Sand Between My Toes- Stand Up Sunday

When was the last time you had sand between your toes?

What if it was the last time you could feel it? Would that make the experience different for you?

We are 18 weeks into the new year, 2016. "What are you gonna do now" to make sure today, tomorrow and this week you experience a  moment, day or week that brings you closer to the dreams you have for your life? Are you making memories and working towards your goals? I am; No days off! Standing up everyday!

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

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 Sunday- What did you do today?

It's Stand up Sunday. Stand up for what you believe it. Stand up for your dreams.

What did you do today to get you towards your next life goal? Big or small take a stand and make it happen. It's about baby steps and gradual progress...

It's week 16 of the new year (2016) and everyday I am standing up (something they told me I would never do) and working towards my goal of one day again walking. And then dancing. Stand up with me and go after your dreams. You will miss them if you stay sitting down.

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

The next step...

My experience in New York and for the entire preparation to be there has been a great learning point for me. I've worked out, trained hard, went on a diet, and worked on my public speaking over the last 6 months. Being in New York and completing the New York City Marathon was a great achievement for me even though I was 11 minutes over my predicted time. I also had the opportunity to be in magazines and covered by some local news casts which kind of brought me to the next step.

photo by Christine DiPasquale

The goals I have now are a little different...

First, I'm still going to work with the stimulator and keep making progress in spinal cord research.

Second, I plan to keep doing motivational speaking, improving peoples lives, and growing the Dustin Shillcox Foundation.

Third, now that I can stand, I'd like to do things that are challenging for me and dancing is one of them. So, if Taylor Swift would accompany me in my first dance, that would be amazing. (After all, wheelchair dating is difficult.)

Fourth, I'm going to keep working out, staying fit, training and improving my life because I know that walking one day will be in my future. It's just going to take dedication and hard work, but I'm ready for the "next steps" in my life!

Fifth, The Dustin Shillcox Foundation is partnering with Rivengear and going to start a clothing line and the proceeds will go towards individuals who are in need of assistance for physical therapy and spinal cord research. 

I have so many goals to work on right now, but one step at a time!!

-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

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 GR

I just got back to Green River from Salt Lake and last night I went on my blind date and that went really well. While I was in Salt Lake I had the opportunity to try out the re-walk and that's robotic legs that you put on and it gets you up and walking around. It was awesome!! I also stopped by Neuroworx to say hi and visit all my friends and that's were I use to do my therapy.

Now its off to the Gym to get my workout on and do some work with the stimulator!!!

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.