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Leah Roland -
September 2007
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Leah Roland, 31, of Aspen, Colorado is a
recovering incomplete quadriplegic. Quadriplegia refers to the paralysis of all four limbs -- both arms and both legs, as from a high spinal cord accident.
Incomplete
refers to Leah’s success in defying complete paralysis, as she has regained some use of her limbs.
Prior to moving to Colorado to pursue her love of the mountains and an active outdoor lifestyle and a
career in graphic design, Leah grew up in the Midwest.
On February 13, 1999 Leah’s life changed forever. While skiing at Eldora Mountain outside of Boulder,
Colorado, Leah was taking her second warm-up run of the day when she ran into a tree and broke her
neck. Within an instant, Roland’s life changed forever, paralyzing her from her chest down.
After her
initial surgery, she was taken to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital where she was told that she would never
walk again. Specifically Leah sustained a C-5 burst fracture and a ˝” bruise on the left side of her spinal
cord. After being told she would never walk again, she was determined to prove her doctors wrong.
With a small amount of luck and a lot of sweat and tears; support from her
community, friends and family, today Leah walks with the assistance of only a cane. |
On that fateful day in February, Leah, who had been an incredibly active woman - who had relocated to
pursue her dreams in the mountains of Colorado - found herself in a state where she could not cough
nor sneeze, nor could she move from her chest down. Every day for three months she relearned how
to sit up, stand, feed herself, and perform simple tasks. She continues today to push the limits of her
abilities by remaining an incredibly active woman – participating in regular spin classes and yoga.
Leah
had to reach very deep down inside her soul to find the determination and courage from within to continue
her journey, called life.
Inspired by her friend
Amanda Boxtel, who recently became the first United States citizen to
receive human embryonic stem cell therapy, Leah’s next journey will
take her to India in the spring of 2008 to receive similar human
embryonic stem cell therapy. To date, over 70 other spinal cord
injuries have been successful with no |
Leah at St.
Anthony's ICU in Halo |
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side effects. Leah is incredibly excited and nervous about the
work she has ahead. She is anticipating success but feels a little
apprehensive about giving her body to science, “I feel I’m on the
right path and that this is my calling; the future for me, our community
and for the many others suffering from incurable diseases and spinal
cord injuries.” |
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Skiing
Deep Powder on Ajax |
Today Leah lives in Aspen with her husband Dan and their 2 cats Daisy and Mayday.
She continues intense
physical therapy, with a regular routine of acupuncture, yoga, and spinning.
In November 2006,
Leah took the essential element of her rehab a step further and became a spinning instructor, “Now I
motivate others to overcome their own obstacles. It is both rewarding and challenging and I love it.”
Despite Leah’s physical impairments, she continues an active outdoor lifestyle.
She enjoys riding her
recumbent bike, 4-tracking (skiing), scuba diving, traveling with her husband, and hanging out with
friends. Leah is filled with renewed found hope that her progress will continue on, “Here’s to the future
with stem cells and more physical therapy, my quest continues….”
Read more on Leah's ongoing journey at her Blog.
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Learn how to Donate to Leah's
Stem Cell Therapy Medical Fund...
View Photos from Leah's Albums
and Home Movies...
Meet Friends on the Same Path
and learn more about Stem Cells...
Get in Contact with
Leah...
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