As an airborne sergeant for the Army during the 1980s, Jose Lopez-Rivera’s responsibilities were to educate young recruits exactly how to securely repel out of a helicopter.
Training involves a rigorous 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 first time repelling to the ground, you’re overcoming you very own fears.
Rivera aided many to safely dominate the task. What was to become his last and also final responsibility, ended with tragedy. After he saw his whole team repel to the ground, the helicopter temporarily rose to a dangerous height. Seconds later on, Rivera landed to the ground with life-altering injuries.
He smashed his left leg as well as fractured his back, as well as some stated that he could never ever gain back use of his leg. It took 6 difficult months in a military rehab hospital to walk again, yet he was unable to go back to duty. He received medical disability, which meant he couldn’t work.
As an award-winning soldier, he had several medals that offered him distinction. He was just as proud to comply with in his father’s military career. When he came to recognize that he couldn’t live out his life in the army because of injury, he turned to family for support. His own father built an entire career as a soldier and Rivera’s heritage was difficult to leave.
His saving grace was his wife and also three children and dedication to family members is paramount to him. Rivera eventually transferred to Florida to bring assistance to his aging mother. Being a father as well as son brought him joy and also life went on.
Rivera’s life was to take an additional fall. Months back, he lost his left leg and it’s an injury that he does not like to talk about.
He once more needed to muster the grit of a soldier as well as learn just how to walk once again. Despite all he’s been through, he says he really feels privileged to find rehabilitation far more gratifying than he thought possible.
Rivera remembers his previous rehab in the military and says that today’s methods are much better. “I am not treated like a rank and serial number, I am being offered regard as well as self-respect,” he says.
” These experts are here to support me and to make certain 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 using the AlterG treadmill for his rehabilitation. The AlterG is a device that can remove 80% of body weight and also give patients a lot easier time with walking. The physical therapist says the treadmill is necessary since it can make walking more comfortable, bring the patient confidence and also speed the recuperation process.
Geoff Fraser says, our therapists report that before the AlterG, patients had to gain walking confidence while making use of the parallel bars. That learning process can be tiresome for some patients. The AlterG provides hope because they can get back to walking at a much faster pace than typical therapy.
Using AlterG, “Patients can achieve a reduced demand for walking aids as well as enhance their number of steps on our treadmill.”
” Right now, we’re just making sure that Jose is happy with his results, getting more powerful as well as adjusting to his therapy.”
Rivera is making great progress as an inpatient and is eagerly anticipating accomplishing his goals as well as get back home to his family members.
” Our rehab family is proud to get Jose where he wants to be,” claims Fraser.
Geoff Fraser is Partner at Clear Choice Health Care in Melbourne FL
