Twenty six years ago my life changed forever. A fall from a swing left me paralysed from the shoulders down. My spinal cord was injured between the 4th and 5th vertebrae following a whiplash just after the bump on the ground. This caused the slip of the vertebrae which injured my spinal cord. It happened as a result of being born with a stiff neck, ie my neck was crooked.

In the late spring of 1987 I was going for appointments with doctors to try to solve my problem. I was told that I needed surgery to remove my malformation, but none of them informed me about the risk of my vertebrae not being in their ‘natural position’. In particular I remember seeing a radiologist’s expression on their face while looking at the x-rays of my neck. He looked extremely worried but did not inform me of the dangers. It’s ironic that the surgeon preferred to operate on me AFTER the summer… my fall was on August 13th, 1987.

If only I knew the seriousness of my problem, the risks I could run and even if I had worn an orthopedic collar on that terrible day… well, I can’t be sure but it may even be prevented.

Now I’m a 37 year old woman who has lost the control of her body and completely dependent on others for all actions of her daily life. I’m also left with many unanswered questions regarding my neck before my injury.

I want to FIGHT now for a CURE for Chronic Spinal Cord Injury. We have to spread the message of urgency… a  CURE or a combination of therapies is not so far away but actions can be taken now to accelerate the researchers jobs.

It’s imperative that we FIND a CURE so that everyone, of all kinds/levels of Spinal Cord Injuries are eligible.

 Cure Girl Barbara

My name is Barbara, I’m 36 years old and I’m quadriplegic since 1987, when, following a fall from my swing, I suffered a cervical spinal cord injury that has affected me the full use of my arms and legs. I consider myself a “Cure Girl” because I wish with all my heart that a cure will be found soon for all types of spinal cord injury and for all levels. In particular, for all those injuries that cause the total and/or partial loss of autonomy in taking care of themselves.

The severity of my injury and its high level (C4-C5) resulted in a condition of dependence to perform the actions necessary to daily life, causing great inconvenience not only to me. Being dependent on others is one of the worst things that a human being can experience. All this is aggravated by the fact that, in most cases, family has to take the whole load of assistance. Therefore, only permanent cure to recover at least all those movements that allow complete autonomy is the only way to change things; every other remedy is only a palliative.

The focus on medical research to cure spinal cord injuries is very lacking, especially in Italy, and this is because there is a very little information on the consequences which this type of trauma involves… as if paralysis itself is not enough to require the need of a cure!

Thanks to Internet we can spread our voice and let everyone know what is actually a spinal injury, so everyone will realize how important it is to always keep the spotlight on medical research, as it occurs with many other disabilities.

“Happiness is… feel the hair through  your fingers… take a child in your arms… clapping at a concert… hold in your hands a cup of hot milk… walking barefoot on wet sand…

It does not take much to be happy.”

Our Cure Girl Barbara