One man's challenge
What do you do when
the unthinkable happens? !
If you're Michael Miner
you learn to adapt
Miner 36 will always
remember July 10, 1990
That was the day he broke
his neck in a boating acci
dent On Pyramid Lake
near Reno, Nr'v paraly?
mq himself from the
shoulders down
For someone 6 feet 4
inches tall, 230 pounds, and very active in snow skiing
and boating, paralysis came a' a hammer blow He
spent a month in the intensive care unit, undergoing
three operations He went through crisis alter < risis
once receiving 11 pints of blood alter a stress ulcer in
his stomach ruptured
A chartered flight took him to Sacred Heart Hospital
in Eugene where the more difficult part of his recov
ery began three months of learning how to adapt
Now less than a year alter his it iderit, Mima is a
true sum ess story
I'm doing OK Miner • aid I m upset bei ause I'm
not up and walking Realisti ally. I ks that s a long
way oft. but I'm not going to guit try mg
After eight month:, of three-times a week physical
therapy at Sacred Heart Miner has made remarkable
progress He s regained the use of his aims though
his hands still haven't reached full mobility The mu:,
ties in his back and along his ' rise are starting to firm
up, giving Miner a measure of control above the waist
Don Douglas his physical there} ist said Miner is
an easy patient to work with
A lot of people in his position < an t problem solve
ways to move their bodies Douglas said He can
I or someone his si/e, tie s S ang well At this point it s
easy on me be< ause he • lomg most of the work
though grueling. Miner said he looks forward to tus
physical therapy sessions be' ause it s all going to
ward recovery
I've already accepted the position I m in but I don t
CDs and TAPES
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dwell on it Miner said Recovery is frustrating when
there are interruptions, like when I hurt my shoulder or
get sick 'There are certain things I can t do right now
but I won't be denied
The frustrations come in many forms On May 6 his
insurance company informed him it was cutting off his
attendant aide care which pays for having an atten
dant in his home four hours a day. six days a week
Miner depends on his attendant to help him out
around the house so he promptly got on the phone
and after haggling with the insurance company, got
himself another 130 days ot attendant care a little
more than four months worth.
But Miner doesn't let the distractions interrupt his
therapy
(Miner) doesn t sit there and say I'm going to walk
and not work, Douglas said It's his personality
He's always pushing himself
No one knows your body like yourself. Miner saiu
I'll never say die
He credits most of his recovery and his upbeat state
nl mind to his family He and his wife ot four years.
Ruth have two young t hildren Kyle and Kailey. and
live 20 miles out of Eugene on five acres near Fern
Ridge Reservoir
My family was the only thing that kept me alive.
Miner said Its everything Without them Id still
work hard on my PT, but I'd have a different frame of
mind They are my strength
Miner ailinit* having young i hildmn ami living tar
out of town does present problems, but he has found
ways to get around the limitations j
I II fight to keep my marriage he said I m not go
ing to let my condition ruin the love I have for my farm
iy
I try I p< I as much time as [ with my
kids. Miner added I don't want my kids to see me
give up
As for giving advice to people who find themselves
paralyzed. Miner had )ust a few simple words
Don t ever give up Always hope because you just
never know how long it will take ot what it will take to
get there
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uv/'.' Iran f ; far h'tt Miner tries to spend three afternoons at a
specially adapted gym at the YMCA. "so that I'll be healthy when I walk
again ." . ' etn Therapist Don Douglas uses a model spine to help de
fine the rehabilitation ot Miner's lower back and hip (topi Part of the
therapy process involves the development of wheelchair skills to so that
he can get around city streets Douglas stands ready in case a wheelie
goes too tar .'-.'it With a cry ot "I'll race you,' Miner tries to beat the
children's dune buggy up the driveway as wife Ruth looks on. ifar left)
Miner takes as active a role as possible in domestic affairs, here tending
to Kyle's cut linger while answering the telephone
Story by
Don Peters
Photos by
Andre Ranieri
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