I have begun a new chapter in my training. I prop on my knees and try to crawl with my elbows. Its hard to explain. i will post a video soon.
I was able to stand 3 times with assistance after school today. -September 3rd
I transfered myself with minimal assistance from my chair to my bed. I haven’t quite figured out how to relax the muscle tone in my hamstrings so they will follow my body.
These are mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, …beautiful human beings. Educate yourself, SPEAK OUT, United Nations needs reform. There must be a swifter process to prevent genocide when clear/substantial evidence is presented to the UNITED NATIONS.
From this blog on, I, Leo Hodson, will do my best to update you on my condition atleast once a week. I will also be sharing my thoughts and opinions on a variety of different subject matters.
Spinal Cord Injuries are pretty complex. I have learned to be patient while I slowly regain function. Please do not be disappointed if weeks go by with no significant return.
Just recently I stumbled upon a new ability. I am able to activate my hamstrings and position my feet back on my foot plates if they are hanging off. Word on the street is, my toes have been wiggling, i know, it is just a rumor, but I believe it. I can also cause my ankles to flex down ( the motion of pushing down a gas pedal ).
In the beginning Leo relied on communication through blinking his eyes, lip reading and someone pointing to letters or phrases on a chart. He was paralyzed from the neck down, unable to eat without a feeding tube and unable to breath without a ventilator.
Leo fought his way off the ventilator and in doing so, was accepted to the Shepherd Catastrophic Center in Atlanta, GA. Leo received a full scholarship which consisted of a three month stay of intense physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapy.
Leo is now operating a powered wheelchair, eager to get stronger, he devotes his weekdays to therapy.
Three days a week a physical therapist visits Leo in his home for one hour and focuses on stretching his legs, strengthening his core, sitting balance, self transfers and standing.
The other two days Leo travels to Mooresville, NC to exercise with exercise science majors on state of the art equipment. Together as a team they focus on strengthening his core, quads, hamstrings, gluteus muscles, triceps, and neck.
Leo has been injured for less than year and doesn’t plan to discontinue his “race to walk”
In the last few days Leo was able to wean himself completely off the ventilator and his pneumonia is gone. This morning Leo was transported to the Shepard Spinal Center In Atlanta to begin his recovery!!! Please still keep him in your prayers, he has a long road ahead, but one that can be conquered!
Student Development will be collecting money for his medical fund at Spring Fling and you can still donate at Bank of America( LEO M HODSON MEDICAL FUND- they can search by his brother’s name , NEAL HODSON) . Spending two weeks in the ICU and a little over a week in a “regular” room has racked up a rather large bill for Leo.
Leo’s family found out this morning that Leo has been accepted to the Shepard Spinal Center in Atlanta……and…!!!! He is now officially a recipient of one of their scholarships that will cover his entire stay and treatment at one of the countries most prominent Spinal centers!!!The cost of his treatment there is projected at anywhere from half a million to 2 million dollars. He will still have the challenge of paying his current NHRMC bills but this is of course a huge relief for Leo and his family!!!!!!
These are mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, …beautiful human beings. Educate yourself, SPEAK OUT, United Nations needs reform. There must be a swifter process to prevent genocide when clear/substantial evidence is presented to the UNITED NATIONS.
CIVIL WAR, MODERN EUROPE, INTRO TO NARRATIVE, INTEGRATED SCIENCE/CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
