

IG: @rickicello

Rickicello Amazon Link:

https://a.co/d/fF4YYXs

 

Episode 238 Bridger Frederick

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Adventurer, Podcast Host, and Spinal Cord Injury Survivor; Bridger, Frederick. We chatted about the automobile accident that left him paralyzed, the multiple premonitions he had prior to his injury, and rebuilding his life after an SCI. We also talked about some of the incredible experiences he had before getting hurt, battling drug addiction with a spinal cord injury, and starting the FLOtalks podcast with friend of the show Elena Brandner, among many other topics we get to. Connect with Bridger at the links below and donate to his go fund me, this guy is trying to sail around the world!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Bridger Frederick:

IG: @bridgerleefrederick

FB: @bridgerleefrederick

Tik-Tok: @bridgerleefrederick

YouTube: @bridgerfrederick

GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/280cba25d

Episode 237. The Quad Gods (Richard Jacobs & Prentice Cox)

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the chance to catch up with two members of the E sports gaming team The Quad Gods; Richard Jacobs and Prentice Cox. We talked to the guys about starting the team and the ramifications it had on their lives from rehabilitation to competition and everything in between. We talked about the HBO documentary about their team, their friend Chris Scott who was the originator of the Quad Gods, and the impact they are having on the SCI community by showing what's possible, even after suffering this catastrophic injury. Check out the movie and connect with Richard, Prentice, and the rest of the Quad Gods at the links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Quad Gods:
Richard Jacobs IG: @breadwinner1007

Prenrice Cox IG: @the_quadgods

https://quadgods.com/

https://play.hbomax.com/movie/b39f4ad4-06b4-4fa8-9d5e-aa3af9c68439

 

Episode 236 Richard Garcia 4.0

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of catching up with friend of the podcast, Richard Garcia. Richard told us about the whole scope of his year-long experience getting stem cell procedures done at BioXcellerator in Columbia. He told us about the benefits he's received from the stem cell procedures, the cost of traveling to and getting care in Columbia, and about life in Medellin after he decided to spend three months there between his third and fourth treatments. He's back down in Columbia receiving a fifth treatment as this podcast is released so we will definitely catch up with him when he's back from that trip after the first of the year. Connect with Richard and BioXcellerator at the links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Richard Garcia/BioXcellerator:

IG: @richgt1369

      @bioxcellerator

FB: https://www.facebook.com/richgt1369

    https://www.facebook.com/bioXcellerator

www.bioxcellerator.com

 

Episode 235 Sophie Hagy

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Disability Advocate, Blogger (The Able Diary), and founder of Disability Matters; Sophie Hagy. We talked with Sophie about the shooting that resulted in the death of her friend Alex and her winding up with a spinal cord injury, the awful medical treatment she was provided early on in her injury, and being able to reenter rehab a couple of years post injury and how much more beneficial that was to her. We also discussed how she dealt with the mental strain this injury puts on you, the decision to start blogging and launch The Able Diary, and designing clothing and other goods for the company she founded; Disability Matters. Connect with Sophie at the links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Sophie Hagy:
IG: @sophiexhagy

TikTok: @sophie_hagy

The Able Diary: https://www.theablediary.com/

Disability Matters: https://www.etsy.com/shop/disabilitymatters/?etsrc=sdt&dd_referrer=

Gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-sophie-hagy/donate?utm_campaign=unknown&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=linktr.ee

 

Episode 234 Erica Predum

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Erica Predum who is a Disability Advocate, Spinal Cord Injury Survivor, and in the Cofounder of Next Step Fort Wayne. We talked with Erica about the car accident that left her paralyzed, the massive challenges she went through during her rehab from the injury, and the tragic loss of her mother less than a year after her accident. We also spoke about overcoming the massive obstacles that were put in her way, the help she was given through the Walking With Anthony Foundation, and her motivation for starting Next Step Fort Wayne. Connect with Erica at the social media links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Erica Predum/Next Step Fort Wayne:

IG: @nextstepfortwayne
      @epredum

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576275480349

    https://www.facebook.com/erica.lynn.992976

 

 

Episode 233 Jeff Lefkovitz

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we had the opportunity to speak with Jeff Lefkowitz who is an author, inventor of the MAS neurological rehabilitation system, and the founder of Abilities Recovery Center (ARC). We spoke with Jeff about his early career as a chiropractor and working with professional athletes before a patient with a Spinal Cord Injury came into his practice and launched a new career in neurological rehabilitation. Jeff developed a breakthrough rehab device called the Mobility Activation System (MAS) that serves the purpose of multiple items in a standard rehab facility and cuts down on the time it takes to transfer to one of these other devices. Jeff is an amazing success with nearly every patient he's worked with having some sort of improvement after working with the MAS!! Connect with Jeff and ARC at the links below, as well as the MAS, which is truly a game changer in the world of neurological rehabilitation, and if you're in the Southern California area definitely connect with them in person!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

ARC/MAS:

https://www.arc-la.com/

IG: @abilitiesrecoverycenter

Unparalyzed: Learning to Move, Stand, and Walk Again. Volume 1

https://a.co/d/dPzlgOw

 

 

Episode 232. Emily Powell

This week on the Live to Walk Again Podcast we are lucky enough to visit with Emily Powell who is a Disability Advocate, Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor. We spoke with Emily about the tragic car accident two days after her 16th birthday that left her paralyzed, the grit and determination it took for her to earn a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and the incredible support she received from her family, especially early on after her accident. We also talked about the devastating loss of her boyfriend Zach in a hit-and-run accident, the courage it takes to live on your own as a quadriplegic, and her amazing dog Azul. Connect with Emily at the social media links below!! Please listen, like, rate, review, and share the podcast!! We're just trying to find a cure for paralysis!!

Emily Powell:

IG: @emiii21

FB: https://www.facebook.com/emily.powell.7731

Tik-Tok: @Theoneandonlyemilypowell