As an airborne sergeant for the Army throughout the 1980s, Jose Lopez-Rivera’s responsibilities were to educate young recruits just how to securely repel out of a helicopter.
Training involves a strenuous and also multi-phase process for those who are not faint of heart. For many who stand in the open door of an in-flight helicopter, it’s an eye-opening experience. As you look down for the first time repelling to the ground, you’re dominating you own anxieties.
Rivera aided many to safely overcome the task. What was to become his last and final obligation, finished with tragedy. After he saw his whole staff repel to the ground, the helicopter momentarily rose to a risky height. Seconds later, Rivera landed to the ground with life-altering injuries.
He shattered his left leg and fractured his spinal column, and some stated that he might never regain use his leg. It took 6 arduous months in a military rehab hospital to walk again, yet he was not able to go back to duty. He received medical disability, which meant he could not work.
As an award-winning soldier, he had many medals that provided him distinction. He was equally happy to adhere to in his father’s military career. When he came to recognize that he couldn’t live out his life in the military because of injury, he looked to family members for assistance. His own father built an entire career as a soldier and Rivera’s heritage was hard to leave.
His saving grace was his wife and also three kids as well as dedication to family is extremely important to him. Rivera eventually relocated to Florida to bring support to his aging mother. Being a father and also son brought him happiness and life went on.
Rivera’s life was to take another fall. Months back, he lost his left leg and it’s an injury that he does not like to discuss.
He again had to muster the grit of a soldier and find out exactly how to walk once more. Even with all he’s been through, he says he feels fortunate to find rehabilitation much more fulfilling than he thought possible.
Rivera remembers his previous rehabilitation in the army and says that today’s methods are much better. “I am not treated like a rank and serial number, I am being offered respect as well as self-respect,” he says.
” These professionals are here to support me and to ensure that I am well prepared to get back on my feet,” says Rivera. He talks about being fitted with a temporary prosthesis and learning 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 give patients a much easier time with walking. The physical therapist says the treadmill is important due to the fact that it can make walking more comfortable, bring the patient self-confidence and speed the recovery process.
Geoff Fraser says, our therapists report that before the AlterG, patients had to gain walking self-confidence while utilizing the parallel bars. That learning process can be tedious for some patients. The AlterG gives them hope because they can get back to walking at a much faster speed than conventional therapy.
Using AlterG, “Patients can attain a lowered requirement for walking aids and enhance their number of steps on our treadmill.”
” Right now, we’re just making sure that Jose is happy with his outcomes, getting stronger as well as adjusting to his therapy.”
Rivera is making good progress as an inpatient and is eagerly anticipating achieving his goals as well as return home to his family members.
” Our rehab family is proud to get Jose where he wants to be,” says Fraser.
Geoff Fraser is Partner at Clear Choice Health Care in Melbourne FL
