My paralyzed girlfriend - unassisted pedaling

Andrew337
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Andrew337
Edited Date/Time 4/30/2016 11:43pm
Tonight, my girlfriend reached a pretty big milestone in her spinal cord injury recovery. For the first time in over two years, she has pedaled her mountain bike unassisted! We've been working at this for a few months now, a few nights a week I'll pedal her legs while she focuses on sending the signals. Over the past couple of weeks her legs have been on the verge of making the rotations on their own, but couldn't quite do it. Tonight, I quit pedaling for her and her legs just kept on going!



A little background on her injury... She got hurt in May 2013 while on a solo mountain bike ride on a familiar trail while I was stuck at school working on a project. Her helmet was cracked in three places, but the only real injury was to her back... she managed to break her T-11 vertebrae and now has a complete spinal cord injury. Ever since, she has worked tirelessly toward recovery, even though at times it just seems so out of reach. Every week she works out at REACT, a spinal cord injury recovery gym, has acupuncture sessions, and drinks traditional Chinese herbs, all on top of a full-time job.



Thanks for letting me share tonight's victory with you all. I know that spinal cord injury stories hit close to home for much of the moto community. She has started coming to the local tracks with me on the weekends, so if you see us around the DFW area come say hello!

You can follow her progress or send her your support at www.facebook.com/yvonnesparalysis
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hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 7/15/2015 8:14pm
7/15/2015 8:14pm
Now that's some awesome news! That's very cool how yall are tackling this together. Let her know she's got some positive vibes sent her way!
500guy
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500guy 7/15/2015 8:38pm
7/15/2015 8:38pm
Very cool and what an inspiration She is. Best of luck to you both.
AHRMA361 7/15/2015 9:00pm
7/15/2015 9:00pm
WOW. Incredible. She must be so satisfied with her determination to get to this point. Awesome.

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vet323
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vet323 7/15/2015 9:30pm
7/15/2015 9:30pm Edited Date/Time 7/15/2015 9:31pm
Holy shit, dude! I am in awe of what she's done! Please keep updating us if you can.

Great to have a topic here we can all agree on! :-)
gsxrcr28
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gsxrcr28 7/15/2015 9:44pm
7/15/2015 9:44pm
That is excellent, keep up the great work!

I hope the best for you guys on her continued recovery.

Thanks for sharing!
indecisivepanda 7/15/2015 10:49pm
7/15/2015 10:49pm
Thanks for sharing, what a difficult journey she is on and yet she is coming out on top of it all. Wishing the best for you both, Andrew.
tunedlength
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tunedlength 7/15/2015 11:18pm
7/15/2015 11:18pm
Keep moving forward young lady.
Crash82
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Crash82 7/16/2015 5:10am
7/16/2015 5:10am
That's pretty dang cool! Way to go!
Uncle Tony
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Uncle Tony 7/16/2015 5:39am
7/16/2015 5:39am
Great news!
IWreckALot
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IWreckALot 7/16/2015 5:49am
7/16/2015 5:49am
That's pretty freaking cool man. What tracks do you find yourself at mostly? River Valley, Village Creek or Oak Hill.

I have a race out at Oak Hill on August 16 so I imagine I'll be practicing out there over the next few weekends.
TX24
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TX24 7/16/2015 6:04am
7/16/2015 6:04am
That's great news. Good luck to you two.
Bob693
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Bob693 7/16/2015 6:19am
7/16/2015 6:19am
That's just awesome, thanks for sharing. It's nice to read something positive and motivating around here. Best of luck to you both.
FlickitFlat 7/16/2015 6:31am
7/16/2015 6:31am
This is the best thing I have read in a long time. Awesome
One Last Comeback 7/16/2015 6:37am
7/16/2015 6:37am
Hat's off for rising up to meet this challenge with an awesome attitude.
Motocross83 7/16/2015 7:34am
7/16/2015 7:34am
That's awesome, all the best to you both!
seth505
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seth505 7/16/2015 7:41am
7/16/2015 7:41am
Rad! Tell her a random nobody/ex pro mountain biker said that's one of the most badass things he has seen.

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Andrew337
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Andrew337 7/16/2015 10:43am
7/16/2015 10:43am
IWreckALot wrote:
That's pretty freaking cool man. What tracks do you find yourself at mostly? River Valley, Village Creek or Oak Hill. I have a race out at...
That's pretty freaking cool man. What tracks do you find yourself at mostly? River Valley, Village Creek or Oak Hill.

I have a race out at Oak Hill on August 16 so I imagine I'll be practicing out there over the next few weekends.
We've been starting to do some of the smaller local races, Burleson MX and Scramblecross. We went to Oak Hill last weekend and really liked it, I'm going to start riding there more. River Valley, probably once a month lately. I grew up primarily racing cross-country, so I really like going to TCCRA and TORO events but Yvonne would get pretty bored with the terrible spectating, so I'm riding more motocross.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. She really is the most driven individual I have ever met (even long before she was injured). A close friend of mine told me once, "Andrew, in a way her injury has sort of worked in your favor, because otherwise there's no way you would be able to keep up with her."
IWreckALot
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IWreckALot 7/16/2015 12:05pm
7/16/2015 12:05pm
IWreckALot wrote:
That's pretty freaking cool man. What tracks do you find yourself at mostly? River Valley, Village Creek or Oak Hill. I have a race out at...
That's pretty freaking cool man. What tracks do you find yourself at mostly? River Valley, Village Creek or Oak Hill.

I have a race out at Oak Hill on August 16 so I imagine I'll be practicing out there over the next few weekends.
Andrew337 wrote:
We've been starting to do some of the smaller local races, Burleson MX and Scramblecross. We went to Oak Hill last weekend and really liked it...
We've been starting to do some of the smaller local races, Burleson MX and Scramblecross. We went to Oak Hill last weekend and really liked it, I'm going to start riding there more. River Valley, probably once a month lately. I grew up primarily racing cross-country, so I really like going to TCCRA and TORO events but Yvonne would get pretty bored with the terrible spectating, so I'm riding more motocross.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. She really is the most driven individual I have ever met (even long before she was injured). A close friend of mine told me once, "Andrew, in a way her injury has sort of worked in your favor, because otherwise there's no way you would be able to keep up with her."
The Oak Hill race on the 16th is actually a Cross Country race. TORN is putting it on. TI like CC racing more myself. I race the 250 Am. You should try to make it out that race.
FLmxer
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FLmxer 7/16/2015 2:17pm
7/16/2015 2:17pm
Very cool, you guys are so strong and stay positive like you are. This stuff gets me choked up.
824 Dad
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824 Dad 7/16/2015 8:35pm
7/16/2015 8:35pm
That is incredible news, recovery is a rarity, tell her to keep pushing you never know what it might lead to
str8shooter 7/16/2015 9:20pm
7/16/2015 9:20pm
to Yvonne,
Thank you for taking the time to share your stories. They are truly an inspiration. Your strength and tenacity will get you through this and out the other side. I have all the confidence in the world that you will again one day be kicking your boyfriends ass on that mt.bike!


You are a lucky man Andrew! Cool
Not every day you find a woman with that kind of attitude!Cool




71Fish
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71Fish 7/17/2015 6:59am
7/17/2015 6:59am
That's really cool. It's a long road recovery. She's lucky to have you.
Falcon
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Falcon 7/17/2015 10:28am
7/17/2015 10:28am
F yeah. That's good news.
tbanks
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tbanks 7/17/2015 10:48am
7/17/2015 10:48am
Really cool and awesome news. Keep it up and best to you both.
Andrew337
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Andrew337 7/17/2015 5:34pm
7/17/2015 5:34pm
IWreckALot wrote:
The Oak Hill race on the 16th is actually a Cross Country race. TORN is putting it on. TI like CC racing more myself. I race...
The Oak Hill race on the 16th is actually a Cross Country race. TORN is putting it on. TI like CC racing more myself. I race the 250 Am. You should try to make it out that race.
Cool, I'm gonna plan on lining up for that one!

Thanks for all the positive comments, I've got Yvonne here reading them and it really means a lot to us!
BUTCH WACKER 7/17/2015 6:52pm
7/17/2015 6:52pm Edited Date/Time 7/17/2015 6:53pm
WOW... AMAZING!Cool Cool Cool Cool Cool Cool Best of luck to both of you, and your continued progress! WAY COOL!
ToolMaker 7/17/2015 8:16pm
7/17/2015 8:16pm
that is so awesome. thanks for sharing. It lets us know that miracles do happen. Not to diminish her drive and the work she has put in, but when you think of all the things that have to go right for this, in addition to her awesome effort, it really is amazing.
great to hear and huge congrats,
toolmaker
yak651
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yak651 7/17/2015 8:39pm
7/17/2015 8:39pm
Positive thoughts to her continued improvements, pretty cool!

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