My world was forever changed on February 13, 2012 due to a motor vehicle accident. I do not remember being told that I would never walk again because I was heavily medicated due to the devastating injury that left me paralyzed from the chest down. But, the pain in my family’s faces made me realize...Continue Reading

By Dan Nwosu and Megan Hammond “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato I want you to take a moment and imagine listening to your favorite songs from your childhood/teenage years. How does it make you feel? Can you hear your heart...Continue Reading

Spring weather is here in Northeast Ohio, and as we start to wake after our “hibernation,” the conversation turns to what can we do.  Living with a disability can provide enough struggles, but then we are faced with the questions surrounding accessibility in enjoying basic, everyday  hobbies.  What hobbies CAN we do? What’s available? What’s...Continue Reading

The Model System Knowledge and Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make research meaningful to those with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury. Last newsletter, we featured the Factsheet on adaptive sports and recreation and how to get involved in your community.  This...Continue Reading

by Dr. Kim Anderson In spinal cord injury, or SCI, nerves that communicate between the brain and body are damaged.  In addition to weakness and numbness, other functions, including the digestive track, are often impacted.  For people living with SCI, bowel control and dysfunction are among their biggest perceived challenges.  Constipation and incontinence (accidents) are...Continue Reading

I’m Kewin King. 43 years of age. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I suffered a T-12 Spinal Cord Injury 10 years ago. My life has been different but I will say somewhat interesting. In the beginning, I was wondering to myself “How am I going to live with this?” I wanted to give up...Continue Reading

In partnership with the United Spinal Association Northeast Ohio Chapter, the MetroHealth System will be hosting the Spinal Cord Injury Forum on Saturday, September 23, 2023. The conference will be held in a NEW Glick Center Conference Room at the MetroHealth Main Campus. This educational conference is projected to attract 80-90 attendees and a consortium...Continue Reading

The MSKTC works closely with researchers in the 14 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model System Centers to develop resources for people living with spinal cord injury and their supporters. They have several user-friendly resources that are grounded in evidence and available in a variety of formats such as printable PDF documents, videos, and slideshows.  We...Continue Reading

After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) most people suffer from neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Effects of this condition may be diverse but can result in frequent urination, incontinence, incomplete bladder emptying, and/or catheter dependence. However long-term changes from neurogenic bladder can result in recurrent urinary tract infections, kidney stones, renal injury (kidney damage), and more.  Urodynamic studies...Continue Reading

At 25 years old, Cleveland native Autumn Nalls had to relearn how to take care of herself following a spinal cord injury (SCI) about 5 years ago.  Before her SCI, she was a  motivational speaker about sexual health and wellness for high school students.  After moving to California for a year, she came back to...Continue Reading