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Help Me Walk Again

  • Where is the money going? Therapy update

      28 August 2017
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    Hi everyone! As some of you know already, I have been very, very busy the last few weeks – I have started doing some new therapies which I am really excited about.

    In addition to the physio I receive through ACC, with your donations I am funding two private physiotherapies; Neurophysics and Neurophysiotherapy.

    I go to Neurophysics three times a week, where the focus is on sensation and what feedback I am getting from my paralysed body parts – particularly the feet. The belief is that once sensation is regained in the muscle, voluntary and controlled muscle movement will come back quickly and naturally. I am really enjoying this, it is making me much more aware of my body and my abilities, and I'm noticing improvement particularly in my sitting posture and balance.

    Neurophysiotherapy is great, she is very enthusiastic about doing work with my lower limbs (which is something we have struggled to find in a physio until now)! Doing this physio has given me access to lots of cool equipment, including the Rex Bionics Exoskeleton in the picture. When I am in this exoskeleton, I am able to passively walk forwards, backwards, do lunges and squats, sidesteps, and even stand up and sit down the way the normal body would. I'm so lucky to be able to access this, she said I am the 15th person to be in it which is incredible for me, but also eye-opening as it shows how little others are accessing this type of rehab, whether it is because of lack of funding or lack of education.

    I cannot reinforce enough how grateful I am for all of the donations and donators, as well as people who have given me advice on where to access these additional therapies. It is also a blessing to be based in Auckland, where there is so much available. Between Neurophysics, Neurophysiotherapy, physio, and the gym, I am keeping very busy and taking advantage of all that is there for me!

    Thank you endlessly for your support, it means the world to me and it is making a huge difference xx

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  • Links

      10 May 2017
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    For everyone overseas, or who simply did not see the articles done on me, I have linked them below !

    NewsHub

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/01/teen-left-tetraplegic-after-horse-accident-determined-to-walk-again.html

    Stuff.co.nz – Rehab is not enough

    http://i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/inspire-me/88690407/rehab-is-not-enough-for-trainee-nelson-jockeyturnedtetraplegic

    Stuff.co.nz – Nelson College for Girls fundraiser

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/88750902/nelson-college-for-girls-rally-for-sophia-malthus?cid=facebook.post.88750902

    NZ Herald

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=11788014

    ExclusivelyYours – Equestrian online store which is kindly donating 10% of all proceeds of sales to my cause

    https://www.exclusivelyyours2016.com/sophia-malthus

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    I am so excited to be going home on Monday, just five more sleeps left! It will be a huge change but I cannot wait to be back with my parents, and ultimately to move away from the hospital/rehabilitation environment.

    Although my life will not be how it was before my accident, I am enthused to start my new life as a tetraplegic while being active in the community again.

    Thank you for all of the support! Xxx

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  • Update: Thailand

      21 March 2017
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    I have just been accepted into a spinal-cord clinic in Thailand, where I will receive stem cells and have an epidural stimulater surgically inserted into my lower back, which will be followed up by intense physiotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, aquatherapy, and acupuncture amongst others. I will be in Bangkok for 40 days, where they expect to have me standing by the time I leave. I am absolutely thrilled to be able to tell you what your money is going towards, and what any further fundraising will be going towards. I hope you can share my excitement in seeing where this journey will take me- I hope I will not disappoint!

    Sophia xxx

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