Rocky's Road

On Memorial Day of 2018 I got a call that changed my life forever. My 18 year old brother had been in a severe gymnastics accident, resulting in fracturing his C6 and C7 vertebrae and damaging his spinal cord. He was immediately careflighted out to the nearest hospital and underwent a 4+ hour surgery. Me? I hopped on the first flight home I could find and was by his side in less than 16 hours after he got hurt. The feeling in my gut when I got that call...it was like a rock had made its home in my stomach. I knew in an instant our lives would never be the same. In the ICU, the doctors told my family that my brother would never be able to feed himself again, to prepare ourselves for a life that we couldn’t grasp or imagine. Because his injury was so high up in his spine, he is a diagnosed quadriplegic, meaning his arms and legs would not function properly. I spent 9 out of the 10 days with my family in the ICU. Everyday we learned new things about spinal cord injuries. My family and I leaned on each other like never before! Everything in “real” life kind of became a blur.

After the ICU, my brother, my mom, and my sister took a helicopter to Craig hospital in Colorado; one of the best spinal cord rehabilitation facilities in the country. He spent 10 weeks in Colorado. My mom stayed with my brother, all day everyday. My dad worked during the weeks and flew to be with my brother and my mom on the weekend. Me? I made the choice to work 3 jobs through the summer to be able to pay rent, do adult things, and pay for a plane ticket every three weekends to go visit my baby brother. We watched as my brother had to learn everything all over again. Without getting into too much detail, he had to learn things like how to wiggle his fingers or lift his arms, how to eat and hold a spoon, fork, or a toothbrush. He needed assistance getting in and out of bed. These are all things we do every day without even thinking about it, and in the blink of an eye, they can be the hardest tasks you’d ever imagine.

My brother has worked everyday, day in and day out, getting stronger and stronger, both mentally and physically. By August of last year, he was in a manual chair, rollin around on his own. He was able to get in and out of bed, in and out of a car, do his hair, brush his teeth etc. All the little everyday tasks that seem so simple to us, he had mastered once again. Everyday since his injury, my brother has proved the doctors wrong. He is a walking representation that mind power, faith, prayer, and perverence might just have the power to change everything!

To say that his recovery ended there would be a lie. After moving back home, he continued to get stronger! Seriously...his upper body strength is remarkable! But even more than that...his body continues to wake up. His abs are coming back, his arms are lifting weights, his glutes are starting to wake up, and his quads are able to contract. He has scheduled physical therapy twice a week and twice a week he stands and walks with assistance. He can do push ups and he can even holds a 30 second plank! Crazy right?!? (Sounds like he’ll be taking class with us in no time!) Just recently (in February) started driving again and has gotten back almost all of his independence as a 19 year old.

From the very first moment of seeing my brother in ICU he said to me “this stuff happens. I know I can live a full and happy life still, it just will look a little different.” I am in awe of his perseverance. He has inspired not only me and my family, but every one that knows him or hears his story! Our lives were changed in the blink of an eye, but it was our choice of how to respond to the change. His determination and effort has been absolutely inspiring and motivating to watch. his journey has been a crazy one! So many tears, laughs, heart aches, joys, you name it, we felt it. But this road isn’t over yet!

My brother has made miraculous strides in his recovery, but all the things needed along the way come with an expense, from wheelchairs, to service dog training, to therapy. With that being said, Tone Barre is holding a fundraiser at the beginning of May to help support some of these costs. My brother has chosen to spend yet another summer devoted to his recovery, and with that comes more therapy (which is not covered by insurance...cause that makes sense. lol). The proceeds made at this fundraiser will go directly into the Go Fund Me that my family has set up to help offset some of this summer’s therapy.

To close, I just want to say THANK YOU from the very bottom of my heart! I would not have been able to make it through this past year without the beautiful Tone Barre community! I am so lucky to get to be a part of a community of people that have walked this journey alongside of me. As my family and I continue to walk this “Rocky Road,” we’d love for you to partner with us any way you feel led. So come on over, take a fun barre class, enjoy some good company, participate in the auction, and spend some time reflecting that life is a gift that should be lived to the very fullest with no holding back! What are you waiting for?

Join us for our upcoming event to support Rocky’s Road!
Date: Sunday May 5^th
Time: 9:45am
Where: Tone Barre Orange
What: 75 Minute Ab Intensive Barre Class. Drinks, reception & silent auction to follow

To sign up for class: make a donation to Rocky's Road Go Fund Me. Then contact Tone Barre showing your donation to sign up for class. All class participants will also receive a goody bag!

Please be sure to RSVP for the class as we anticipate it to fill quickly. If you can’t make it to the class...swing by after to say hey! We’d love to see your faces!