Tips for Recovery & Life

I was 84 years old when a cycling accident left me with a C3 incomplete spinal cord injury. Up until that moment, I had spent the previous four decades competing in running races, climbing mountains (including Mount Whitney) and bicycling long distances.

When I awoke after nine hours of surgery, during which surgeons stabilized my neck with 16 screws, I was too dazed to feel shock. In the weeks that followed, the reality of my injury set in. Would I ever recover? Would I ever walk again? The answers were unclear and unsettling.

Looking back now, I realize that I was once again at a starting line. But this time, I had no idea what the finish line would look like.  

I began taking life one day at a time. From my hospital bed, I set goals — small at first, but realistic and meaningful. I noted every win, no matter how small: getting out of bed, learning how to swallow, tasting food again and completing a single leg press during physical therapy. 

Each small success renewed my motivation.

When my progress slowed or I felt discouraged, I reflected on challenges I had faced before —  including difficult moments in my career, racing a triathlon and completing the Pikes Peak Ascent half marathon at age 75 (and winning my age group). I reminded myself of who I had been and all that I had endured. I also made a conscious choice to think positively.

I saw setbacks not as defeats, but as challenges to overcome. And most importantly, I looked for humor (even when it required a stretch). It is hard to cry when you are laughing.

No matter where you are in your recovery, I encourage you to set a goal. Recovery happens in increments. Progress often begins with believing you can move forward, even when the steps feel small. Build on every success. If you slow down, recover and keep going. If you stumble, get up if you can, and try again.

One of my early goals was to walk 30 feet using a walker. I started with five feet, then 10, then 15. Those early experiences taught me lessons that continue to guide me today.

Here are some tips that helped me:

Start with a goal that’s small and specific.

• Break it down into manageable steps. 
• Record your progress.
• When doubt creeps in, return to positive thinking. For every negative thought I catch myself thinking, I try to offset it with two positive ones.
• When progress slows, remind yourself of what you have already overcome. 
• If motivation fades, try adjusting your goal. I’ve found that if I adjust a goal to be more realistic (and therefore more reachable), my motivation returns.
• Take pride in every win along the way, no matter how small. 
• Use that pride to set the next goal.

Another important part of my recovery was finding new hobbies, since I could no longer do many of the activities I had previously enjoyed. With a Quality of Life Grant from the Paralyzed Veterans of America Mountain States Chapter, I bought an iPad mini, which allows me to read, watch movies and play games. It also allows me to write using voice dictation, since I can’t use my hands.

Writing has given me a new goal. I began sharing my experiences in the hope that they might help others facing their own difficult beginnings. In the process, I discovered that having a hobby or goal centered on helping others supported my recovery as much as any therapy. 

Recovery may not always lead back to the life you had before. But you can still move forward. I wish you the very best.

Feature photo: Mark Maloney stands with his wife, Margaret, during a party last November celebrating his 90th birthday, Margaret’s 88th birthday and their 68th wedding anniversary. Maloney credits his wife with being a constant source of strength in his recovery.