written by Don Johnston Brian is married with two children and worked at a plastic factory for 30 years.  He began experiencing significant back pain and eventually numbness in his limbs and issues with his balance at 50 years old.  After trying various treatments, an MRI revealed a narrow spinal canal compressing his spinal cord....Continue Reading

I was eighteen years old when I was working at JobCorp and had just earned my first weekend pass, where I traveled to Indiana.  I was with a guy I was working with, and we enjoyed ourselves while walking down a street.  A stranger came up to us and started a fight.  I was holding...Continue Reading

It was August 2023.  I was out late with friends, having fun.  I turned down the wrong street, and my life forever changed.  There was a crowd standing outside in the street.  I was just driving through, and they started shooting at my car – with a bullet piercing my back. I am now paralyzed...Continue Reading

This past January was the 28th anniversary of my injury. It’s hard to believe that I’ve spent more than half my life in a wheelchair, though I still remember the day as if it were yesterday! There are some years that go by and I completely forget the date until it’s passed. But during this...Continue Reading

On June 16, 2022, I was riding my e-bike to work, something that I do daily.  At the intersection of W 50th and Detroit, someone ran a stop sign and ran into me, causing my spinal cord injury.  After my acute care at MetroHealth Main Campus Hospital, I was transferred to the Rehabilitation Facility at...Continue Reading

In a split second my life changed. Just like that I was waiting for an ambulance. The whole time wondering why I couldn't move anything below my neck. Nine hours later I was out of surgery that repaired my 3rd-5th vertebrae in my neck, needing rods on both sides of my neck. I thank God...Continue Reading

Having a positive attitude and stubbornness has allowed me to take my injury in stride and overcome many challenges I didn't originally think I'd be able to accomplish.Continue Reading

It was a normal day around 10 in the morning; I took the day off work and my wife and I were on our way to pick up my mother to spend the day with her.  About 10 minutes from her house, someone ran a red light and my car spun around and hit my...Continue Reading

In August 2017, after an accidental fall, I became a T9 complete paraplegic. However, I haven’t let a wheelchair hold me back from fulfilling my dreams. After completing my inpatient and outpatient therapy, I immediately began learning how to drive again through MetroHealth’s Driver Rehabilitation program. After receiving my new license, I worked with the...Continue Reading

Richard is a relatively new resident of Ohio. He has actually returned to Brecksville after a 50-year layover in Maryland, where he worked and raised a family with 3 sons.   Richard accepted a position in Maryland as a young man and left Ohio after applying for a job with Congressman Charley Vanek in 1973.  He...Continue Reading