Beating the Odds
There were several candidates the Board of Directors of Wheel Me On... started a painful process of elimination to select one individual for a wheelchair give-a-way that included two products provided by Wheel Me On... Sponsors.
Narrowed down to the two last people, a young man who recently became a quadriplegic was selected to receive both of them. Our sincere appreciation is extended to our Sponsors and to several other Contributors in helping to keep the wheels turning.
Julia Hollenbeck
George Dylan Brown
You are the eldest son in your family, now 22 years old, attending college in Kilgore, a small city in East Texas, and looking forward to graduation. During a quiet evening, on the 20th of January, you are visiting friends in Nacogdoches, before heading back to the college dorm. Driving along a two-lane highway, a deer suddenly leaps out onto the road, and proceeds to run across it. Instinct causes you to turn the steering wheel to avoid hitting the deer. The car you are driving hits an embankment and flips over. Miraculously, your passenger escapes with little to no injuries, and you somehow manage to roll yourself out of the vehicle, then, discover you cannot move.
The rest is a blur. What you know is only because you were told, and moments remembering being taken by ambulance to a hospital in Nacogdoches, Texas. Your parents are contacted and your mother immediately arranges to leave home, nearly a thousand miles away, to be at your side. She arrives to see you struggling for life. Four days later, following your first surgery, you are placed on a respirator in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), unable to move, barely able to breath. Nine days after the accident, arrangements are made for a life-flight to ICU at Shepherd Center, Atlanta, Georgia, with a C6/7 injury causing quadriplegic status from a broken neck.
Recovery is slow and difficult, but you showed only a short period of time, on only a single day, when you hit a low point in the beginning, and for the next five months, you continued to advance in emotional strength, with a can-do attitude. So much so, that in fact, you were wearing your mother to a frazzle trying to keep up with you. This is the story of George Dylan Brown.
Karen Nelson, the mother of Dylan, left her two younger children home and her husband, Larry, suddenly became "Mr. Mom". Karen, a physical therapist assistant, never thought this would actually happen to one of her children, yet like most mothers, she worried about it possibly happening anyway. The reality was it did, and the truth of the matter, was that there was a lot of planning and knowledge she needed, in order to accommodate her son's new life regardless of her profession.
While Dylan was making progress with therapy sessions, Karen was making telephone calls, and using the Internet as a means of obtaining more information. She was also attending classes to learn how to care for her son, serving as his 24-hour Personal Care Attendant (PCA). She had already been receiving email from the Tennessee Coalition, which is typically sent several times a month, with forwarded email from a variety of resources providing information. Karen had learned about the Tennessee Coalition when gathering information on resources for her Master's Degree in Special Education. One of the emails contained a note from Wheel Me On...
When there is a sudden catastrophic injury, people need help. They need answers, and they need them quickly, because it takes time to get the wheels all in motion. Widening doors to a home, ramps, and other construction must be made before the patient is released from the hospital. Telephones need to be installed to accommodate the individual. Resources to provide these things in most cases, are there, if you know who to contact. None of which, are always easy answers, and a few may unfold with a comedy of error. It was the beginning of a long road for Karen, but she remained steadfast in finding the right answers.
In the meantime, Dylan's progress continued. Working muscles were discovered in his left forearm. He had a wonderful attitude, passing up the challenge, and immediately accepting a new lifestyle without hesitation, wanting to go out, riding buses in the City of Atlanta, uninhibited. Dylan is a one of the best examples from point of injury, through rehabilitation, to the outside world, that this organization has ever encountered.
Karen Nelson credits the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, for his remarkable recovery as a quadriplegic. Which is by far, one of the most difficult of catastrophic injuries, a person can encounter. Dylan is not out of the woods yet; he will continue therapy for many months, need 24-hour care, and obvious assistance for daily living.
When Karen contacted Wheel Me On... the board was in the process of selecting members who would qualify for a manual wheelchair. Dylan's name was added to the list. Additionally, William "Chief" Jacobs, designer of the "Wheelchair Bike" had already reserved one of his products for Wheel Me On... The selection of members went to the Board of Directors to vote on. A motion was made and unanimously approved for Dylan Brown to receive both the manual wheelchair and the wheelchair bike.
On June 8th, 2002, Wheel Me On... had arrangements with the Nelson family to meet in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the presentation of the gifts to Dylan Brown, even though the Nelson family lived less than 40 miles away from the headquartering office of Wheel Me On... There was method to the madness on everyone's part.
Dylan, an avid soccer player in high school, was anxious to attend the State Soccer Tournament Games in Chattanooga that weekend. BM1 Musgraves had already arrived in Chattanooga on his transfer with the United States Coast Guard and would be available to assist in demonstrating both products for Wheel Me On... Larry Nelson drove from an opposite direction and met his wife and son in Chattanooga.
The Wheel Me On... group was gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, when the Nelson's white van pulled in. When seeing Dylan manipulate his Quickie P222 across the pavement toward us, he appeared as though he had been doing this for years instead of just a few weeks.
It was an amazing sight to see, having been totally unaware of what to expect and knowing his injury. Within a few moments, we were gathered together inside the hotel and the rest is history. Acceptance being the hardest key to turn, Dylan not only turned the key, he opened the door.
George Dylan Brown expects to be released from Shepherd Center on June 20th, 2002, exactly five months from the day of his accident.
Our best wishes and congratulations, Dylan! Go for it!
To Be Continued...
The Products Provided by Sponsors
Lightweight Invacare 9000XT Collapsible Wheelchair
Provided by Home Care Supply, Beaumont, Texas
Traveling in a power wheelchair may sometimes be limiting. Most people immediately think they would not ever need a collapsible wheelchair who have injuries, which would not enable them to manipulate a manual wheelchair. However, this is a fallacy and simply not true if an individual intends to do any road travel or sightseeing for two reasons. First, there is always the slight possibility that the power wheelchair (for whatever reason) may fail. If you have a collapsible wheelchair, you have the option of using it while your power wheelchair is being repaired. Second, there are many attractions to see that are not accessible by means of a power wheelchair. Therefore, if you intend to go sightseeing or be an adventurous wheeler, it is a real good idea to take a collapsible wheelchair with you, just in case.
Furthermore, even if you are traveling by yourself, there is almost always a person that will gladly assist you, just for the asking.
Editors Note: Even though I am unable to manipulate a manual wheelchair; I continue to carry one in the back of my van along with a pump for the tires. The collapsible wheelchair has been used more times that I care to admit for the purpose of being able to go on various rides or other sightseeing adventures I would not have been able to accomplish without the wheelchair and an assistant.
The Wheelchair Bike
Manufactured and distributed by William "Chief" Jacobs, Texas
As an aid to increase muscle strength and continued home therapy programs, the Wheelchair Bike was gifted to Dylan Brown, in hopes of on-going recovery.
Note: Dylan's family returned the Wheelchair Bike to the organization once determined maximum levels with home therapy use were reached. The Wheelchair Bike was taken to Houston, Texas, and presented to a member with MS during Carvan 2004. This member is continuing therapy with "The Wheelchair Bike".
Tennessee's Telecommunications Devices Access Program (TDAP)
Something to Talk About by Providing Something to Talk With!
If you or someone you know cannot use a regular telephone because of a hearing or speech impairment, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority can help! TDAP is a porgram that provides amplified phones, TTYs/TDDs, Braille-TTYs, and other necessary devices to those who qualify, free of charge!
"We Overcame" by Richard Bryant Treanor
The Story of Civil Rights for Disabled People
"Choosing A Wheelchair" by Gary Karp
A Practical Guide for Optimal Independence
"Life on Wheels" by Gary Karp
For the Active Wheelchair User
"Music from the Heart" by Jeff Moyer
Happy Songs and Great Music
In the State of Tennessee
We Support the Following Businesses, Organizations, and Companies
Serving Clarksville, Nashville, and the State of Tennessee
CB Radio Sales & Service
HAM Radio Service
Commercial Tower Leasing
General Electronic Repair
|
 |
606 Fewslers Lane
Nashville, TN 37210
Telephone 615.254.1919 |
Post 88
2864 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Telephone 615-889-9318
Clarksville Chamber of Commerce
~ Where Rivers Roll, Spires Rise & Eagles Soar ~
Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee
Ed Medical
"Specializing in Wheelchair Equipment & Custom Seating"
742 Freeland Station Road
Nashville, TN
Tom Daniels
Telephone 615-242-9988
Fax 615-242-1782 |
 |
Mid-South Paralyzed Veterans of America
Memphis VAMC
1030 Jefferson Avenue, Room 2D100, Memphis, TN
Memphis Office: 901-527-3018; 800-767-3018
Nashville Office: 615-736-7713/14; 800-795-3569
Alabama Office: 334-213-3433/34/35; 800-795-3581
Mississippi Office: 601-364-7188; 800-795-3610
Support the PVA ~ They Supported You!
The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) was actually formed in 1947 when a congressionally chartered veterans' service organization was founded.
The story of PVA is much deeper then just three letters that stand for the largest organization in America and our Veterans who were injured during active duty or became ill with a catastrophic illness.
There are now 36 chapters that provide quality healthcare, research, education, and other benefits to members with injuries resulting during military service.
Additionally, civil rights is a leading edge for the independence of PVA members and all people with disabilities.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs host the largest wheelchair sporting event annually.
These are Americans who in many cases, fought wars and kept our country free, but most important is they all served our country, giving us the support we needed for continued freedom.
Being a member of a local chapter in your area will promote and enhance your well-being if you are eligible. Being a volunteer or contributor will provide inner-strength and higher self-esteem, because you are there returning a favor.
Tennessee Department of Health
Cordell Hull Building
425 5th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37247
Telephone 615-741-3111
Fax 615-741-2491
Tennessee's Telecommunications Devices Access Program
"TDAP"
"Something To Talk About By Providing Something To Talk With
460 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone 615-741-2904 Ext.179 or 206
800-342-8359 Ext.179 or 206
888-276-0677 (V/TTY)
Tennessee Regulatory Authority
Bulletin Board
Are You On TennCare?
Do You Need Home Health Care?
Tennessee Justice Center filed a class action lawsuit against TennCare in Federal Court. They are looking for TennCare enrollees who have been told...
- Tenncare does not pay for routine Long Term Home Health Care
- You have to be homebound to get Home Health Services
- You cannot get Home Health for help with activities of daily living
- You cannot get Home Health that is "Custodial"
- You need to enter a Nursing Home to get the Home Health that your doctor has prescribed
If You Have Had Any of the Above Items Stated to You
Call 615-255-0331 or 877-608-1009 (Toll Free)
