Walking with Anthony

SPINAL CORD INJURY AWARENESS MONTH

INTRODUCING SCI HEROES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

This September, we aim to raise SCI awareness by sharing 30 different stories from 30 individuals with SCI, highlighting their tragedies and triumphs each day on our social channels and website. Walking With Anthony receives thousands of grant applications every year from individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in desperate need of help. Each story has the same underlying theme: these brave heroes need mental, physical, and financial guidance and support. 

SCI HERO

Stephanie Nichols-Rodas

Stephanie Nichols-Rodas
I had a car accident May 6th,2017, early in the morning on my way to work. Another car was going to hit me, so I swerved and hit a concrete median while merging on to the freeway. I flipped 3 times, and then another car hit me and threw me a mile away.

I broke C5-C6,damaged from C4 to C7,and damaged my neck arteries. Unfortunately I didn’t remember what happened right away, it took me 3 years to get the flashback.

Being a quadriplegic for 5+ years has been very challenging, for my loved ones and me… It’s been like a roller-coaster that never stops, and believe me I used to love those, lol! But I must say I have been more than blessed with my family that doesn’t let me fall, and with all my new family and friends(Trainers, Pt’s, Ot’s,Uncle Darlin, Uncle Mark .)that have been there for me supporting me in this journey, I couldn’t do it without all of you, Thank, thank you, thank you everyone🥰 for your support♾, love❤,prayers🙏 and more a long this journey🌖…

This year has been very challenging I must admit it’s getting harder, pain is 24/7🥴, lost very important people in my life💔🖤,my van hasn’t been working for the past 3 weeks🥺, stress is high🤯 and hopes start getting low.😔

The year started off with Covid, car breaking down every month has left us with a huge debt, and therapy was off the table, we just can’t afford it anymore. That is when my mom starts looking for grants, and so we started applying. After a couple of weeks of applying we started getting replies, one more time I got blessed.

Challenge Athletes has helped me with a month of therapy at Adapt Functional Movement Center, and then I was blessed to be awarded the wellness grant through another amazing foundation called Rally4Reilly, covering my therapy 2x a week from May to the end of this year 2022. 

I also started participating in a non invasive neuromodulation research study at Renue Health, 2x a week and to be honest the progress has been amazing. So thankful with God that helped me when I was ready to give up,he didn’t let me, instead he sent all this blessings.

Now I have therapy 4 to 5 times a week, and even when it’s a very slow recovery, for me it’s the first step that counts, and I know I am getting there. 💪🏼❣️

For me It’s just about living one day at a time.  

I have learned  that you just can’t give up on Faith, you can’t give up on Hope,and you can never give up on Love or family❤. And with the Army beside me, giving up is not an option.

I must also recognize that I have come a long way and even when I might cry my head to sleep every night, I am proud of myself , for everything I have overcome.

So I wanted to share this news and updates with all of you, I know I haven’t been very active on social media lately, but as you can see it’s only because I have been blessed and busy.We got this!🫂💪🏼❣️ 🦼👩‍🦽👩🏾‍🦯🚶‍♀️💃🙏🙌♾❤

Thank you so much for all your love,prayers and donations! God does listen… I love you 😍 💗 ❣️💪🏼🥳🫂🙌

https://gofund.me/d5876ecc

Zelle:snicholst89@gmail.com 

venmo: snicholst89

Cashapp:sladybirdn89 

https://www.paypal.me/snicholst89

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More SCI Heroes

Please share these stories during the month of September to help us raise awareness for spinal cord injury:

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Ian Malesiewski

I was wrestling at the junior freestyle and Greco world team trials. It was my first match of the Greco portion of the tournament and I threw my opponent. I landed hitting the mat with my...

Rhonda Williams
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Rhonda Williams

I am a C5 C6 quadriplegic who had a car accident when I was 16 in 1989 in Virginia. Through the many years of living as a quadriplegic I have had ebbs and flows. I met my husband while living in...

David Wieselmann
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David Wieselmann

I was Mt. Biking with friends up in Vermont after work. We were cutting down a hill at the very end of run, and my front wheel sunk in some soft dirt. I went over the handlebars and did a...

Eden Hoelscher
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Eden Hoelscher

On December 23, 2015, our five-year-old daughter, Eden, collapsed on the ground after doing a backbend on our living room floor. Within 30 minutes, she was paralyzed from the waist down. She was...

Rebecca Koltun
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Rob Balucas

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I was in a car accident the summer going into my junior year of high school. I was with 4 friends. We made the poor choice of throwing water bottles at other cars, which caused one car to chase...

Casey Ellin
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Casey Ellin

On June 1st, 2013, when Casey was only 26 years old, he had an accident at Jones Beach that forever changed his life. After diving into the ocean, he fractured his C4 – C6 vertebrae, leaving him...

Michael Kim
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Michael Kim

38 years old father of two young children, PARALYZED. This fund is set up for Mike's family during a time of incredible heartache, to help them navigate a long road of recovery and treatment....

Anne Nelson
SCI Heroes

Anne Nelson

I was a passenger in a car accident. After emergency personnel rescued me from the car I was taken to Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, AL where emergency surgery was done to stabilize my spine....

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DISCLAIMER:

Walking With Anthony receives thousands of grant applications every year from individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in desperate need of help. Although we are not able to directly support every individual, for your participation you will receive valuable resources regarding mentorship, mental health, community, advice, and education to help you on your SCI journey. 30 stories will be chosen to share on social media, and those individuals will also receive $200 of wellness supplements to aid in their recovery.

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