The EpiPen is Mightier than the Spinal Cord Trauma?

I've posted on some fascinating technology and treatments in the past, but this development is an eye-catcher.  Scientists at the University of Michigan discovered that an injection of non-pharmaceutical nanoparticles after a spinal cord injury can redirect the natural immune response and support nervous system repair.  This "EpiPen" for the SCI would minimize or possibly even prevent dangerous inflammation and promote regeneration at a critical time, maybe inhibiting the growth of scar tissue that could (literally) stand in the way of nerve regeneration.
Nanotechnology in medicine sounds like science fiction, but it isn't.  It's part of a much larger conversation about safe, responsible application of nanoparticles in contexts ranging from spaceflight and bioethics to car manufacture and food production.  SCI EpiPens are an incredible entry into the debate.  Practically speaking, they could change a lot of lives.  Order yours today?

Update: Devon Gales and Family, Home

I was so glad to see this article about Devon Gales and his family!  Devon was injured in a football game four years ago, and has worked hard on his recovery.  His family has faced a lot of hardships while waiting for a new home that could accommodate them and allow them to be together after long times apart.  They finally have their new house . . . and hopefully even bigger and better things ahead.

Nerve Transfer for Regaining Movement

Nerve Transfer is an up-and-coming treatment to help with regaining some arm and hand movement after spinal cord injuries.  It has been shown to have pretty amazing results for restoring critical motions (e.g., grasping, pinching), as you can see in the research videos attached to this article.  Something to be aware of for anyone who is looking into alternative options. 

Video Link: Summer SCIs

Just an informative little video about spinal cord injuries caused by summer activities. 

More Research in Louisville, KY

This is a pretty exciting article about more of the results coming out of the University of Louisville.  Researcher Susan Harkema is doing some great work there.  I appreciate her tenacity and her general attitude about SCI research.  She seems to recognize not only that even the smallest changes are worth tracking, but also that they have the potential to change lives for the better in big ways. 

6 Years Later: SCI, PhD, and Video Montage: 6 Years in 6 Minutes

Today is the sixth anniversary of the car accident that caused my spinal cord injury, and therefore marks six years since the beginning of my recovery story.  This spring also marks a happier milestone: in May, I had the privilege and blessing of graduating with my PhD in Classics from Yale University.  I began the PhD program the year before the accident and was visiting family over the summer when a distracted driver rear-ended our car.  Thank you to everyone who has helped along the way to graduation — most especially to those at Yale University, Yale Classics, and BiofitKC.  I'm excited about the next stage of my journey: working with Cordical LC; continuing recovery along with research, writing, and speaking; and hoping to encourage others.  The best is yet to come!

To follow my journey so far, see this montage uploaded today to YouTube:
6 Years in 6 Minutes: Spinal Cord Injury and Path to PhD

Cordical's AccessiRep: Working to Solve a Repeated Problem

Ever since my injury, I have worked hard to get back on my feet.  But unfortunately, regular pedometers and trackers don’t measure much of my activity, if they register any of it at all.  When I was first beginning to walk regularly, charting progress became more and more important.  I counted steps to judge distance and improvements, but with a spinal cord injury, it’s difficult enough simply to focus on taking steps, much less count them at the same time! 

Fixing that situation has been one of the goals of Cordical, a technological start-up founded by me and an extremely talented computer scientist, who happens to be my brother.  Together, we designed AccessiRep, a step counter and activity repetition tracker.  I can launch the application on my phone and put it on a walker, and the app will track my motion and count my steps for me.  It registers activity on a chart and will count aloud if desired.  We are excited to release AccessiRep on Apple’s App Store for $2, and hope that others will see the app’s potential for use in many settings, with disabilities or not.  Since this is our initial release, we also would like feedback on user experiences as we look forward to improving AccessiRep and making it even more personalized and adaptable.

AccessiRep is not a therapy device so much as it is a fitness tool.  Its present features include calibrating for different levels of sensitivity to support multiple types of activity detection, a graph showing movement duration and intensity, private access to past results, and an optional audio counter that will count your exercise repetitions out loud as you work.  Basically, AccessiRep can be put to work for many creative purposes and programs.  In many ways, it’s been a game-changer for me personally.

To learn more about Cordical, follow this link to our website, and to see more on AccessiRep or to purchase the app, follow this link to the App Store.