Project to Help Marina Walk Again

Marina Theron is a 19 year old girl from Palmerston North, New Zealand. In December 2013 when diving into a swimming pool, she sustained a C5 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) which resulted in her becoming Tetraplegic. The initial diagnosis during her 9 month hospital stay in Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch was C 5 AIS A ( completely paralysed with a medical prognosis of almost no chance to walk again). We thank God for the miracle that was described as a “game changer” when she experienced a slight flicker in one muscle, ultimately changing her neurology diagnosis to C6 AIS C (incomplete with a 40% chance to walk again).

She has now done three years of dedicated rehabilitation, making use of Functional Electrical Stimulation treatment to preserve and re-activate her muscles, combined with an intensive activity based rehabilitation program with the help of physio’s and therapists at home and four stints of treatment at a rehabilitation centre abroad that provided Locomotive Training (LT). This involved weight bearing exercise treatment with the use of Body Weight Support Treadmill Training (BWSTT). She has now regained the ability to walk a few meters at a time with the assistance of a pick-up-frame. Marina is determined to recover and is putting her very best efforts in to get walking again.

Still a long way off from functional walking, but the potential is there to develop. We are raising funds to give Marina the chance to attend the PARALYSIS RECOVERY PROGRAM offered at PROJECT WALK in the USA. (http://www.projectwalk.com/). Traditionally spinal cord injury rehabilitation focused on compensation for lost function, but with this world-renowned activity-based recovery program, the experience is that the human nervous system could reorganize and improve function below the level of injury.