S7 E3 - "I Don't Get Better To Live Life, I Live Life To Get Better"!

The latest episode of the QP features an amazing young man, Owen Weiss. He is a wheelchair athlete, educator, and storyteller, whose life changed after a rare spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) led to three spinal surgeries. He recovered fully from the first two, but following the third (after walking himself into the operating room), he woke unable to move his legs, and with major loss of sensation from the waist down.Today, Owen is an active wheelchair tennis player, a paraprofessional working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, and the creator of his signature speech "You Always Have a Choice", where he shares the mindset and lessons he developed while rebuilding his life after paralysis. Owen's story offers a meaningful foundation for conversations about resilience, adaptation, independence, and personal agency in the face of sudden change.TakeawaysSpinal Cord InjuryMedical Journey Sensory perception differences in individuals with spinal cord injuriesChallenges of transitioning from inpatient care to home life Impact of language deprivationTransition to wheelchair tennisAdaptive sports programs and scholarshipsFuture goals and aspirationsChapters00:00 Introduction and Mutual Friend05:09 Inclusivity and Sign Language11:14 Return of Symptoms and Third Surgery16:20 Complexity of Spinal Cord Injury22:25 Hospital Stay and Sensory Experience29:00 Impact of Age on Rehabilitation Experience35:49 Perspective Shift and Return to Education41:26 Discovering the Role of a Paraprofessional52:11 Adaptive Sports Programs and Scholarships