My name is Jonathan Alex Villarreal.
I turned 36 on July 19th. Today is August 24th, 2017. I writing to share my story with you to reflect back on the past 10 years of my life since my tragic accident when I almost didn't survive.
There are a few benchmarks that occur in our lives that are significant or monumental. They can sometimes break our hearts or bring us to our knees. There are always those times though that one will remember for a lifetime for the good it has done, not just for the individual, but more importantly for the masses it effects. In this blog, I will attempt to capture such an occurrence.
ABC Medical is working on a new book that features chapters submitted by ABC Medical Customers. The purpose of "The Stories of Adapt.Believe.Compete." is to give an avenue for our amazing customers to share their stories, inspire others and build awareness to live with paralysis. To submit a chapter, please click here.
Well I have never had a bracket so blown up as this year. Absolutely my worst attempt at picking winners in my history !!
In February 1990, I was injured with a C5/6 spinal cord injury. I felt I needed to find a way to stand up, even with the disapproval of my rehab doctor. who did not believe there to be any benefit from standing.
I fired him.
In 1993 I met the owner of The Standing Wheelchair Company and purchased my first Superstand standing wheelchair.
We have been friends ever since.
Congratulations to Lindsey McGlinch, who won the
Spinergy Wheels prize in the Build Your Dream Raffle! We met up with Lindsey to learn more about her and her dreams. Check out her story below:
Lindsey McGlinch is from Greenville, OH. She was injured in a car accident 20 years ago. She is currently working as a school nurse at a public high school.
Just like most PER4MAXers out there, she's an adaptive sports enthusiast and has tried many different sports, but found her passion in wheelchair basketball. She got involved six years ago, when she saw her current team Miami Valley Raptors doing an exhibition game at an expo. "
As soon as their game was over, I went up to them and asked what I had to do to try out for the team.
After my spinal cord injury in 1973 my biggest fear and concern was not getting my legs back. Sounds weird? I was told early on by a hospital acute care aid that I probably would neither be able to have kids nor walk again. He spoke out of turn and my father later had that guy pinned up against the wall for telling me that. Well, I was certainly crushed by the news, like my spinal cord. My foxhole prayer to my God was that if he was going to take my legs, please ‘Lord let me have children!" I prayed this over and over as I laid in my hospital bed at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Southern California. Why I felt that way back then, I’m still not sure. I had a constant vision of being a father, having a beautiful wife and become a parent and yes, even a grandparent at the age of 19. So, after my 4 month stay in prison, aka rehab lol I was turned loose on the world with a new life in front of me. A life I was petrified and uncertain about. In the prison rehab, I was safe and protected. I didn’t want to leave as I had no confidence at all and especially with girls or women.
