Pretty moving story, and, oh, how far we’ve come…
Paul Jenkins is his name. Graduate of Canberra University. Motorcycle accident in 2006 left Paul with paraplegia. He remained focused and determined, despite…(how beautiful is that?)
Through a combination of stem cell therapy, physiotherapy and training in the use of the exoskeleton, known as the ReWalk, Paul has steadily been ‘regaining control of his legs’.
Paul knew he had to keep his mind active, so, during ‘intense physiotherapy, Mr. Jenkins began studying commerce and applied economics at the University of Canberra.’
“It’s taken a lot – I had to learn to crawl again, had to learn to kneel again, learn to balance,” he said.
“I thought ‘you’ve still got to keep your brain working while you’re going through this process’, so I just enrolled in a few units and here I am.”
“I hate the chair … every time I get out of it is a bonus.
“I can feel the differences, I know when I’m on marble, carpet, sand, grass.”
Jim Barrett, from ReWalk’s Australian distributor Making Strides, says he hopes that this clever device will eventually replace the wheelchair.
“There’s a lot of medical benefits, so bone density increase, in muscle mass, decrease in fat mass,” he said.
“A lot of quality-of-life markers as well will improve like sleep and fatigue, and even just social interaction factors as well.” Paul, as he walks the stage…
“This was a joke that I was called on – I had no intention to do this and then I said it as a joke, and now here I am,” he said.
Makes you wanna cry,
Lisa
(happy tears)