Drew's Recovery Update Nov 2020 May 2021 - Complete C1-C2 Quadriplegic Regaining Movement
My Instagram posts from November 2020 to now. Including the messages written for each below. Enjoy! https://www.thedrewcrew.org
I want to put into words how this makes me feel. I remember standing in the hallway getting ready to jump and thinking, what’s the worse that can happen? I remember when I woke up in the hospital thinking I fell asleep at a friend's house. I remember adamantly telling my dad that if they sat me on the edge of my bed, I’d be able to walk because my body felt like I just woke up in the morning. I remember all the hundreds of times I’ve asked someone to put their hand on my shoulders or biceps to see if they can feel me trying to move, and they said no, I don’t feel anything. I remember all of it.
So seeing this video. Seeing the confirmation that I actually am moving. No matter how much it always feels like I can move. To actually see it myself! My body. My muscles. My actions. It overwhelms me with happiness and excitement to the point of tears rushing down my face. To know that ALL of the things that I’ve done, ALL of the efforts I put in day in and day out, ALL the efforts that my dad and family have made in keeping me healthy are actually FINALLY becoming visible. Not just a feeling, a sensation, a hope, but physical evidence that these changes are occurring. I can’t express how happy I am deep down inside. Thank you, everybody, for always having faith in me and my belief in walking again. I love you all so much.
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The newly discovered movement of the day. Each flutter is followed by profound excitement and encouragement. I’ve believed in these moments for 10 years, and to just now be seeing real results is absolutely mind-blowing 🤯🤯 , And yes, not using my hands for ten years gives me a perfect French manicure. 💅🤣
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Excuse my language, but this is absolutely fucking amazing!!! I can’t believe how well I’m holding myself up, balancing, and talking at the same time!!!!! These improvements recently are blowing my mind! 🤯 Be ready because I’m preparing to make a video series detailing each therapy that I’ve done over these ten years that all have led to this moment. Watching myself in these videos gives me so much pleasure to see how well I’m feeling and what I’m trying to do are FINALLY lined up! Ugh, I can’t get over it. It’s truly amazing and exciting. 🤗🤗😁😁
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Sitting Up Is Getting Stronger!! New year new accomplishments!!
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Progress comes in small increments. My mom has been coming over every Tuesday to work out, and today, I could see and feel a big improvement from the first attempt to the last attempt. I do 4 sets of 50 reps of each exercise, and this time I felt a leap in movement. I could feel the muscles pulsating and flickering as they started to fire. She also brought her sweet dachshund Clyde who kept wanting to join in the fun and quickly learned he could climb up my footrests like a jungle gym. 😂🐶
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Today’s workout was incredible. I could see my biceps flexing at will. Seems like every day I’m feeling something that I couldn’t, moving something I couldn’t, with less and less strain and effort required. I need to focus on the astonishing gains and keep PUSHing forward.
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The other day I didn’t show my failures of trying to swing my right arm out because I knew that it’d just be a matter of time and practice until I got it. Today I was able to swing it out with ease! Since my injury 11 years ago, our mantra has been PUSH, Pray Until Something Happens. Boy, oh boy, things are definitely happening. 🙌🏽
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Today I went to see my guy Philip at @axiobionics to pick up my new vest! Crazy to see how far I’ve come in the 10 years of using this. Wearable Therapy was the only therapy I did for 7 years after my insurance stopped paying for me to go to physical therapy. I couldn’t have finished high school and college, staying as healthy as I did, without it. It’s the only reason I’ve been able to have the results I’ve been having with all the other therapy I’ve incorporated. Electric stem throughout my entire body. Keeping my muscles strong. Body active contractions. Everyone always comments on how I don’t have a quad belly, which is 100% why. If you can come to Michigan, I highly recommend looking into getting an evaluation at axiobionics.com.
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Strength. Determination. Perseverance. From the day of my injury 11 years ago, I’ve said I have an overwhelming feeling that I’ll walk again. Still PUSHing towards that premonition.
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Who wants to arm wrestle? 💪🏽💪🏽 These subtle gains are going to be the building blocks of what’s to come. I can’t wait! Let’s keep Pushing. 👊🏽
