Wish I Would Have Looked at This the Morning of August 18, 2009!

Maybe just a little something for everyone to think about...

Don’t jump into the unknown. Consider the dangers before you take the plunge:

• Check for hazards in the water. Rocks or other objects may be submerged and difficult to see.
• Check the depth of the water. Remember tides can rise and fall very quickly. The difference in water depth between the peaks and troughs of waves can be many metres.
• As a rule of thumb, a jump of ten metres requires a depth of at least five metres.
• Never jump whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Check for access. It may be impossible or very difficult to get out of the water.
• Consider the risks to yourself and others. Conditions can change rapidly. Even if you are jumping safely, children may be watching and copy your actions.  

Think before you jump. Don't let alcohol, drugs or peer pressure affect your judgement. If you jump when you feel unsafe or pressured, you probably won’t enjoy the experience.

 

Be safe out there!

Donations.

To all of my amazing and loyal followers, I'm writing you this blog cringing.  I hate to beg but eventually I feel like that it's what this might turn into, and I'm sorry!

The money that has been donated over almost the past four years has been amazing.  I've been able to purchase multiple pieces of equipment that I've benefited from greatly.  My FES RTI 300 was over $20,000.  My stander was $12,500 I believe.  Those are obviously the most expensive and important pieces.  I've been able to go to Kennedy Krieger and actually stay in Baltimore, rather than commute from Harrisburg to Baltimore every single morning and evening, but at a cost.  This past time it was over $2500 if I'm not mistaken.  On a smaller scale, I just ordered some tape so that I'm able to tape up my shoulders like my therapists from Kennedy would like me to.  That's $30.00.  I also ordered a drinking apparatus that I will be able to connect to my wheelchair so I will not have to constantly bother someone and ask for a drink.  Really excited for that!  After that was said and done I think that was $74.99.  This is all just done recently and I'm sure I'm missing some things.

Not to mention my handicap van.  Gas, inspections, repairs and so on.  I would love to be able to contribute and take care of these things myself but it is not feasible as I'm getting income once a month.  Unfortunately that's from the government and its disability so we're not talking a lot of money.  Hardly enough to pay my bills.

Monies are also used to cover any medical expenses in which my insurance does not.  This can be quite expensive as you may imagine or unfortunately even know firsthand.

Believe me, I would much rather go to work and never ask for a penny from anyone but at this point of my life, that's just not possible.  My main focus needs to remain on my occupational and physical therapy.  I need to keep pushing said that maybe one day when stem cells are approved, I'm physically healthy and in some kind of shape to be a good candidate.  At the very least, I need to keep doing my therapy so something clicks and I'm able to move my arms in the very very near future!  I wish!  We shall see.

OK, the not so fun part.  We have not had any big fundraisers in a long time and my fund is dwindling.  If you would be interested in giving a donation of any denomination, I would be so grateful and so would my family.  When these donations are made I do not see firsthand, just so everyone knows.  There are two options.  You may donate through Paypal or sending a check directly to the attorney who handles my fund.  Here is the information:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=3Sia3bMN5yPanaRBoDJwJ3SEO-rhyP6grtar_815V08Qy5ieGCObTFoAbXC&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d4e181b3aff599f99a338772351021e7d

Aaron's Journey
P. O. Box 267
Elizabethtown, PA 17057

Here is also a link from my original web site which I'm having trouble accessing...

http://www.aaronwood.us/?page_id=38


Thank you so much to everyone for everything you've done for me over the years and will continue doing going forward!  I cannot express my gratitude.  I can just say it means the world to me and has helped my family so much.  Thank you thank you thank you!

Quick Post

Just saw these two articles popup and I thought I would share it with my SCI friends out there!

Check it out!  Who knows what may happen for us in the future.  I would say these are good reasons to stay positive...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/03/hiv-aids-stem-cells/2485971/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2013/07/03/liver-buds-stem-cell/2486013/

Pay It Forward

It's a wonderful movie.  If you've never seen it, you have to add it to your list!  I say list because Melissa and I have about 100 waiting to be watched.  I guess I assume a lot of people are like that.

This weekend my family and I witnessed the greatest example of paying it forward and complete selflessness from a few friends and people we've never met then we could have ever imagined.  How they orchestrated everything is beyond me, but I'm sure it was not an easy task.

It all started with our friend Tasha asking if we would mind having some people over to help clean up our yard.  She knew about these bushes/trees/shrubs/whatever they were, growing along one of our property lines, and just how much I hated them.  They were an absolute eyesore.  Tasha's husband, Andy, came to look at them and informed us that they were infested with poison ivy.  Obviously the decision was ours but he more or less suggested that we get rid of them.  He didn't have to twist my arm because I've wanted to see these things go since we moved in!  See how much I hate these things?  They've taken over my blog!

Anyway, we were very touched that this group, mostly consisting of members or parents of Raider Extreme, a cheerleading team located right here in Middletown!  They gave our yard a complete makeover!  One that it desperately needed might I add.  What they accomplished in one day blows my mind.  My words cannot do it justice and I know my wife is planning on doing a blog as well, so I will let her include before and after pictures and explain everything that's changed.  She's better with words anyway!

I cannot thank everyone enough, especially Tasha, for everything that they've done for my family.  We appreciate this so very much but myself so in a completely different way because of my injury.  Things that this group accomplished are some that I wish I could have done myself but because of my obvious physical limitations and inability, I can not. I'm just so grateful someone was able to get those things done probably better than I could have even on my best day!  Here is a list of those who helped and hopefully we did not forget anyone.  Thank you a million times over every single one of you!  The work you did is priceless to us and hopefully someday we can pay it forward!


Angie Keefer
Mckenzie Keefer
Amanda Moore
Lani Moore
Kristen Runion
Lily Runion
Chase Runion
Leisyl Yohn
Abby Yohn
All dayers
Jami Hiner
Kyle Hiner
Taylor Hiner
Zach Hiner
Norma Albright
Dan Shank
Olivia Shank
Andy
Tasha
Charity
Landon
Coach Tammy James and her husband
Ken, family friend

One Year Down!

Happy one year wedding anniversary to my beautiful wife!  I never would have guessed when we started off just as friends that things would have developed the way that they did.  What a lucky man I am.  Not only did I become a husband, I became a step dad as well.  Both can be tough jobs but both are so rewarding!

My situation is a unique one, to say the least, and it takes a very special woman just to spend a significant amount of time with me, let alone marry me.  I will never forget about our first date.  Anybody can say being seen with me in public would not bother or embarrass them but when we finally got that far, it was showtime!  You did not disappoint!  You made it clear you were not ashamed to be seen with me.  The only disappointments I had were that you would not sit in my lap and let me drive you from the vehicle to the restaurant, and vice versa, and that I did not get a goodnight kiss.  Now, I hate to lose.  So much so I cannot accurately put it into words. You said that you hated sitting on people's laps, and a kiss seemed like it was just a matter of time if things continued between us, so I wanted the challenge.  I told you that you would be sitting in my lap within a month.  You pretty much told me I was crazy and it wasn't going to happen.  Man, I love being right!  I don't know how long it took for you to cave but it was less than a month.  You just couldn't turn down a free ride in my amazingly sexy wheelchair.  I don't think the kiss took too long either!  It's my favorite game - it's called I win!


We have had many many pictures taken since that time but the one that our waiter took is an absolute favorite!  It was our first together!

It hasn't exactly been the easiest year of my life and I'm sure that's an gigantic understatement for you.  I've had pneumonia, carbon monoxide poisoning more or less, lots of pain, two surgeries and only god knows what I'm forgetting.  We've shared plenty of smiles.  Had many stupid arguments.  Through everything, you've always been there.  You are my constant.  You are my best friend.  You've become my everything.  I know sometimes that does not seem the case because I can be absolutely miserable.  Sometimes because that's just the way things are but also my disability can get the best of me.  Either way, we see our way through it and things go back to the way they should be!

You are a beautiful, funny, goofy, selfless, family oriented, driven, loving daughter, sister, cousin, niece, mother and wife!  That is undeniable as far as I'm concerned!  I'm so lucky to have witnessed all of these great qualities in you.

(recently taken picture which is actually the first time we ever sat next to each other!)


Melissa, you took someone who just about had enough with love and was about to give up.  I wondered if I would ever find that special someone.  Then, through a string of right things happening at the right time, there you were.  You have helped me grow so much.  I only hope I can continue growing, being that husband and other half that you want out of life, because you're just that for me!  Hopefully we can continue being a power (wheelchair) couple!  :-)


To many more!  I love you!

Kennedy Experience

I'm sad that my two weeks are over already.  It literally seems like we were just packing to head down and here I sit, my first Monday back missing it like I've been gone for months!  I guess that's a good sign.

We stayed at the new condo and were very happy with it.  Previously we had stayed at the same place pretty much every visit but there was nothing available there for the times that we needed.  I was a little skeptical to try anything new, pretty much like I am with everything, but we were not disappointed.

Besides my mom, I had a complete new cast of people helping with my care.  First off, this go around I had a wife!  I was lucky enough to have her with me the first week.  She really enjoyed herself and loved getting to see my therapy.  She also learned how to independently transfer me from my wheelchair, rather than always having to rely on something else.  She did so much to prepare for this trip and get things kicked off to the right start, which she was absolutely 100% successful!  I appreciate everything she sacrificed to make this happen.  Also, my aide, Michelle made her first visit to Baltimore with us.  She stayed the entire two weeks and worked so hard for us.  Pretty much around the clock whenever we needed her.  She too attended therapy and learned some things that will really help us down the road.  We were very happy to have her and when it comes down to it, she made the entire trip possible.  Lastly but not least, my mom switched with Melissa and was with us the second week.  I was especially excited for our time together since I'm no longer living with her.  We had our usual laughs!  She got to see a few people at Kennedy that she's come to know over the years.  She was such a huge help as well!  Making lunches and dinner every day among many other things.  She's the best!

I also had new therapists.  My occupational therapists was Michelle and physical therapist was Angelina.  Again I was skeptical because I was used to having things one way for so long and I'm such a creature of habit.  Thank God they both more than proved me wrong and exceeded my expectations.  I thoroughly enjoyed their personalities, ideas, plans for me once I got home and everything else they could possibly do to set me up for success!  I really should have known, just from me going for so many years and being surrounded by Kennedy employees, that they never hire anyone that is not more than qualified.  That is in my experience anyway.  Thankfully.  And like I said, I've really got two amazing ladies looking after me now and I surely hope when it's time for me to return, their schedules are open!  Hopefully they want me back as a patient!  :-)  I would be genuinely disappointed if I were to lose them.

I really just wanted to get a blog written to share some of my most recent experiences.  My trip could not have been possible without the amount of crazy dedication and sacrifice made by those who attended.  Thank you to family members for making meals for us to take, and all kinds of junk food too!  Thank you to everyone who contributes to fundraisers or donates money to the fund to make my staying in Baltimore possible.  Not only that, you've helped purchase so many pieces of equipment extremely important for my therapy.  My appreciation really cannot be expressed in words.  It means so much.  I'm surrounded by an amazing cast of people and I feel truly blessed and loved.

Definitely have more to share about the trip but figured this would be just a start.  Thank you so much for everything and for reading!  Check back soon!

Kennedy Krieger - June 7

I know that June 6 was not posted but that's because all of the videos are not the best.  I might go through them again at some point but for now I will just keep moving along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtb2vwoaFPc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBFieyCP9uU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNf54FpZYW0

The above videos are from June 7.