Julie Neustadt Naperville, IL, United States

SCI T4/5, August 2003

I was injured when I was swimming in a lake and someone jumped on me from a rock ledge above. My kids at the time were 5 and 7 years old. I went from being an active mom and wife to being severely limited in my activities while living from a wheelchair. My life now includes countless hassles and bizarre health complications, including constant pain. I get through a day at a time by holding on to the hope that someday there will be treatments to change this condition. I miss simply walking hand in hand with my kids. I urge legislators to pass the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act and to support funding for all types of stem cell research. It has been quite frustrating that politics has blocked scientific progress. Please give researchers the tools to do their important work.