High Five #HighFivesAthlete Georgiana Burnside for achieving four of her five Arcade Belt Goals!
On a high Fives Foundation grant, Georgiana Burnside spent the Summer at Craig Hospital working on her recovery at the facilities PEAK Center. Along with gaining strength and balance, Georgiana wanted to participate in as many sports as possible. Georgiana achieved this goal with flying colors as she spent time on the climbing wall, paddleboard, recumbant bike and hiking around the beautiful Colorado Rockies.
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GOAL 1 –Stand up for 10 seconds balancing on the right foot only. (COMPLETED on 4/1/2016)
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GOAL 2 – Finish her Junior year in High School with a 4.2 GPA while still continuing to do therapy. (COMPLETED on 5/13/2016)
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GOAL 3 – Strengthen her dorsi flexion on the left side.
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GOAL 4 –Participate in adaptive sports while training at Craig Hospital over the Summer (COMPLETED on 7/15/2016)
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GOAL 5 – Walk out of Craig Hospital w/ no assistance (COMPLETED on 7/31/2016)
While skiing a double black diamond at Snowmass last Spring, Georgiana hit a rogue patch of ice misdirecting her off a large drop on the side of the trail. After dropping 50 feet or so,Georgiana landed on her back and slid to a stop. That is where she discovered that she couldn’t move her legs.
Georgiana was flown directly to Craig Hospital where she underwent surgery to repair her spine. Following surgery, she was told that she had suffered a T12/L1 spinal cord injury.
These goals are achieved as a part of the Arcade Goal Belt Program which was established as an initiative that guides athletes through the complex recovery process after a life-altering injury.
The belt program, which is similar to a karate belt system, rewards High Fives athletes with an Arcade belt containing a new gold star for each milestone achieved. This framework is designed to provide clarity, support, competition and inspiration for others as these athletes work to rebuild their lives.
