18 months ago today I was paralyzed. ---Pics.---

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Replies

  • barbiek999
    barbiek999 Posts: 176 Member
    This is very moving, I love your story! You are such an inspiration to me!!! Congratulations on your fantastic acheivement!!! You have such a wonderful, wonderful attitude, thank you so much for sharing it and for this inspirational post!!! By the way, you look absolutely gorgeous!!! You rock!!!!
  • andiechick
    andiechick Posts: 916 Member
    Wow, what a transformation! Looking at those trousers you are literally half the woman you were. Well done, be proud of yourself x
  • therezatimbira
    therezatimbira Posts: 1 Member
    Thank you so much, you are my. Inspiration.
  • kiykiy79
    kiykiy79 Posts: 177
    This is an amazing and inspiring story!!! They days I don't feel like doing something... I will think of you and all the adversity you fought to get to where you are!! You rock and look AWESOME!
  • ethieman
    ethieman Posts: 99 Member
    Amazing!!! Thanks so much for sharing, your story will be put in my stack of inspiring people when I'm struggling to get my butt moving!
  • llangstraat
    llangstraat Posts: 130 Member
    I don't even know you and am so proud of you!! Amazing story and such an inspiration to us all! Thank you for sharing!
  • cgeorge5555
    cgeorge5555 Posts: 27 Member
    Absolutely amazing and inspiring. You look beautiful as well as your family. I'm sure they are extremely proud of what you've been able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time. It was a true test of your spirit and will to succeed facing that mountain of obstacles and challenges. Big Kudo's to you and keep on pushing and inspiring the rest of us!
  • rubberbiscuit
    rubberbiscuit Posts: 128
    Wow, you are just amazing. Your story really touched me. Your children are adorable and you are beautiful. Congratulations on your weight loss and all the best wishes for your continued success.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Today is a big day for me. It was 18 months ago today, June 11, 2011, that I was rushed to the ER in an ambulance because I had lost all feeling below the waist. I was transferred to a bigger city hospital where I had emergency spinal surgery - laminectomy, discectomy, and decompression of my spinal cord. Diagnosis was cauda equina syndrome due to a severely herniated disc.

    When I woke up I could not move my legs. I could not stand or walk. I was in a wheelchair. For a few weeks I lived at a rehab hospital to regain strength as I sloooowly regained sensation in my legs. It's not all fully back - to this day I'm still numb down the back of my right leg and the bottom of my right foot. Chances are I'll never get that feeling back.

    At my discharge appointment with the neurosurgeon on August 17, 2011, he told me to prevent this from happening again, that I needed to lose weight. I took his advice to heart.

    I've posted on here before but I wanted to again because today is a big milestone for me. It's been a year and a half. It seems like so long ago but 18 months really isn't that long. It's been 18 months of the hardest work of my life.

    18 months ago when I had this injury, I weighed 270 pounds. Now I don't. I weigh about 161-165.

    18 months ago when I had this injury, I couldn't walk. Now I can. And I can RUN 12 miles at a shot.

    HOW? MyFitnessPal and exercise. That's it. Being accountable for what I eat, and moving my body more.

    I'm 5'8" and have three kids, who were 9 months, 2.5 years, and 5 years old at the time of my injury.

    Before:
    IMG_4778-1.jpg

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    In the hospital
    IMG_5009-1.jpg

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    Hours of daily therapy in the rehab hospital
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    IMG_5011-1.jpg

    IMG_5020-3.jpg

    About a week after surgery was the first time I could feel my toes. It was truly amazing. This is the morning I woke up and could feel the fabric of my sock brushing on my toes.
    IMG_4997-2.jpg

    After a few weeks I was out of the wheelchair and using a walker and I was discharged home. I had physical and occupational therapists visiting my house 4-5x/week for about 6 weeks.
    IMG_5141-3.jpg

    Then I graduated to a cane the next month. This is the only picture I can find of my cane. That's my youngest daughter.
    IMG_5352.jpg

    A month after that my surgeon told me to lose weight. So I started walking daily and joined MFP that very day.

    Old pants (size 24) vs new pants (size medium)
    pants-1.jpg

    Now I run a lot.
    photo-118-1.jpg

    And wear a size 8/10
    photo-92.jpg20120827.jpg


    If I could do it, you can too. Get up and move. Start logging your nutrition. Be accountable to yourself. You're worth it.

    Thanks for letting me share.


    Thanks for sharing your story!! Truly amazing and inspiring! You ROCK:flowerforyou:
  • jfrankic
    jfrankic Posts: 747 Member
    I am weeping tears of joy for you right now. Wonderfully heartbreaking and wonderfully beautiful story. I am so happy for you and thankful for the woman and mom you've become and for you sharing this story. Wonderful.
  • iamMaLisa
    iamMaLisa Posts: 278 Member
    I was sitting at my desk feeling sorry for myself, and then i read your AMAZING story!!!! Makes me realize that i am the only one that can change how i feel and to hold myself accountable for my actions!!! Keep up the great work!!!! You are an inspiration!


    ^^^^^^^ THIS
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I say it everytime you post but you're amazing :bigsmile: I'm so glad to have you on my friends list
  • cheers_b
    cheers_b Posts: 74 Member
    sometimes in life we get lucky......we get a second chance to make the most of our journey. I like the fact that you recognized this and are making the most of it. The shame for others is that they either dont get the second chance or they dont realize that they need to make the most of the chance (aka Life/Live) that they already have. Stories like yours are a good reminder to me of how fortunate i really am.
    Congrats and thanks for sharing.
    Cheers,
    b
  • LesleeBeAlive
    LesleeBeAlive Posts: 504
    So awesome Joy!
  • BarbWhite09
    BarbWhite09 Posts: 1,128 Member
    So inspiring!
  • lisaisso
    lisaisso Posts: 337 Member
    love it! what a story :)
  • terricherry2
    terricherry2 Posts: 222 Member
    That's incredible. You're incredible! No one could read this and then have any excuses not to work hard and achieve their goals.
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
    really makes me wonder what a load of **** my excuses are. Well done, you've done amazing.
  • DCpaleochick
    DCpaleochick Posts: 211 Member
    AWESOME...You are AMAZING!!!! thanks
  • NZhellkat
    NZhellkat Posts: 355 Member
    You bring a tear to my eye. What an amazing lady you are. Congrats on getting your life back.
  • time2shine29
    time2shine29 Posts: 103 Member
    You look fabulous and you should be so proud. What a phenomenal turn around.
  • BettyIW
    BettyIW Posts: 103
    I am in awe of your amazing story! You are a true inspiration to myself and to others! I am proud of you and you look amazing!!!!!! Absolutely beautiful inside and out! HUGS :heart:
  • kirstyg1980
    kirstyg1980 Posts: 302
    Amazing, your an inspiration x
  • Indygirl_81
    Indygirl_81 Posts: 142 Member
    Your story is so awesome!
  • BettyIW
    BettyIW Posts: 103
    Yes, this story brought tears to my eyes too!:wink:
  • VanessaGS
    VanessaGS Posts: 514 Member
    Such an inspiration. Glad everything worked out for you.
  • jrich1
    jrich1 Posts: 2,408 Member
    Speachless!
  • laperla47
    laperla47 Posts: 1 Member
    WOW! Congratulations! What an absolutely touching and inspiring story. Thank you for sharing.
  • gebe1231
    gebe1231 Posts: 60 Member
    Absolutely awesome!!!! Very inspirational!!! LOVE the attitude!!! Huge congrats to you! :)
  • Juashmom
    Juashmom Posts: 55
    What an inspiring story! Thank you for sharing you look fantastic!

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