Amy Van Dyken-Rouen Continues to Inspire

As Amy Van Dyken-Rouen continues to rehab from her ATV accident at Craig Hospital in Denver, she continues to be a source of inspiration to her fans and followers.  She is in Physical Therapy most days from 9am to 4pm learning how to do everyday things like put a shoe on, and move from her wheelchair to a bed.  Using the strength and determination she acquired as an Olympic swimmer, her new goal is to walk out of Craig Hospital in August.

Amy has had sporadic feeling below her belly button, giving her hope that she may accomplish her goal. Her incredibly positive attitude will assist her in making the fastest recovery possible, but some of the recent discoveries in treatment will allow her much greater progress than many ever dreamed possible.

The recent advances in technology are making dreams come true for many paralyzed people hoping to walk again.  One of the promising treatments is functional electrical stimulation, which sends small electrical pulses to muscles to improve their function and movement. Another rapidly developing technology involves the use of exoskeletons. These are wearable robots, which are worn on the outside of clothing which help those with spinal cord injuries walk by using accelerometors which sense changes in balance.

A new generation of these machines is bringing down their cost and making them more widely available.  These exoskeletons may also be used by those who are in rehabilitation from strokes.  Another exciting development in this field is a chip implant called a brain-computer interface, which teaches completely paralyzed people how to move limbs by thought.  Wheelchairs have also become much lighter and faster, and may be able to ascend stairs with tracks.

Google is working on advancements to use voice commands for computer driven cars. While some of these technologies are in early stages of development, some such as the exoskeleton are changing lives in the present.

If you have suffered an injury as a result of someone's negligence, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today at (303) 279-0221 for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

ATV Safety & Amy Van Dyken

The recent injury of the celebrated Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken-Rouen sustained while riding an ATV highlights the safety issues surrounding the use of the recreational vehicles.  Ms Van Dyken-Roeun was injured Sunday night near her home in Arizona while riding through a parking lot where she hit a curb, which caused her to launch over and the ATV went off an embankment.  She suffered severe injuries including a severed spinal cord.

The 6-time gold medalist suffered the injury after she had been out to dinner with her husband, former Denver Broncos punter Tom Rouen. Rouen was near his wife and riding a motorcycle at the time of the accident, and rushed to her aid. A paramedic happened upon the injured Olympian and rendered aid. She is now in her third day of intensive care treatment at a Scottsdale hospital, and is expected to remain there for at least several more days.

Van Dyken-Rouen suffered devastating injuries, including a severed spinal cord, a broken vertebra, and a near rupture of her aorta. The prognosis for her recovery is still evolving, however doctors have suggested that paralysis is a probability.

June 8th-15th is also coincidentally ATV Safety Week, a program sponsored by the ATV Awareness Institute, which aims to raise awareness about the substantial dangers posed by ATV's and similar vehicles.

ATV's have long been recognized as posing a serious risk. However, despite increasing awareness about the dangers of ATV riding, accidents involving the vehicles have increased in recent years.

Rouen has indicated that the couple has received an overwhelming amount of support in recent days following the accident. "It's rough," he noted, "but Amy is aware of the challenges ahead of her. She is ready to meet them head on."

On Tuesday morning, Van Dyken-Rouen posted an update to her twitter feed thanking her friends, family, and fans for the outpouring of support. "Doing great today. My Room is the most decorated in the ICU. Thx for ur thoughts & prayers!" Van Dyken-Rouen wrote. The family has asked for privacy during Amy's recovery.

On Thursday, Van Dyken-Rouen announced that she would be transferring to Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO to continue her treatment and spine rehabilitation. Van Dyken-Rouen is expected to remain at an Arizona hospital for a few more days, as more surgery may be required prior to her transfer.

"She's looking forward to coming home and going to Craig Hospital and being near her family and friends in Colorado," Amy's husband Tom Rouen said. "She's looking forward to being back in that Mile High air. She's going to tackle this like everything else she does in her life."
Craig hospital is a world-renowned treatment facility that specializes in spinal injuries, with several notable programs that have assisted injured persons with walking again.

If you are injured in a car accident in the greater Denver metro area, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today at (303) 279-0221 for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: Amy Van Dyken-Rouen, 6-time Olympic gold medalist, severs spinal cord in ATV crash