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battered, bed-ridden daughter, unable to sit up, feed herself or be in control of her bowel or bladder function. In the immediate days and weeks that followed, Amanda was fitted for a wheelchair. We were informed our goals for regaining Amanda’s independence and complete mobility were unrealistic. We searched out what we felt was the best program in the world for those like Amanda. She made miraculous progress in the program, only to have our insurance limit reached too soon. She has much work ahead of her. This horrible reality is similarly faced by over 11,000 families each year. After the immediate shock of Amanda’s accident in April 2007, we did not know where to go after her benefits exhausted. There are very few options for recovery, especially in Florida. A person living with a spinal cord injury is overwhelmed. They need recovery, hope, encouragement and a reason to wake up everyday. This is why we founded Step It Up Recovery Center. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to help those suffering with a spinal cord injury (SCI) improve their daily living – by regaining function and perhaps even walking again. Our program is modeled after the highly successful Project Walk® in Carlsbad, California. We use Project Walk’s® specialized, aggressive and comprehensive exercise-based program named The Dardzinski Method™. This is a proven methodology for SCI recovery and extends the program’s reach and affordability to Florida residents and beyond. Sincerely, Liza Perla-Riedel Founder/Facility Director Johanna VanCasteren Executive Director |
The news comes differently for each family. For me, it was a jarring
phone call in the middle of the night with news that my 18 year old
daughter, Amanda, was being airlifted to a nearby hospital after a car
accident. During the foggy race to the hospital, there was nothing on
my mind other than to be with my daughter and wanting only for her to
be alive. There were ER doctors waiting for me. I learned that my
daughter, who had just removed her seatbelt to recline in the
passenger seat to sleep, soon became a human missile within the
car. Her neck was broken. Confirmation that Amanda was paralyzed
and would never walk again cruelly broke me from my dreamy stupor.
It was replaced by desperate panic for my child. Confusion. Anger.
Sorrow. And, uncertainty. Instantaneously, I had gone from having an
phone call in the middle of the night with news that my 18 year old
daughter, Amanda, was being airlifted to a nearby hospital after a car
accident. During the foggy race to the hospital, there was nothing on
my mind other than to be with my daughter and wanting only for her to
be alive. There were ER doctors waiting for me. I learned that my
daughter, who had just removed her seatbelt to recline in the
passenger seat to sleep, soon became a human missile within the
car. Her neck was broken. Confirmation that Amanda was paralyzed
and would never walk again cruelly broke me from my dreamy stupor.
It was replaced by desperate panic for my child. Confusion. Anger.
Sorrow. And, uncertainty. Instantaneously, I had gone from having an
