As an airborne sergeant for the Army throughout the 1980s, Jose Lopez-Rivera’s duties were to train young recruits exactly how to safely repel out of a helicopter.
Training involves a strenuous and multi-phase process for those that are not faint of heart. For many who stand in the open door of an in-flight helicopter, it’s a mind-blowing experience. As you look down for the very first time repelling to the ground, you’re conquering you very own anxieties.
Rivera assisted many to safely conquer the task. What was to become his last and also final duty, finished with disaster. After he saw his whole crew repel to the ground, the helicopter temporarily rose to a hazardous height. Seconds later on, Rivera landed to the ground with life-altering injuries.
He smashed his left leg and also fractured his back, as well as some claimed that he could never ever gain back use his leg. It took 6 intense months in an army rehab hospital to walk once again, yet he was unable to return to duty. He received medical disability, which meant he couldn’t work.
As an award-winning soldier, he had many medals that gave him distinction. He was equally proud to follow in his father’s military career. When he came to realize that he could not endure his life in the army due to injury, he counted on family members for assistance. His very own father built a whole career as a soldier and Rivera’s heritage was hard to leave.
His saving grace was his wife as well as 3 children as well as commitment to family members is vital to him. Rivera eventually relocated to Florida to bring support to his aging mother. Being a father and son brought him happiness as well as life went on.
Rivera’s life was to take one more fall. Months ago, he lost his left leg and it’s an injury that he does not like to talk about.
He once more had to muster the grit of a soldier and also find out how to walk again. Even with all he’s been through, he says he really feels privileged to find rehabilitation a lot more rewarding than he thought possible.
Rivera recalls his previous rehab in the army and says that today’s methods are much better. “I am not treated like a rank and serial number, I am being offered regard and self-respect,” he says.
” These professionals are here to support me and also to guarantee that I am well prepared to get back on my feet,” says Rivera. He talks about being fitted with a temporary prosthesis and learning exactly how to walk on a specialized treadmill.
His Physical Therapist explains that Jose is making use of the AlterG treadmill for his rehabilitation. The AlterG is a device that can take away 80% of body weight and also offer patients a much easier time with walking. The physical therapist says the treadmill is essential because it can make walking more comfortable, bring the patient confidence and also speed the healing process.
Geoff Fraser says, our therapists report that prior to the AlterG, patients had to gain walking self-confidence while using the parallel bars. That learning procedure can be tiresome for some patients. The AlterG gives them hope because they can get back to walking at a much faster rate than basic therapy.
Using AlterG, “Patients can accomplish a lowered demand for walking aids as well as enhance their number of steps on our treadmill.”
” Right now, we’re just ensuring that Jose is happy with his results, getting more powerful and adapting to his treatment.”
Rivera is making good progress as an inpatient and is eagerly anticipating accomplishing his goals as well as get back home to his family members.
” Our rehabilitation family is proud to get Jose where he wants to be,” says Fraser.
Geoff Fraser is Partner at Clear Choice Health Care in Melbourne FL
