Paralysis and Broken Bones

Stand Up Sunday... The Destiny of Bone Density

 

Have you ever broken a bone? Many paralysis patients are destined to break a bone because bone density loss is common for patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Low calcium and other minerals that are lacking are often a cause for bone mineral density (BMD) loss that leads to osteoporosis. Stress and weigh on a bone can cause a fracture, and is a risk Dustin takes as he works out each week. The benefits of working out and standing up far outweigh the risk of breaking a bone. Working out actually reduces the risk of BMD. It makes since to work out, but Dustin must be smart about it. Standing up is risky for a paralysis patient and there are few people in the world that are able to do it. Dustin is one of the lucky few. Dustin works with his epidural stimulator each day so he can better his life and the lives of others by showing how the cutting edge medical technology can benefit others with paralysis. It's Stand Up Sunday- Standing Up to prevent bone density loss.

Dustin continues to keep going and lets little stop him. Dustin is standing up to make a difference for himself and others. Dustin leads a foundation focused on helping others and participates in a spinal cord study that allows a cutting edge medical device, epidural stimulator, implanted inside of him to a help him stand up and reduce the side effects of paralysis including poor circulation that leads to atrophy, decreased sexual function and bone density loss.

Dustin will be in Las Vegas, NV July 30th at the Unstuck 2.0 Conference sharing his story about moving forward and making a difference.  Purchase your ticket to hear Dustin and other great speakers share their stories as they stand up for what they believe in. Use code: Dustin at checkout. It's Stand Up Sunday- What are you gonna do?

Clothing for a Cause: order your DSF Gear Now!

Check out my video and learn more about what The Dustin Shillcox Foundation is all about. It's about improving the moment.

I can Turn Myself on... Watch the  video to see how the stimulator implanted inside of me works.

 Dustin Shillcox’s life drastically changed when he was in a car accident August 2010 and sustained major spinal cord damage, a broken upper arm, collapsed lungs, broken ribs, cracked sternum & mild brain injury. Dustin’s complete T-5 spinal cord injury (SCI) left him with no feeling below his mid-chest, causing paralysis from the chest down.

Now paralyzed, and living his life in a wheel chair, Dustin was told he would never again be able to move below his waist again, but after participating in a cutting edge SCI research project, at the University of Kentucky in Louisville, he is now able to move his legs and stand once again. Dustin is living his life to the fullest, sharing his story, journey of overcoming obstacles, and faith while raising funds for spinal cord research. Through his motivational speaking and the Dustin Shillcox Foundation, he is helping to improve the lives of people in wheelchairs.

Dustin delivers an inspiring message about never giving up, and the power of a positive attitude in his speech "What Are You Gonna Do Now?" Inquire about Dustin's availability to speak at your next business meeting, conference, charity event, school, church or graduation event. If you are looking to inspire your crowd to overcome personal challenges, and motivate into action, Dustin needs to be your next call! 307.870.6764

written by Nickel Lowman

Stand Up Against Atrophy

Stand Up Sunday...

Everyday Dustin chooses to get out of this chair and work towards his goals of being able to walk again. Everyday he gets one day stronger. Everyday he gets one day closer to that goal.

You may wonder why standing up is such a big deal. To a paraplegic, that was told he would never have movement below his chest or have the ability to stand again, it means the world. Paralysis comes with it's challenges and one of them is muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy is a decrease in muscle mass, basically a wasting away of the muscles. If Dustin does not get up and move this lower extremities, he will loose all use of the muscles. When you have a spinal cord injury and a goal to one day walk, the though of atrophy is not an option. You must keep moving- and in Dustin's case, standing up!

Other symptoms that are connected to Dustin's paralysis and muscle atrophy are lack of blood flow, poor circulation, decreased sexual function and bone density loss. By exercising, doing wheelchair workouts and standing up, Dustin is working on improving each of these symptoms as well as his cardiovascular health, overall health, and he is preparing his body for when there is a cure. Besides that, Dustin says "Standing up, just feels good!" 

A standing frame helps Dustin with his balance and support his weight. Dustin recently donated a standing frame to help others be able to to do the same. For Dustin it's about making a difference not only for himself, by Standing up for others as well. It's Stand Up Sunday- What are you gonna do now to make a difference for your own health and to reach your own goals?

...Dustin lives a lifestyle that uses his physical paralysis to create a new future and new perspective on something that was once painful. Dustin will be in Las Vegas, as part of the Unstuck Conference, sponsored by Finding Your Happiness July 30th, 2016, where he will share the stage with John Polish and other great speakers delivering a powerful message about how we each have an opportunity to  reveal the hope and light that will guide us to brighter times if we just decide to not allow "IT" to define us.

 
Take a look at Dustin's new clothing line and order your DSF Gear now to help support others with paralysis.

Check out my video and learn more about what The Dustin Shillcox Foundation is all about. It's about improving the moment.

I can Turn Myself on... Watch the  video to see how the stimulator implanted inside of me works.

 Dustin Shillcox’s life drastically changed when he was in a car accident August 2010 and sustained major spinal cord damage, a broken upper arm, collapsed lungs, broken ribs, cracked sternum & mild brain injury. Dustin’s complete T-5 spinal cord injury (SCI) left him with no feeling below his mid-chest, causing paralysis from the chest down.

Now paralyzed, and living his life in a wheel chair, Dustin was told he would never again be able to move below his waist again, but after participating in a cutting edge SCI research project, at the University of Kentucky in Louisville, he is now able to move his legs and stand once again. Dustin is living his life to the fullest, sharing his story, journey of overcoming obstacles, and faith while raising funds for spinal cord research. Through his motivational speaking and the Dustin Shillcox Foundation, he is helping to improve the lives of people in wheelchairs.

Dustin delivers an inspiring message about never giving up, and the power of a positive attitude in his speech "What Are You Gonna Do Now?" Inquire about Dustin's availability to speak at your next business meeting, conference, charity event, school, church or graduation event. If you are looking to inspire your crowd to overcome personal challenges, and motivate into action, Dustin needs to be your next call! 307.870.6764

written by Nickel Lowman

It's Your Choice

Sweat and Tears...

We have a lot of choices in life, when things don't go our way. Are you going to "wipe the tears from your eyes and the sweat from your brow" and keep going, or are you going to sit paralyzed, not making a move? 

As a paraplegic, Dustin does not have some of the same options we do to get up "out of his chair" and "make a run for it." Dustin does have the choice, as do we, to take a look at his circumstances and decide to make a change. Dustin is committed to his own personal growth and because of that, he can influence others to see that we are all faced with a decision to create change when things don't go our way and to decide "what (steps) are you are gonna do now." 

Dustin delivers a powerful speech encouraging us to take the "next steps" towards our own personal goals. I mentioned Dustin doesn't "make a run for it" when he is faced with challenges, but instead embraces the challenge and he is participating in runs like the New York City Marathon, Cupid Chase and Wings For Life World Run that help raise awareness for sufferers of spinal cord injuries (like his). Dustin works out regularly (at Golds Gym) to be sure he is building his upper body strength, so that he can support himself (get out of his chair), and he works out with his epidural stimulator daily to exercise his core and put the technology to use that allows him to stand up.  Dustin is one of a few people in the world with this technology implanted inside of them, and he is the only one using it to it's full capacity. Dustin will share more about this technology at the upcoming Salt Conference in Las Vegas on May 12th, 2016, when he represents the Reeve Foundation and shares the stage with big names such as Will Smith, Ron Howard, Kobe Bryant, Caitlyn Jenner and Cameron & Tyler Winklevoss.

Mental Paralysis... 

Sitting in a wheelchair is Dustin's his choice, but "sitting paralyzed" not making a choice to move forward is a choice. Dustin continues to make choices everyday that will help him reach his goal, help him move forward and he is taking steps to get out of the chair and even one day out on the dance floor where he dreams of taking Taylor Swift's hand and spinning her around while they dance together. What choice are you going to make to end the "mental paralysis" holding you back. As Dustin would say..."What are you gonna do now?" -Nickel

About Dustin:

Dustin Shillcox’s life drastically changed when he was in a car accident August 2010 and sustained major spinal cord damage, a broken upper arm, collapsed lungs, broken ribs, cracked sternum & mild brain injury. Dustin’s complete T-5 spinal cord injury (SCI) left him with no feeling below his mid-chest, causing paralysis from the chest down.

Now paralyzed, and living his life in a wheel chair, Dustin was told he would never again be able to move below his waist again, but after participating in a cutting edge SCI research project, at the University of Kentucky in Louisville, he is now able to move his legs and stand once again. Dustin is living his life to the fullest, sharing his story, journey of overcoming obstacles, and faith while raising funds for spinal cord research. Through his motivational speaking and the Dustin Shillcox Foundation, he is helping to improve the lives of people in wheelchairs.

Dustin delivers an inspiring message about never giving up, and the power of a positive attitude in his speech "What Are You Gonna Do Now?" Inquire about Dustin's availability to speak at your next business meeting, conference, charity event, school, church or graduation event. If you are looking to inspire your crowd to overcome personal challenges, and motivate into action, Dustin needs to be your next call! 307.870.6764

Check out my video and learn more about what The Dustin Shillcox Foundation is all about. It's about improving the moment.

I can Turn Myself on... Watch the video to see how the stimulator implanted inside of me works.

Take a look at the new clothing line and order your DSF Gear Now!

written by Nickel Lowman

Who Will You Inspire Today?

INSPIRE: 

1. fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative 2. create (a feeling, especially a positive one) in a person 3. animate someone with (such a feeling) 4. give rise to 

Who will you inspire today?

Dustin delivers an inspiring message, book him today for you next event, meeting or staff development. 

Take a look at the new clothing line and order your DSF Gear Now!

Check out my video and learn more about what The Dustin Shillcox Foundation is all about. It's about improving the moment.

I can Turn Myself on... Watch the  video to see how the stimulator implanted inside of me works.

 Dustin Shillcox’s life drastically changed when he was in a car accident August 2010 and sustained major spinal cord damage, a broken upper arm, collapsed lungs, broken ribs, cracked sternum & mild brain injury. Dustin’s complete T-5 spinal cord injury (SCI) left him with no feeling below his mid-chest, causing paralysis from the chest down.

Now paralyzed, and living his life in a wheel chair, Dustin was told he would never again be able to move below his waist again, but after participating in a cutting edge SCI research project, at the University of Kentucky in Louisville, he is now able to move his legs and stand once again. Dustin is living his life to the fullest, sharing his story, journey of overcoming obstacles, and faith while raising funds for spinal cord research. Through his motivational speaking and the Dustin Shillcox Foundation, he is helping to improve the lives of people in wheelchairs.

Dustin delivers an inspiring message about never giving up, and the power of a positive attitude in his speech "What Are You Gonna Do Now?" Inquire about Dustin's availability to speak at your next business meeting, conference, charity event, school, church or graduation event. If you are looking to inspire your crowd to overcome personal challenges, and motivate into action, Dustin needs to be your next call! 307.870.6764

written by Nickel Lowman

As seen on TV: Told he'd never walk again, paralyzed Heber man stands

Have you seen the TV Interview?

August 2015

HEBER CITY — Dustin Shillcox is doing what doctors said he would never do again. 

"Just to get that feeling again to stand, it's emotional at first," said Shillcox, who lives in Heber City. "Now I want to stand every chance I get."

February 2016
DSF GEAR NEWLY LAUNCHED: Take a look at our new clothing line and order your DSF Gear Now!

Check out my video and learn more about what The Dustin Shillcox Foundation is all about. It's about improving the moment.

I can Turn Myself on... Watch the  video to see how the stimulator implanted inside of me works.

 Dustin Shillcox’s life drastically changed when he was in a car accident August 2010 and sustained major spinal cord damage, a broken upper arm, collapsed lungs, broken ribs, cracked sternum & mild brain injury. Dustin’s complete T-5 spinal cord injury (SCI) left him with no feeling below his mid-chest, causing paralysis from the chest down.

Now paralyzed, and living his life in a wheel chair, Dustin was told he would never again be able to move below his waist again, but after participating in a cutting edge SCI research project, at the University of Kentucky in Louisville, he is now able to move his legs and stand once again. Dustin is living his life to the fullest, sharing his story, journey of overcoming obstacles, and faith while raising funds for spinal cord research. Through his motivational speaking and the Dustin Shillcox Foundation, he is helping to improve the lives of people in wheelchairs.

Dustin delivers an inspiring message about never giving up, and the power of a positive attitude in his speech "What Are You Gonna Do Now?" Inquire about Dustin's availability to speak at your next business meeting, conference, charity event, school, church or graduation event. If you are looking to inspire your crowd to overcome personal challenges, and motivate into action, Dustin needs to be your next call! 307.870.6764

written by Nickel Lowman

Dustin Shillcox’s life drastically changed when he was in a car accident August 2010 and sustained major spinal cord damage, a broken upper arm, collapsed lungs, broken ribs, cracked sternum & mild brain injury. Dustin’s complete T-5 spinal cord injury (SCI) left him with no feeling below his mid-chest, causing paralysis from the chest down.

Now paralyzed, and living his life in a wheel chair, Dustin was told he would never again be able to move below his waist again, but after participating in a cutting edge SCI research project, at the University of Kentucky in Louisville, he is now able to move his legs and stand once again. Dustin is living his life to the fullest, sharing his story, journey of overcoming obstacles, and faith while raising funds for spinal cord research. Through his motivational speaking and the Dustin Shillcox Foundation, he is helping to improve the lives of people in wheelchairs.

Dustin delivers an inspiring message about never giving up, and the power of a positive attitude in his speech "What Are You Gonna Do Now?" Inquire about Dustin's availability to speak at your next business meeting, conference, charity event, school, church or graduation event. If you are looking to inspire your crowd to overcome personal challenges, and motivate into action, Dustin needs to be your next call! 307.870.6764

written by Nickel Lowman