day 460 : kinda sorta getting better at doing the "normal" thing?! . trying to give up my hands from taking so much weight off (ahem, cheating) without just faceplanting. #comeonquads #getittogether . . . #disabledandcute #relearningtowalk #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #incompleteparaplegic #paralysissucks #paralyzedlife #robotlegs #stairs #exerciseismedicine #moveyourbody #thecomebackisstrongerthanthesetback https://www.instagram.com/p/BokBq9iBfpa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3xfjn2siqtzp

day 321 : well look what we have here. bony part of my knee is a magnet for the floor. . any other walking friends suffer from constant falls?? . too many to count. . . . #relearningtowalk #recoveringparaplegic #paralysissucks #incompleteparaplegic #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery

day 292 : i got myself a pimp cane. . i’ve recently started venturing into not taking my crutches inside places that i am well familiar with and comfortable in. i don’t use any mobility assistance devices in my house really and am just starting to feel way more comfortable and balanced. . there are times when i know the terrain might be a little challenging but grabbing both crutches just feels like overkill for me. . i’ve started only grabbing one crutch, but they’re awkward, fall all the time, and are such an ugly shade of red 😂 . pimp cane, welcome to my mobility fam. . 📸 : @addymariewillis . . . #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #relearningtowalk #paraplegic #incompleteparalysis #pimpcane (at Clemson, South Carolina)

day 292 : i got myself a pimp cane. . i’ve recently started venturing into not taking my crutches in places that i am well familiar with and comfortable in. i don’t use any mobility assistance devices in my house really and am just starting to feel way more comfortable and balanced. . there are times when i know the terrain might be a little challenging but grabbing both crutches just feels like overkill for me. . i’ve started only grabbing one crutch, but they’re awkward, fall all the time, and are such an ugly shade of red 😂 . pimp cane, welcome to my mobility fam. . 📸 : @addymariewillis . . . #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #relearningtowalk #paraplegic #incompleteparalysis #pimpcane (at Clemson, South Carolina)

day 192 : in the spirit of being vulnerable, i admit that this is the first day i pick up my foam roller in 6+ months. . if you knew me pre-sci, you probably have heard my incessant chatter about this thing and how it heals almost anything 😜 . i admit knowing full well that this would have started helping me a long time ago. especially since one of my biggest issues post-sci has been my calves (gastrocs but even more so, my soleus) fighting me so hard. . i’m still not quite sure why these muscle groups have decided to be my arch-enemy, but from what i understand, it’s common that at least muscle(s) become hyper-active after this type of injury? can anyone educate me more on this? i honestly haven’t had luck on google. . anyway, better late than never. although today is the first day I finally felt up to doing this, i love new year’s resolutions because i appreciate what a fresh start can feel like. only as long as they’re realistic and manageable though 😊 (shout out to my smart-goal loving student affairs friends) . also, thanks to @tp_therapy for making magical toys ✨ . . . #foamrolling #scirecovery #paralysisrecovery #relearningtowalk #exerciseismedicine #recoveryiswellness #triggerpointtherapy #selfmyofascialrelease

day 190 : i’ve been slacking a bit, but i hope each and every one of you are having a happy and healthy year so far. . as is my new norm, i’ve been having a mentally and physically challenging few days. celebrated my favorite holiday in a very different state of mind that made it not as enjoyable, and have had my fair share of downs and even lower downs in addition to fighting my first nasty cold since the accident. . i even forgot to acknowledge my 6 month anniversary of the accident on january 2. . but i know i’ve still been making strides and was even the first to christen my pt clinic’s new bike! i’ve come a long way since not even being able to make the FES bike budge at craig. . spending an awesome few unexpected days with mom and planning for a move in about a month. . cheers to happier days and more sleep-ful nights y’all 🥂 . p.s. - retail store electronic carts make no sense. they’re not typically allowed outside of the store (aka the parking lot where i park my car), so if i can’t walk unassisted, how am i supposed to get to one? can’t really ask the store to hold on to my crutches or walker....OH AND ALSO, they don’t work if you don’t weigh enough. who are these really made for?!?! . end of rant. . . . #seesomethingsaysomething #nothingisshuttingmeupnow #paralysisrecovery #scirecovery #relearningtowalk #trishstrong #headbandsandhightops #exerciseismedicine

day 144 : 2 months ago v. present day. . it’s easy for me to get frustrated with my progress until i see something like this. . in the first video, my left foot could barely clear the floor even with a brace. now, i can bring my knee up to hit the bottom bar on my walker! . . . #wheelietowalkie #SCIrecovery #relearningtowalk #spinalcordinjury #paralysis