On February 10th 2010, Fluid co-founder Kyle “Kiwi” Eade crashed while training in New Zealand and ended up in hospital with a fractured C4/C5 and was almost completely paralyzed. After 6 weeks of immobilization and 5 months at the Burwood Spinal Unit he defied the odds and walked out with the assistance of 2 crutches.
It has been almost 2 years since that fateful day and although Kyle is back coaching at Fluid and back involved with the sport he loves . . . he also continues to work relentlessly to gain more function and recovery.
Traditional medicine says 99% of recovery following a spinal cord injury is attained within the first 2 years.
Given the statement above and the two year mark is almost here . . . how is your recovery going?
To be honest it has been a very long slow road but I am still moving in the right direction. I am very happy with the progress I have made but I still have a long way to go. There have been many plateaus along the way and sometimes it has been hard to find the motivation to keep pushing. But every once in awhile I get the sudden realization I am able to do something that I couldn’t a few months back and I get re-charged to keep at it. No matter how small the improvements are, it has been very important for me to remember the little successes and know that I am still recovering.
I don’t buy into the two year milestone date. Lately, I have been searching the internet and have found many examples of continued improvement five plus years after injury. This search led me to Project Walk where they are achieving amazing results with all levels of spinal cord injuries regardless of the date post-injury.
Project Walk sounds like an amazing place . . . how was your experience?
My wife and I have just returned home after spending 2 weeks at the Project Walk headquarters in Carlsbad, California. It is an incredible facility . . . very inspirational and motivating.
Over those two weeks I worked out with two of their specialized trainers 3 hours each day as they helped me move through a range of different exercises designed to increase the neurological connection and facilitate better coordination. Going there, my goal was to get some direction and a plan for how to structure my rehabilitation from this point forward. I didn’t expect to feel such improvements in my movement, coordination and posture in just 2 weeks. I am very excited about the potential of where I can get to following their instruction and workout plans.
My thanks must go to Bri, Genny and Project Walk. They have truly re-affirmed the hope I have always had inside that I can keep improving.
Check out their web-site, www.ProjectWalk.org, and the client videos & testimonials to see the impact they have on people's lives.
What are your goals for the future?
After the past 2 weeks . . . the sky is really the limit. Currently my goal is to make my gait better and more efficient so I can spend longer on my feet and get around easier. But I have 2 young boys so really I am aiming to keep up with them! I want to run, jump, and be able to play with them.
As far as other goals . . . I want to help keep building Fluid as the best skiing facility in the world. Although I can’t compete anymore I still love being around this sport and want to share my enthusiasm with everyone that comes to ski and train with us.
Have you been on the water much yourself?
Not as much as I would like. I’ve got 2 skis figured out and it is a great work-out for me to go out and ride around for 5-10 minutes. I have been on 1 ski a couple of times but the starts are still a bit too much. Getting out on the water more often definitely needs to be added into my rehab from now on!
Anything else to add . . .?
Just to thank everyone, especially my close family, that has supported me over the past 2 years. There is no way I could have got to where I am at by myself.
