Andrew Skinner joins Wheel Stories for episode 21.  Andrew sustained a spinal cord injury in a freak snowboarding accident in 2004. He is a recovering quadriplegic, husband to Kirsten, dad to Betty, and the founder of the Triumph Foundation. The Triumph Foundation exist to help individuals triumph over spinal cord injuries and disorders. The Triumph Foundation has given out over 2,000 Care Baskets for the newly injured in Southern California and touched the lives of more than 5,000 individuals with disabilities.

In this episode Andrew and I chat about:

• Living Life with a Purpose
• SCI Rehabilitation
• Returning to the Workforce with a Disability
• Living an Active Lifestyle after a Spinal Cord Injury
• Peer Support for the Newly Injured
• COVID-19 and Social Distancing
• Grants & Equipment
• Adaptive Sports and Recreation
• WCMX

Andrew's Wheelchair: Box Wheelchair

Making Andrew's Life Easier: E-Motion Power Assist Wheels 

Follow the Triumph Foundation: @triumphfoundation on Instagram

Contact the Triumph Foundation: [email protected]

Triumph Foundation

Employment Achievement Award Grant

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Sponsor: Salty Britches / WHEELSTORIES20 at checkout for 20% off your order

Sharon McKeeman joins Wheel Stories for episode 20. Sharon is a mama of four, military wife, wheelchair user, adaptive athlete, writer, educator, and photographer. In 2018 compartment syndrome caused paralysis in Sharon’s left leg. For Sharon adapting means acknowledging challenges while also celebrating how good life is even when it looks drastically different.

In this episode Sharon and I chat about:

• Finding treasures in difficult circumstances
• Finding your voice
• Accessibility
• Parenting
• Traveling Solo
• Adaptive Sports
• Challenged Athletes Foundation 

Sharon's Wheelchair: Quickie

Making Sharon's Life Easier: Sidestix Crutches 

Follow Sharon: @sharonmckeeman on Instagram

Sharon's Website

Sharon's Blog

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Sponsor: Salty Britches / WHEELSTORIES20 at checkout for 20% off your order

Support Team Reeve: Abby's Team Reeve Fundraising Page

Rachel Scott joins Wheel Stories for episode 19. Rachel is a mother of five, a former middle school math teacher, a marathon runner, and a connoisseur of seltzer and tacos. Most recently she's found herself in a new role: a special needs mom. Her second son was diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis, a polio-like, paralyzing disease in 2016. Since then, she's become an expert on all things Braden and an advocate for the AFM community.

In this episode Rachel and I talk about:

• Acute Flaccid Myelitis
• Our enneagram numbers
• Enjoying Disney with kids with a disability
• Special needs parenting
• Managing chaos
• Advocating for a rare disease
• Why you need to wash your hands

Braden’s Wheelchair:  Permobil K300 

Making Rachel’s Life Easier:  Uber 

Follow Rachel: Instagram @greatscott

Follow Braden: Team Braden Luke 

Learn more about AFM: Acute Flaccid Myelitis Association  

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Sponsor: Salty Britches / WHEELSTORIES20 at checkout for 20% off your order

February 29, 2020 is Rare Disease Day, and we’re taking a deep dive into why it matters in episode 18. There are more than 7,000 rare diseases affecting between 25-30 million Americans, and we’re talking about why awareness matters.

Learn more about Rare Disease Day: https://rarediseaseday.org/ 

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Sponsor: http://www.getsaltybritches.com / WHEELSTORIES20 at checkout for 20% off your order

Brandon Mantz joins Wheel Stories for episode 17. Brandon is a T9 paraplegic from a spinal cord injury he sustained in a skiing accident in December 2018. Originally from Wisconsin, Brandon resides in Denver, CO where he has spent the last year adjusting to a new normal. He lives his life around four main pillars: love, generosity, adventure, and joy. Brandon is newly engaged and loves to find ways to continue the active lifestyle he’s always known. Brandon takes part in adaptive CrossFit, off-road handcycling, and nordic skiing. He volunteers with the Generous Coffee Company that supports nonprofits and seeks to create and multiply good in the world.

Brandon’s Wheelchair:  TiLite TR/ https://permobilus.com/product/tr/

Making Brandon’s Life Easier:  FreeWheel / https://www.gofreewheel.com/

Follow Brandon: Instagram @bmantz3

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Sponsor: http://www.getsaltybritches.com / WHEELSTORIES20 at checkout for 20% off your order

Kelly Lamb joins Wheel Stories for episode 16. Kelly is the manager of Team Reeve for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. She first became involved with Team Reeve after her boyfriend, Jon David, sustained a C5 spinal cord injury from diving into shallow water in 2013. He was living in Arkansas, and she was in New York City at the time. She was looking for a tangible way to contribute to his recovery and also find a coping mechanism for their new reality when she decided to run and fundraise for her first marathon with Team Reeve. To date, Kelly has run 6 marathons for Team Reeve and raised over $90,000 in donations for spinal cord research due to very generous friends, family, and complete strangers. She was so thrilled to be offered the full time Team Reeve manager last February. Kelly resides in Little Rock, AR where she and JD live with two silly dogs and two very affectionate cats.

JD’s Wheelchair: Permobil M3 / http://permobilus.com/product/m3-corpus/

Making Kelly and JD’s Life Easier: Tempur-Pedic Adjustable Bed / https://www.tempurpedic.com/bases-and-foundations/

Contact Kelly Lamb: [email protected]

Join Team Reeve: https://www.christopherreeve.org/get-involved/fundraise-with-team-reeve

Follow Team Reeve: @teamreeve on Instagram

Follow Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: @reevefoundation

Paralysis Resource Center: https://www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/about-the-paralysis-resource-center

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Sponsor: https://getsaltybritches.com/ / WHEELSTORIES20 at checkout for 20% off your order

Amy Van Dyken joins Wheel Stories for episode 15. Amy is a 6-time Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming and a spinal cord injury survivor. Amy overcame childhood asthma to become an Olympic Gold Medalist. After a 2014 ATV accident left her with a severe spinal cord injury, Amy’s competitive spirit and positive outlook fueled her to take on life at full speed despite her paralysis. Amy has become an advocate for the disability community and formed the Amy Van Dyken Foundation to fund the purchase of custom wheelchairs for children. Amy has found a new athletic passion in adaptive CrossFit. She finished second in the inaugural WheelWOD Games, the pinnacle of adaptive CrossFit and will be looking for gold in 2020.

Amy’s Wheelchair: TiLite TR/ https://permobilus.com/product/tr/

Making Amy’s Life Easier: Instacart / https://www.instacart.com/

Follow Amy: Instagram @amyvandyken

Support Amy’s Army: www.amyvandyken.org

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Sponsor: http://www.getsaltybritches.com / WHEELSTORIES20 at checkout for 20% off your order

Episode Notes

Sarah Quinn joins Wheel Stories for episode 14. Sarah is a two-time national wheelchair tennis champion, a substance abuse counselor, and seamstress. Sarah is as brave as she is beautiful. She was paralyzed in an automobile accident at eighteen-years-old. Through her injury, Sarah discovered adaptive sports and found herself as a top collegiate athlete, something she admits never would have happened without her injury. Sarah has maintain a never give up attitude even in the hard and painful moments of her life. She’s never been one to dismiss the struggle in her life, and she uses her own story regularly as a substance abuse counselor. Sarah doesn’t want to let anything go to waste, not in life or in her passion for sewing. You’re going to love hearing Sarah’s story, and don’t forget to check at her beautiful creations on Instagram @saysaystitches.

Sarah’s Wheelchair: Per4Max / https://www.per4max.com/

Making Sarah’s Life Easier: Lap Desk

Connect with Sarah: Instagram @saysaystitches

                                 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sarahslc

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Don’t forget to share Wheel Stories with a friend and leave a show review.

Jennifer Nachreiner joins Wheel Stories for episode 13. Jennifer is the mom to Nolan, a witty and fearless six-year-old. Her journey began four years ago when Nolan was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis and became paralyzed from the neck down. Each day, they strive toward recovery and regaining strength so that Nolan can be independent. Jennifer has seen her entire life change over the last four years as she and her husband, Eric, moved their family from Pittsburgh, PA to Louisville, KY to give Nolan the best care possible. Jennifer shares her life in a candid conversation explaining the ups and downs of raising a quadriplegic. Jennifer says her family works hard but plays even harder, and her story is sure to motivate you to tackle the obstacles before you. Jennifer was six-months pregnant with her youngest son, Henry, when Nolan was paralyzed. She had no idea how she was going to manage a newborn and a newly paralyzed two-year-old, but Jennifer discovered she was stronger than she ever imagined.

Nolan’s Wheelchair: Permobil Koala / https://permobilus.com/product/koala/

Making Nolan’s Life Easier: Apple Voice Control for iPad

Follow Nolan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getwellnolan/

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram

Dan McCoy joins Wheel Stories for episode 12. Dan who was born with spina bifida is a Paralympic Gold Medalist and A.C.E personal trainer. Dan shares his story of chasing an Olympic dream. He began playing sled hockey at the young age of four. By 8-years-old, he knew he wanted to be a Paralympian.  In 2014, Dan saw his dreams come true when he won the gold medal in Sochi, Russia as part of the United States Men’s Sled Hockey Team. Dan developed a passion for helping people reach their health and fitness goals following his Olympic Gold and became an A.C.E certified personal trainer.

Dan resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania where he is an active advocate for the adaptive sports community. He is currently a member of the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey Senior team as well as the Director of Player Development for the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey Organization.

Dan’s Wheelchair: Quickie / https://www.quickie-wheelchairs.com/

Making Dan’s Life Easier: Hands-Fee voice controls

Connect with Dan: @danmccoyfitness on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter

YouTube: Dan McCoy

Connect with Wheel Stories: @wheelstoriespodcast on Facebook & Instagram