Melissa Anaya

On March 11, 2014, my life changed in a way that I would have never imagined.

On that day, I was involved in a single car accident that fractured my spinal column, leaving my spinal cord severely injured. I was diagnosed as a T4 Complete Spinal Cord Injury, which means I cannot feel or move below my chest.

I assumed the hospital stay would be tough, but thought that I would eventually walk out… literally walk out, and exercise my way back to health. I had no idea what it meant to have a Spinal Cord Injury. The moment the hospital staff first told me I would not walk again, I didn’t know what to say. I just kept looking at my mom for her to tell me it was going to be okay. I refused to believe what they were saying. Luckily, I had my family and friends to lean on, whether it was there at the hospital, by text, on Facebook, or in prayer.

My family did research on physical therapy centers, and a family friend informed us about Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose. They have an entire floor dedicated to spinal cord injury patients. The hospital staff pushed me for six weeks to complete my THREE hours of therapy a day, lift weights, swim, do wheelies, participate in par course to do laps in the hospital, attend educational classes, and so many other things. Leaving the hospital was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Not only was I leaving my friends (the doctors, nurses, fellow patients), but I was leaving a place that was equipped with all I needed to train, exercise, learn and cope with my injury.

In January 2015, I was fortunate enough to have been accepted for a month long stem cell treatment in Central America. “The adult stem cells used to treat spinal cord injuries at the Stem Cell Institute come from two sources: the patient’s own bone marrow (autologous mesenchymal and CD34+) and human umbilical cord tissue(allogeneic mesenchymal).”
Before I received the treatment, I was considered a “complete” injury, meaning no feeling or movement below my level of injury at T4. However, just a few days before returning home to the US, I was able to contract my upper abdominal muscles! A few months after the treatment, my doctor told me I was now an “incomplete” injury because of my movement and sensation I had regained below my level of injury.

My family realized that we needed to return for another round of stem cells as soon as we could afford it. In February 2016, I was able to return to Central America for a two week treatment. Since then, I am able to contract my abdominal muscles, engage my obliques, and I gained sensation on my entire left side. For example, I can feel light touch or even the wind blowing on my left leg!

I was recommended to return for a third treatment and I can’t wait to see its benefits! However, I can’t simply rely on stem cells to regain sensation or movement. I have to work hard during my physical therapy sessions at Break the Barriers, as well as maintain a healthy diet. Without putting in work at the gym and therapy, I would not have been able to regain what I have.

Relearning how to walk is one of the hardest things I have ever done. For now, I walk completely assisted. There is no doubt in my mind that I will one day walk again. My heart is so full knowing that I have the support of my family and friends.

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.”
–Thomas Lasorda

You can follow Melissa’s progress through her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Melissasjourneytowalk

Thank you for your support!