My 18 year old son had a four wheeler accident 01/03/09 leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. We have spent so much time researching everything we could on the Internet to better educate ourselves. It has been a traumatic time and a struggle everyday, praying for a miracle! I believe there is hope with Stem Cell treatment, however it is very expensive. I hope we are able to get him in as a clinical trial to help him have a chance of walking again. Alot of people have different views on Stem Cell research but for someone to have a chance of walking again... to me it's a miracle! For anyone going through something like this I recommend looking at the Christopher Reeve Foundation website. They have a book on Paralysis that they will send you for free, it covers everything you want to know from help that's available and rehabilitation. It is a very detailed book with so many websites for anything you want and need to know. We checked into the price of Stem Cell Treatment and were quoted a price of $32,000.00 I almost fell over!!! No-one could ever be financially prepared for something like this and even though his insurance paid for his electric chair, his manual chair cost $3,000.00. What he is receiving from disability is not what we expected, we thought he would get alot more.. So how is a family suppose to come up with $32,000.00? I have read that you can get someone to sponsor our son (meaning to pay for the procedure) but that is a waiting game and with his injury so new his chances are really good of getting so much more back or possibly even walking. Right now he can move his arms but has no use of his hands, he cannot hold anything and it's so hard to hear him say "Mom, If I could just get my hands back"! He went through a bad state of depression for about three weeks, I was so scared he wasn't going to snap out of it and try anymore but he did! There is no way I could imagine but what he goes through mentally and physically everyday, and he always prays that he will be able to feel something that wasn't there the day before but everyday he wakes up that's just not the case. It is very sad and so very challenging that there are no words to describe it. He was the most outgoing person, always doing something and so very active and now his whole life has came to a stand still. Could you lay in a bed for fifteen minutes and not move? That is what he has to go through everyday and I pray he does not give up hope. You can never prepare yourself for this type of tragedy and there are days I feel like I am not going to make it through but somehow I do and I use to pray every night for him to be able to walk again but now i just pray that he can use his hands again because without your hands what kind of life do you have? I am asking everyone to please pray for him, we need all the prayers we can get because we desperately need a miracle!!!!! Please donate if you possibly can, we are asking for all donations to be made out to him ( Terry Cooper ) and our address is 30740 River Rd Laurel, DE 19956. Thank You So Much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spinal Cord Injury Resources:
The Christopher Reeve Foundation: Committed to funding research that develops treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other
central nervous system disorders.
http://www.paralysis.org
National Spinal Cord Injury Association: Offers a toll-free help-line, nation wide chapters and support groups.
http://www.spinalcord.org
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center: Supervises and directs the collection, management and analysis of the world's largest spinal cord injury database.
http://main.uab.edu Click on Information and statistics.

Health Questions:
The University of Miami School Of Medicine: Offers clinical information on bladder, bowel and other paralysis-related conditions.
http://www.calder.med.miami.edu/pointis/urinary.html
Spinal Cord Injury Information Center: The University of Alabama, Birmingham, features clinical information about bowel management and all other medical issues of paralysis.
http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability: Features in depth resources on fitness, exercise and recreation for people with disabilities,
http://www.ncpad.org
Nutrition.Gov: Is a resource on diet and food.
http://www.nutrition.gov
National Institutes of health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Offers reliable information on nutritional supplements.
http://www.ods.od.nih.gov

Depression is common among people who are paralyzed, but it's not normal, becoming discouraged, grief stricken or sad is normal but depression represents a condition that is a health problem in itself. Depression involves changes in mood, outlook, ambition, problem solving, activity level and bodily processes such as sleep,energy and appetite. Many factors contribute to depression and may include pain, fatigue, changes in body image, shame and loss of independence.

Rehabilitation:
The American Academy of Physical medicine and Rehabilitation: Is the national medical society for more than 6,400 physicians who are specialist in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
http://www.aapmr.org
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research: Supports research aimed at improving the lives of individuals with disabilities from birth through adulthood.
http://www.ed.gov.about/offices/list/osers/nidrr

Research:
Dana Foundation: Provides reliable, accessible information on the brain and spinal cord, including research.
http://www.dana.org
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation: Raises funds to develop treatments to restore function after injury or disease of the spinal cord.
http://www.ChristopherReeve.org
Center Watch: Provides an extensive list of approved clinical trials being conducted internationally.
http://www.centerwatch.com
Clinical Trials: Is a user-friendly listing of all federally supported clinical trials for all conditions in the U.S, sorted by disease or condition.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

I hope this information was helpful, If you have any questions feel free to email me at
www.dbowers1995@comcast.net