An Update on Andrew

Last year, I passed on Andrew Little's request for Christmas cards.  Andrew is now nine years old and has been paralyzed from the neck down since he was 15 months old.  In 2016 his grandmother sent out a general call for Christmas cards.  Andrew received over 50, 000 cards, letters, and packages that year!  Here is a 2017 follow-up on the story.

Merry Christmas!

Exoskeleton Technology

Exoskeletons appear in the news more frequently as they become more advanced.  In this article, a graduate used an Ekso model to walk across the stage at his graduation: “Paraplegic FIU grad uses exoskeleton suit to pick up diploma."

Kicking Again

I’m again thankful to have many good and recent developments to report.  One of the most promising changes is that I have begun to regain the ability to kick(!), even when sitting.  This sounds small - and is right now - but it is a big step towards function: foot-tapping, knee extension, and general control of the lower legs.

Some Thoughts on Silk

Here's an interesting story about a relatively new line of research.  According to a study conducted by the new founders of Oxford Biomaterials, silk produced by a certain type of silkworm (Antheraea peryni) can be used to provide a surface for spinal nerves to regrow.  The silk disappears over time so that no surgery is required to remove the material.  With other researchers working to urge nerve regeneration, having a surface where new nerves can develop becomes more imperative.  And on that note, avoiding repeated invasive surgeries is no small thing, either.

Kay Ledson's Walk Across America

An update on Kay Ledson’s walk to promote activity-based therapy for spinal cord injuries.  She began in California (Sept. 22, 2017) and is on her way to Washington, D.C. (March 18, 2018).  She’s now made it to New Mexico.