How do you answer the question “Will I ever walk again?” after a spinal cord injury? - Michelle Meade, PhD

You never take away hope. You never say, “This is not going to happen.” You never say, “This is impossible.” But you say, at least for me, “It’s about right now, this is where we are. And, miracles happen, we don’t know where science is, but right now what we know is best, or what science has found the best we can do is help you through this process. Learning these things is what gives you the opportunity to participate in anything that comes up in the future, and gives your body a chance to heal and to recover. And, if you’re determined to say you’re going to walk, I’m not going to say you’re not going to. But, it’s going to take a hell of a lot of determination and effort to do that, and I hope you prove every one of us wrong in terms of that process. But that means somewhat getting off your ass, and getting out there and doing it. It’s not sitting here and just hoping that it happens.”