Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month

As September comes near, United Spinal Association is getting ready to mark National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.  Each year, they come together to celebrate the SCI community and to educate the general public on the challenges of living with a spinal cord injury. Despite living with SCI, they have confidence in a productive, full, rewarding life is within the grasp of those with the power to believe it and the courage to make it happen.

According to the latest figures from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, located at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, “there are approximately 296,000 Americans living with spinal cord injuries.  Approximately 17,900 Americans will experience a spinal cord injury in 2021”. The average age at injury has increased from 29 years in 1970s to 43 years currently. About 78% of new SCI cases are male.

Life after a spinal cord injury (SCI) can be tough.  Having to deal with the change of being able to move and feel everything to not, is the most frustrating, challenging, and difficult part of a SCI.  I’ve learned over the years how to cope with my spinal cord injury and the different abilities that I can do.  I’m lucky to be so positive about my situation; there aren’t always people that.  The reason I choose to be, is because I couldn’t imagine going through life being mad or sad about what happened.  I choose to deal with it the best that I can for my own sanity.

As hard as it is I know that by working through the challenges and overcoming each obstacle that comes my way is another victory towards a better quality of life for me.  If I can keep that momentum going and those thoughts in my mind, I know for fact I can accomplish anything.  My goal is to teach what I’ve learned to others; to share my story so that maybe I can hel also like someone threw neck down. P those in need of a little inspiration in their life to keep going no matter what comes their way.  

One thing that helps me along with others is the different organizations working to improve the quality of life of people with SCI’s.  They also want to help show others what life is like with a SCI so that people can understand a little bit more about what one goes through when they suffer an injury like mine. I’m glad that there are organizations out there working to improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries. United Spinal helps thousands of people overcome the daily challenges of living with an SCI each year. 

You can show your support for their community and mission by raising awareness, as they celebrate SCI Awareness Month. In order to educate the public on issues that affect people with SCI’s, they pull all their resources together. “United Spinal asks their supporters to share throughout September to help educate the general public on spinal cord injury and spread awareness to the community. If you share any of the content below on your social media networks, use hashtags #UnitedSpinal #WeRollUnited #SCIAwareness.”

Jenni