Author: Kirsten Rosvall
Part 2 in a 3-part series, highlighting different varieties of adaptive equipment
See part 1
A Physical Lifestyle
In the first installment I wrote of my pre-injury life of outdoor adventuring. I enjoyed rock climbing, ice climbing, cross-country skiing, scuba diving and hiking 14ers. My career was also physically demanding, particularly when I focused on remodeling the rental homes I managed. Additionally, I had a passion project: over the course of several years, I built a mountain cabin on the Uncompahgre Plateau 20 miles southwest of Montrose, Colorado.
Constructing the cabin was no easy feat. We hauled all our tools, supplies, camping gear, and water to the property. We cleared the site for the cabin by removing brush and cutting down three large trees before building the cabin from the ground up. I hand dug the footings for the foundation and mixed many bags of concrete to pour into the forms. I finished the interior of the cabin in the early 2000’s.
Life Changing
After 2010, I was hired as a seasonal Maintenance Technician employee for Jefferson County Open Space. After 3 years of seasonal work, I landed a full-time position at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. However, two months into the job, I underwent neck surgery because my C-4 to C-6 vertebrae were pinching my spinal cord, causing balance and hand function issues. Unfortunately, the surgery did not go as planned and resulted in a spinal cord injury that left me tetraplegic.
I spent 17 days in the Orthopedic ICU at University of Colorado Hospital, followed by 60 days at Craig Rehabilitation Hospital, learning how to live as a dependent quadriplegic.
Challenges in the ICU
The extent of my spinal cord damage was unclear throughout my ICU stay. I had no reflexes in my feet, indicating I would not be able to walk post-surgery. The spinal cord heals very slowly, and the doctors did their best to minimize further damage. Both surgeons were remorseful, explaining that only time and rehabilitation would reveal how much function I might regain. I decided to focus on positivity and rehabilitation rather than harbor anger or bitterness.
I vividly remember my days in the ICU. It was filled with the usual hospital sounds: pages for doctors, code announcements, carts rolling, and helicopters landing. I was frequently visited by nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, doctors, students, custodians, volunteers, friends, and family. During my first week, I experienced vivid, horrific nightmares caused by pain medications, fear of the unknown, and worries about dying.
One unusual experience in the ICU was when I desperately wanted to sit on the floor, seeking stillness to counteract the sensation of constant motion. However, the nurses wouldn’t allow it due to concerns about germs. Instead, a young nurse brought me coloring books and pencils, but that just frustrated me. I hadn’t colored since elementary school and didn’t consider myself artistic. At one point, I even called 911 to request EMS assistance to help me sit on the floor, but the head nurse intervened, tested my mental status, and denied my request.
Boredom was a significant issue in the ICU, with the TV as my only entertainment. I missed listening to the radio, so I spent days figuring out how to stream it on my phone. That was a small but meaningful achievement, given my reduced hand function.
During my stay, I contracted a C. difficile (C. diff) infection, a bacterial issue causing diarrhea and bloating. This required every visitor to wear full personal protective equipment, which added another layer of isolation.
The two visits from my black Samoyed dog, Sophie, were the highlights of my ICU stay. On her second visit, the nurses snuck her up to my room on the fifth floor, and I got to pet her soft fur—an experience that felt like heaven.
I was confined to the hospital throughout the holiday season – Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and even my birthday.
In the next installment, I will go into more detail about navigating the systems surrounding health care needs. As you might guess, it isn’t a breeze. So, when I was given opportunities to return to adventuring, I’m happy to say that I took them.
Therapeutic Recreation – in the woods on a TerrainHopper
Fast forward to December of 2023 when Craig Hospital’s TREC Department graciously facilitated an outing for a real-world try-out of their new TerrainHopper USA’s Overlander 4ZS. They took us to a hiking and mountain biking trail in Jeffco Open Space’s Deer Creek Canyon Park.
My experience riding in the Hopper was awesome! It tackled the snow, mud, and 6-inch erosion control steps like a trooper. Yes, it goes up steps!
The Hopper is a fully electric, AWD vehicle with knobby tires and excellent, 4-wheel independent suspension. I hardly felt the big bumps on the trail. Surprisingly, it is also very quiet on the trails, so I could really enjoy the calmness of the natural environment around me.
Since it uses a joystick control to manage all the maneuvering, there is no need to steer it with your hands. It drives like a power chair. It has a 5-point belt system that held me securely in the seat. The Hopper is an ATV vehicle and can go through small streams, travel on the beach, climb slopes, go over big rocks and uneven surfaces smoothly.
The Hopper sacrifices speed for power and maneuverability, but this makes it ideal for joining in with friends on hikes. My favorite thing about it is the ability to operate in all seasons because I don’t want to forgo the trails during the winter season!
Learn more about the TerrainHopper.
