spinal cord injuries – Surprised By Joy

“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.” – Christopher Reeve

I recently watched the original 1979 Superman movie with my kids – the one with Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, and Gene Hackman. Such a classic.

My 10-year-old daughter started asking questions about Christopher Reeve, the accident that left him paralyzed, and when he died. Christopher Reeve was 44 years old when he was paralyzed in a horse riding accident, he died 9 years later.

Looking this up clarified a point that arose when Vicki Atkinson and I recorded this week’s How to Share podcast conversation with the amazing activist and author, Micki Purcell. Micki’s son, Anthony, was paralyzed in a diving accident 15 years ago. Micki spent seven years by Anthony’s side navigating the difficult hurdles of rehab and recovery.

Along the way, Micki and Anthony started the Walking with Anthony foundation. It is the go-to foundation for helping individuals and families navigate the physical, mental and financial challenges that come with this life-changing injury.

Here’s where Superman meets Super Mom. The Christopher Reeve foundation focuses primarily on research related to spinal cord injuries. In contrast, Walking with Anthony mentors individuals and families through the process of recovery: connecting them to rehab, personally spending time with them, and by providing grants for caregiving, rehab and special equipment.

In our podcast conversation, Micki tells us how Anthony is doing now and we get to heartwarming stories about how all of their large family is involved with Walking with Anthony. Micki’s hands-on advocacy will grip and delight you!

Micki shares some details about their Stand up for a Cause event in Newport Beach on October 24^th. The event will honor courageous medical staff doing incredible Spinal Cord Injury work and a Tony award winning actress, Ali Stoker. Micki’s goal is to raise $1 million to fund grants for people with spinal cord injuries.

September is spinal cord injury awareness month and 2025 marks the 35^th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act. Vicki and I are so grateful to be able to bring you this episode to honor both.

This is a powerful episode that will inspire and touch you. We know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

Micki Purcell founded Walking with Anthony to help families affected by spinal cord injuries.
Insurance often fails to cover necessary rehabilitation for spinal cord injury patients.
The organization has become a vital resource for those in need of support and guidance.
Recovery from spinal cord injuries requires a strong desire and commitment to progress.
Micki’s advocacy work is deeply personal and driven by her family’s experiences.
Community support plays a crucial role in the recovery process for individuals with disabilities.
Micki emphasizes the importance of mental health and emotional support for patients and families.
The upcoming event aims to raise funds to help more individuals receive necessary care.
Micki’s family is actively involved in the charity, showcasing the power of collective support.
There is a pressing need for systemic change in healthcare coverage for spinal cord injuries.

Here’s a clip of Micki describing how insurance falls short for individuals with a spinal cord injury.

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this incredibly inspiring episode:

The podcast player embedded below
Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Share SCI Support and Advocacy
Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Share SCI Support and Advocacy transcript

How Writing Helps Us Survive Chronic Illness and Loss – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What does it means to keep showing up when life asks more of you than seems possible?In this episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon talks with Kathryn M. B. Johnson, author of Invisible, Until I’m Not, a memoir-in-essays about chronic illness, caregiving, grief, and resilience. Together, they explore what it means to live with fibromyalgia and invisible illness, how caregiving reshapes identity, and why being seen matters so deeply when pain is hard to explain. This conversation offers honest insight, emotional validation, and hope for anyone navigating chronic pain, caregiver burnout, loss, or the daily work of endurance. If you’re looking for a thoughtful podcast episode about chronic illness, caregiving, trauma, faith, and finding strength in difficult seasons, this episode is for you.In this episode, we discuss: → Chronic illness can reshape identity, relationships, and daily life in ways that are often invisible to others. → Caregiving is an act of love, but it also carries grief, exhaustion, and the need for self-compassion. → Writing can become a lifeline—a way to process pain, preserve connection, and reclaim a sense of self. → Being believed and truly seen matters deeply for people living with chronic pain or complex health conditions. → Rest is not laziness; caring for yourself is part of being able to care for others.📘 Order Invisible, Until I'm Not: https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Until-Im-Not-Illness-ebook/dp/B0GSB7QQMH/🌍 Show notes and more inspiration: https://wynneleon.com🔔 Subscribe to The Life of Try for more conversations on: personal growth, creativity, reinvention, resilience, writing, and mindset.📌 Subscribe & Stay Updated: → https://www.youtube.com/@thelifeoftry?sub_confirmation=1ABOUT ME Hi, I’m Wynne Leon — host of The Life of Try, a personal growth and self-improvement podcast exploring resilience, reinvention, uncertainty, and the courage to keep trying. Through thoughtful interviews, reflective conversations, and real-life stories, I share insights to help you navigate change, get unstuck, and move forward with more intention.🎥 Watch Next➡️ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving➡️ 48: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive

Links for this episode:

⁠Walking with Anthony⁠ Foundation

Micki’s Book: Walking with Anthony on Barnes & Noble and Amazon

From the hosts:

Vicki’s book about resilience and love: ⁠Surviving Sue⁠; Blog: ⁠https://victoriaponders.com/⁠

My book about my beloved father: ⁠Finding My Father’s Faith⁠;