Living with spinal cord injury 20+ plus years later (VIDEO)

Steve Mayernik was on his way to the grocery store.

And then a car accident changed it all.

Initially paralyzed from the neck down, Steve has overcome the many challenges of his spinal cord injury (SCI), both through determination and rehabilitation, to walk and travel. Steve joined Brittany Sweeney on the Boundless: A Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Podcast to share his story.

When looking for rehabilitation following the accident and to regain the ability to walk, Steve and his wife chose Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital. Since that initial hospital stay, Steve has continued his outpatient rehabilitation on and off with Good Shepherd for the past two decade, coming in for specific needs or tune-ups. Steve’s SCI is a chronic, lifelong condition he faces every day – often with a smile or a wry joke.

“The people are all the same, they’re there for their patients,” Steve said, when asked about Good Shepherd’s impact on him over the last 20-plus years. “It’s an incredible place to feel safe.”

Check out the full episode of Boundless with Steve below or wherever you listen to podcasts: