After sustaining a C-6 spinal cord injury (SCI) from a fall while working in construction, Henry Ciesynski threw a paraplegic peer counselor out of his hospital room, feeling that the man with a less severe injury would not understand his situation. But, when a counselor with a similar injury visited, Henry listened. He learned that the quadriplegic man was able to independently transfer into his car to drive. Henry asked for help transferring from his bed to his wheelchair and accompanied the man to the parking lot to carefully observe how he got into the car. Realizing that he would be able to do this himself, Henry was motivated to pursue his rehab program.
Henry learned that connecting with others with disabilities helped him to adjust to his injury. He began wheeling to strengthen his arms and build stamina. He got a hand cycle and began cycling regularly with new friends for exercise and fun. He tried sailing and kayaking with a local group, Access 2 Adventure, and got a job as an independent living counselor, sharing his expertise in living with a disability with others.
For Henry, being active has been his lifestyle before, as well as after, his injury. Due to his SCI, he has only half the use of his lungs. He points out, however, that he has none of the breathing problems that many others with his level of injury experience. He also transfers independently to and from his wheelchair, and has maintained the strength and stamina that allow use of a manual, rather than a power chair.
Henry’s goals are to continue to maintain his health and stamina in order to try parasailing, and to get a motorcycle, which was one of his pre-injury goals, and to visit Hawaii. He enjoys travel and visited Mexico last year. His recommendations for other wheelchair users, African American or not, is to get out of the house and connect with others. Henry feels that connecting with peers after his SCI gave him the boost he needed to get his active, always-on-the move life back, and he continues to enjoy it!