Greetings my quad list friends and friends [since 1995 for me], Sometimes after so much time goes by and either we are kept busy doing happy things or are stuck in bed with a wound... we often lose track of each other and exactly who is who and what is about that person.
I know we have lost one of the most wonderful contributors here [Dave Kelmer] and I believe that Bill Jenkins (in Florida) was the one who told us of his wishes. This was back in 2009. Having said that, here is what I would like from each one of you to refresh my old lady mind. I feel like I have aged a lifetime over the last 4 years after losing my husband and unable to live with family any longer. ** Name * ** Age* ** Date of injury* ** Town and state where you are from (unless you would just like to state the state you are living in).* ** Are you a quad or a para? If you are a quad ... what level of injury are you? * ** Complete or incomplete injury? * *And any other information you would like to offer. Thanks a bunch in advance!* Best to you all! Lori Michaelson - age 51. How did that happen?!?!!! C4/5 complete quad, 36 1/2 years post. Unable to drive. I can feed myself if prepared and placed in front of me. Food needs to be cut up if necessary. Grew up in a small town in New York State and lived there for 36 years but after meeting my husband he got transferred a couple times which first took us to Virginia and then to Tucson Arizona. I was devastated with his unexpected passing at only 63 years old on June 11, 2012 and over 90% of me went with him. Went to live with sister and brother-in-law in northeastern Pennsylvania for 3 years but, despite hiring morning and evening caregivers ... my sister and brother-in-law wanted me to move on for a myriad of reasons but primarily because my sister began having venous stasis and my brother-in-law wanted his house back without people coming and going. Needless to say I am very disappointed in them because they very well could have taken me on longer. I had I known it was only going to be for 3 years (even though was an emergency situation as I had nowhere to go) I wish I had found a live-in caregiver in Tucson where my husband and I have been living for 11 years. Landed back in Tucson Arizona with a live-in caregiver in January 2016. My story is a long one but I will stop there. -- "Petting, scratching and cuddling a dog could be soothing to the mind and heart and deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer." ~Dean Koontz
