As many of our readers know, I’ve lived with my spinal cord injury (SCI) for my entire adult life, and I am an active member of the SCI community. One of the ways I give back to my community is by being a peer mentor to people who are newly injured, sharing my experience to help them transition through rehabilitation and back into their communities. In this “note to self”, I reflected on what I would say to a young Mark worrying about the road ahead.

In the early days following my SCI, I spent three months in shock trauma and underwent several surgeries to stabilize the fracture in my neck. Finally, after being weaned off a ventilator, I entered the acute rehabilitation phase. This period marked the start of a profound life transition: Learning that rehabilitation truly is a team effort—a coordinated process to help a newly injured person adapt to a completely different way of living—and understanding that the path to independence is often travelled with the help of others.

Before my injury, I lived a highly physical, athletic life. I was the quintessential high school jock, constantly moving, training, and competing. In what felt like an instant, I went from the intensity of the football field to the even greater challenges of physical therapy.

Independence became the dominant theme of my rehabilitation, both from my internal drive and from my care team. It was emphasized every single day: “Do everything you can for yourself.” It was a crucial lesson—one that pushed me to relearn even the most basic tasks, whether it was getting a spoonful of cereal to my mouth or holding a pencil to take notes in class. The message was clear: the more you can do for yourself, the better off you’ll be.

No doubt about it—this mindset was key. I wouldn’t have achieved what I have, or gotten to where I am today, without an internal drive to push forward. Independence, maybe even stubbornness, has always been a part of me, but rehab definitely sharpened that trait.

However, there comes a point when you realize that it really does take a village and accepting help is sometimes the only way you move down the path. Struggling on your own is slow, frustrating, and yes, there’s a sense of accomplishment when you do succeed, but the question remains: was it worth the isolation? You can’t shut people out and expect to grow—not the kind of growth you experience when you embrace the help of a community. The more support options you have, the better equipped you’ll be in the long run.

You’re going to do amazing things: finish college, travel the world, work for sports franchises you’ve admired your whole life, and be the boss of a great team of dedicated professionals. You’ll even visit the White House! You’ll do it all because of what you learned here: do everything you can for yourself, and your community will be there when you need it.

If you or someone you know is newly diagnosed with spinal cord injury, or would like to learn more about living with SCI, please check out these resources from the NIDILRR community and the broader SCI community:

• The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center offers research-based information resources on SCI, including factsheets, videos, and modules on understanding SCI, the many facets of inpatient and outpatient rehab, and managing physical and mental health. Through the SCI Ambassador program, people who are passionate about helping people with SCI can participate in developing and testing these resources and share them with their community!
• The National Paralysis Resource Center is a free, comprehensive, national sources of information support for people living with paralysis and their caregivers. Their Newly Paralyzed resource collection answers some of the most urgent questions people have as they navigate their new reality. They also offer a paralysis resource guide, an essential tool for living with paralysis, as well as peer and family support programs, and information about the latest technological and therapeutic advances.
• United Spinal Association represents more than 5 million wheelchair users in the US. Their New Beginnings Resource Collection highlights information, resources, and tools to help people with SCI and their families discover greater independence and quality of life, including peer support groups.

Our information specialists are also available to connect you to local and national resources to help you on the path to independence.  You’ve got this…and we’re here to help!