Davion's Journey to walk again
Donation protected
Davion Resal is my cousin. He’s 25 years-old and is a paraplegic – paralyzed from the waist. I’m raising money on his behalf to receive stem cell treatment in Panama (not fetal stem cells), which is currently not available in Canada.
On November 2, 2013 he was at work – just another day he thought back then. Not so. Davion was one of three workers travelling in an ATV, when it overturned. In those horrifying moments, pinned under the vehicle, he recalled not being able to move or feel his legs. After in-patient stays at Ottawa Civic Hospital for 3 weeks a 12 hour surgery, and 4 months at the Toronto Rehab-Lyndhurst Centre. Davion was discharged in the care of his parents, unable to walk or attend to his personal needs, wearing back braces and in a wheelchair. The prognosis – he had sustained spinal cord injury at the L1 vertebrae and may never walk again. He would be wheelchair bound for the rest of his life, the doctors said.
Dealing with this news has not been easy, but Davion is resilient and not one to give up. In the spring of 2014, Davion began his long journey of rehabilitation at Aim2Walk. For the past 11 months, I have seen my cousin push himself to the limit physically, psychologically and emotionally. He has good days and bad days, but continues to surprise our family on a regular basis with his progress and stamina. He has gained some mobility and function of his legs. He has re-learned how to crawl also, stand and walk for very short periods of time with assistance.
You can view Davion’s progress at rehabilitation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFsihuS5sqw (Davion’s first time on the Lokomat simulating walking – March 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aItmQEXsm_4 (Davion learns to crawl before he can walk – April 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9jg8hBpo4M (Davion uses a walker – January 2015)
Due to regulations in Canada, the medical profession has said there is not much more they can do for his rehabilitation. Davion is covered under Workers Compensation, but coverage does not included out-of-country treatment and his physiotherapy, rehabilitation specialists, transportation and related benefits are scheduled to expire in December this year.
Davion now has the opportunity to seek further treatment at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama. The treatment is experimental and nothing is guaranteed, but you can understand Davion’s desire to walk again, regain other functionality and not wanting to leave any stones unturned in this quest for full independence. As a family we stand united behind him. The stem cell treatment will use Davion’s own bone marrow and human umbilical cord tissue donated by mothers after normal, healthy births. You can learn more about the Stem Cell Institute and the work they’re doing at www.cellmedicine.com
The treatment will cost US$40,000 and runs over four weeks from January 4 – February 8, 2016. In addition to this cost, Davion, who will be accompanied by his Mom, will be faced with the following expenses:
•Hotel accommodation and meals
•Airfare and transportation
•Rental of personal mechanical devices (assistive)
•Registered nurse for personal care
•Personal care supplies and other incidentals
I have decided to reach out to family, friends and the public to help Davion continue his path of rehabilitation. Davion is too private to ask anyone for help himself, but if you knew him and loved him like I do, you would know he is worth helping.
Any amount will help and be greatly appreciated.
Thank-you.
Carol
On November 2, 2013 he was at work – just another day he thought back then. Not so. Davion was one of three workers travelling in an ATV, when it overturned. In those horrifying moments, pinned under the vehicle, he recalled not being able to move or feel his legs. After in-patient stays at Ottawa Civic Hospital for 3 weeks a 12 hour surgery, and 4 months at the Toronto Rehab-Lyndhurst Centre. Davion was discharged in the care of his parents, unable to walk or attend to his personal needs, wearing back braces and in a wheelchair. The prognosis – he had sustained spinal cord injury at the L1 vertebrae and may never walk again. He would be wheelchair bound for the rest of his life, the doctors said.
Dealing with this news has not been easy, but Davion is resilient and not one to give up. In the spring of 2014, Davion began his long journey of rehabilitation at Aim2Walk. For the past 11 months, I have seen my cousin push himself to the limit physically, psychologically and emotionally. He has good days and bad days, but continues to surprise our family on a regular basis with his progress and stamina. He has gained some mobility and function of his legs. He has re-learned how to crawl also, stand and walk for very short periods of time with assistance.
You can view Davion’s progress at rehabilitation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFsihuS5sqw (Davion’s first time on the Lokomat simulating walking – March 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aItmQEXsm_4 (Davion learns to crawl before he can walk – April 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9jg8hBpo4M (Davion uses a walker – January 2015)
Due to regulations in Canada, the medical profession has said there is not much more they can do for his rehabilitation. Davion is covered under Workers Compensation, but coverage does not included out-of-country treatment and his physiotherapy, rehabilitation specialists, transportation and related benefits are scheduled to expire in December this year.
Davion now has the opportunity to seek further treatment at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama. The treatment is experimental and nothing is guaranteed, but you can understand Davion’s desire to walk again, regain other functionality and not wanting to leave any stones unturned in this quest for full independence. As a family we stand united behind him. The stem cell treatment will use Davion’s own bone marrow and human umbilical cord tissue donated by mothers after normal, healthy births. You can learn more about the Stem Cell Institute and the work they’re doing at www.cellmedicine.com
The treatment will cost US$40,000 and runs over four weeks from January 4 – February 8, 2016. In addition to this cost, Davion, who will be accompanied by his Mom, will be faced with the following expenses:
•Hotel accommodation and meals
•Airfare and transportation
•Rental of personal mechanical devices (assistive)
•Registered nurse for personal care
•Personal care supplies and other incidentals
I have decided to reach out to family, friends and the public to help Davion continue his path of rehabilitation. Davion is too private to ask anyone for help himself, but if you knew him and loved him like I do, you would know he is worth helping.
Any amount will help and be greatly appreciated.
Thank-you.
Carol
Organiser
Carol Vickers
Organiser
Halifax, NS
