This will be a bit different than the average “day in the life” post. I want to take you through my typical Thursday from start to finish to give you an inside look at my life as a quadriplegic in collaboration with SCIboston for Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. It is important to note that this is my personal routine, shaped by my unique needs and support system. It does not represent the spinal cord injury community as a whole, but I hope it provides some perspective.
Morning Routine
At 7 AM my wife’s alarm clock goes off and our day begins. The bulk of Kass’s caregiving work happens in the morning and at night. She helps me catheterize while I’m turned on my side. She then leaves to feed the dogs and let them outside. After making her coffee, she comes back in to help me transfer using a SureHands ceiling lift into my shower wheelchair.
I roll up to the sink and shave with my Phillips Norelco razor before taking my Raz shower chair into the roll-in shower. Hot water is one of the few times I feel my nerve pain melt away, so I savor that hour. Automatic dispensers for shampoo and conditioner make the process easier, and Kass helps by putting soap in my hand or on a face cloth so I can wash my body. I finish my shower by brushing my teeth with an electric toothbrush with a wrap of cat tongue tape to improve my grip. After my shower, Kass transfers me back to bed to get dressed and helps me yank on some pants before transferring me into my power wheelchair. I choose my outfit, take my morning medications, and then roll to my home office to begin the day.
Preparing for the Support Group
Every Thursday starts at my desk with 15 minutes of self-reflection. I silently recite the Ranger Creed from my Army days and glance at the memorial bracelet on my wrist that honors fallen friends. It keeps me grounded and motivated. Coffee steaming next to me, I begin brainstorming for the SCIboston support group that I moderate later in the day.
I pick an icebreaker topic related to life with spinal cord injury and review resources like SCIboston’s advocacy newsletter, New Mobility magazine, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America newsletter. Once I organize my notes and talking points, I set them aside and switch gears to schoolwork.
Midday
Breakfast is usually light, something simple like banana bread or dried fruit, depending on how my stomach feels. Once my coffee kicks in, I catheterize again and then I am usually set for the next several hours. The late morning hours are often split between drawing, freelance graphic design work, blogging, or college coursework.
Around noon I break for lunch, either eating upstairs with Kass or having her bring something to my office if I am particularly busy. On Thursdays, I try to make a point to eat upstairs so we can share a little time before my 4 PM Zoom support group with SCIboston.
After lunch I relax with some video games for about an hour, then shift back into preparation. I make sure my notes are organized, double check my talking points, and do a final catheterization so I can focus fully during the group meeting without my pesky bladder acting up.
The Support Group
By late afternoon I am signed into Zoom, greeting members as they trickle in. We typically have 20 to 30 people join this particular Thursday group. I begin by sharing the icebreaker topic in the chat, giving everyone a moment to think while I announce the group guidelines. I then introduce myself, share my own icebreaker answer, and explain my injury briefly before inviting others to do the same.
Once introductions are complete, we highlight upcoming events for SCIboston before moving into open conversation. The conversations are honest, vulnerable, and supportive, and they have become one of the most meaningful parts of my week. This group has truly been life changing for me. It is an honor to moderate, and I am proud of the safe, empowering space it has grown into.
Evening Wind Down
When the meeting wraps up, I head upstairs to have dinner with Kass. We eat together, feed the dogs, play fetch with them out on the patio, and enjoy some quiet time. Evenings for us are for unwinding and getting cozy. I will usually place my iPad onto a pillow on my lap and catch up on social media or play some mobile games while watching television side by side with Kass.
By 9 PM we begin our bedtime routine. I hook up my devices — iPad, MacBook, and prescription Meta AI glasses — to their magnetic chargers. Then I brush my teeth, take my nighttime medications, and complete one final catheterization along with a colostomy bag change. Kass helps me transfer into bed, get undressed, and reposition with a pillow between my knees and heel cushion boots (I called them my Air Jordans) to prevent pressure wounds.
Closing
That is my usual Thursday. Everyone with a spinal cord injury has a different routine, shaped by unique needs and circumstances. For me, this rhythm keeps me healthy, productive, and connected. Thursdays hold special meaning because of the SCIboston support group. The opportunity to share experiences, learn from one another, build community, and converse with like-minded friends has become one of my favorite parts of the week.
I am deeply grateful to SCIboston for collaborating with me on this post and for all that they do to support the SCI community. For Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, I hope this glimpse into my Thursday inspires greater understanding and appreciation for the daily lives of those living with SCI. It isn’t always easy, and it takes a village, but I am grateful that SCIboston can make my Thursday that much better.
Thanks for reading! Please consider subscribing to SCIboston’s newsletter and following their social media as they post during Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month!
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