Becoming Independent

Hey Everyone!

I hope everyone is enjoying the Olympics.  In my opinion, the opening ceremony was creative but I don’t think it compares to China. I did love the bit with the Queen “skydiving” and Rowan Atkinson (aka Mr. Bean)! He always knows how to make people laugh.

Today’s video blog is about my independence. I drive now with hand controls (thank you again to the Travis Roy Foundation) to school. When I get to the parking garage, I have to assemble the wheelchair. At first, it was difficult not only because the wheelchair was heavy but also because I had to figure out the most effective way to assemble it.  I watched YouTube videos on how others do it but it seemed everyone had their own strategy. So I combined what I learned and figured it out: in the beginning it took me 7 minutes but now I can assemble my wheelchair in under 3.

This year, I also lived on my own for the first time in university housing. I was both nervous and excited. I am so excited to move back when school starts. Yay!

So here it is, my new video on independence: CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Keep an eye out for the next video.   It will be my take and recommendations on recent movies and books I have watched and read this summer.

God bless and Love always,
Jen Bou Lahoud

Introduction to Video Blog

HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!


I hope everyone is enjoying their summer like I am! I know this blog post is long overdue but I have exciting news. I am switching to a video blog! So from now on my blogs entries will be accompanied by a video diary from me.


This video includes is an introduction with basic background information about me. The video topics will focus on my opinions and personal life. I feel after these past years my audience has not had a chance to get to know me.


So to catch you up on what’s going on, I just finished my first year at the University of Southern California.  This is thanks to the full scholarship I have received from Swim with Mike. This was a major transition for me.  Not only was I switching from a community college to a university but I had to learn to live on my own.  Also, I grew a new passion in my studies..  My new goal is to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.  And from there, I hope to pursue my PhD. I will be sharing more details about my change in majors as well as the classes I am taking next semester in the upcoming video blogs.


With regards to therapy, I continue to make significant progress. I attend CORE with Taylor Isaacs every Wednesday (it will be changing to Saturdays at the start of the school year) and Project Walk on Fridays. I also was able to buy parallel bars in my garage so I can continue my therapy at home. My main focus at this time is to stand up by myself. Currently, I can’t stand up without the assistance of someone blocking my knees. So I am focusing on my quad strength. I am still walking with the Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFO) but I have progressed to forearm crutches. It is significantly more difficult but I do love the challenge!


Now without further ado, here is the first of many video blogs. CLICK HERE


I would love to hear your feedback on the video as well as any questions you have about Spinal Cord Injuries or any other topics. Email me at helpjenwalkagain@gmail.com.


And don’t forget to check out my website, www.helpjenwalkagain.com, for ways to contribute to my fight to walk again.


God bless and Love always,

Jen Bou Lahoud

PS I will be posting videos at every other Sunday of the month so keep an eye out! The next one will be on driving with hand controls, putting the wheelchair in and out of the car, and a tour of my apartment at USC.

Three years later...

Hey Everyone!

Three years ago today, I was injured in Big Bear, CA by a freak sledding accident. I landed on my back causing a dislocation at my T10/11 vertebras. I was told that I would never walk again, but today, because of your support and donations, I am proving them wrong.

I recently finished my first semester at the University of Southern California (Go Trojans!). I have always wanted to attend USC. My older sister is a graduate and I’m proud to continue the tradition. I am majoring in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Psychology. I am balancing my time between school and therapy. When I first started the semester, I felt a wave of independence. I was now driving myself to school and living on my own. I have a one bedroom apartment two blocks from campus. I have classes Monday through Thursday and I attend therapy with Taylor Isaacs on Wednesdays from 2:30-4:30 pm and Project Walk on Fridays from 2:00-5:00 pm. I come home Thursday nights and spend the weekend with my family. I am also the Secretary for the Lebanese Club at USC. And yeah, I love watching the Trojans play football at the Coliseum. It is a dream come true!

Despite the busy schedule, I have been making significant improvements in my therapy. I continue to use my Ankle Foot Orthopedics (AFOs) to walk independently. I have graduated from the walker to forearm crutches. These crutches are the step in between a walker and a cane. When I first transitioned I could immediately feel a difference. They are less stable when compared to the walker. But as you all know, I enjoy a challenge! They allow me to stand taller and promote a more regular gait pattern of opposite leg to opposite arm. My other improvements include stable standing balance, the ability to do alternate knee bends on the Total Gym, and overall better control of my legs.

Click here to view my 3 year anniversary video

Looking back at the past three years, it has been an uphill battle. I wouldn’t be able to keep fighting without your support, I have made it this far because of my donors and angels. I am getting closer to my goal of walking without any assistance. My donations have decreased and in order to accomplish my goal, I need your continued help. I need to be able to continue my therapy. I know the economy is bad, but anything you can donate will help. Please donate at www.helpjenwalkagain.com to fund my fight to walk again.

Thank you!

God bless and love always,

Jen Bou Lahoud

Summer 2011

Hey Everyone!

I know I haven’t written a post in awhile but I was extremely busy these past couple of months. During that time, I made significant improvements which I want to highlight for you!

My first year in community college is complete! I balanced 16 units a semester while continuing therapy at Project Walk and at Taylor-Kevin Isaacs’ facility while maintaining Dean’s List status for both semesters. In addition, I was accepted into the University of Southern California (USC) as a transfer student. If this wasn’t enough good news, I also learned that I received a full scholarship thanks to Swim with Mike. I will begin at USC on August 22. I know that as a begin my new life at USC I will continue to focus on my ultimate goal of walking again.

I also was maid of honor at Kristel’s wedding. Since her engagement to Serge in October 2009, I had the goal of walking down the aisle unassisted and standing by side as her maid of honor. I have focused on this goal and May 29, 2011, it was accomplished! (You will see some footage in the video attached at the end of this post.) It felt so amazing to not only stand proudly with my sister on the biggest day of her life, but to walk down and know that I have almost reached my ultimate goal. I walked assisted with my AFO (Ankle-Foot Orthotics) braces and a walker. If you recall, last year, I was only able to walk with my trainer Jillienne locking out my knees. Now, with the AFOs, I can walk with the walker and lock out my knees independently.

These past months have been filled with amazing progress. One of the most impressive is my endurance and strength. I am now able to walk about 200 feet without taking a break. Before, it was on average 75-100 feet. Also, I have been trying to walk with the AFO braces but without a walker! Instead of using a walker, I would be holding on to my Jillienne’s forearms. This has been very difficult because it creates less stability. I began by taking about 5 steps and then would fall down. Now, I can take about 15 consecutive steps before resting. I am inching closer to walking again, without a walker, without braces, and without any trainers assisting me.

In addition, I have completed my driving classes using a modified car with hand-control gears. I will hopefully be getting my driver’s license by the end of summer. Thanks to the Travis-Roy Foundation, I was sponsored through a grant to pay for the hand control modifications to our car. I can’t wait to drive myself around. It is one step closer towards my effort to be more independent.

Unfortunately, as I have mentioned in the past post, I have had to cut back significantly on my therapy hours. Instead of attendance 3 times a week at Project Walk, it has been to 2 times a week. I am almost to the point of reaching my goal of walking again, completely independent. In order to do so, I need your help. I need your help so that I may continue moving forward.

To see my latest improvements, click here.

Please note, that both means of donating, NTAF and Our Lady of Mount Lebanon, go directly to a medical fund set-up specifically for therapy. Those funds are only released when administrators from NTAF and Our Lady of Mount Lebanon pay my therapists directly.

To donate please visit, www.HelpJenWalkAgain.com and click on the Donate tab.

Thank you!

God bless and Love always,

Jen Bou Lahoud

Will you fund my fight to walk?

Hey Everyone!!

I hope everyone is having a great 2011 so far! I have made various improvements in the past two months. When walking with the AFO leg braces, I am able to take continuous larger steps. Also, I am able to initiate a mini kick when sitting on the edge of a table. Though the improvements are small, they are very important in my overall recovery.

In order to continue my fight to walk again, I need your help. I had to cut back on therapy because there are not enough funds to continue to go 3 times a week. I am now going to Project Walk only 2 times a week. It is difficult to cut back because I know the more hours I train, the faster I will recover. I have started to work out at home. I have been focusing on core exercises that I can do without the assistance of a trainer. Though I am glad I can do some exercises on my own, having trainers who create new exercises modified for my condition and progress as well as monitoring and giving me feedback on my gait mechanics are all essential to my recovery. I need your help to continue to donate so that I may continue moving forward. I know the economic times are hard, but I would greatly appreciate any donation you can make. Will you fund my fight to walk again?

Please visit: www.HelpJenWalkAgain.com on ways to donate.

Thank you!

Love you and God bless,

Jen BouLahoud

New Year. New Improvements. 2011

Hey everyone!

Happy New Year!! 2010 had its ups and downs but overall I thought it was a good year for me. I hope you enjoyed it too. I have a feeling 2011 will be even better! With the new year, comes new improvements. This video shows me walking with my new Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFO) braces.

The first steps were shaky and very slow; but I did it! I am one step closer to walking by myself without assistance. I went across the entire gym! It is an amazing feeling to be able to get from point A to point B. This is only the beginning. My goal is to walk without the AFOs and walker. I know it is possible!! 2011 is the year!

To see the video, CLICK HERE

I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done. I still need your help. Please fund my fight to walk again. I am almost there! I know it!

Thank you! Happy New Year!

God bless! Love always,

Jen Bou Lahoud

Angel Appreciation Banquet

Hey Everyone!

On December 12^th I had an Angel Appreciation Banquet to thank everyone who has donated and supported my fight to walk again. It began with a blessing from Father Zaidan of the Our Lady of Mount Lebanon Church whose words touched the audience: “When one member in our community is sick, the entire community is sick. It is important that we come together and help as much as we can.” Then my older sister, Kristel, gave her perspective of my accident as well as my progress. Her words made not only me but the entire audience tear up. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Then two of my most important trainers, Jillienne Feather and Taylor Isaacs, talked and informed the audience of the overall aspects of Spinal Cord Injury and my progress. The words that touched me the most were from Jillienne, “Together me and Jen share our blood, sweat and tears. You are my best friend, my sister and I am going to continue fighting my whole life for you.” Taylor also expressed, “It is an honor and a privilege to watch Jen strive for excellence every step of the way.” Then at the end, I surprised everyone by taking independent steps across the stage. It was amazing to see the number of people, some who don’t even know me, cheering me on.

As many of you know, insurance does not cover the cost for exercise-based therapy. Project Walk and Taylor Isaacs cost over $100/hour each. This equates to over $3,600 per month in expenses for therapy alone. To cover this amount, I depend on the generosity of those that believe in me and the contributions of my Angels. Each facility contributes to my progress and brings me one step closer to walking unassisted.

During the Banquet, videos were showed to illustrate my journey through the past two years.

To see the video of the moment of the accident that changed my life CLICK HERE

To view a slideshow that honors all my Angels CLICK HERE

To see how my cause is spread around the world CLICK HERE

And to see the most important video my TWO YEAR PROGRESS video CLICK HERE

Again, thank you all for everything! I am eternally grateful!

Love always and God bless,

Jen Bou Lahoud