Nick “graduated” from Project Walk

Can you believe it? Nick may not be back to normal yet (what is normal, anyway?), but he and his lead trainer decided it was time to move on. A bitter sweet accomplishment.

Eric, Bri, and a very proud Mr. Fener enjoying a mini-photo shoot on Nick’s last day at Project Walk.

After exactly one year of making the hour-long drive down to Project Walk three times a week for Nick’s two-hour grueling sessions, Nick did his last workout with Bri. There was a mini celebration, lots of hugs, and tons of pictures and video being taken.

So so so proud of my love! Ahhh what a ride it’s been.

During the actual workout they tried something new with Nick that completely blew us all away. Nick ran across the floor for the first time ever!

Here is a link to a video of Nick running. (Forgive me if the video is messed up at this time. If it is, I’ll work toward getting a different video posted as soon as possible.)

The harness he’s wearing is not holding him up, it’s just for safety, and he did end up needing it once or twice during his first attempts. His new feet with more springy toes and new sockets that attach with a vacuum system have made it much easier for him to be steady on his feet. I’m pretty sure he could not have run like this with his old legs and feet.

Action! Eric spent an hour with us taking video of Nick’s last workout.

Recording Nick’s workout means instant feedback. Each run he did was better than the last.

Nick trying to run on the Woodway treadmill. It’s curved, so it’s propelled with each step he takes. This particular one was designed specifically for spinal cord injury patients at Project Walk.

“Is this thing hooked up right?”

Nick still has a long way to go to rehabilitate his body and get stronger, but we’re confident we now have the foundation and the tools after working with Project Walk. He’s doing his own workouts at home and with a local trainer. He’s on the treadmill or stationary bike almost everyday and has worked up to a mile and 3/4 without stopping on the treadmill. His next goal is to complete a 5k race in a few months. It helps to have a goal to keep you accountable, something beyond just “getting better.”

Driving away from Project Walk that day was sad but exciting. We were quiet in the car for a while, digesting the magnitude of what just happened. It really feels like only a few months ago that we were giddy with anticipation of his first session and what amazing changes it would bring to our lives.

Looking back at a year spent at Project Walk ignites a fire of gratitude for me. Not only was it a hefty investment that we’d make ten times over again, we know it wouldn’t have been possible without all the fundraising from our friends and family. What a privilege to be able to afford such leading-edge therapy and do whatever it took to get Nick’s life back.

I’m grateful that Nick was able to see an “end” to his therapy at Project Walk at all. That he can be mobile enough to no longer require their specialized facility. That he can workout here at home on his own and work with a more local personal trainer as well. I can’t help but smile when I feel Bri’s encouraging words dance through my mind, “Nick, you’re now less like a person with a spinal cord injury, and more like a weak able-bodied person.” Every moment is a reminder of how far he’s come.

Without Project Walk, I don’t know where we’d be right now, but I’m confident it wouldn’t be here, staring eagerly into the future, delighting in the countless possibilities to chase and create. Feeling joy in the unknowns, rather than confusion and sorrow.

Thank you Project Walk, Eric, Bri, and everyone who made us feel at home every single day. We will miss you guys!

Project Walk meets Project Jump!

“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.” –Wayne Dyer

It’s December 1st, the day Nick was going to jump, until we decided to push it back a week. The forecast was for rain today, and at the moment it’s overcast but will likely clear.

We’re still happy with our decision to wait another week because it gives us more time to plan for the fundraising efforts we’d like to make during the event.

Basically, we want Nick’s first jump back to be an event COMPLETELY OPPOSITE OF “FEET FOR FENER.”

Yes, the gathering will be because of Nick and his achievements, but we want the spirit of the day to be about helping other people.

If you plan to come watch Nick jump, please raid your pantry and bring some non-perishable food items to donate. The more the better! I just know you’ve got a can of beans or a box of rice you can stand to part with to help feed people who really need it this holiday season! Please bring a bare minimum of ONE item that day. The person who brings the most food items will get a prize, which may or may not be a giant hug!

We are also selling FENER shirts and stickers to raise money for the Project Walk Scholarship Fund! There are tons of people suffering from spinal cord injury who don’t have the support or funds to get specialized therapy at Project Walk. We are raising money to donate to the scholarship fund to help others who want to go to Project Walk but can’t afford it.

Because of our fundraising efforts, we have decided not to accept the kind offer of a group discount for tandem jumps, and instead take that $20 difference and donate it to Project Walk.

Tandem jumps are $209 and can be scheduled by calling 760-390-JUMP.

Nick is finally jumping again!

Nick and I have been ITCHING to make the formal announcement of his first jump back, something he’s been working toward for 18 months. A motivation so strong it’s kept him going through his darkest hours dealing with pain and the loss of so much. With a barrage of set-backs along the way, we are thrilled to say, “It’s HAPPENING!”

I’m sure many people think he’s foolish or crazy to jump again. We get the million dollar question often: Why? To us, him jumping again isn’t even a question. There hasn’t been a millisecond of time since Nick’s accident that he’s questioned skydiving again. It has always been a matter of when and how; not if or why.

But to people who don’t understand, who don’t jump, or who don’t know Nick, I realize that “Why?” is a legitimate question. Nick and I have talked about it a lot, I’ve heard him answer the question many times, and yet, I don’t think it’s something the English language could ever illustrate properly.

Nick has expressed himself in a variety of ways, saying things like, “It’s part of who I am. It’s my life. I love it. You don’t stop driving if you get in a car wreck. It’s like that moment you discover you can orgasm for the first time.” While these are solid, maybe a little too graphic answers, and certainly worthy of consideration, I’d like to take a stab at answering the question by making a more universal comparison. I may not have been hurt, but I was there living the nightmare with him, and I’ve since returned to the sport that stole so much from me. I understand where he’s coming from and support his return wholeheartedly.

Skydiving is a lot like love.

If you’ve jumped, you know what I mean. If you’ve been in love, think about it. Try explaining the feeling of being in love with someone… to a 6 year old. That ecstatic, heart-racing, toe-tingling, mind-numbing, nothing-else-matters, I-can’t-get-enough, want-to-feel-this-way-forever feeling when you’re falling in love for the first time.

You can’t describe love, even though poets and scholars have tried for centuries; you just have to feel it. Even after 2300 times, I still can’t put my finger on why it feels so good to jump out of a plane and fly through the air. Nick’s accident was like a mud-slinging, life-shattering, multiple affairs, no prenup, front-page-of-the-tabloids divorce, and now 18 months later he’s healed and ready to love and trust again.

All this to say:

NEXT Saturday, December 8th at Tsunami Skydivers in Oceanside, CA.

Everyone is welcome to come out and be a part of the celebration. We will be arriving early to prepare for the jump(s), and taking off around 12 noon. We will be Barbecuing for lunch, our treat. If you want something besides hamburgers, turkey burgers, or veggie burgers, bring it and we’ll throw it on the grill!

It will be a cozy, laid back atmosphere with lots of friends and fun.

We already have several tandem jumpers lined up to join us, including a few of Nick’s therapists. If you’d like to make your first jump, call their office and set it up in advance. Jumping over the beach in Oceanside offers the best views anywhere in Southern California. If Fener can do it, you can too!

To get a rough headcount for the BBQ, please message me or make a quick comment if you plan to come.

Thank you Rich Grimm and Tsunami Skydivers!

“Steps to Recovery” photo recap

Sorry y’all… I don’t feel like writing about how insanely cool the Steps event was at Project Walk last weekend. It was pretty epic. Definitely one of those events where you just had to be there.

Smiles. Tears. High fives. Triumphs. Family. Friends. Achievement. (More tears.)

I have no pictures of Nick on the red carpet, only video, which I’ll edit and share later. Maybe.

Nick stretching out before his trek down the red carpet, enjoying the company of his Dad.

From the back of the room, the crowd having lunch and listening to the Project Walk introductions.

Our friend Match came down to shoot some video of the event, and well, get up close and personal with Nick’s nubs too.

Our friend Ashley on the red carpet with her die hard dedicated father. Check out that crowd!

This is Russ, “The Nicest Guy You’ll Ever Meet”, making his walk down the red carpet.

We were so grateful to have Nick’s Dad and brother come share this amazing event.

Nick with Bri, the best trainer in the entire universe!

Project Walk staff posing for a group picture. Such a great group of people.

Project Walk – Steps to Recovery Event – coming up Saturday 10/27/12

Nick is deeply honored to be a part of a very special event happening next weekend at Project Walk.

 

It’s the 8th Annual Steps to Recovery Event, and Nick will be walking down a red carpet, showcasing his progress, along with many of his friends at Project Walk.

The event is open to friends and family, there will be food and beer and lots of happy hearts and dedicated souls. The event is to raise funds, raise awareness, and most importantly raise spirits. All are welcome.

They are also broadcasting the event live on this website: http://www.livestream.com/steps2recovery

Double whammy pain

Nerve pain is a serious problem for people with spinal cord damage. Phantom pain is a serious problem for amputees. Nick’s got both.

Today is day 4 of a super gnarly phantom sensation onslaught. Constant, day and night, no letting up, his left foot has been giving him intense and often unbearable sensations of pins and needles. Constant. But this evening he had about an hour without them, for the first time in four days, so we are just hoping this is a move in the right direction. Finally.

It’s odd, most people with spinal cord injuries experience a lot of pain. This is the exact opposite of what most people would think. No feeling, no pain, right? Wrong! It’s a really fucked up situation because I think most people feel like they could deal with the aftermath of their injury so much better if they weren’t in so much pain all the time. I know that’s how Nick and several of his friends feel.

And I know most amputees get that way without receiving a nerve block 24 hours before losing their limb(s). Nick and I didn’t learn about that option that has been proven to prevent phantom pain until months later. How awesome is that? All this pointless suffering caused by the feet he no longer has could have been prevented!

Pain. That’s the life of an injured man, I guess. But it still fucking sucks.

Attack of the spinal cord injury sneak attack

This morning we had a spinal cord injury sneak attack. That’s what I call it anyway, and I’m sure most people with SCI can relate. Just when you think things are going great, and you’re feeling good for a few days (or weeks!), some crazy, unexpected side effect pops up to fuck your morning (or day, or week) all up.

Nick woke me up at 6am by panting and groaning. His stomach was seizing, stabbing pains caused him to writhe uncontrollably back and forth on the bed. Last night he complained that his stomach didn’t feel right, wondering what I put in his salad, but his stomach “doesn’t feel right” a lot of the time so we didn’t think much of it.

This, however, was on a whole different level. This was almost identical to what happened last year when he landed in the hospital for a week because of a small-bowel obstruction. Knowing we were going to end up in the ER if it didn’t clear up soon, I jumped up and ran to his side of the bed and convinced Nick to let me push on his stomach. That was the only thing I knew to do at this point. He had several vomit false alarms, but I kept massaging him. It was painful, and a few times he asked me to hold on, but I kept massaging. If he had an obstruction or blockage, the only thing that would solve it would be to get it moving. So I kept massaging.

Thankfully it moved, whatever it was, before we resorted to a trip to county hospital. The painful episode lasted for two hours, in which time I called Project Walk to cancel his appointment for this afternoon. After a few more hours of sleep, he woke up ready to take on a killer therapy session and called to get his appointment back. He ended up having a CVAC session and then an intense two hour workout at Project Walk.

We even had enough energy for a yummy dinner with Josh Wood and his Mum Kay (check out his website). What an inspiring dude and super nice guy. He spoke openly about his life and bared bits of his soul that reminded me so much of Nick. His determination to always grow and “never say never” really shined, but it’s his acknowledgement of the power of our individual choice to be happy that resonated with me most. After spending two hours with him and Kay, it’s obvious that he can teach others a lot about living an amazing life. It’s no wonder he’s an accomplished public speaker in Australia.

Dinner was arranged by Mum, whom we’ve known for several months now, even though we had never met Josh before. She just knew they would get on amazingly… and she was right.

We’re baaaack – at Project Walk that is!!

Nick making fresh fruit kabobs for our friends at P Dub.

I want to express the gravity of what going back to therapy at Project Walk means. This won’t be easy because it means everything.

Nick’s therapy at Project Walk from January through June this year gave him his glute muscles back, his hamstrings, his core. Working with Bri and Eric three days a week for over five months infused Nick with hope and had him flirting with freedom. His time at Project Walk cultivated the strength to push forward and the tools to do it safely. He swiftly graduated from parallel bars to a walker, from a walker to forearm crutches, from forearm crutches to hiking poles, from hiking poles to taking wobbly unassisted steps. He summited the Mt Everest of recovery, but only because they’re bad ass sherpas! The extensive knowledge and experience they have working with people who have spinal cord injuries made the critical difference in Nick’s stunning progression.

Not being at Project Walk, not moving forward, not seeing his friends make progress, not being around the community of amazing people, was all really hard on Nick. But even though he spent nine weeks away, having surgery and starting from scratch, nine weeks away filled with emotional turmoil and physical agony, nine weeks away with no formal therapy and very little energy to do his own exercising, even with all of that, he returned to Project Walk today just as strong if not stronger in certain areas than when he left nine weeks ago. I’m not saying he didn’t get his ass kicked. He did. Bri took him to the brink, but no further. It was a tough workout and he’ll be GRATEFUL when he is sore tomorrow. He GOT to workout hard today, he didn’t HAVE to.

I guess what I’m saying is it was lip-smacking, gooey gourmet chocolate cake, scrumptiously delicious to be back.

The hugs, the smiles, the stories from friends. Pure awesomeness!

This is our friend Russ. He’s funny and warm and determined as all hell. Today he asked Nick if he planned to return to skydiving. When Nick said he’d love to be an instructor again, Russ shot back, “I ain’t gettin’ no jump instruction from your ass!”
I just LOVE me some good ol’ Louisiana TRUTH!

Comedy Show – La Jolla – Tues May 22 – Let’s go!

You are officially invited to a super cool comedy show. We’ll be there! C’mon, it’ll be fun, and it’s for a great cause.

Next Tuesday, May 22

The Comedy Store in La Jolla, CA

7pm

$20

All $$$ goes to our friend Micah Retz to repair his wheelchair accessible van. Micah has raised thousands of dollars for spinal cord research, so now let’s raise some money for him!

There will be raffles and silent auctions with lots of cool prizes, including skin care treatments, skateboards, art, skydiving passes, and more!!

Micah and Nick have been friends for years. They used to skydive and rock climb together until Micah got hurt in 2008. He broke his neck jumping into a shallow body of water and is now a quadriplegic. He has three beautiful children and is very active in raising funds and awareness for spinal cord injury research.

Below is the video Micah helped produce that details the significant advances made toward finding a cure for spinal cord injuries.

Micah and Nick climbing Big Rock at Lake Perris – September 2006

In the frigid January air, Micah was surprised how cold his neck was while falling at 120 MPH. Nick took Micah on a tandem skydive just five months before Nick’s accident.

And here is the video of Nick and Micah’s jump. Skip the intro, and go right to the 2 minute mark to see Micah talking.

Project Walk – Day 1 Video

Day 1 at Project Walk. This was Nicks first attempt with a walker. He surprised us both. Moments later, while still walking, he said, “I didn’t know I could do this. Maybe I should have tried this BEFORE coming here.” Absolutely incredible!!

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

Spinal Cord Injury Research Video – Watch it!

Check out this short video featuring my incredible friend Micah Retz and the leading researchers looking for a cure for spinal cord injuries. Their progress is remarkable and worthy of attention and fundraising efforts.

The Latest Developments in Spinal Cord Research