16-year-old may walk again after spinal cord injury

One of the worst places to suffer an injury is in the spinal cord, which sends out signals from the brain to the body. A severe enough injury can put someone in a wheel chair for the rest of his or her life. For many New Haven residents, a spinal cord injury can devastate their lives. However, for one teenager, the future is bright with recovery.

A 16-year-old was competing in a high school wrestling tournament when he made a wrong move. The teen tried to get up but could only move his head and neck. He had injured his spinal cord and vertebrae.

The doctors told his parents that the outlook was not good for the teen. However, he proved doctors wrong after he began to move one of his arms. With intense rehab care, the teen plans to get rid of the wheelchair. His desire is to do things like driving his truck and walking. In addition, he is encouraging other teenagers suffering with spinal cord injuries.

Most spinal cord injuries occur as a result of a car accident. In fact, 46 percent of them are caused by motor vehicle accidents. The average annual cost of spinal cord injuries is between $15,000 and 30,000. Luckily for the 16-year-old, several fundraisers are in the works to help his family. Between medical bills and rehab, the costs can quickly add up. Unfortunately for many Americans who have spinal cord injuries, these costs are not always covered and can cause tremendous financial difficulty over the years.

Depending on how the individual sustained the spinal cord injury, legal action may be required to ensure compensation is available for care. A person can overcome a spinal cord injury, but it’s especially helpful when the injured person and their family can count on the compensation and awards to account for the medical costs and pain and suffering of the traumatic event.

Source: Myfoxatlanta.com, “Newton HS wrestler battles spinal injury,” Ron Gant, Feb. 25, 2013