Every year on the anniversary of my injury, I take time to reflect.
This pause is not just about what I lost, but also about how I have grown, adapted, and reshaped my life since then. Many in the spinal cord injury community call it an “Alive Day.” I have come to think of it as my Alive-versary, a marker of resilience, perspective, and the journey of learning to live fully in a new reality.
Over the years, these reflections have evolved alongside me. Some years are lighthearted, while others are raw and deeply personal. Each entry captures a moment in time and serves as an honest record of how my perspective continues to shift. Together, they tell the story of adaptation, creativity, and resilience in motion.
This page brings those reflections together in one place. It is a timeline of growth where you can scroll through the years and see how my writing, my outlook, and my advocacy have taken shape.
CHECK OUT ALL OF MY ALIVE-DAY REFLECTIONS
Alive-versary Year 9
The author reflects on their transformative journey since their “Alive Day” nine years ago, emphasizing resilience and the value of daily miracles. They express gratitude for love, friendship, and modern medicine, as they prepare to welcome twin boys after a successful IVF process. The piece highlights perseverance, hope, and embracing life’s challenges.
Alive-versary Year 8
Well.. here we are. Another 365 days of being paralyzed. Another 365 days of gratitude and love. Another 365 days of trying to live intentionally and love hard. I’m not going to lie to you, this year was a difficult one; harder than most have been. These annual reflections on my alive-day help me immensely…
Alive-versary Year 7
The text reflects on the author’s seven-year journey post-spinal cord injury, highlighting the physical and emotional challenges faced, including surgery and adaptations to paralysis. As they turn 30, they express gratitude for life, a supportive community, and a newfound purpose in philanthropy, emphasizing personal growth and resilience despite adversity.
Alive-versary Year 6
6 years… 2,190 days since I walked past the wrong end of a .45 hollow point. Six years of some of my highest highs and certainly some of my lowest lows. Days, weeks, months and years slowly starting to blur together. My wheelchair starting to become just another decision that I make each morning. Starting…
Alive-versary Year 5
Sheesh, half a decade! Honestly the winter months become sort of a fog for me. I love the holidays and the family time but there’s always that lingering fog. Three of my Army friends were killed throughout these months; one on November, one in December, and another one in January. That brings us to February……
Alive-versary Year 4
The author reflects on their decision to skip writing about the fourth year, suggesting this absence conveys its own narrative. They faced various challenges and blessings during 2021, including Covid isolation and becoming a homeowner, which led them to reconsider their life’s direction and prioritize personal decisions over blogging.
Alive-versary Year 3
February 11th marks a painful anniversary for the author, remembering the day they lost their previous life. Reflecting on February 10th, 2017, as seemingly ordinary, they recall the blissful ignorance before a life-altering event. Emphasizing life’s fragility, the author urges appreciation of every moment, guided by faith in divine plans for the future.
2 Years and Going Strong
2 years 2 years ago my definition of grit and resiliency changed forever. 2 years ago my understanding on life changed forever. February 11th Do I loathe it? Do I celebrate it? This experience has been chaotic yet blissful. It has been anguishing yet reassuring. It has been unbelievably frustrating and unbelievably triumphing. It has…
My Injury
This is from my original Facebook post and it summarizes my injury pretty well. Today I am reminded of how much this last year has changed me and so many others. On February 11th I was getting ready to go to a shooting range in WA, where I had been stationed for the last 4…