Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Congratulations on that huge accomplishment. It's a testament to both her and you to have made those gains. Keep up the amazing work and don't stop now. Without people like her who aren't willing to accept the status quo and simply give up, we will never know how far we can go.
Wishing nothing but the best for both of you!
Shane
Awesome story, keep us updated on how she progresses!
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Something that's always interesting is when we are out in public and people ask her about her injury. She has no problem talking about what happened to her or what her injury is, she's always willing to answer anyone's questions. Some people obviously have known someone with a spinal cord injury and strike up a conversation with her. Others will ask something random like, "What's wrong with your foot?" and you're a little disappointed about how little they know about the severity of spinal cord injuries. But everyone always means well and is genuine and we appreciate their willingness to ask and learn.
Aside from working on her recovery we've been getting more involved in adaptive sports. She has been hesitant in the past, because she still considers herself to be the same athletic and competitive person she was before she was hurt and didn't think adaptive sports could completely fill that void. There are some great non-profit groups in our area that offer all sorts of activities. We tried adaptive water-skiing a few times, she took right to it but it just isn't her thing. She says she feels like she's just using her arms and she's pretty tired of using her arms for things!
The Sea-Doo was pretty challenging, without being able to counter the corning forces with your legs it's pretty easy to get off-balance and get thrown off. It was okay when she was up front going at her speed and I could help keep her in position, but when I was up front I kept thinking she was just going to pull me overboard even on gentle turns. I hadn't been on a PWC in a few years, these things are beasts!
A few months ago we were on vacation in Colorado with her family and rented some ATV's, I think this was the most fun thing she's tried since she got hurt. She felt like anybody else on the trail, and she was able to see some awesome views.
We also did a little bit of sailing on a 18' Hobie Cat last weekend and she loved it, even though she didn't really get to do a whole lot. Next time out we're going to make sure she gets put to work and learns the ropes, I'm hoping sailing will end up being something she really loves to do. She's also excited to try wheelchair basketball in the next few weeks, and maybe some sled hockey.
Ah, almost forgot her favorite thing to do. This is her horse Cora, Yvonne has had Cora since she was three and they are nearly the same age. They share a very close bond, as Yvonne has worked with Cora her whole life. Even though Yvonne can't communicate to Cora through her legs any more, Cora still knows exactly what Yvonne is asking of her.
One of the toughest things for Yvonne has been finding sports that fulfill her while being paralyzed, but we've found a few and I'm sure we'll find some more.
I feel like a slacker after seeing all the cool and fun stuff you guys have been doing!
Once a week at REACT she uses an elliptical type machine designed for repetitive gait training. She will spend an hour on this machine, with some of her weight supported through a harness, and it will help her go through the walking motions. She's gone around 3 miles in a session, and watches her heart rate to know that her body is working and the machine isn't doing all the work. She really likes this because it feels like a good cardio work out that she has been missing since she got hurt. But we have to be careful and watch for blisters! The first day she got a massive blister on her heel and couldn't use the machine until that healed (and new shoes).
Aside from recovery we've been fairly active. We tried wheelchair rugby for the first time and had a blast. Normally, wheelchair rugby is only for quadriplegics, but after their team practice they have recreational wheelchair rugby where anyone can play. Imagine full contact wheelchair sports, the chairs are built like tanks, and the players are gnarly.
We've also started racing autocross together. She ditched her boring refrigerator-white Camry late last year for a VW GTI, and decided to see how she does on an autocross course! She has done two events now, this weekend's event was in the rain. She has been steadily progressing but her hand controls are limiting her. I'm working on building a custom set that will give her finer control.
Congrats on her progress, man, it's a refreshing change of pace to hear stories like this rather than the typical bullshit Facebook newsfeed clickbait...
Keep up the good work!
Anyways glad to see her having fun! I follow her Facebook recovery page and didn't see anything about autocross.
Also you gotta show us some videos of the wheelchair rugby. That just sounds cool af
Pit Row
cheers bro
What an inspiration you both are!! Charge on, pretty lady!
I have to agree with Peelout about the credit you deserve. The vast majority of people would have found a reason to get out after a life changing injury like that. Instead, you have embraced her and the process of recovering while committing to her in ways you guys never imagined. Most will never understand the commitment you two share with each other. If you guys are ever in Connecticut, a night out for dinner is on my wife and I.
Keep up the good work. Both of you.
Thanks for the kind words, everyone. Yvonne and I make a great team, and honestly the injury hasn't put as much stress on our relationship as most would expect, she's the same person she has always been and we're there for each other 100%. I know not all relationships survive after something like this, but she's a keeper.
Funny story....went to visit a girlfriend at Chico State and i got there late at night, she lived on the 7th floor of the dorms and get this...the elevators were out! lol Imagine 3 wasted chicks trying to cart my ass up 14 flights (2 per story) of stairs hahahah Ill never in my life forget that one.
Here is a good one...after the best race of my life in my Pilot, i had the crowd on its feet, after the moto i had a lady come over and ask me, "i dont want to get to personal but im really curious,. how does your wheelchair fit in there?" LOL Some people think my ass is bolted into this chair and cant fathom being able to do anything out it.
I got out of so many speeding tickets in my van, the cops were more interested in how my hand controls worked than the actual reason i was pulled over...good times.
Anyway....blows my mind how much things have changed. Before my injury i didnt know a single person in a chair, now you practically see someone daily while being out and about.
Tell your lady she is an amazing person and keep up the good fight! Always cool to talk to others and educate them on the whole SCI thing, hell ive been doing it for 31 years now.
My email is colintrax@yahoo.com
Her hands are gonna be awfully busy working paddle shifters, throttle, brake, and steering. Please post the go pro when you're done. Helluva lot more interesting then Ken Block.
Post a reply to: My paralyzed girlfriend - unassisted pedaling