How do you roll? (testimonies, fun)
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
 Camouflaged Magic Wheels
We first heard about Michael Beck because of his custom wheels. Pictured here, his personalized Magic Wheels are one of a kind – tricked out with camouflage embellishments and ready to roll through the thick forests where he hunts. We wanted to learn more about this man who told us years ago, when he first purchased his Magic Wheels, that he was a hunting guide. So we decided to give him a call and catch up. We were in for quite a story…
Michael became a T6 quad when he lost his left leg in a helicopter crash in 1989. He was stationed with the US Army in West Germany and, following the accident, spent two years and three months recuperating in hospitals in Germany and the states. The first year and a half was tough. He was not in a good mental state. Then he woke up one morning and thought, “you’re here – you gotta make the best of it.” And he’s been doing just that ever since.
Today, Michael hunts, drag races Mustangs and spends time with his beloved dog Gunner out on his boat. After telling us about all these activities, he added excitedly, “I may not be able to walk, but I can fly!” He wasn’t kidding – Michael flies his own paraglider.
 Michael and Gunner When we talked with him, he had just returned from spending countless hours in his garden planting broccoli, spinach, corn, cabbage and potatoes. His Magic Wheels help him navigate across dirt, grass and gravel that cover the seven acres he owns in rural North Carolina. He explained that he can steer with just his index finger and thumb – that Magic Wheels allow him the freedom and independence he needs to live his extraordinarily active life.
In addition to all his outdoor and sporting interests, Michael is dedicated to helping others and is currently coaching high school and middle school football. He grew up playing and was a Right Defensive Tackle and Fullback. He was fast and nimble, at one point winning a county championship in track. Today he is a man who cannot walk, yet he’s teaching young men how to run passes. The irony is not lost on him. Michael is philosophical about his coaching… “I came up with a system to get the running route out of my brain and into their feet.” These are lucky boys.
 Michael and Traci Michael could likely have talked for hours about his life. He is living it to the fullest. But the one aspect he kept returning to during our conversation was the love of his life – Traci. Every time he mentioned her name during our conversation – we could hear the smile in his voice. They met in high school and he asked her to marry him before he went overseas. As he says, “She politely declined.” Then, years later he found out from a friend that she was trying to get in touch with him. So he reached out and they connected. He proposed in June of 2007. They were married three months later. Their tale is even part of a book called “Love Matters” that chronicles remarkable love stories.
All of these aspects of this man’s life are impressive. He does not boast about them. He is matter of fact and humble. When talking about his service to his country, he explained that he would gladly go back in time and redo it all again. We ended our conversation by asking him what would say to others who learn that they no longer have use of their legs. He responded simply, “I’d tell them that their life is never going to be the same but that doesn’t mean it’s got to be bad. If something brings a smile to your face, do it. Just adapt and overcome.”
Posted in How do you roll? (testimonies, fun), Mind over matter (psychological perspective), What’s your mountain? (inspirational, what are your goals?) | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
If you’re looking for it, inspiration can be found anywhere. So it was little surprise that we came across it while reading one of our favorite publications – New Mobility. We’ve been following their blog, Spin 2.0, and enjoyed reading posts by New Mobility’s SCI Life Columnist Tiffiny Carlson for some time. But her March 25 post, titled “Why do some hide while others flourish?”, was especially moving so we decided to reach out to Tiffiny to learn more about her. And she was kind enough to share with us some thoughts.
18 years ago, Tiffiny dove into a shallow beach, becoming a C6 quad. She was 14 at the time and was back in high school three months following her diving accident. This should tell you a little about her zest for life. Add to that the fact that Tiffiny is a beautiful bleached blonde obsessed with stacked heels who models and whips up gourmet meals in her spare time and you can get a pretty good picture of this amazing woman.
Considering her sunny disposition, it might be surprising to learn that the first three years following her accident were plagued with challenges, doubts and depression. Adjusting to a profound disability is never easy, especially during the tender early teen years. Tiffiny told us that, like most everyone who wakes up paralyzed, she initially believed that “there was no chance of having a truly full life.” During this time, when the entire world was grey, she felt “unwanted, useless and invalid.”
When asked what turned her thinking around, Tiffiny told us it was simple: “Meeting people with disabilities who were living a full life – marriage, kids, jobs – despite the presence of a disability.” Three years after her accident she met an older female para who had a lasting effect on Tiffiny. This woman, whose insistence that she was “just living her life,” touched her and inspired her to do the same. And today Tiffiny is, in turn, enormously inspiring to others.
When asked what keeps her going, Tiffiny responded, “People with conviction, the beauty of nature and live music inspire my spirit.” She added that Aimee Mullins is one of her heroes. Aimee is a popular athlete, actress and model who was born with a condition that resulted in the amputation of both of her legs. When asked why she finds this woman so inspiring, Tiffiny told us that “Aimee has been able to make great strides in helping the able-bodied world see disability in a different light.”
It is little wonder that Tiffiny is moved by this superstar’s impact on the world…because she, in turn, is living by example. In addition to writing for New Mobility, she manages BeautyAbility.com, a blog focusing on beauty, self-esteem, fashion and dating. She is bold, irreverent and, seemingly, fearless. And we can’t forget to mention that she is a yoga devotee – taking adapted classes at Mind Body Solutions from a paraplegic instructor whose mantra is “Living vibrantly through one’s whole body – whether paralyzed or not – is a powerful part of living.”
When asked for some practical suggestions to help others – it is little surprise, considering her own online presence, that Tiffiny recommends the Internet as a top coping mechanism. She insists that Twitter and Facebook are great resources for the disabled community – both providing constant streams of information and inspiration. Some of her favorite websites are the CareCure Community, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Apparalyzed, and mobileWOMEN.
We felt compelled to end our interview by asking her for some final thoughts. Here’s what she had to say:
“Stay healthy, make sure you are taking advantage of everything out there you can to enjoy and live your life. Focus on helping others, and realize that life is about dealing with whatever cards we‘re dealt, even if they’re less than ideal, the best we can, and with the most grace we can muster.”
Posted in How do you roll? (testimonies, fun), Mind over matter (psychological perspective), What’s your mountain? (inspirational, what are your goals?) | 3 Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
In 1984, Carlos Nunez was in graduate school studying psychology, with a focus on marriage and family therapy. He was working his way through school as a gymnastics coach. It was just a regular day. He and his team were visiting an elementary school to give a gymnastics exhibition. Carlos ran toward the trampoline to perform a double front flip – a move he had done countless times. But this time he over spun his flip and landed on his head, causing his neck to break at the C6-C7 when he landed. Carlos was immediately paralyzed. And thus began his life in a wheelchair.
Initially, doctors told him that his fracture was so severe that he wouldn’t be able to use a manual chair and would have to drive from a motorized chair. At the time Carlos’ movements were significantly limited, but Carlos always insisted that eventually he would be able to use a manual chair and be able to transfer to drive. Getting used to that manual chair forced him to embrace an entirely new way of life.
Back then – wheelchairs were extremely heavy and cumbersome. Carlos watched with interest as they improved and he experimented with a number of models over the years. But it wasn’t until he learned about MAGICWHEELS that he believed there was a truly valuable solution. The first time he rolled out of the shop to take them for a spin he maneuvered up an incline that had previously been impossible to climb with his regular wheels. He was hooked.
Today, Carlos is going places he wouldn’t have gone before. He travels extensively, flying all over the United States, Mexico and beyond. But it is when he is outdoors, navigating on different terrains, that he feels truly liberated. “MAGICWHEELS gives me a sense of safety in knowing I can handle almost any obstacle,” he says. And he can do so on his own without having to rely on others. Today he has the freedom to explore. He no longer worries about getting stuck in the mud – literally.
Posted in How do you roll? (testimonies, fun) | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Many of us grew up on the edict: “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” We were led to believe that if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it.
This is just not Steve Meginniss’ style.
First he helped reinvent the toothbrush – engineering the critical mechanical portions of the sonicare® sonic toothbrush which became one of the most successful dental care innovations ever invented. Then he tackled the luxury skin care market – helping invent the Clairsonic® – a sonic-wave powered brush that gives people a cleaner, healthier-looking face. It’s been such a hit that Oprah even heralded it as one of her “favorite things.”
In the midst of undertaking these major achievements, Steve searched for a meaningful issue to focus on. At the University of Washington, he found four projects aimed at helping handicapped folks. During a career in which he pursued 22 patents and nearly 60 projects, he finally “reinvented the wheel.” Can world peace be far behind? If only it were a mechanical issue.
Steve’s invention, MagicWheels®, when retrofitted onto a manual wheelchair, improves mobility and also eases stress on shoulders. This helps some folks maintain their independence. These wheels provide freedom.
Countless people have benefited from Steve’s creation. Erica Davis went to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in her wheelchair with MagicWheels. Addie Killam showed a group of children how to climb ropes in hers.
Equally impressive are the countless ways that MagicWheels enhance everyday living. Someone who could not previously maneuver a wheelchair up and down the ramps to a van, around barriers in the house or the office can now do so with the two-geared MagicWheels. People whose shoulders were not strong enough to propel the chair on uneven terrain using standard wheels are now able to go places independently, often with a significant reduction in pain.
Steve Meginniss probably didn’t imagine that his inventive mind would help create freedom. Earlier in his career, it was likely evident to him that people would have cleaner teeth and healthier skin when using the products he helped invent. When he engineered MagicWheels, he knew he would be helping people navigate and climb and maneuver. He even realized that his wheels would provide health benefits including a reduction in shoulder pain and arm stress.
But the real difference Steve has made in peoples’ lives is perhaps more significant than these physical and mechanical enhancements. Individuals using his reinvented wheels are more independent. They have the potential to live longer, healthier lives. Because Steve refused to listen to experts who told him “What you are proposing can’t be done” – he created a solution that has enabled others to break preconceived barriers. Because of Steve, countless people have gained a freedom they never imagined possible.
Posted in How do you roll? (testimonies, fun), Mobility in action (Therapists benefits, professional based), What’s your mountain? (inspirational, what are your goals?) | 19 Comments »
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
My name is Phaedra Olsen. I’m a T-6 para, who has been living in a wheelchair for almost 14 years. I doubt that I’ll ever feel fully satisfied living in this chair, but I’ve definitely learned to accept it. And, I’ve even figured out that the chair does have some privileges, but I’m sure that we will talk about those later! LOL.
A little history…
Last summer I had some health issues. It was almost like the surgery that never ended. I have an amazing team of doctors and nurses, but during this process, it felt as though if something could go wrong, it did! I knew, probably more than I care to discuss, that I just wasn’t as strong as I used to be; transfers were harder, healing was slower, and family members nagging more! I’m just kidding, but they were concerned. They were advising me to start using a power wheelchair. They were worried about my strength and worried about my overall well-being. I, on the other hand, was more worried about giving up my new Mustang for a power chair! And that’s one thing I wasn’t ready to accept! So, I started doing a little research. I discovered a company and a product called MAGICWHEELS® that I felt would best fit my lifestyle (and my Mustang’s lifestyle too!).
This is my journal, my adventure, my new found independence. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy sharing!
Posted in How do you roll? (testimonies, fun) | 39 Comments »
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