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Thomas Cloyd: Getting back to life
The life 28-year-old Thomas Cloyd envisioned for himself dramatically changed in July 2012. While boating during the 4th of July holiday, he dove into a shallow part of a Wisconsin lake, damaging his spinal cord. Lying motionless in the lake, Cloyd knew immediately he had just gone through a life-altering experience.
After five days in the hospital, Thomas began a grueling schedule of rehabilitation. The exercises in physical and occupational therapy challenged him physically, but the mental hurdle of living life as a quadriplegic was far more daunting.
"As a quadriplegic, I can't grip anything," explained Thomas. "So opening doors is difficult, holding a plate is tough, cooking - everything."
After several long months, Cloyd realized he needed to accept his new reality and emerged determined to do what he did pre-spinal cord injury: live life to the fullest.
"Once I pushed myself out there, I realized there were still ways for me to be active with my new body" he says. "Whether it is riding bikes with friends, touring breweries or playing adaptive sports, this is life and it can be fun. I'm in the prime years of my life, and I'm going to enjoy it."
Cloyd joined a local wheelchair rugby team sponsored by Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute. Not only does he love the extreme physical sport, but he values the support of his teammates.
"The team pushes each other both on the court and off. You meet people with similar level of function, Cloyd also participates in Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute's Activity-Based Locomotor Exercise Program (ABLE) of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network. An intensive fitness program, ABLE includes movement training and functional electrical stimulation, both of which aim to help people restore physical strength and function.
Cloyd continues to learn how to live with a spinal cord injury while working to regain as much strength and function as possible all while enjoying life.
"It's tough, but you need to push yourself to get back to life."
After five days in the hospital, Thomas began a grueling schedule of rehabilitation. The exercises in physical and occupational therapy challenged him physically, but the mental hurdle of living life as a quadriplegic was far more daunting.
"As a quadriplegic, I can't grip anything," explained Thomas. "So opening doors is difficult, holding a plate is tough, cooking - everything."
After several long months, Cloyd realized he needed to accept his new reality and emerged determined to do what he did pre-spinal cord injury: live life to the fullest.
"Once I pushed myself out there, I realized there were still ways for me to be active with my new body" he says. "Whether it is riding bikes with friends, touring breweries or playing adaptive sports, this is life and it can be fun. I'm in the prime years of my life, and I'm going to enjoy it."
Cloyd joined a local wheelchair rugby team sponsored by Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute. Not only does he love the extreme physical sport, but he values the support of his teammates.
"The team pushes each other both on the court and off. You meet people with similar level of function, Cloyd also participates in Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute's Activity-Based Locomotor Exercise Program (ABLE) of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network. An intensive fitness program, ABLE includes movement training and functional electrical stimulation, both of which aim to help people restore physical strength and function.
Cloyd continues to learn how to live with a spinal cord injury while working to regain as much strength and function as possible all while enjoying life.
"It's tough, but you need to push yourself to get back to life."