Don't Worry. Do Wheelies!

Aging with SCI comes loaded with fear and very few answers but there's more you can do about it than anyone told you. Abbie breaks down the real connection between muscle mass, cardiovascular health, and longevity after SCI, and Lorie brings the lived experience that turns science into something you can actually act on today.

Abbie and Lorie bring it back to the clinical and practical side of aquatic therapy. They break down what water therapy is actually useful for and what it isn't, so you can go in with the right expectations. From spasticity and tone relief to maximizing muscle coordination with less joint demand, they cover who benefits most and at what stage. Plus, pro tips on doing it affordably without a fancy facility, including throwing your walker in the pool and strapping on a life jacket.

Abbie and Lorie dive into Lorie's personal experience with aquatic therapy after her spinal cord injury, from floating helplessly in inpatient rehab to the life-changing moment in the Mediterranean Sea where something neurologically unlocked and real steps became possible for the first time. Abbie breaks down the science behind why extreme pain was actually shutting off Lorie's motor function, and how the buoyancy of water finally gave her brain permission to reconnect. They also get into the reality of post-exercise fatigue after spinal cord injury, and why comparing your exhaustion to an able-bodied person will never make sense, and that's okay.

Abbie and Lori dig into one of the most common habits in the spinal cord injury community: comparing injuries. Lori shares her own story of defying medical expectations, and together they break down why two people with similar injury levels can have wildly different outcomes. They explore what ASIA scoring does and doesn't tell us, how nerve conduction works, and why the real value in comparing yourself to others lies in the specific movements and training approaches, not the level of injury. A practical and encouraging episode for anyone trying to figure out what recovery can look like for them.

Abbie and Lorie tackle one of the most avoided topics in spinal cord injury life: falls. Laurie shares three of her own fall stories. From a rogue wheelie in PT to a trash-can-demolishing nighttime mishap in rehab, pulling out real lessons on risk, preparation, and knowing your limits. Together they make the case that falls aren't failures; they're part of living fully, as long as you're learning from them and training smart.

Pain is a constant companion in early rehabilitation, but not all pain means progress. In this episode, Lorie shares a story about being forced to stay upright when her body simply could not tolerate it and the moment she took matters into her own hands.Abbie and Lorie unpack the fine line between pushing for recovery and listening to the body’s limits. This conversation offers clarity about pain, patience, and why honoring individual experience is one of the most hopeful paths toward long-term recovery.

After a spinal cord injury, some dreams feel too risky to revisit. In this episode, Lorie tells the story of how her lifelong love of horses became one of her greatest motivators in recovery. From the first cautious ride to rebuilding core strength through equine therapy, this conversation explores how passion can drive healing. Together, Abbie and Lorie reflect on courage, adaptation, and why returning to what you love, even if differently, can restore both body and spirit.

In this episode, Lorie shares a story from early rehabilitation that begins with snow, mischief, and a group of teenagers in wheelchairs — and ends with a powerful lesson about healing. What starts as a simple snowball fight becomes a reminder that laughter, play, and connection are not distractions from recovery, but essential parts of it. Abbie and Lorie reflect on how moments of joy can exist alongside grief, and how rebuilding a life after spinal cord injury often begins with the smallest, most human experiences.