Kemi

All of my life, I have been very active in church, school and community. In the Spring of 2006, I was a senior at Baylor University studying neuroscience with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. Then one night, my life was changed completely by a car accident. They did not expect me to make it through the night, and they even thought my leg would have to be amputated. I survived; and, within a few months I was transferred to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) in Houston. Their outpatient program is good, but not as good as their inpatient program. I knew I needed more and started searching on the Internet. I found Project Walk in California and began training with Chad while he was there. I was so glad when they moved to Austin, and opened Project Walk-Austin.

Project Walk-Austin has taught me how to loosen up my muscles and have more balance and core strength. They make it fun to work out and they make me work hard. When I finish my workout, it’s like how you feel after a good run—tired, but knowing you have accomplished something.  

I am gaining more independence through my work at Project Walk-Austin and the very strong support from my family and friends. I would not be so optimistic without them. I was able to go back to school and graduate in 2008. Now, I teach at an afterschool program to help at-risk middle school students focus on academics and give them future career goals. This allows me to make a difference in the lives of these young people like so many have made a difference in mine.

Eventually, I hope to get back into medicine--wherever God has it in my timeline to get there. I have always been interested in the brain and how the whole body is connected. Now I have become my own textbook and I'm learning first-hand how the neuromuscular system works. I want to use that knowledge to help others.