Life after spinal cord injury

By Tricia Kuivinen, Contributing Writer

A summer lake swim became life altering for Scott Fedor as soon as he dove into the too-shallow water. His neck was broken, leading to an arduous recovery from spinal cord injury.

“As I lay in the ICU after my accident, I knew I had a choice to live or to die,” Scott says. “My doctor and family asked me if I wanted to be ‘let go’ in the event I stopped breathing. But I realized I didn’t want to leave my family. I told myself not to give up. I chose to live.”

After six months of multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, Scott was moved to a nursing home where he stayed an additional 14 months, learning to do everything over again as a quadriplegic.

Scott was eventually connected with Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP). “LEAP was there to help me with a range of valuable nursing home transition services that allowed me to re-enter the community,” Scott says.

Scott found motivation by setting small goals related to personal independence and trying to achieve them each day. He eventually recovered enough to resume his career and to design and build himself an accessible home.

Scott’s recovery inspired him to help others by joining the LEAP board of directors in 2011. Scott also works as a motivational speaker, and started a foundation called Getting Back Up, which helps others with spinal cord injuries.

To learn more about LEAP Nursing Home Transition Services, visit LEAP online at LeapInfo.org or call 216-696-2716.