As an airborne sergeant for the Army during the 1980s, Jose Lopez-Rivera’s obligations were to educate young recruits exactly how to securely repel out of a helicopter.
Training involves a strenuous as well as multi-phase process for those that are not faint of heart. For many who stand in the open door of an in-flight helicopter, it’s a mind-blowing experience. As you look down for the first time repelling to the ground, you’re overcoming you own anxieties.
Rivera assisted many to safely overcome the task. What was to become his last as well as final obligation, ended with disaster. After he saw his entire crew repel to the ground, the helicopter momentarily rose to a dangerous elevation. Seconds later on, Rivera landed to the ground with life-altering injuries.
He shattered his left leg and fractured his spinal column, and also some claimed that he could never ever regain use of his leg. It took six difficult months in an army rehab hospital to walk once again, however he was not able to return to duty. He received medical disability, which meant he could not work.
As an award-winning soldier, he had numerous medals that provided him distinction. He was equally honored to adhere to in his father’s military career. When he came to understand that he could not endure his life in the military as a result of injury, he looked to family members for support. His very own father built a whole career as a soldier as well as Rivera’s heritage was hard to leave.
His saving grace was his wife as well as three children as well as commitment to family members is paramount to him. Rivera ultimately moved to Florida to bring assistance to his aging mother. Being a father as well as son brought him joy as well as life went on.
Rivera’s life was to take an additional fall. Months back, he lost his left leg and it’s an injury that he does not like to talk about.
He once again needed to muster the grit of a soldier and also discover exactly how to walk again. Despite all he’s been through, he says he feels fortunate to find rehabilitation far more satisfying than he thought possible.
Rivera recalls his previous rehab in the army and says that today’s strategies are better. “I am not treated like a rank and serial number, I am being given respect and self-respect,” he says.
” These experts are here to support me and also to make sure that I am well prepared to get back on my feet,” says Rivera. He talks about being fitted with a temporary prosthesis and learning exactly how to walk on a specialized treadmill.
His Physical Therapist explains that Jose is utilizing the AlterG treadmill for his rehabilitation. The AlterG is a device that can remove 80% of body weight and also offer patients a much easier time with walking. The physical therapist says the treadmill is important because it can make walking more comfortable, bring the patient self-confidence as well as speed the recovery process.
Geoff Fraser says, our therapists report that prior to the AlterG, patients had to gain walking self-confidence while making use of the parallel bars. That learning procedure can be tedious for some patients. The AlterG gives them hope because they can get back to walking at a much faster speed than typical treatment.
Using AlterG, “Patients can accomplish a decreased demand for walking aids as well as boost their number of steps on our treadmill.”
” Right now, we’re just making certain that Jose is happy with his results, getting stronger as well as adapting to his therapy.”
Rivera is making good progress as an inpatient and is eagerly anticipating accomplishing his goals and also return home to his family members.
” Our rehab family is proud to get Jose where he wants to be,” claims Fraser.
Geoff Fraser is Partner at Clear Choice Health Care in Melbourne FL