San Dimas Graduation

Hey Everyone!!

Yesterday, June 9th, was my high school graduation! And that's not the best part....I was able to walk across the stage to receive my diploma! I was called up and everyone was cheering me on! I had my sister, Kristel, and trainer from Project Walk, Jillienne, with me. A year ago, I had a goal to walk on graduation and I DID IT! It was an amazing feeling to walk to get my diploma and to hear everyone's support!

This is a video of me walking on stage. CLICK HERE

I wouldn't have made it this far without all your support! But I still need your help to continue my fight. Please visit www.helpjenwalkagain.com on ways to donate.

Thank you everyone for the congratulations and birthday wishes!

Love always and God bless,

Jen BouLahoud

A day in my life going to Project Walk

Hey everyone!

I have my video done! This video portrays a day to Project Walk along with my trainer, Jillienne, talking about the progress I have made in the past year. I wouldn't have made it this far without your support! Thank you!

Click here for the Video

And Congratulation to everyone graduating this year!

Please visit Helpjenwalkagain.com on ways to donate.

Love Always and God Bless

Jen Bou Lahoud

Project Walk for One year

Hello everyone!

I know it has been a while since the last video update but I have been extremely busy with therapy, school, and AP testing! It’s my last month as a senior and I will be graduating from high school on Wednesday, June 9^th. I can’t wait to graduate!

April 13 was my one year anniversary at Project Walk. I am very happy with my progress and I would not have been able to accomplish so much without my Angels and Donors. To commemorate this huge milestone, I have produced a new video that shows you my daily activities including my trips to Project Walk. This video, like no other, will give you a glimpse into every major facet of my life from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep. The video also includes a message from my Project Walk trainer, Jillienne, who has been my main trainer from the very start. She discusses my improvements from the first session we had last year to where I am in my recovery today.

I also attended the Be Perfect Spinal Cord Injury Fundraiser Dinner. Over 900 people attended the event! It was amazing people supporting spinal cord injuries victims. Hal Halgrave, the founder of the Be Perfect Foundation, asked me to assist him in fundraiser dinner by walking on stage with the assistance of my trainer Jillienne. Halgrave asked three other people with spinal cord injuries to walk on stage in whatever capacity they have to demonstrate to the 900 guests and donors that people with spinal cord injuries do recovery and can start walking. I was honored and thrilled for my progress to be recognized. I was able to stand proud and show that people can improve after a spinal cord injury. I had all 900 audience members cheer me on as I walked with a walker and my trainer Jillienne.

Even though most doctors declare that there is no hope to recover from a serious spinal cord injury; I am working to prove them wrong! When I walk without any trainer assistance, I plan on walking through the doors of Arrowhead Regional Hospital and announce to my doctors: “You told me I had no hope. You told me I wouldn’t walk again. So I fought and trained hard. What do you think now?” I will say and do this proudly. And it will be soon. I know I am almost there! I can feel it closer and closer with every step I take. This would not have been possible without each one of you. My success is due to your help. I am eternally grateful!

I wish everyone the best and for my peers, good luck during finals!

God Bless and Love always,

Jen BouLahoud

February Video

Hey everyone!

I would like to start off by saying thank you to all family, friends, supporters, and angels; without all the support and prayers everyone has given me, I would not have progressed as far as I have in the past year.

For the past month, I started pool therapy at Casa Colina. This new type of therapy provides less gravitational force on my muscles and allows me to start using very weak muscles. Not only is it fun, it is a great way to strengthen my muscles. On top of the new type of therapy, I have tried new exercises such as split leg kneeling and balancing on one leg as I move the other. These are new exercises to strengthen my balance and core as well as load bearing into each leg.

As many of you saw on the facebook group, I was put on Project Walk’s chalk board for being able to extend my leg in the side line position. This is a new movement in my quads! Once I am able to strengthen those muscles groups I will be able to kick out in a sitting position. This will allow me, in the future, to lift my leg higher when walking.

And lastly, I have been practicing walking with two trainers assisting me. They help to lift and place my foot as well as lock and unlock my knees.

These new movement could not have been possible without your support. But I still need you help to continue my fight. Please donate and become an angel at http://www.helpjenwalkagain.com/.

To watch the video, Click here

God bless and love always,

Jen

One Year Video!!

Dear Family and Supporters,

It has been over one year since my accident. My progress has given me so much hope. Hope for the future and strength for today. I know that this is due to your generosity, support, and prayers. Thank you for funding my therapy at Project Walk. Thank you for introducing me to trainers who have never stopped believing in my potential. To illustrate my progress I have prepared a special video comparing where I was one year ago and where I am today. The video is a bit lengthy but there is a surprise at the end!

I hope it proves my commitment to your belief in me. I know that my success will also mean a success for all of us. The emotional and financial support you have invested in me will never be forgotten. You are why I fight to walk and why I know I will. Thank you for being my donors, my friends and my angels.

To watch the video Click Here

Love and God Bless,

Jen Bou Lahoud

Happy New Year!!

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year. Hopefully 2010 will bring great joy to everyone. This year will have its challenges, but we will always get through them.

I have been improving greatly over these past couple of months. Project Walk has now been working on leg-based exercises and I continue to start and stop the spin bike on my own. Also, the stability in my hips have become stronger.

I have made a one year video with clips from the beginning to now. It will be posted soon. If anyone has song suggestions, contact me :)

Again, I cannot thank you enough for being by my side this past year. Words cannot describe how much my angels mean to me. Without you, I wouldn’t be improving as well as I am today. Thank you!

Happy New Year!

Love always and God Bless,

Jen

Psychology Project

Hey everyone!

In Psychology class I had to choose a song that described me and I picked “It’s a Fight” by Three 6 Mafia. I had to write an essay about it and I thought to share it with you guys.

Music is an art that is expressed through words and it is a significant part of life. When listening to someone else’s playlist, one can recognize their personality and moods. Everyone can relate to at least one song. For me, it is “It’s a Fight” by Three 6 Mafia. In a blink of an eye, I became a paraplegic from T10/11 and my life was turned upside down. This is an injury and can be healed like a broken arm or leg. All it needs is time. Every week I do a total of 15 hours of aggressive therapy and yet I feel it is not enough. My life is a fight to walk again. No one’s life is perfect but we all strive for the best life possible. Some people do have easier than others, but one chapter in everyone’s life comes crashing down- this is my chapter now. I am determined and willing to do ANYTHING to walk again. I am not confined to my chair and NEVER will be. Every morning, I wake up knowing that this day will be another fight. After school, I go to therapy and work as much as my body will let me. Before each session, I listen to this song to motivate me and to remind me that I am not the only one that has a fight. I get pumped up and go to therapy and work hard. Sitting in a chair is not who I am. I am an active person. I need to be up and running and I will do whatever it takes to walk again.

Three 6 Mafia’s song, “It’s a Fight,” has a motivational rhythm and the words inspire me to keep going. “I'm the man, there's no defeating.” I push myself to the limit everyday and no one can tell me that I cannot do this. This song reminds me that I am not alone; everyone has to fight in their lifetime. Some days I am down and feel like I cannot do it anymore but I put this song on and it makes me want to go work even harder. Quitting is not a word in my dictionary. Every day is a fight and I do not plan to stop until I accomplish my goal.

“Life is an interesting journey and you never know where it will take you. Sometimes on your way, you may think this is the worst time of my life, but at the end of the road, through all the adversity, if you can get where you want to be, remember, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger , and all the adversity was worth it.” Every day may be a new song to describe the day but for the past year, this song has kept me going. I will not let some doctor tell me that I am paralyzed and there is nothing I can do. I can do something. I can fight. And I am. This is my life. This is my fight. And so far, I am winning. I just need to keep going.

God bless and Love always,

Jen