Managing Life as a Couple Living with Spinal Cord Injury

We were so blessed to speak again at the annual Push Forward Conference, put on by the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association this March. I (Kristen) also had the privilege of attending the conference with Kelly and Corina for the first time. It was so amazing to be part of this experience! Kelly and Corina were the keynote speakers last year and this year they hosted a workshop, Managing Life as a Couple Living with Spinal Cord Injury. During this workshop, they spoke about life after spinal cord injury as a couple and ways to sustain your marriage and relationships. Topics included Daily Living, Family, Finances, Intimacy/Romance/Affection, Social/Recreation/Hobbies/Joy & how to “Push Forward”!

Though these topics can be hard to discuss, they are an super important. Regardless of if you are affected by a spinal cord injury or not, these are areas in life that are important to everyone – they are the foundation to any lasting relationship. However, when you have a disability, these areas can become hard to manage and sustain because, let’s just face it, life is different. But you find different ways to do things and new ways to look at life. Kelly and Corina both had to adjust the way they look at life and find new ways to manage…and they have 20 years of living with spinal cord injury to prove it….Life goes on after paralysis!

In the midst of all the chaos at the conference, I thought to myself, “How amazing it is that there is an entire community of people who live in the exact same situation as we do!” Growing up, my sister and I were the only two kids that we knew who had a parent that was paralyzed/used a wheelchair. In fact, we only knew one other person who was paralyzed, period.

It is so easy to feel alone in your situation when you do not actually see someone dealing with the same circumstances. It wasn’t until just a few years ago, that we learned about this community of people and resources that were available to our whole family. Life is definitely easier when you don’t feel like you are suffering alone. It absolutely amazed me seeing the true community, friendship and love for one another at this conference.

If you are hurt, suffering, going through something, anything…don’t do it alone! It is not worth feeling alone in your situation for any reason. We know that it can be difficult to reach out to someone during tough times, but do it! Call a family member, a friend, talk to your spouse or children, reach out to local support groups. Reach out to us! Find someone, anyone.

Although we may not be going through the exact situation you are, we are here for you. Have peace and hope, knowing that whatever you are going through, you are never alone.  

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

xoxo,

Kristen

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