ALS Warrior Jacob Harper’s EasyStand Standing Story
Join Altimate Medical and EasyStand in celebrating ALS Awareness Month with No White Flags: ALS Warrior Jacob Harper’s EasyStand Standing Story.
What is ALS?
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no cure for ALS yet. For more information about ALS, or to find out how you can help, visit the links below.
On March 16, 2022, Jacob was diagnosed with ALS at 23. Jacob, now 25 years old, is currently the youngest West Virginian living with ALS. His diagnosis is a very aggressive genetic version caused by a FUS gene mutation. The life expectancy of this ALS version is 1 to 3 years. In May of last year, he participated in a clinical trial at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. OSU is on the front lines of developing some incredible treatments which target these specific gene mutations.
Jacob remains an enthusiastic outdoorsman who enjoys activities such as off-roading, hunting, and spending time outside. Since being diagnosed with ALS, he finds solace in standing and being outside.
As the disease had progressed, Jacob began to lose the ability to stand and walk, at which point his community got together and he was gifted an EasyStand Evolv. The ability to stand with assistance from the Evolv has given Jacob some normalcy back in his life, while taking the pressure off his back and keep him moving. Giving him the freedom to be an ALS Warrior.
Altimate Medical and EasyStand do not endorse the use of the EasyStand Evolv outdoors, or on unlevel surfaces. Use of the Evolv in such manner is at the risk of the user.
Support Jacob Harper
For more information about TeamJacobWV and their upcoming Off-Road Benefit Ride, please visit the links below to check out their website and social media pages.
Chris Oats was just 20 years old when he suffered a stroke in May of 2020. He is a linebacker at the University of Kentucky where he was making a name for himself on and off the field. As a sophomore in 2019, Chris played in 12 games and had two starting assignments for the Wildcats. He ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 46, and he added 2.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble. He is majoring in community and leadership development, with plans to one day become a sports analyst. When asked to describe himself in three words for an article, Chris wrote “I’m kind-hearted, hardworking, and determined.” These words describe him perfectly. Chris is now using that work ethic and determination in his rehabilitation as he works to regain his strength and mobility.
With support from many doctors, nurses, family, friends, teammates, and the big Blue Nation, Chris is getting stronger every day! Because of his amazing support system, Chris and his family want to pay it forward to other families in similar situations who may not have the means necessary to help their loved ones. Chris lives in Cincinnati where he attended Winton Woods High School He is the son of Kem Gamble.
Standing up
After several months of attempting to acquire a stander through Chris’ therapy center, his mother Kemberly reached out to the University of Kentucky Medical Staff who then assisted Chris in the process of receiving a diagnosis, writing a prescription for a stander, and writing a letter of medical necessity. Once this was complete, they turned the letter in to his insurance, they were unfortunately hit with a denial and decided it was time to look at going down another route. This resulted in them going through other options and ultimately Chris ended up having a standing frame donated to him through a third party.
We recommend a product demonstration/trial prior to purchase which helps ensure the correct product, size and support/positioning components are selected. Fill out our contact form by clicking the button below today.
Don’t let your struggle be your identity -Wesley Hamilton
Who is Wesley Hamilton?
Wes was born and raised on the east side of Kansas City, MO, where it was difficult for a young African American male to find opportunity outside of the streets. At age 16, he had become too much for his mother to handle (a common lifestyle for kids in his neighborhood), and moved out on his own. At age 22, he became a father to his daughter, Nevaeh.
Two years later, at only 5-foot-4 and 230-pounds, Wes was non-athletic and vastly overweight. As a single father, working full-time, he had just won sole custody of his daughter. But only five days after his 24th birthday (January of 2012), everything changed dramatically. As he was walking back to his car, Wes was shot multiple times, with one bullet slicing through his chest and fracturing a rib. The other entered his abdomen, partially severing his spine, paralyzing him below the waist.
Wes knew he had to set an example for Nevaeh. He started a fitness and nutrition regiment, which was completely foreign to him. Wes learned everything he could about nutrition and developed excellent culinary skills. In that first year, Wes lost 100 pounds. He felt his transformation had the potential to help others and so he founded a non-profit called, Disabled But Not Really (DBNR).
Starting to Stand
Wesley’s first stander was gifted to him after he had begun standing consistently while attending out patient rehab which included standing as part of their physical therapy program. Once Wesley started implementing standing as part of his regular routine, he began to wonder how he could acquire a standing frame of his own.
After being told that he would be denied by insurance, he reached out to Easystand directly and asked how he could get a stander of his own. Wesley received his Glider, which resides in his gym space at Disabled But Not Really, located in Kansas City. Wesley provides an accessible gym space for other disabled athletes and encourages others to use the Glider.
We recommend a product demonstration/trial prior to purchase which helps ensure the correct product, size and support/positioning components are selected. Fill out our contact form by clicking the button below today.
It seemed like a typical day for Adaylia, but her life changed forever.
Adaylia was having a normal day, helping out building signs in the family garage, and seemly for no reason started having leg pain. After finishing in the garage, Adaylia went back inside and something strange happened. Within an hour, her legs went numb, losing all feeling and ability to move them.
No crash, no known compression, no fall, just a complete loss of feeling and movement. So, after going to the hospital, then being transported to the Mayo Clinic, and after a week or so of tests finally determining Adaylia had suffered a spinal stroke. A diagnosis of paraplegia. Adaylia and her entire family were shocked by the sudden change in her life.
Adaylia hasn’t let her injury control or define life.
“I really want to be able to do everything by myself. I can, but most of the days I have a lot of help throughout the day.”
– Adaylia on her goals
Independence
The goal of independence is something most people with a spinal cord injury strive for daily. Finding more or better ways to accomplish activities of daily living is ongoing. One way Adaylia has found independence and is through sports. Currently, Adaylia participates in adaptive dance, hockey, and skiing. Skiing is her favorite and something that she is looking forward to being able to do more of with experience and better equipment. Anyone can see the confidence and strength this young woman exudes as she lays out the steps she has already taken in her skiing career. From progressing beyond side frames (which take some people up to two years) in a single day to preparing to use a single ski in the upcoming year, she is excited and ready to take on whatever is next in her skiing career.
Another way Adaylia has found independence is through standing.
“I can tell that it really stretches my legs throughout the day because they get really stiff and stuff. I just really like being in it.”
Adaylia uses her standing time in the EasyStand Evolv as a way to get up off of her butt, break up the day, and do things that she loves to do. Some of the activities that she enjoys doing in the stander include playing video games, board games with her family and friends, drawing, and doing her schoolwork.
She says she really enjoys her time in the Evolv because it is more convenient to do those tasks, easier to talk to people face to face, and helps with some back issues.
“I really like using the tray a lot because I like the way it can tilt different ways. If I’m playing games with the family, I can tilt it down so they can see better but if I’m drawing, I like to tilt it up and it’s got a big enough workspace for big journals and for me to hold all of my stuff.”
– Adaylia on using the tray
Working Toward Her Goals
Through standing and being competitive in sports, Adaylia has started to find her independence and continues to move toward that goal. Whether it be on the ski hill or drawing an Australian Shepard on the tray of the EasyStand Evolv, Adaylia will impress you with her skill and ambition as she works toward her new normal.
Request a Free Product Demonstration Today!
We recommend a product demonstration/trial prior to purchase which helps ensure the correct product, size and support/positioning components are selected. Fill out our contact form by clicking the button below today.
A conversation with the Wheel Talks Guys: Sonny Kaesbauer and Marty O’Connor
By Dane Gillespie
Dane: How do you think your own personal experiences have shaped the goals and values of your podcast?
Watch the Latest Wheel Talks Podcast: We Tested Positive
Marty:Man I think they go hand in hand. Because the podcast is just us communicating our life experiences. We aren’t just Bringing on topics just to talk about them because people want to hear them. These are things that mean something to us. You know, just this last week we talked about the top 5 causes for us to become independent. You know, these are things that as we go through life and as we have different experiences; we get to realign and we get to see things differently. We get to hit goals; and then set higher goals for ourselves. Because we are continuing to grow.
I think Wheel Talks transcends demographics.
– Marty O’Connor
Watch the Live Wheel Talks Podcast from LA Convention in their standers!
Marty cont. I think, going back to wheel talks, it transcends demographics. I don’t think you need to be a person in a wheelchair or a person with a disability to resonate with the experiences that we are going through. And I think our topics while some are disability centric, I think the messaging and everything behind it communicates to a broader community. The goal is to empower, entertain and always keep it wheel. It’s not just for spinal cord injury people or people with disabilities, it’s for the masses, and I know that we can do that. As we grow, so will our ability to impact others.
The thing about us is that we have a lot of Credibility. We have been through the struggles and we have found our way out of it.
– Sonny Kaesbauer
Sonny:The thing about us is that we have been through the struggle, and we are finding ways out of it. So our stories that we are telling; they are not forced, they are not fake. And, without the cameras, without the social media, if you were to hangout with us everyday; you would see the same person that you see in front of the camera and that is the most important thing that we want to get across. We also want to talk about things that are tough to talk about, but do it our way. Which is a sense of lightness and humor. We want to have fun with it even though a lot of the things we talk about are serious, but we just want to kind of get that out there and help people along the way, you know? We want to be a vessel, be a way to help.
Best of Wheel Talks
Wheel Chair Life: Pros and Cons In this episode, Marty and Sonny discuss the perks and drawbacks of being in a wheelchair. Did we miss anything?? Let us know! Oh, and by the way, do not take their parking spot!
Relationships + Online Dating On episode three, Marty and Sonny discuss their experiences with dating post injury. The good, the bad, and the ugly. They also go through the do’s and don’ts of online dating, so buckle up and take notes!
Modular design makes the EasyStand Evolv the most versatile standing frame available. The Evolv is a modular sit to stand stander with over 60 support and positioning components. The base unit is functional for many users, however when more support is needed a wide variety of positioning components can be added to accommodate the most involved users.
Active standing provides lower body range of motion and upper body strengthening. Unlike passive standers, users move the handles with their arms (or a caregiver can assist) which creates a reciprocal movement in the legs. The full range seat has hinged, break-away sections for each leg that allow full leg extension while standing. This advanced stander enhances the medical benefits of standing and keeps the body in shape for medical breakthroughs. Numerous research studies suggest that use of an active standing frame can positively affect an individual’s health.
Request a Free Product Demonstration Today!
We recommend a product demonstration/trial prior to purchase which helps ensure the correct product, size and support/positioning components are selected. Fill out our contact form by clicking the button below today.