Fueling up!!!

A cold perspective...

Today I was driving, and like everyone else, it was time for me to stop and fill up with gas. It doesn't bother me to fill up, it just takes me a little longer than most (being in a wheelchair and all). 

Filling your car up with gas is something that most people take for granted, because of how easy it is (for most people with working feet & legs). I'm not complaining at all, it's awesome that I still have the ability to do it; even when its a little bit more difficult (and cold).

It was 10 degrees outside today and the wind was blowing when it was time to fill up. We have to (or get to) take whatever challenges we are faced with, and do whatever it takes to make things possible!

Who ever considers if a gas station is wheelchair accessible. One more reason to keep the faith, and  and be grateful for my progress with the epidural stimulator after my spinal cord injury.

-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

written by Nickel Lowman

Paraplegic Making Medical History

Ask Dr. Nandi Medical TV Show...

Dustin Shillcox, a paraplegic implanted with an epidural stimulation device  is scheduled to head out to Wixom, Michigan this weekend to record an episode on the Ask Dr. Nandi Medical TV Show, a Detroit based public television station.  Dustin is excited to share about his experience and life changing opportunity to be a part of the medical breakthrough that has helped him stand and start to gain movement back in his lower extremities after being told he would never have feeling again from the chest down because of the horrific accident that left him as a paraplegic. There are only 6 people in the world with this cutting edge medical research opportunity. Dustin is currently training for the New York Marathon and is sharing his  motivational story to help others find their faith in the ability to also defy the odds of medicine. The Ask Dr. Nandi TV show airs nationally to 85 million homes in 79 countries. Dustin says life is more than being in a wheelchair, It's about  "Improving the lives of people in wheelchairs, raising money for spinal cord research and giving hope to those affected by spinal cord injuries."

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 Foundation! dustinshillcox.com High...

The Way I Am

I've been thinking about my life and the way I do things now and how I use to do them. Starting this blog was a good thing for me because sometimes I want to talk about something but I might be embarrassed to say it, but its a lot easier to write about it.

I get up everyday and I workout, practice with my stimulator throughout the day, work on my speeches and try and ride my hand cycle. Just that keeps me pretty busy I also have a lot more that I try and get done sometimes I find myself making up excuses on why not to do them.

Here's what I want to write about and its not that I'm complaining or looking for sympathy I just want to talk about it. I see some of my friends with there wives and kids or my buddies that work out at the mines and they are all just living their life in a way that I thought it should have been for me. My brother works with my dad in our family company doing all the things that I use to do and I know my dad and brother would love to have me back working with them...I just don't see it in my future anymore...as bad as I wish that it was.

An everyday issue for me is going places like to a friends house, concerts, camping, traveling, really anything and having to make sure I can get in there with my wheelchair is a pain. There are all kinds of things that I think about that make me wonder, why did this have to happen to me?

It's ok though because I like to use these feelings for fuel to keep me pushing on and trying to reach my goals. I know it's not going to be easy. I've also had an amazing opportunity to be part of a research program that is improving the lives of people living with spinal cord injuries. I know I have to keep working hard and doing the best I can, not only to benefit myself but to provide the best information to the research ultimately helping everyone with an SCI to reach their goal to walk again.

  
 

Back to the 307

Headed back to Green River, Wyoming this afternoon. It's was a great trip visiting LA (Wings for Life & Red Bull) and stopping in to see my sister in Heber, Utah. I loved spending time on the beach and enjoying some California sunshine. Had an embarrassing moment though...while rolling along 3rd Street in Santa Monica I was crossing the crowded street with lots of other people when my wheelchair decided to dump me, face first, into the street. Middle of the crosswalk, cars waiting to go and there I sat motionless on the ground. In true LA fashion no one seemed to notice. Not that I needed the help but not one offer or a simple "are you ok?" from the crowd of people. I got back in my wheelchair as fast as I could and once I crossed the street I took a hard left to hide my embarrassment. As I rolled another 10 yards down the next street my wheelchair decided again to toss me to the ground. Now I'm just plain mad and shocked because I've been doing this now for four years so why now? This fall happened in front of a taxi line with taxi drivers outside their cars on a smoke break. They saw the action and asked if I needed help. I sat on the ground looking at my wheelchair like I was trying to adjust my tires and said "no thanks, I'm just trying to fix something." But really I was just embarrassed and trying to play cool. I got back in, wheeled away and thought sometimes it just happens. So the next time you trip and fall, twice...or get bucked out of your wheelchair just remember what Forrest Gump said "it happens."

Before I head home I'm off to the gym to work out and practice with the stimulator. 

My high school friend Tanna and her daughter Riley in Santa Monica.

I'm just starting to blog

I'm sitting here at my sister's house and I've decided to start a blog about my life. As I continue to work towards my goal to be a motivational speaker I want to share my story along the way...my ups and downs, work out goals, travels and passion to speak out about the honor I've had to be an epidural stimulation recipient.

With a T5 complete spinal cord injury (paralyzed from the chest down) this procedure has allowed me to move my legs, toes and ankles and receive progress in autonomic functions.  My quest is to provide information of the research and inspire hope for others faced with spinal cord injuries.

I plan to share details about working out in a wheelchair, my progress with the research, my efforts to be a motivational speaker and other struggles faced daily by people living with disability.