Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month

 Since September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness month, and since my oldest son Alex has a doozy of a cord injury(above c1), thought I’d do another post about a challenge that Alex came up with.

First I will ask, could  you stay completely still for over an hour? Could you handle an itch you can’t scratch, wet clothes you can't dry, and the intense feeling of immobility? Living without the ability to move brings hidden challenges most people never see. Yet, in that stillness and dependence, powerful lessons emerge—about patience, trust, and what it truly means to rely on others. Alex created the Backboard Water Challenge so anyone can experience a glimpse into this world:

Here’s how it works:

Clothing: Volunteers wear grey long-sleeve shirts and sweatpants—grey to visibly show wetness, sleeves and pants to symbolize unseen limbs and limited temperature regulation, tucked-in shirt representing disconnected sensation.

Backboard (1 hour): Lie flat, hands and feet tied. It’s uncomfortable reflecting the real daily discomfort of immobility.

Water (10 mins): (still restrained) and endure three buckets of water poured over your head without moving—mimicking the intense frustration of itching, wetness, and discomfort you can't resolve.

This challenge helps participants experience empathy, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of life's overlooked struggles.

Check out a video of my recent completion of the challenge posted above. I had just finished the backboard portion.

Let's spread awareness, compassion, and understanding—

#TheGoalIsLife