MEET OUR 6 CENTRAL #HIGHFIVESATHLETES WHO RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING IN March 2019
JIM HARRIS from CARBONDALE, CO, CANDICE DUNGAN from GOLDEN, CO, TYLER MCKENZIE from SALT LAKE CITY, UT, RIO PETERSON from NEW MEADOWS, ID, KIRK WILLIAMS from BOULDER, CO, LUCAS STACY from WHITEFISH, MT plus our 6 East Coast Athletes here and 4 West coast athletes here
Jim Harris, currently residing in Carbondale, CO was involved in a ski accident in Patagonia, Chile on the 24th of November, 2014. The impact resulted in fractures in his T7, T8, C2 and C3 vertebrae. The accident left Jim temporarily paralyzed at the T6 level.
Through hard work at Craig Hospital, the CR Johnson Healing Center and Colorado facilities, Jim has gained much of his mobility back. His goal is to stay outside and participate in sports that he loves. The High Fives provided personal training sessions at the Ripple Effect so that he can start setting new goals.
The treatments I've received in Carbondale have facilitated my continued recovery. When I moved to Colorado about a year and a half ago I was walking with crutches. Now I walk unaided, ride my mountain bike, and can even ski. There are so many factors and people involved in this progress that it's hard for me to assign credit, but without doubt the time I've spent working out at Ripple Effect Training has been a major contributor and massage and chiropractic adjustments allow me to walk out the door with a smoother gait than I walked in with.Jim Harris
Jim Harris’ words ring true, and the proof is in his continued dedication to recreation. Dawning the social media moniker Perpetual Weekend, Jim has continued to pour everything into his recovery, and has continued to treat each day like it’s a day that starts with the letter “S.”
Candice Dungan was one of the top female downhill skateboarders in the world! She has won international races as far away as Peru.
While Practicing for an upcoming IDF World Tour, Candice crashed and hit a guard rail with her back, while wearing a spine protector. She was admitted to the hospital and had her T10 – L2 stabilized with 8 screws and 2 rods suffering a spinal cord injury.
Candice spent time at the world-renown Craig Hospital and received a March grant from the High Fives Foundation to cover costly neuro acupuncture treatments at Lixin Acupuncture.
Candice has experienced incredible results from prior session.
I have been seeing my acupuncturist twice a week since June 2018. He is a 9th generation, traditional Chinese acupuncturist who has used his neurogenesis procedure to cure numerous people with degenerative diseases and injuries to help them walk, run, dance, etc again!#HighFivesAthlete Candice Dungan
Tyler McKenzie | Salt Lake City, UT
On Memorial day weekend 2017, things completely changed for Tyler McKenzie. After skiing down off the cirque at Snowbird to catch the last Tram of the day, Tyler and his friends were picking their way down the traverse, when a small wet slide put him off balance, carrying him just off the trail and spinning him around. In his periphery, Tyler saw that he was sliding toward a tree and exposed terrain that had been covered with snow all season. At that point, he turned his head/face from the tree and braced for impact.
The impact led to nerves from Tyler’s arm being removed from his spinal cord, leading to temporary paralysis in his arm.
The High Fives Foundation helped to cover the cost of multiple non-insurance covered costs in the March grant cycle. The modalities included personal training at Neuroworx, pain management sessions at Utah Sports and Wellness and massage sessions in the Salt Lake City area.
Complex Neuropathy/nerve pain has been the biggest challenge of my recovery thus far, requiring both pharmaceutical and surgical interventions. Acupuncture has helped target my nervous system and bring calm to areas of poor circulation or trauma.#HighFivesAthlete Tyler McKenzie
Rio Peterson | New Meadows, ID
Rio sustained a burst fracture at his C5 vertebrae as well as fractures at C3-C7.
The injury occurred during a variable snow day at Squaw Valley. Rio was traversing under Headwall chairlift when he hit a bump. A combination of the variable snow and poor reaction caused him to eject from his skis. The ejection threw Rio head first into hard pack snow, causing his injury.
The High Fives Foundation was notified about Rio’s injury immediately. After an initial visit to Renown Medical Center, Roy and Steve were able to make the next meet up at Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO. Rio is still currently at Craig on an outpatient basis, and the organization granted him extended personal training sessions at the facilities PEAK Center.
Rio is making incredible recovery gains at the facility.
The PEAK Center has the best staff! They’ve created a fun environment that is super challenging and have shown they care about me outside of the gym. Beyond the human aspect PEAK offers an array of advanced robotic technology and staff Doctorate Physical Therapist. The PEAK Center is bringing my goal of independence to reality!Rio Peterson
Kirk Williams sustained a C4/6 spinal cord injury in a mountain bike crash in 2009. He now works in the industry and helps others on their recoveries with regularity.
Kirk remains active following his injury, and encourages others in the adaptive community to do the same. He wants to continue traveling, loving life and inspiring.
Along with travel comes abuse on wheelchairs. Kirk applied for and received a grant for a new HOC wheelchair so that he can continue living his best life without the squeaks and rattles that come with an old chair.
Kirk was ecstatic about the new chair…to say the least.
We just furnished the chair and it turned out incredible. Thank you so much!! It’s actually 5lbs lighter than my other chair! Crazy difference. So so so so so so stoked!Kirk Williams
Lucas Stacy sustained a C6 incomplete spinal cord injury while at work for the Flathead Avalanche Center as a professional field observer. After ski touring for the day he was returning home when he tried to get a co-worker’s snowmobile unstuck. He eventually managed to get the snowmobile unstuck, but fell off and hit a log, which caused the injury.
One of Lucas’ main goals has been to get back to skiing. It has always been a large part of his life, and he works tirelessly in the gym so that he can enjoy skiing again.
High Fives granted Lucas ski lessons at Dream Adaptive so that he can get back on the hill in a safe and affective manner.
This grant will help pay for sit-ski lessons that are enabling me to get outside and ski again. It has helped me experience many feelings and joys I had pre-injury. It helps me live again.Lucas Stacy
The past can only dictate the future if you allow it to. You can allow the future to be whatever you want, but you have to get in the moment of the present to really excel in the future.High Fives Founder, Roy Tuscany
