Spinal Cord Injury Case Study

Spinal cord injuries are a major health concern. In the United States, around 200,000 people struggle with the day-to-day difficulties associated with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The most common causes of these injuries are motor vehicle crashes, falls, violence, and sports. My client had a tragic diving accident that lead to almost complete tetraplegia (quadriplegia). His senior year of high school, he was fishing with friends in a boat on the Ross-Barnette Reservoir when he dropped his wallet into the water. He dove over the edge of the boat, unaware that the water was too shallow to dive into. He hit his head and neck on the bottom, and this caused his spinal cord injury.
My client has total sensory and motor paralysis from the middle of the shoulders-down. This has caused complete loss of bowel and bladder control which requires him to have a suprapubic catheter and a colostomy. He has minimal control of his upper extremities and fingers, so he can use a motorized wheelchair with a toggle that allows him to control it. My client has a very optimistic outlook on life and does the most that he can. He stated struggling with depression in the early years following his injury, but now he handles life very well. He is still functional in the community and able to continue working for the
My client currently uses Mississippi Public Transit to get to and from work. They have a bus with a lift that allows him to carry his motorized wheelchair. He denied use of any support groups or therapy. He does have a sitter who helps him with eating, management of his colostomy and catheter, and other daily activities. His brother also recently moved in with him to help at