January 1, 2024
I Didn't Realize What I Was Missing.
Sometimes tunnel vision can keep you from seeing the equivalence of what you have lost.
When I was earlier in my recovery my focus on basic independence and mobility was steered by the people around me that were therapists, peers and social media personalities. The obvious things were brought to my attention like power wheelchairs, return to driving, public transportation or mobility devices covered by insurance. I thought I had found the best tools for independence that would work with my abilities.
This past summer I was exposed to a different type of mobility device that basically turned my wheelchair into my commuter bicycle. This is not a new mobility device in the industry, it is just something that did not get recommended by people in my circles, therefore it was in my "blind spot". I was fortunate enough to borrow one from the University of Montana's Rural Institute For Inclusive Communities. This device, known as the Firefly 2.5, could quickly clip on to the front of my wheelchair and turn my wheelchair into 3 wheeled, 12 mph scooter!
Here is a quick video of me utilizing the firefly this summer. As you can see this is a similar wheelchair attachment, but not as capable.
Over the past 5 years, much of my focus was returning to recreation through mountain biking, hunting, fishing or adaptive exercise. Because these were the activities that used to bring me the most joy, I overlooked something that had intertwined joy into my activities of daily living.
Living in Missoula, I had designed my life around using a bicycle for daily transportation. I used to ride everywhere I possibly could, even in inclement weather. I had studded winter tires, waterproof saddlebags, shoe covers, and many other necessary commuter lifestyle accessories. It was part of the reason why I fell in love with living in Missoula. Needless to say, my first ride on the bike path this summer brought all these memories rushing back.
It brought tears to my eyes.
Having this mode of transportation back changed my life this summer. It brought me so much joy to be able to quickly jump on a bike path or bike lane in Missoula to go to a friend's house, Ace Hardware, or the grocery store. This has been absent from my life for the past 5 years and I didn't even realize I had been missing it.
I love not having to be in traffic or finding a parking spot. I love not having to put fuel in my van.
Because of the extended range it allowed me to explore, I was able to take my dog Bodhi on trails along the creek where we had walked so many times prior to my injury. He was able to cool himself in the water while I sat in the shade of the cottonwood trees listening to the peaceful creek trickle by. It brought me so much solitude through some very trying times this past year.
5 months and 200 miles later, I had to return the Firefly to the University. I realized I had been dreading this day. Thus, I decided I must find a way to acquire my own. Unfortunately, everything needed to survive in this injury, is about 20 times more expensive than the old way. This includes the simple two wheeled bicycle I use to commute around town on.
I hope this finds you well. I hope I continue to instill confidence about an uncertain world. I hope that someday I'm able to afford things that I see as basic to leading a fulfilling and quality life.
Until then, I'm asking for your help to purchase the mobility device that I need to bring back independent, joyful, eco-friendly daily commuting. This device is called the Batec Scrambler 2 and costs $13,000. This is the most capable and safest for somebody with quadriplegia.
December 10, 2023
Here is a quick video from my time with the Firefly this past summer:
December 7, 2023
Fall 2021:
It is time to start skiing again.
I Need Your Help.
After three years of living without skiing in my life during the winter, I realized how much I miss the camaraderie of the slopes and the challenge of winter skiing. I would like to bring joy back to my winters!
The problem is, I have a steep learning curve and high equipment and learning expenses. Like learning to ski on my feet, learning to ski on a sit-Ski is just as difficult. Moreover, to learn, I need to have a minimum of one instructor with me at all times forcing me to utilize Adaptive Skiing lessons. My goal is to ski 20 to 30 days this first season so that I am able to be independent skiing down an intermediate run by the seasons end.
I am raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund expenses and adaptive equipment related to living with a spinal cord injury
What the money will help with:
Adaptive sit-ski equipment- $7500
Adaptive sit-ski lessons- $200 to $300 per day
Adaptive Ski specific personal training - $75/hr
Travel expenses to and from adaptive ski lessons
How did I get here:
On Tuesday, September 18th, 2018 I was seriously injured doing three things I loved; being outside, working with my hands, and being self-employed.
While working on a forestry project near Condon, MT, an accident left me with broken C6 and C7 vertebrae. With the help of my work partners, first responders got me out of the woods safely so I could be life-flighted to Missoula. Emergency spinal fusion surgery was performed within hours of the accident at St. Pat's hospital in Missoula.
I was transferred a week later to Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO for inpatient rehabilitation where I worked hard for 3 months, and learned how to survive with my new body. I continued working towards my independence and recovery at Craig hospital for the next year as an outpatient, all the while thinking about how I was going to enjoy outdoor recreation again.
I had a great team of therapeutic recreation specialists along the way that taught me there are many ways to recreate outdoors even though it would look different. I was able to sample Adaptive handcycles, Skis, shooting, hockey, and kayaking that left me very encouraged and excited about the quest to return to outdoor recreation.
I have since acquired my own Off-road handcycle and adapted kayak. I have returned to hunting successfully over the past three seasons, including harvesting a bull elk in the fall of 2021. I returned to work in the spring of 2020 as an independent engineering consultant. I even returned to working in Forest restoration in 2021 by operating heavy machinery.
Without winter time sports I have found myself to fall into depressive habits of old and I would like to find an outlet for the season. I used to ski as many days as I could in the winter, with some seasons close to 70 days. I used to get excited about snowfall. Now I find myself loathing its arrival.
Please help me to find joy with the falling of snowflakes again by contributing to this campaign
January 1, 2022
The first day of a new year. It always is just another day, even though the calendar signifies starting over. The shortest day has just passed us and the sun begins its return to its dominance of the day.
This new year was not much different than the previous three if it wasn’t for the happy surprise I found when I checked on the campaign today. Thank you to all who gave. You are all very amazing people and I will not let you down. Plans are getting solidified for my lessons coming up in February and March.
I had an ambitious goal to originally try and ski five days in December and January, and because of that I learned a valuable lesson. My first lesson at Breckenridge was December 14, definitely early season conditions. Man-made snow, limited runs, holiday crowds.
With the help with my partner Maggie, I got up at 4 AM, dressed in all my ski gear and drove the dreaded I 70 Corridor up to Summit County, Colorado. I chose to apply for scholarship from the Breckenridge outdoor education center, known as BOEC, because it was closest to where I stay in Aurora Colorado. It is still full 2 hour drive from home and that doesn’t include stops and parking. The drive went smoothly and volunteers met me in the parking lot to help me get to the ski school with my gear. We got fitted into the monoski with handheld outriggers as my instructor felt confident he could control and teach me.
Unfortunately, The instructor overlooked my capabilities in his choice of teaching style and I was lacking the skill/Strength needed to be successful. I had a lot of falls on some very icy, hard snow that caused me to hit my head and shoulders in ways that are not comfortable. I left the lesson early and was very disheartened. Luckily, I was not injured badly and I have fully recovered since.
Thankfully, this experience taught me some valuable lessons. One is that my shoulders are too valuable to my day-to-day living to risk injury. Next, I need to ensure I advocate for my learning and safety with all of the equipment and instruction that I am getting. The third and final lesson, was That I need to make sure conditions are ideal for learning in this early stage so that I avoid injury as well as discouraging lessons. So, I am waiting until February to resume lessons as I will have my own ski and the snow will be much softer, natural snow.
All of this means is that I will have to do more skiing in March and into April. That time of year offers great conditions for learning. I still have plenty of time to achieve my 20 day goal for the season and with the continued support from all of you I will get there.
With gratitude and love,
Mike
December 1, 2021
December 1, 2021:
Giving Tuesday has come and gone, and thanks to the efforts of Greg Seitz and myself we managed to come up with $1900 in donations!!
Here’s the latest: I have scheduled lessons with Breckenridge outdoor education center for sit skiing lessons the week of December 20. I plan to do five days of lessons before the new year, and I’m hoping I will be able to take delivery on my very own monoski before Christmas.
A big thanks to Greg, Claire Vittucci, Michael Faris, Damien and Rachel Kremins, Will Edwards, Pat and Libby Hooper, Caleb and Danielle Senn, and Whitney Schwab for leading the giving!
