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"title": "Jesi Stracham",
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"id": "ea5d2f1c4608232e07d3aa3d998e5135",
"title": "Marvins Mountain GNCC",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/marvins-mountain-gncc",
"content_html": "I left a day earlier than usual so I could make it to be apart of GNCC\u2019s school program. We went to Bobtown Elementary. It was a fun program to be apart of and the kids loved Roxanne., UTV racing resumed at this weekends GNCC. I\u2019ve felt more prepared than ever. I had second place start and held that position well into the second lap. That\u2019s when trouble hit. With Truett breathing down my neck I picked up the pace a bit. There was a tight section I felt my tires rub on the previous lap. This lap my rear would catch the tree, then smash the rock right after because it was bent ending my day, again. (I apologize for blaming Truett for hitting me, I initially thought it was him because there were two hits, but he later explained to me that I hardly made it through that section to begin with., Let me break down single seat racing for you. We race for 30 minutes, our typical track being about 1.5 miles, mostly being cut into the mini course. This was perfect for the first year model of the ACE, but now they are as wide as a RZR S and we need a little more space. Frustration doesn\u2019t even begin to put my feelings to paper. I have finished 1 out of the 4 races I\u2019ve competed in this year, because I\u2019ve broke something every race due to the tightness of the course. After talking to my fellow competitors, I voiced my concerns to the Racer Productions staff so they can address it as needed. We will be back for more racing in two weeks.",
"content_text": "I left a day earlier than usual so I could make it to be apart of GNCC\u2019s school program. We went to Bobtown Elementary. It was a fun program to be apart of and the kids loved Roxanne., UTV racing resumed at this weekends GNCC. I\u2019ve felt more prepared than ever. I had second place start and held that position well into the second lap. That\u2019s when trouble hit. With Truett breathing down my neck I picked up the pace a bit. There was a tight section I felt my tires rub on the previous lap. This lap my rear would catch the tree, then smash the rock right after because it was bent ending my day, again. (I apologize for blaming Truett for hitting me, I initially thought it was him because there were two hits, but he later explained to me that I hardly made it through that section to begin with., Let me break down single seat racing for you. We race for 30 minutes, our typical track being about 1.5 miles, mostly being cut into the mini course. This was perfect for the first year model of the ACE, but now they are as wide as a RZR S and we need a little more space. Frustration doesn\u2019t even begin to put my feelings to paper. I have finished 1 out of the 4 races I\u2019ve competed in this year, because I\u2019ve broke something every race due to the tightness of the course. After talking to my fellow competitors, I voiced my concerns to the Racer Productions staff so they can address it as needed. We will be back for more racing in two weeks.",
"summary": "I left a day earlier than usual so I could make it to be apart of GNCC\u2019s school program. We went to Bobtown Elementary...",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:46:51+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:46:51+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "fc490ca45c00b1249bbe3554a4fdf6fb",
"title": "Keffer Mazda, Huntersville, NC",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/keffer-mazda-huntersville-nc",
"content_html": "Project #InspirACEtion is proud to announce that Keffer Mazda & Select Pre-Owned out of Huntersville, North Carolina has joined the efforts of project #inspirACEtion again for the 2016 race season! I cannot say enough what it means to me to have such a huge local backing! I will be at a few of their events this year, including the grand opening of their brand new dealership! As I receive dates I will post them, in the meantime I encourage each and everyone of you to come out for a service or to check out their new and preowned selection, you won\u2019t be disappointed!",
"content_text": "Project #InspirACEtion is proud to announce that Keffer Mazda & Select Pre-Owned out of Huntersville, North Carolina has joined the efforts of project #inspirACEtion again for the 2016 race season! I cannot say enough what it means to me to have such a huge local backing! I will be at a few of their events this year, including the grand opening of their brand new dealership! As I receive dates I will post them, in the meantime I encourage each and everyone of you to come out for a service or to check out their new and preowned selection, you won\u2019t be disappointed!",
"summary": "Project #InspirACEtion is proud to announce that Keffer Mazda & Select Pre-Owned out of Huntersville, North Carolina",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:45:54+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:45:54+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "3295c76acbf4caaed33c36b1b5fc2cb1",
"title": "2016 Motion Pro Swag",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/2016-motion-pro-swag",
"content_html": "So pumped for this season. It wouldn\u2019t be possible without all the great sponsors behind me. Thank you so much guys!!!!, Repost from @racer_tech using @RepostRegramApp \u2013 We love getting boxes like this from our friends at @motionpro. These guys makes some seriously nice tools and products for motorcycles you can also use on UTV\u2019s. We\u2019re proud to have them on board again for #2016GNCC<\/a> to assist us with setting up @stracham820\u2019s #handcontrols<\/a> with the finest control products! #inspirACEtion<\/a> #racertech<\/a> #rtpro<\/a> #motionpro<\/a> @polarisorv",
"content_text": "So pumped for this season. It wouldn\u2019t be possible without all the great sponsors behind me. Thank you so much guys!!!!, Repost from @racer_tech using @RepostRegramApp \u2013 We love getting boxes like this from our friends at @motionpro. These guys makes some seriously nice tools and products for motorcycles you can also use on UTV\u2019s. We\u2019re proud to have them on board again for #2016GNCC to assist us with setting up @stracham820\u2019s #handcontrols with the finest control products! #inspirACEtion #racertech #rtpro #motionpro @polarisorv",
"summary": "So pumped for this season. It wouldn\u2019t be possible without all the great sponsors behind me. Thank you so much guys!!!!",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:45:24+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:45:24+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "735b90b4568125ed6c3f678819b6e058",
"title": "Off Road Radio-Quad Show",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/off-road-radio-quad-show",
"content_html": "Tune into Quad Radio on Off Road Radio<\/a> at roughly 3 PM est time on Wednesday February 17th! Catch up with me as I touch on everything from the upcoming season to having the opportunity to represent North Carolina for the Ms. Wheelchair USA pageant., If you can\u2019t tune in, be sure to check out my interview in the archive section on The Quad Show<\/a> after the air date!",
"content_text": "Tune into Quad Radio on Off Road Radio at roughly 3 PM est time on Wednesday February 17th! Catch up with me as I touch on everything from the upcoming season to having the opportunity to represent North Carolina for the Ms. Wheelchair USA pageant., If you can\u2019t tune in, be sure to check out my interview in the archive section on The Quad Show after the air date!",
"summary": "Tune into Quad Radio on Off Road Radio at roughly 3 PM est time on Wednesday February 17th!",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:44:56+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:44:56+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/xBZgwTHeti2O854o5PBGl5MjN53z7gNRpXNYO8JQ.webp",
"media": [{
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}],
"tags": [ "In The News" ]
},
{
"id": "a3f390d88e4c41f2747bfa2f1b5f87db",
"title": "First Attempt at WCMX",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/first-attempt-at-wcmx",
"content_html": "WCMX is often described as \u201cskateboarding\u201d with a wheelchair. To me it is freestyle mx for wheelchair users. The sport is well known because of Nitro Circus<\/a> and Aaron \u201cWheelz\u201d Fotheringham<\/a>., Ever since initial injury it has been something I have wanted to do. Thanks to Pixarbio this dream has become a reality. We designed a custom Box Wheelchair<\/a> that took two months to build. I busted it out of the package last night and took it out to rip today. Check out what transpired., First Run at WCMX<\/a>",
"content_text": "WCMX is often described as \u201cskateboarding\u201d with a wheelchair. To me it is freestyle mx for wheelchair users. The sport is well known because of Nitro Circus and Aaron \u201cWheelz\u201d Fotheringham., Ever since initial injury it has been something I have wanted to do. Thanks to Pixarbio this dream has become a reality. We designed a custom Box Wheelchair that took two months to build. I busted it out of the package last night and took it out to rip today. Check out what transpired., First Run at WCMX",
"summary": "WCMX is often described as \u201cskateboarding\u201d with a wheelchair. To me it is freestyle mx for wheelchair users.",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:44:10+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:44:10+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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"tags": [ "Wheel With Me" ]
},
{
"id": "14bfa6bb14875e45bba028a21ed38046",
"title": "Pool Therapy",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/pool-therapy",
"content_html": "On 02\/16\/16 we did pool therapy. We did not use leg braces. Nikki did not assist me. We simply weighted my ankles and tried something new. I did laps across the pool and also did squats. Please click the links below to enjoy some hard work and dedication. Oh and the start of some legs that are actually working.",
"content_text": "On 02\/16\/16 we did pool therapy. We did not use leg braces. Nikki did not assist me. We simply weighted my ankles and tried something new. I did laps across the pool and also did squats. Please click the links below to enjoy some hard work and dedication. Oh and the start of some legs that are actually working.",
"summary": "On 02\/16\/16 we did pool therapy. We did not use leg braces.",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:43:21+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:43:21+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "7cbbc409ec990f19c78c75bd1e06f215",
"title": "Wheeling in the Woods",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/wheeling-in-the-woods",
"content_html": "Today I took it easy. I just did my normal wheeling in the woods with my husky. A friend of mine happened to get a little of it on video. Always getting a great work out and enjoyed the beautiful weather!",
"content_text": "Today I took it easy. I just did my normal wheeling in the woods with my husky. A friend of mine happened to get a little of it on video. Always getting a great work out and enjoyed the beautiful weather!",
"summary": "Today I took it easy. I just did my normal wheeling in the woods with my husky.",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:43:50+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:43:50+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/SIlSgWG8g854B7zuHdmcyBO1q8nR1PzbhMFvBkwD.webp",
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{
"id": "e2c420d928d4bf8ce0ff2ec19b371514",
"title": "Justified Cultures Releases Jesi Stracham\u2019s Official Collection",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/justified-cultures-releases-jesi-strachams-official-collection",
"content_html": "Justified Cultures is a clothing company out of Arizona. For 2016 they not only are backing me for GNCC Racing but also for project #inspirACEtion. Dundee Dempsey, the companies founder and owner, partnered with me to put my ideas to threads. The best part, for every t-shirt sold, a portion of the proceeds go back to spinal cord injury patients. So not only will you guys look good, you are also helping a great cause while doing it! I am so excited to have Justified Cultures on my team!, Shop Ladies<\/a>, Shop Mens<\/a>",
"content_text": "Justified Cultures is a clothing company out of Arizona. For 2016 they not only are backing me for GNCC Racing but also for project #inspirACEtion. Dundee Dempsey, the companies founder and owner, partnered with me to put my ideas to threads. The best part, for every t-shirt sold, a portion of the proceeds go back to spinal cord injury patients. So not only will you guys look good, you are also helping a great cause while doing it! I am so excited to have Justified Cultures on my team!, Shop Ladies, Shop Mens",
"summary": "Justified Cultures is a clothing company out of Arizona. For 2016 they not only are backing...",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:42:43+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:42:43+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/xBZgwTHeti2O854o5PBGl5MjN53z7gNRpXNYO8JQ.webp",
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"tags": [ "Wheel With Me" ]
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{
"id": "32bb90e8976aab5298d5da10fe66f21d",
"title": "Round 1 of GNCC Racing in Palatka, Florida",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/round-1-of-gncc-racing-in-palatka-florida",
"content_html": "The 2016 season is finally underway. For the first time in GNCC history the UTV\u2019s and the single seaters attended round one in Palatka, Florida. GNCC Racing added a class for the single seat Polaris ACE last year. I was very pleased to see this class growing so quickly with eleven entries at the Wild Boar GNCC!, I was pretty nervous going into the opening round; not having any seat time in my Racer Tech Polaris ACE 900. We changed the throttle on the hand controls removing the twist throttle and adding a Motion Pro thumb throttle to the custom steering wheel. Racer Tech really brought out the big guns to make my hand controlled Polaris ACE GNCC ready!, I started mid-pack. In the third turn I hit the on\/off switch on the steering wheel. I hit it again to turn the car back on and immediately hit the start button. I spent the entire first lap in a panic, not having the ability turn the car at all without a struggle. On the second lap, I stopped in the pits to be told to turn the car on and off to reset the power steering. I didn\u2019t realize it wasn\u2019t working. I thought, with it being a bigger car and round one being in the Florida sand, that it was just that difficult to turn. After the simple fix I put my head down and charged forward. I went from sixth to fifth place. I hit some lappers in the woods accidently bumping a few of them in my aggressive effort to gain some positions., Even when I raced quads the first race of the season we always used to get a feel for the machine and new season. The uniqueness of a Florida race compared with the rest of the series is massive with opening race jitters and sandy track conditions. I can say with confidence my team and I are ready for UTV Round 2 at Big Buck. I am happy to roll away from the first round with a solid fifth place finish and some new knowledge on a possible easy fix for anything electric!, Be sure to check out atvriders.com<\/a> for the full Polaris ACE Race Report!, I was also featured on the live show on Saturday from the afternoon UTV race on Racer TV<\/a>. You\u2019ll hear from me at about an hour into the show!",
"content_text": "The 2016 season is finally underway. For the first time in GNCC history the UTV\u2019s and the single seaters attended round one in Palatka, Florida. GNCC Racing added a class for the single seat Polaris ACE last year. I was very pleased to see this class growing so quickly with eleven entries at the Wild Boar GNCC!, I was pretty nervous going into the opening round; not having any seat time in my Racer Tech Polaris ACE 900. We changed the throttle on the hand controls removing the twist throttle and adding a Motion Pro thumb throttle to the custom steering wheel. Racer Tech really brought out the big guns to make my hand controlled Polaris ACE GNCC ready!, I started mid-pack. In the third turn I hit the on\/off switch on the steering wheel. I hit it again to turn the car back on and immediately hit the start button. I spent the entire first lap in a panic, not having the ability turn the car at all without a struggle. On the second lap, I stopped in the pits to be told to turn the car on and off to reset the power steering. I didn\u2019t realize it wasn\u2019t working. I thought, with it being a bigger car and round one being in the Florida sand, that it was just that difficult to turn. After the simple fix I put my head down and charged forward. I went from sixth to fifth place. I hit some lappers in the woods accidently bumping a few of them in my aggressive effort to gain some positions., Even when I raced quads the first race of the season we always used to get a feel for the machine and new season. The uniqueness of a Florida race compared with the rest of the series is massive with opening race jitters and sandy track conditions. I can say with confidence my team and I are ready for UTV Round 2 at Big Buck. I am happy to roll away from the first round with a solid fifth place finish and some new knowledge on a possible easy fix for anything electric!, Be sure to check out atvriders.com for the full Polaris ACE Race Report!, I was also featured on the live show on Saturday from the afternoon UTV race on Racer TV. You\u2019ll hear from me at about an hour into the show!",
"summary": "The 2016 season is finally underway. For the first time in GNCC history the UTV\u2019s and the single seaters...",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:42:08+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:42:08+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "d2ddea18f00665ce8623e36bd4e3c7c5",
"title": "Round 4 of GNCC Racing in Union, South Carolina",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/round-4-of-gncc-racing-in-union-south-carolina",
"content_html": "Round 4 of the GNCC Racing Series<\/a> take us to Union, South Carolina for the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck. The landowner, Henry Turner, has hosted the GNCC Racing Series for 20 seasons now. The entire town of Union comes out to this particular race every year. To gain the support of your town is almost unheard of, but this community really comes together to support us coming out to enjoy a weekend of racing., This track has always been one of my favorites. The South Carolina clay terrain, dusty conditions, and fastness always make this race a difficult one to place well in. Usually about halfway through the race you see machines and riders start to fall off due to the conditions. Endurance and a well-maintained machine is key here., There were 10 entries on the line for the 9 a.m. start of the Single Seat ACE race. I am very pleased to see the consistency of racers coming out to join us in their Polaris Ace. Before we started my mechanic, Ben, asked me not to tear it up too bad while out there, I told him I\u2019d do my best. With that we were all waiting for the ten-second call with our eyes all on Rickey Towery. I was about a mid-pack start as we disappeared into the woods. About half a mile into the course someone about 3 cars up hit a tree. I wasn\u2019t ready for everyone to stop and slammed into the car in front of me. After than incident I was a bit flustered. There was a section on the track that when I was going around I was a bit hesitant on. There was an inside line that was a bit off camber for comfort and an outside line that was even but the turn was sharper than I expected and I hit the tree letting two cars get around me. When I get situated and going again I was more flustered than before. Getting in to the next straight away I got behind another car being sure to stay close due to dusty conditions, at one point the driver let off and I didn\u2019t, so I slammed into them. We made it to the finish to complete lap number one. I made it two turns out of the finish and rolled my car. The last thought to go through my mind was, \u201cOh Crap!\u201d, and I was on the side. Matt Watson helped to tip me back over, he said I was on the gas before the car even hit the ground. With a bit to eventful first lap I gathered myself and focused on finishing the race. I felt very calm and in tune with the machine. I came through with the white two-lap card out and I was in third. I could hardly believe it! When I came through the finish to get the white flag I slowed my pace and made it a priority to get through the last lap. The car started acting like it wanted to turn off on me, so I stayed steady on the gas to get a podium finish! Words cannot describe how great it felt to be up there with my teammate Sam Yokley! We hope to continue this momentum to the next round!, I have so many people beside me to thank for getting me on the box. First and foremost the Good Lord for watching over each of us as we go out and participate in a sport we love. Racer Productions for putting on a great series; giving us an awesome track to battle it out on. Factory Polaris Racing, Keffer Mazda of Charlotte, Justified Cultures, People Services, GBC Motorsports, PAC Racing Springs, Loud Performance Products, Motion Pro, Shoei Helmets, Beard Seats, SSI Decals, Trinity Racing, K & N Filters, Scott Motorsports, Rockwell Time, the fans, my family of course, and a special thanks to the guys on the Jacks team for feeding me and taking care of me the last two rounds! See you guys again in two weeks!, Follow my road to Texas as I take over Justified Cultures Snapchat (@livejustified) again this Wednesday, where I will be competeing in the Rise Adaptive Sports<\/a> WCMX National Competition on Sunday along with singing the National Anthem!, Racer TV Big Buck ATV\u2019s<\/a>, Racer TV Big Buck UTV\u2019s<\/a>, Racer TV Big Buck Bikes<\/a>, Be sure to check out my interviews from last week!, Pop Sugar Video<\/a>, Today.com Article<\/a>",
"content_text": "Round 4 of the GNCC Racing Series take us to Union, South Carolina for the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck. The landowner, Henry Turner, has hosted the GNCC Racing Series for 20 seasons now. The entire town of Union comes out to this particular race every year. To gain the support of your town is almost unheard of, but this community really comes together to support us coming out to enjoy a weekend of racing., This track has always been one of my favorites. The South Carolina clay terrain, dusty conditions, and fastness always make this race a difficult one to place well in. Usually about halfway through the race you see machines and riders start to fall off due to the conditions. Endurance and a well-maintained machine is key here., There were 10 entries on the line for the 9 a.m. start of the Single Seat ACE race. I am very pleased to see the consistency of racers coming out to join us in their Polaris Ace. Before we started my mechanic, Ben, asked me not to tear it up too bad while out there, I told him I\u2019d do my best. With that we were all waiting for the ten-second call with our eyes all on Rickey Towery. I was about a mid-pack start as we disappeared into the woods. About half a mile into the course someone about 3 cars up hit a tree. I wasn\u2019t ready for everyone to stop and slammed into the car in front of me. After than incident I was a bit flustered. There was a section on the track that when I was going around I was a bit hesitant on. There was an inside line that was a bit off camber for comfort and an outside line that was even but the turn was sharper than I expected and I hit the tree letting two cars get around me. When I get situated and going again I was more flustered than before. Getting in to the next straight away I got behind another car being sure to stay close due to dusty conditions, at one point the driver let off and I didn\u2019t, so I slammed into them. We made it to the finish to complete lap number one. I made it two turns out of the finish and rolled my car. The last thought to go through my mind was, \u201cOh Crap!\u201d, and I was on the side. Matt Watson helped to tip me back over, he said I was on the gas before the car even hit the ground. With a bit to eventful first lap I gathered myself and focused on finishing the race. I felt very calm and in tune with the machine. I came through with the white two-lap card out and I was in third. I could hardly believe it! When I came through the finish to get the white flag I slowed my pace and made it a priority to get through the last lap. The car started acting like it wanted to turn off on me, so I stayed steady on the gas to get a podium finish! Words cannot describe how great it felt to be up there with my teammate Sam Yokley! We hope to continue this momentum to the next round!, I have so many people beside me to thank for getting me on the box. First and foremost the Good Lord for watching over each of us as we go out and participate in a sport we love. Racer Productions for putting on a great series; giving us an awesome track to battle it out on. Factory Polaris Racing, Keffer Mazda of Charlotte, Justified Cultures, People Services, GBC Motorsports, PAC Racing Springs, Loud Performance Products, Motion Pro, Shoei Helmets, Beard Seats, SSI Decals, Trinity Racing, K & N Filters, Scott Motorsports, Rockwell Time, the fans, my family of course, and a special thanks to the guys on the Jacks team for feeding me and taking care of me the last two rounds! See you guys again in two weeks!, Follow my road to Texas as I take over Justified Cultures Snapchat (@livejustified) again this Wednesday, where I will be competeing in the Rise Adaptive Sports WCMX National Competition on Sunday along with singing the National Anthem!, Racer TV Big Buck ATV\u2019s, Racer TV Big Buck UTV\u2019s, Racer TV Big Buck Bikes, Be sure to check out my interviews from last week!, Pop Sugar Video, Today.com Article",
"summary": "Round 4 of the GNCC Racing Series take us to Union, South Carolina for the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck.",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:41:29+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:41:29+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "ad61ab143223efbc24c7d2583be69251",
"title": "CST Camp Coker Bullet and The Wiseco John Penton GNCC",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/cst-camp-coker-bullet-and-the-wiseco-john-penton-gncc",
"content_html": "CST Camp Coker, April 30, After coming from a third place podium at the VP Racing Fuels big buck, I went to the inaugural CST Camp Coker Bullet GNCC with high anticipation. Ten Polaris Ace\u2019s lined up waiting for Ricky Towery to give us the green flag to go GNCC Racing<\/a>. This season I have been grateful to take my Factory Polaris Ace<\/a> through the finish line each round this year. Racer Tech<\/a> keeps my machine in tip-top shape so I can run the wheels off her. I started in fifth place and maintained this position to the finish., The Wiseco John Penton, May 28, After a week of battling illness, I made the drive to Ohio knowing I wasn\u2019t at 100%. I really wanted to stay home in bed, but the doctor had called in medicine and I was off to Sunday Creek<\/a> to race my Racer Tech<\/a> Polaris Ace<\/a>. The John Penton<\/a> has always been one of my favorite tracks on the GNCC circuit. I have been begging the guys at Racer Tech to give me more go juice so the top guys in the Single Seat class would stop pulling away from me from the beginning. Bikeman Performance<\/a> came through with a Bulldog Programmer and clutch kit, creating an expert formula to get my Polaris Ace going., On the starting line we had eleven entries in the Single Seat Class. Its great to see this class catching on so quickly, last year we had eight entries. The green flag dropped and we were off. I ran onto the front fender and wheel of defending champion Sam Yokley<\/a> in the first turn. I let up on the throttle putting me into the woods in the fifth place position. The John Penton is unique because of the motocross track. This allows spectators to see some racing action and the racers to make passes. We changed positions a lot throughout the race. The entire field swapped back and forth. I passed Sam Yokley at one point, him getting me back on the same lap. I used the motocross track to my advantage, taking risks by trying different lines. Before the table top I was coming in hot, hitting the rollers causing my back end to swap out. I slammed my head on the cage causing me to see stars. I shook it off and charged on. Trailing behind Robert Boynton<\/a> on lap 6, I went wide in the doubles making the pass on him for the third place position. I was then riding behind Sam again, working our way through this fun course the track crew put together. Torey Rush<\/a> was pulling away from the pack, holding a thirty-three second lead over the number one of Sam Yokely with two laps to go. Rush blew a belt in his Polaris Ace giving Yokley, who ran into trouble when he decided to cartwheel his Ace, the lead. This put me in the second place position, lighting a fire in me. With the white flag out and Yokley in my sights I charged forward. I caught him as we went into the woods. As we came out of the woods, having the motocross track between us and the finish we battled. I knew I had a short amount of time to make my move. We had every spectator on the edge of their seats. With a turn, a double, and another turn to the finish I tried to make my pass. I couldn\u2019t get it done. We took the checkered with .828 of a second between us. It was great to be back on the box next to my Polaris Racer Tech teammate of Yokley., That leads us UTV Racers to summer break until we come back in October for the Polaris Ace Powerline Park<\/a>.",
"content_text": "CST Camp Coker, April 30, After coming from a third place podium at the VP Racing Fuels big buck, I went to the inaugural CST Camp Coker Bullet GNCC with high anticipation. Ten Polaris Ace\u2019s lined up waiting for Ricky Towery to give us the green flag to go GNCC Racing. This season I have been grateful to take my Factory Polaris Ace through the finish line each round this year. Racer Tech keeps my machine in tip-top shape so I can run the wheels off her. I started in fifth place and maintained this position to the finish., The Wiseco John Penton, May 28, After a week of battling illness, I made the drive to Ohio knowing I wasn\u2019t at 100%. I really wanted to stay home in bed, but the doctor had called in medicine and I was off to Sunday Creek to race my Racer Tech Polaris Ace. The John Penton has always been one of my favorite tracks on the GNCC circuit. I have been begging the guys at Racer Tech to give me more go juice so the top guys in the Single Seat class would stop pulling away from me from the beginning. Bikeman Performance came through with a Bulldog Programmer and clutch kit, creating an expert formula to get my Polaris Ace going., On the starting line we had eleven entries in the Single Seat Class. Its great to see this class catching on so quickly, last year we had eight entries. The green flag dropped and we were off. I ran onto the front fender and wheel of defending champion Sam Yokley in the first turn. I let up on the throttle putting me into the woods in the fifth place position. The John Penton is unique because of the motocross track. This allows spectators to see some racing action and the racers to make passes. We changed positions a lot throughout the race. The entire field swapped back and forth. I passed Sam Yokley at one point, him getting me back on the same lap. I used the motocross track to my advantage, taking risks by trying different lines. Before the table top I was coming in hot, hitting the rollers causing my back end to swap out. I slammed my head on the cage causing me to see stars. I shook it off and charged on. Trailing behind Robert Boynton on lap 6, I went wide in the doubles making the pass on him for the third place position. I was then riding behind Sam again, working our way through this fun course the track crew put together. Torey Rush was pulling away from the pack, holding a thirty-three second lead over the number one of Sam Yokely with two laps to go. Rush blew a belt in his Polaris Ace giving Yokley, who ran into trouble when he decided to cartwheel his Ace, the lead. This put me in the second place position, lighting a fire in me. With the white flag out and Yokley in my sights I charged forward. I caught him as we went into the woods. As we came out of the woods, having the motocross track between us and the finish we battled. I knew I had a short amount of time to make my move. We had every spectator on the edge of their seats. With a turn, a double, and another turn to the finish I tried to make my pass. I couldn\u2019t get it done. We took the checkered with .828 of a second between us. It was great to be back on the box next to my Polaris Racer Tech teammate of Yokley., That leads us UTV Racers to summer break until we come back in October for the Polaris Ace Powerline Park.",
"summary": "After coming from a third place podium at the VP Racing Fuels big buck, I went to the inaugural CST Camp Coker Bullet GNCC with high anticipation",
"date_published": "2024-08-16T13:22:19+00:00",
"date_modified": "2024-08-16T13:22:19+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/2Rlap7lDtmk1ul0ya3PmkbykQdAZei211RxJpteK.webp",
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{
"id": "d09bf41544a3365a46c9077ebb5e35c3",
"title": "3000 miles in 3 weeks",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/3000-miles-in-3-weeks",
"content_html": "This trip started in Charlotte at Warped Tour before I headed North. Warped Tour was incredible. I saw some of my favorite bands, even getting a braclet that allowed me back staged to every stage., The next day I finished loading up and headed to Sunday Creek for the rescheduled John Penton GNCC. When i pulled in on Friday evening the conditions were wet. Rider registration hadn\u2019t opened nor did it show signs of opening. I went to the team trailer, where the rest of the team was packing up to head to the hotel, so i didn\u2019t even get out of my car. After heading back to the hotel, I prepped a set of roll off\u2019s for the muddy conditions. It was ironic that the weather was as crappy as it was, being that the race was rescheduled due to weather. Saturday morning I kept to myself on the Polaris Ranger the Ashton family hauls to each race to help get me around the pits, (Team UXC is a family, I couldn\u2019t ask to be apart of a better team). I was stuck in my head. I hadn\u2019t raced muddy conditions in years or since I\u2019ve been paralyzed. I had the pre-race jitters that I would get before an ATV Race. On the starting line I knew I had to get out front to get my goggles to last through the conditions, so I made a pass for the lead in turn two. I felt freakishly calm. My training is paying off. As I weave through the trees, I see the motocross track. I blow a turn right before it, going through the banner. Crap I think, thats a penalty. So I stopped for a second to let the second place guy around me, but he blew the turn getting a bit hung up, so I continued on. Right before the motocross track there is a dip, well I would hit it the right way to cause immediate noticeable damage. My steering had to be turned to the right for my Polaris Ace to go straight. I fought this for the next lap, even taking out the scoring tent when going through, (sorry about that guys), until my arms couldn\u2019t overpower the steering any longer. I headed back to the pits where Michael Swift and Kevin Trantham were gearing up for their 10 am race. They couldn\u2019t physically see the damage, besides where the one wheel was off, but I couldn\u2019t fight the steering for another lap. To say I was bummed was an understatement. I had not lead a race in my single seat racing career yet. After further inspection the following week, Michael said I had bent the frame. I will be more prepared in late September when GNCC single seat racing continues., From Sunday Creek Raceway I headed north to Canton to visit my hometown. I stayed with my Aunt four days before heading east to Scranton, Pennsylvania to stay with my Stracham side of the family. It wasn\u2019t until after my injury I became close with this side. I stayed four days. One day I volunteered at the church during their children summer camp. My cousin Cassie and I attempted to hike the Nay Aug Park on a moderate abled bodied hiking trail. I ended up on the ground trying to see the waterfall, and also went up the steps on my hands with her holding my legs wheelbarrow style. I took part in the cousins pool party, seeing family I hadn\u2019t seen in years., I left them to head North to New York where I visited my good friend Nikki. I was there two days before getting back in the car and heading further north., During my 6 hour drive to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, I had a friend tell me i should start recording my trips, so I broke out my camera and hit record. (The Wheel With Me Series will be released later this year.), I pulled into Cape Cod camp ground, checked in, then set up my tent. Adventure starts where your comfort zone ends. Camping on the cape, four days, by myself. This was a bit out of my comfort zone as I\u2019m still not 100% at getting myself off the ground creating one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I pumped up my twin air mattress and placing my tempurpedic topper to prevent sores if it deflated on top. Strategically, I placed my tent next to the picnic table so I could use that to get in my chair in the morning, along with anchor my tent to it. I have a Kelty Grand Mesa II brand tent. I recommend this because the flap for the door zips perfect around your chair to protect it from weather. One morning I woke up to cath, and heard an animal out side of my tent. This animal sounded like it was growling. I had food from the night before inside with me. I thought maybe that\u2019s why. I stayed as still as possible hoping the animal would leave, but the growling continued. After about 10 minutes of my heart racing thinking an animal was about to attack, someone a couple sites over gasped for a breathe. It was just human snores. What a relief for me., After setting up camp, I headed to Cape Cod Curling Club for ice practice. The next four days I would be competing in the Cape Cod Curling International Summer Bonspiel, along with Matt, Matt, and David. It had been a while since I\u2019ve have ice time, so it took a while for me to warm up. By the end of the 4 days I had it together, but we fell short of making the finals., I packed up shop the following morning, feeling refreshed, I headed south to North Carolina. Ahhh home, where the husky is. Until my next adventure\u2026.",
"content_text": "This trip started in Charlotte at Warped Tour before I headed North. Warped Tour was incredible. I saw some of my favorite bands, even getting a braclet that allowed me back staged to every stage., The next day I finished loading up and headed to Sunday Creek for the rescheduled John Penton GNCC. When i pulled in on Friday evening the conditions were wet. Rider registration hadn\u2019t opened nor did it show signs of opening. I went to the team trailer, where the rest of the team was packing up to head to the hotel, so i didn\u2019t even get out of my car. After heading back to the hotel, I prepped a set of roll off\u2019s for the muddy conditions. It was ironic that the weather was as crappy as it was, being that the race was rescheduled due to weather. Saturday morning I kept to myself on the Polaris Ranger the Ashton family hauls to each race to help get me around the pits, (Team UXC is a family, I couldn\u2019t ask to be apart of a better team). I was stuck in my head. I hadn\u2019t raced muddy conditions in years or since I\u2019ve been paralyzed. I had the pre-race jitters that I would get before an ATV Race. On the starting line I knew I had to get out front to get my goggles to last through the conditions, so I made a pass for the lead in turn two. I felt freakishly calm. My training is paying off. As I weave through the trees, I see the motocross track. I blow a turn right before it, going through the banner. Crap I think, thats a penalty. So I stopped for a second to let the second place guy around me, but he blew the turn getting a bit hung up, so I continued on. Right before the motocross track there is a dip, well I would hit it the right way to cause immediate noticeable damage. My steering had to be turned to the right for my Polaris Ace to go straight. I fought this for the next lap, even taking out the scoring tent when going through, (sorry about that guys), until my arms couldn\u2019t overpower the steering any longer. I headed back to the pits where Michael Swift and Kevin Trantham were gearing up for their 10 am race. They couldn\u2019t physically see the damage, besides where the one wheel was off, but I couldn\u2019t fight the steering for another lap. To say I was bummed was an understatement. I had not lead a race in my single seat racing career yet. After further inspection the following week, Michael said I had bent the frame. I will be more prepared in late September when GNCC single seat racing continues., From Sunday Creek Raceway I headed north to Canton to visit my hometown. I stayed with my Aunt four days before heading east to Scranton, Pennsylvania to stay with my Stracham side of the family. It wasn\u2019t until after my injury I became close with this side. I stayed four days. One day I volunteered at the church during their children summer camp. My cousin Cassie and I attempted to hike the Nay Aug Park on a moderate abled bodied hiking trail. I ended up on the ground trying to see the waterfall, and also went up the steps on my hands with her holding my legs wheelbarrow style. I took part in the cousins pool party, seeing family I hadn\u2019t seen in years., I left them to head North to New York where I visited my good friend Nikki. I was there two days before getting back in the car and heading further north., During my 6 hour drive to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, I had a friend tell me i should start recording my trips, so I broke out my camera and hit record. (The Wheel With Me Series will be released later this year.), I pulled into Cape Cod camp ground, checked in, then set up my tent. Adventure starts where your comfort zone ends. Camping on the cape, four days, by myself. This was a bit out of my comfort zone as I\u2019m still not 100% at getting myself off the ground creating one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I pumped up my twin air mattress and placing my tempurpedic topper to prevent sores if it deflated on top. Strategically, I placed my tent next to the picnic table so I could use that to get in my chair in the morning, along with anchor my tent to it. I have a Kelty Grand Mesa II brand tent. I recommend this because the flap for the door zips perfect around your chair to protect it from weather. One morning I woke up to cath, and heard an animal out side of my tent. This animal sounded like it was growling. I had food from the night before inside with me. I thought maybe that\u2019s why. I stayed as still as possible hoping the animal would leave, but the growling continued. After about 10 minutes of my heart racing thinking an animal was about to attack, someone a couple sites over gasped for a breathe. It was just human snores. What a relief for me., After setting up camp, I headed to Cape Cod Curling Club for ice practice. The next four days I would be competing in the Cape Cod Curling International Summer Bonspiel, along with Matt, Matt, and David. It had been a while since I\u2019ve have ice time, so it took a while for me to warm up. By the end of the 4 days I had it together, but we fell short of making the finals., I packed up shop the following morning, feeling refreshed, I headed south to North Carolina. Ahhh home, where the husky is. Until my next adventure\u2026.",
"summary": "This trip started in Charlotte at Warped Tour before I headed North.",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:28:04+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:28:04+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "fbd7939d674997cdb4692d34de8633c4",
"title": "Asheville Spartan",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/asheville-spartan",
"content_html": "This race was unlike any other. More Heart Than Scars was going to attempt the Asheville Spartan Super with an all woman team. Being a strong advocate for woman rising past the \u201climitations\u201d society has set for us, I couldn\u2019t be more excited., The woman would lead with the men behind in the event we got in a pinch. I\u2019ll tell you what, I\u2019m pretty thankful for that. Not because the woman were incapable, the Asheville, North Carolina mountain terrain was brutal to say the least., Within the first couple of miles I had to completely lose my shit to get some organization. Because we were such a large group, the communication didn\u2019t exists. After my brief meltdown and a bit of regrouping we were back on track. About halfway through Zack and Laura had to leave for previous plans with special Spartans, so Laura took over as lead horse and we would continue on. For roughly 3\/4ths of the race we used all woman, but the continues lifting and pulling wore on the team. Towards the end we would cross paths with a group of Sheep Dog\u2019s. They helped us through the last few obstacles, while the ladies threw out trash talk of course. Patrick put be back in the chair after the last obstacle., We finished the race after about 10 and half hours. It was brutal to say the least. I realized I wasn\u2019t in as great of shape as I thought and I have a lot of work to do. I hope to make it to Chicago for the Toughest Mudder on August 26, which is 8 hours throughout the night. Fingers crossed I can find the funds and pull a team together. I cannot thank More Heart Than Scars<\/a> enough for making OCR races possible. Be sure to give them a like ok Facebook!, Until the next adventure\u2026., Support my cause through here \u27a1 .",
"content_text": "This race was unlike any other. More Heart Than Scars was going to attempt the Asheville Spartan Super with an all woman team. Being a strong advocate for woman rising past the \u201climitations\u201d society has set for us, I couldn\u2019t be more excited., The woman would lead with the men behind in the event we got in a pinch. I\u2019ll tell you what, I\u2019m pretty thankful for that. Not because the woman were incapable, the Asheville, North Carolina mountain terrain was brutal to say the least., Within the first couple of miles I had to completely lose my shit to get some organization. Because we were such a large group, the communication didn\u2019t exists. After my brief meltdown and a bit of regrouping we were back on track. About halfway through Zack and Laura had to leave for previous plans with special Spartans, so Laura took over as lead horse and we would continue on. For roughly 3\/4ths of the race we used all woman, but the continues lifting and pulling wore on the team. Towards the end we would cross paths with a group of Sheep Dog\u2019s. They helped us through the last few obstacles, while the ladies threw out trash talk of course. Patrick put be back in the chair after the last obstacle., We finished the race after about 10 and half hours. It was brutal to say the least. I realized I wasn\u2019t in as great of shape as I thought and I have a lot of work to do. I hope to make it to Chicago for the Toughest Mudder on August 26, which is 8 hours throughout the night. Fingers crossed I can find the funds and pull a team together. I cannot thank More Heart Than Scars enough for making OCR races possible. Be sure to give them a like ok Facebook!, Until the next adventure\u2026., Support my cause through here \u27a1 .",
"summary": "This race was unlike any other. More Heart Than Scars was going to attempt the Asheville ",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:24:11+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:24:11+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "28dd2c7955ce926456240b2ff0100bde",
"title": "EST Fest",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/est-fest",
"content_html": "I don\u2019t even know where to start to when it comes to this incredible experience. A weekend of camping, music, positive vibes, and NO CELL SERVICE. Come back to 1970 something with me., Leading up to fEST\u2026, Remember that solo camping trip I took a few weeks ago? That was my dry run for this festival, showing I could handle tent camping post spinal cord injury. I bought my ticket with the intention of winging it if my close wheel friend, Taylor, couldn\u2019t make it. Double checking my gear, I got in my car to head north for Ohio. I stopped by my Aunts house for a quick visit before meeting up with Tay, Lex, and Jacob., Day one\u2026., We arrived at the camp ground around 11 am Friday Morning. The sky looked grey, releasing a light mist like that of the grocery store veggie section. Conditions were not promising. We drug everything from the cars to the camp sites and began setting up. We finished around noon and began our festival activities. Friday evening we went to the main stage where we stayed from Mod Sun to Gucci Mane. We headed back to camp and I feel asleep around 1., Day two\u2026., I woke up at 10, setting out to get it together and find Lex, I hadn\u2019t seen her since the day before. She had been sleeping in her car so I met her there and we dressed for the pool., http:\/\/jesistracham.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/f5575529-8865-4b56-9ddb-8182d57c963c.mov, Ohio Dreams Sports Complex had a little of everything, from a giant slide into the pool to a small skate park. I enjoyed watching all of the brave souls that flew through the air down the enormous slide, along with the guy on the BMX track. After changing back into dry clothes, I headed to the skatepark. The park was smaller and had a nice flow to it. There were about 100 people gathered around for the fallen fest goers memorial, little did they know my wheels hadn\u2019t seen a park in over a year. The guys pushed me to the top and I flew down. The roar from the crowd had my adrenaline through the roof!, I headed back to my car to change from my pee pants, get ready for the night, and wake Lex up, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS WAS COMING ON SOON!!!!!!! I had missed them in Raleigh the previous year and they are one of the main performances I wanted to see. After getting everything gathered, including Lex, we headed off to the stage. There was a platform on top of the hill that I sat next to on day one, well today, there was a man in a wheelchair on it! I hadn\u2019t pushed so hard out of excitement the entire weekend. For the ENTIRE night show I had the best seat in the house! Not to mention MGK put on about a two hour show, playing a song from every album! Hands down that was one of the best concerts I had seen to date! He finished his set with a fireworks show, then we migrated back to the car to change my pee pants again. Lex was exhausted, so I headed down to find Tay. I ran into Tyler, one of the guys who helped me at the skatepark, and he said he was headed to the dome, so I rolled with. The dome looked like less sturdy version of the domes you climb on at playgrounds, but I was determined to get in the mix. I wheeled through one of the triangles and pushed my way to the front. The entire gang was on a stage in front of us, in front of me was security guards, and two girls, to my right was a metal barricade. With the way the crowd was pushing me I was nervous about busting my face on the barricade so I pushed further forward., http:\/\/jesistracham.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/filtered-8079a555-0454-4e4e-a338-8ae6c098de3c-1.mov, This is where the night takes an interesting turn., The crowd kept pushing me forward, into these two girls legs. The security guard kept yelling at me that I couldn\u2019t go anywhere because the girls consistently complained to him. I told him it was the crowd. WELL, the bigger girl kept pushing her heels into my wheelchair, which was irritating so I put on the wheel locks, THEN, the little girl GRABS the front bar on my wheelchair\u2026.next thing I knew I had her by her left butt cheek, and was tossing her into the barricade. She got back in her place, staring me down, I looked back, mouthing, \u201cI\u2019m not the one.\u201d Anyone that knows me, knows I\u2019m a laid back hippy, I don\u2019t like violence. Even after the crowd behind me told the security guard what these girls were doing, he continued to watch them bully me. The bigger girl took her skirt off to be standing in her panties, showing her classy side. Now I had her ass in my face as she is pushing on my chair with her ankles, so I started PURPOSELY slamming my chair into their ankles. After the dome was shut down due to time, the security guard looked at the girls, exclaiming, \u201cThank you for not fighting.\u201d Someone should have got a photo of the look of disbelief on my face. As I rolled out of the dome I shook it off, and headed back to my tent. I fell asleep in my tent somewhere around 4am., The next morning I woke up to some serious stomach cramps. The accessible porta-potty was on the other side of the camp ground so I hadn\u2019t been going the way I needed to. I new I had to go and before I knew it I had a nice big pile of poop in my tent with me. This so rarely happens to me that I cleaned up, laughed it off, and moved on with packing and loading up. Oh the joys of paralysis. After saying my goodbyes to Lex, Tay, and Jacob, I made the hour drive to my aunts to drop some things off, then headed back to the sweet Carolinas., I cannot wait for next years fEST! It was an incredible experience through and through!, Until next adventure\u2026\u2026\u2026.",
"content_text": "I don\u2019t even know where to start to when it comes to this incredible experience. A weekend of camping, music, positive vibes, and NO CELL SERVICE. Come back to 1970 something with me., Leading up to fEST\u2026, Remember that solo camping trip I took a few weeks ago? That was my dry run for this festival, showing I could handle tent camping post spinal cord injury. I bought my ticket with the intention of winging it if my close wheel friend, Taylor, couldn\u2019t make it. Double checking my gear, I got in my car to head north for Ohio. I stopped by my Aunts house for a quick visit before meeting up with Tay, Lex, and Jacob., Day one\u2026., We arrived at the camp ground around 11 am Friday Morning. The sky looked grey, releasing a light mist like that of the grocery store veggie section. Conditions were not promising. We drug everything from the cars to the camp sites and began setting up. We finished around noon and began our festival activities. Friday evening we went to the main stage where we stayed from Mod Sun to Gucci Mane. We headed back to camp and I feel asleep around 1., Day two\u2026., I woke up at 10, setting out to get it together and find Lex, I hadn\u2019t seen her since the day before. She had been sleeping in her car so I met her there and we dressed for the pool., http:\/\/jesistracham.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/f5575529-8865-4b56-9ddb-8182d57c963c.mov, Ohio Dreams Sports Complex had a little of everything, from a giant slide into the pool to a small skate park. I enjoyed watching all of the brave souls that flew through the air down the enormous slide, along with the guy on the BMX track. After changing back into dry clothes, I headed to the skatepark. The park was smaller and had a nice flow to it. There were about 100 people gathered around for the fallen fest goers memorial, little did they know my wheels hadn\u2019t seen a park in over a year. The guys pushed me to the top and I flew down. The roar from the crowd had my adrenaline through the roof!, I headed back to my car to change from my pee pants, get ready for the night, and wake Lex up, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS WAS COMING ON SOON!!!!!!! I had missed them in Raleigh the previous year and they are one of the main performances I wanted to see. After getting everything gathered, including Lex, we headed off to the stage. There was a platform on top of the hill that I sat next to on day one, well today, there was a man in a wheelchair on it! I hadn\u2019t pushed so hard out of excitement the entire weekend. For the ENTIRE night show I had the best seat in the house! Not to mention MGK put on about a two hour show, playing a song from every album! Hands down that was one of the best concerts I had seen to date! He finished his set with a fireworks show, then we migrated back to the car to change my pee pants again. Lex was exhausted, so I headed down to find Tay. I ran into Tyler, one of the guys who helped me at the skatepark, and he said he was headed to the dome, so I rolled with. The dome looked like less sturdy version of the domes you climb on at playgrounds, but I was determined to get in the mix. I wheeled through one of the triangles and pushed my way to the front. The entire gang was on a stage in front of us, in front of me was security guards, and two girls, to my right was a metal barricade. With the way the crowd was pushing me I was nervous about busting my face on the barricade so I pushed further forward., http:\/\/jesistracham.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/filtered-8079a555-0454-4e4e-a338-8ae6c098de3c-1.mov, This is where the night takes an interesting turn., The crowd kept pushing me forward, into these two girls legs. The security guard kept yelling at me that I couldn\u2019t go anywhere because the girls consistently complained to him. I told him it was the crowd. WELL, the bigger girl kept pushing her heels into my wheelchair, which was irritating so I put on the wheel locks, THEN, the little girl GRABS the front bar on my wheelchair\u2026.next thing I knew I had her by her left butt cheek, and was tossing her into the barricade. She got back in her place, staring me down, I looked back, mouthing, \u201cI\u2019m not the one.\u201d Anyone that knows me, knows I\u2019m a laid back hippy, I don\u2019t like violence. Even after the crowd behind me told the security guard what these girls were doing, he continued to watch them bully me. The bigger girl took her skirt off to be standing in her panties, showing her classy side. Now I had her ass in my face as she is pushing on my chair with her ankles, so I started PURPOSELY slamming my chair into their ankles. After the dome was shut down due to time, the security guard looked at the girls, exclaiming, \u201cThank you for not fighting.\u201d Someone should have got a photo of the look of disbelief on my face. As I rolled out of the dome I shook it off, and headed back to my tent. I fell asleep in my tent somewhere around 4am., The next morning I woke up to some serious stomach cramps. The accessible porta-potty was on the other side of the camp ground so I hadn\u2019t been going the way I needed to. I new I had to go and before I knew it I had a nice big pile of poop in my tent with me. This so rarely happens to me that I cleaned up, laughed it off, and moved on with packing and loading up. Oh the joys of paralysis. After saying my goodbyes to Lex, Tay, and Jacob, I made the hour drive to my aunts to drop some things off, then headed back to the sweet Carolinas., I cannot wait for next years fEST! It was an incredible experience through and through!, Until next adventure\u2026\u2026\u2026.",
"summary": "I don\u2019t even know where to start to when it comes to this incredible experience. A weekend of camping, music, positive vibes, and NO CELL SERVICE",
"date_published": "2023-08-15T00:22:28+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-15T00:22:28+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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"tags": [ "Wheel With Me" ]
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{
"id": "35f4a8d465e6e1edc05f3d8ab658c551",
"title": "Coast to Coast",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/coast-to-coast",
"content_html": "I slammed the trunk closed, running down my mental checklist. \u201cYup,\u201d I think to myself, \u201cI\u2019ve lost my mind.\u201d It was a brisk October morning that would send me off to the Pisgah National forest. I would be \u201cglamping\u201d it up at The Bike Farm<\/a> thanks to Peace of Adventure<\/a>. Three days I would push my body past its limits. Hand-cycling through the mountains kicked my butt, (it didn\u2019t help I had a Tougher and Tough Mudder the Saturday and Sunday before)., On Thusday I took off from the mountains of North Carolina. The destination was Ironman Raceway for the last round of GNCC Racing. The entire ace field missed the 10 second call. You would have thought our single seat Polaris ACE\u2019s were bumper cars as we approached turn number two. I lost my door on lap number one removing the protection that keeps my body parts in the car. I had to adjust my leg a few times as it kept trying to escape. The emotion I felt FINALLY seeing the finish of a race, tears escaped. I had a \u201cmini-quad 2008\u201d kind-off season; finishing two out of six races., Sunday came and I had my mind set on Colorado. \u201cI\u2019m taking a week long vacation from my own life,\u201d I jokingly told my friends. The week that would follow would be unimaginable. My wheel-friend Kevin kindly gave me a place to stay for the week. Throughout the week I would meet phenomenal people, gaining new wheel and non wheel friends. During my vacation I made lifetime\u2019s worth of memories including viewing Buffalo Bill\u2019s grave, visiting Red Rocks Amphitheater, and rock climbing out doors for the first time., The week came to an end and I hit the road again. My drive to Vegas was around twelve hours, lucky for me one of the wheel-friends I made had another wheel-friend that lived in Grand Junction. Andy and Sara gave me a place to stay to break up my drive to Vegas. I am beyond grateful to be apart of the close wheelchair community., Being a wheelchair athlete with an abled bodied competitor\u2019s mindset is a difficult and humbling experience. I wanted to complete my 50 mile goal to raise as much money for the Wheel With Me Foundation<\/a> as possible. Combining that with a 24-hour obstacle race course creates an intense array of emotions, especially among a team., We started out with a great pace. Finishing the first first lap quickly we stopped in the pit. Before leaving the pit my team captain, Sarah, urge we put a shortie wetsuit on me. Me being inpatient with how long the pits felt I said we would be fine and we continued on. The sun went down and I began to shiver. One mile separated me and my XTERRA wetsuit<\/a>. Throughout that mile I heard complaints of cold from various teammates. My goal of fifty miles slowly deteriorating in addition to my morale., Arriving in the pit, I was quickly layered, restoring my warmth. A key piece of my gear were the prototype Neptune pants Sarah made. They have waterproof pouches for hand warmers, to help keep my legs warm, making up for the poor circulation. The rest of the team started gearing up in their wetsuits, and we were on our way again., The night brings a different element to the race. With nothing more than a small headlamp lighting the way, you become blind to large rocks or holes in the path. Without the warmth of the sun, raising your body\u2019s temperature after water obstacles becomes almost impossible. You are putting your not only your physical strength, but your mental strength to the ultimate test., Lap number 3 came to an end and we were in the pit again. Looking around, the team began to look worn. I wrapped myself in my dryrobe<\/a> waiting to continue. As time passed pin pricks of cold began kissing my shoulders working their way down my spine. I started moving, working to get the shivers away, but the kisses were persistent. Sarah and Amie pleaded we stay in the pit over night in fearing I would hypothermic. Fifty miles was completely out of the question. Sarah promised me we would get 25, and I was carried into the tent, wrapped in blankets, attempting to shiver my way back to warmth., The last lap was rough for the team. All of the obstacles were open for business. A chill came over me. I balled my Rock Tape<\/a> gloved hands deeper in my Blegg Mitts<\/a>, punching at the air in front of me to get my blood circulating. The athleticism it takes not only for yourself but for an wheelchair athlete to get through the course is almost impossible, but we managed to assemble a team of lunatics that go after impossible., Because I\u2019m healing I take the penalty for any obstacle we cannot confidently belay on. We continued on to the penalty while the team completed the Cliff, where you jumped off the ledge into a body of water. This was the last obstacle before the finish where Eric and Sarah would make \u201cwalking\u201d across the finish possible for me. We finished with twenty miles and the first paraplegic athlete to Holy Grail in the Tough Mudder series. Tyson from team Go Hard reached his goal of 25 miles. I was honored to headband him upon his finish., I\u2019m excited for an east coast Worlds Toughest Mudder next year, so excited, I\u2019ve already bought my registration. I cannot thank everyone who made this possible., A special thanks Sue and the entire Merrell team along with everyone who cheered us on along the way. Words cannot describe what Worlds Toughest Mudder taught me both physically and mentally. From my team, Sarah, E, Cliff, Jeff, Amie, Jenn thank you for supporting me through the good, bad, and ugly and pushing your bodies beyond they\u2019re breaking point. To the folks in the pit, Dirk, Francis, Grace, Sam, and the Volunteers in the orphan tent, Rhonda, thank you for your time and efforts in making this worlds an amazing experience., See you guys in the mud., -Jesi, I started a YouTube series. Please LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE!! Click the link!!!, Wheel With Me Series<\/a>, Podcast interview with Living Adaptive<\/a>.",
"content_text": "I slammed the trunk closed, running down my mental checklist. \u201cYup,\u201d I think to myself, \u201cI\u2019ve lost my mind.\u201d It was a brisk October morning that would send me off to the Pisgah National forest. I would be \u201cglamping\u201d it up at The Bike Farm thanks to Peace of Adventure. Three days I would push my body past its limits. Hand-cycling through the mountains kicked my butt, (it didn\u2019t help I had a Tougher and Tough Mudder the Saturday and Sunday before)., On Thusday I took off from the mountains of North Carolina. The destination was Ironman Raceway for the last round of GNCC Racing. The entire ace field missed the 10 second call. You would have thought our single seat Polaris ACE\u2019s were bumper cars as we approached turn number two. I lost my door on lap number one removing the protection that keeps my body parts in the car. I had to adjust my leg a few times as it kept trying to escape. The emotion I felt FINALLY seeing the finish of a race, tears escaped. I had a \u201cmini-quad 2008\u201d kind-off season; finishing two out of six races., Sunday came and I had my mind set on Colorado. \u201cI\u2019m taking a week long vacation from my own life,\u201d I jokingly told my friends. The week that would follow would be unimaginable. My wheel-friend Kevin kindly gave me a place to stay for the week. Throughout the week I would meet phenomenal people, gaining new wheel and non wheel friends. During my vacation I made lifetime\u2019s worth of memories including viewing Buffalo Bill\u2019s grave, visiting Red Rocks Amphitheater, and rock climbing out doors for the first time., The week came to an end and I hit the road again. My drive to Vegas was around twelve hours, lucky for me one of the wheel-friends I made had another wheel-friend that lived in Grand Junction. Andy and Sara gave me a place to stay to break up my drive to Vegas. I am beyond grateful to be apart of the close wheelchair community., Being a wheelchair athlete with an abled bodied competitor\u2019s mindset is a difficult and humbling experience. I wanted to complete my 50 mile goal to raise as much money for the Wheel With Me Foundation as possible. Combining that with a 24-hour obstacle race course creates an intense array of emotions, especially among a team., We started out with a great pace. Finishing the first first lap quickly we stopped in the pit. Before leaving the pit my team captain, Sarah, urge we put a shortie wetsuit on me. Me being inpatient with how long the pits felt I said we would be fine and we continued on. The sun went down and I began to shiver. One mile separated me and my XTERRA wetsuit. Throughout that mile I heard complaints of cold from various teammates. My goal of fifty miles slowly deteriorating in addition to my morale., Arriving in the pit, I was quickly layered, restoring my warmth. A key piece of my gear were the prototype Neptune pants Sarah made. They have waterproof pouches for hand warmers, to help keep my legs warm, making up for the poor circulation. The rest of the team started gearing up in their wetsuits, and we were on our way again., The night brings a different element to the race. With nothing more than a small headlamp lighting the way, you become blind to large rocks or holes in the path. Without the warmth of the sun, raising your body\u2019s temperature after water obstacles becomes almost impossible. You are putting your not only your physical strength, but your mental strength to the ultimate test., Lap number 3 came to an end and we were in the pit again. Looking around, the team began to look worn. I wrapped myself in my dryrobe waiting to continue. As time passed pin pricks of cold began kissing my shoulders working their way down my spine. I started moving, working to get the shivers away, but the kisses were persistent. Sarah and Amie pleaded we stay in the pit over night in fearing I would hypothermic. Fifty miles was completely out of the question. Sarah promised me we would get 25, and I was carried into the tent, wrapped in blankets, attempting to shiver my way back to warmth., The last lap was rough for the team. All of the obstacles were open for business. A chill came over me. I balled my Rock Tape gloved hands deeper in my Blegg Mitts, punching at the air in front of me to get my blood circulating. The athleticism it takes not only for yourself but for an wheelchair athlete to get through the course is almost impossible, but we managed to assemble a team of lunatics that go after impossible., Because I\u2019m healing I take the penalty for any obstacle we cannot confidently belay on. We continued on to the penalty while the team completed the Cliff, where you jumped off the ledge into a body of water. This was the last obstacle before the finish where Eric and Sarah would make \u201cwalking\u201d across the finish possible for me. We finished with twenty miles and the first paraplegic athlete to Holy Grail in the Tough Mudder series. Tyson from team Go Hard reached his goal of 25 miles. I was honored to headband him upon his finish., I\u2019m excited for an east coast Worlds Toughest Mudder next year, so excited, I\u2019ve already bought my registration. I cannot thank everyone who made this possible., A special thanks Sue and the entire Merrell team along with everyone who cheered us on along the way. Words cannot describe what Worlds Toughest Mudder taught me both physically and mentally. From my team, Sarah, E, Cliff, Jeff, Amie, Jenn thank you for supporting me through the good, bad, and ugly and pushing your bodies beyond they\u2019re breaking point. To the folks in the pit, Dirk, Francis, Grace, Sam, and the Volunteers in the orphan tent, Rhonda, thank you for your time and efforts in making this worlds an amazing experience., See you guys in the mud., -Jesi, I started a YouTube series. Please LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE!! Click the link!!!, Wheel With Me Series, Podcast interview with Living Adaptive.",
"summary": "I slammed the trunk closed, running down my mental checklist. \u201cYup,\u201d I think to myself, \u201cI\u2019ve lost my mind.\u201d",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T23:18:07+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T23:18:07+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "d1fe173d08e959397adf34b1d77e88d7",
"title": "Patient Number One",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/patient-number-one",
"content_html": "I am the second patient in the INVIVO Therapeutics<\/a> clinical trial. They placed a neruscaffold in my spinal cord. I had a short-lived romance with patient one ( click here for video<\/a>). Below is the story of why I am thankful he ended the romance., I will forever be grateful to have had Jordan in my first 6 months of my spinal cord injury. He gave me a lot of tools to gain independence quickly; an act I am beyond thankful for. I will also never be able thank him enough for ending our relationship. Yes, you read that right; I AM THANKFUL HE LEFT ME., My entire life I have felt that I needed love from other\u2019s to complete my happiness, when in reality I needed love from myself. Self-love is a difficult concept to grasp in a world filled with narcissism, self-pity, and entitlement. I truly didn\u2019t grasp it until about 6 months ago, with a lot left to learn., In a day where perfection is thrown in your face consistently via the Internet, you create a feedback loop from hell within yourself. It will consist of statements like, \u201cif I had \u2018this\u2019,\u201d \u201cif I was more like \u2018that\u2019,\u201d I would be\u2026..you know what I\u2019m talking about. We compare ourselves to others based on their appearance and material possessions., When Jordan ended our relationship we were working on our recovery together. He motivated me, supported me, loved me etc., to an extent, but in reality he was holding me back. We focused on nothing but recovery. His often complaints of financial woes and family drama without action to change them would frustrate me. He once threw my tight family support in my face, but I stayed anyways. Something we all have done once or twice. Some of us stay in shit relationships in fear we will never find anything better. Or we make up excuses for the person. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO DEVAULE YOU FOR ANOTHER PERSON, With the end of that relationship went my cares about walking again. I decided to start living my life to the fullest. What did I do? Dove head first into every adaptive sport I could try, sharing my adventures via the social media. There was a shift. I started loving my life, then eventually myself. My paralysis was a beautiful journey I would learn to embrace., But it wasn\u2019t until I let go of all of my cares that my self-love train would steam full-speed ahead. The minute I let go of what others thought of me, a world of opportunity opened to me. I accepted that I wasn\u2019t the prettiest, most athletic, or special in anyway. I\u2019m simply Jesi. I\u2019m unapologetically honest, bossy, and I go for what I want. Not everyone will like me, AND THATS OKAY.",
"content_text": "I am the second patient in the INVIVO Therapeutics clinical trial. They placed a neruscaffold in my spinal cord. I had a short-lived romance with patient one ( click here for video). Below is the story of why I am thankful he ended the romance., I will forever be grateful to have had Jordan in my first 6 months of my spinal cord injury. He gave me a lot of tools to gain independence quickly; an act I am beyond thankful for. I will also never be able thank him enough for ending our relationship. Yes, you read that right; I AM THANKFUL HE LEFT ME., My entire life I have felt that I needed love from other\u2019s to complete my happiness, when in reality I needed love from myself. Self-love is a difficult concept to grasp in a world filled with narcissism, self-pity, and entitlement. I truly didn\u2019t grasp it until about 6 months ago, with a lot left to learn., In a day where perfection is thrown in your face consistently via the Internet, you create a feedback loop from hell within yourself. It will consist of statements like, \u201cif I had \u2018this\u2019,\u201d \u201cif I was more like \u2018that\u2019,\u201d I would be\u2026..you know what I\u2019m talking about. We compare ourselves to others based on their appearance and material possessions., When Jordan ended our relationship we were working on our recovery together. He motivated me, supported me, loved me etc., to an extent, but in reality he was holding me back. We focused on nothing but recovery. His often complaints of financial woes and family drama without action to change them would frustrate me. He once threw my tight family support in my face, but I stayed anyways. Something we all have done once or twice. Some of us stay in shit relationships in fear we will never find anything better. Or we make up excuses for the person. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO DEVAULE YOU FOR ANOTHER PERSON, With the end of that relationship went my cares about walking again. I decided to start living my life to the fullest. What did I do? Dove head first into every adaptive sport I could try, sharing my adventures via the social media. There was a shift. I started loving my life, then eventually myself. My paralysis was a beautiful journey I would learn to embrace., But it wasn\u2019t until I let go of all of my cares that my self-love train would steam full-speed ahead. The minute I let go of what others thought of me, a world of opportunity opened to me. I accepted that I wasn\u2019t the prettiest, most athletic, or special in anyway. I\u2019m simply Jesi. I\u2019m unapologetically honest, bossy, and I go for what I want. Not everyone will like me, AND THATS OKAY.",
"summary": "I am the second patient in the INVIVO Therapeutics clinical trial. They placed a neruscaffold in my spinal cord.",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T23:14:38+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T23:14:38+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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"tags": [ "Wheel With Me" ]
},
{
"id": "f033ab37c30201f73f142449d037028d",
"title": "9 Habits Abled-Bodied\u2019s Need to Kick",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/9-habits-abled-bodieds-need-to-kick",
"content_html": "\u201cI\u2019m just a wheel girl in a walking world,\u201d is one of my go-to lines when people ask me what life as a wheelchair user is like. In reality, the community isn\u2019t really set up for a wheelchair user. What is considered \u201cwheelchair accessible\u201d typically isn\u2019t, so when an able-bodied (AB) person makes your life more difficult for their own convenience you can start to get frustrated leading you to lose your patience. Here are a few habits that abled bodies can kick to show some consideration for wheel folks., 1. Speak to me, DIRECTLY, not the AB with me., I went to the post office. I had a friend with me. I put my package on the counter, informing the clerk I needed to overnight the package. He started asking my friend for the details about the package. She told him, \u201cspeak to her, it\u2019s her package.\u201d I\u2019ve heard story after story of this happening in restaurants, department stores, grocery stores, etc. Also, don\u2019t speak louder to me because I am a wheelchair user. I have a spinal cord injury; I\u2019m not deaf., 2. Get off your phone when you\u2019re walking in public., Being 4\u20193\u201d in a mall or airport in 2018 is hazardous. The amount of people consumed by their phone while walking in public is alarming. It\u2019s even more alarming when they look at me like I\u2019m the inconsiderate one when they land in my lap. No, I will not move out of my path for your convenience., 3. Stop piling on the elevator, A packed elevator is not an invitation to continue to pack on. Do what I cannot and take the stairs. Most of you could use the exercise anyway., 4. Piling your stuff on our lap., We are not a table to throw your things on. Also, do not ask to put your stuff on my chair or in my backpack; I am not your personal pack mule., 5. Stop Parking on the slashed lines of the parking space., Most people with a disabled parking placard don\u2019t even know what the white slashed lines are for. PSA IT\u2019S A LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONE FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS. Please park correctly if you\u2019re going to use the space., 6. Pulling your children away., They won\u2019t offend us and the wheelchair isn\u2019t contagious. Children are curious creatures, let them be. It gives them a chance to learn about wheelchair users and it lets them see we are not different., 7. Moving me for your convenience., If you want to get by me please say excuse me. DO NOT THINK IT IS OKAY TO MOVE MY CHAIR. Countless times, rather than saying excuse me someone has grabbed my chair to move me out of their way. How would you feel if someone picked you, placing you where they wanted?, 8. Stop using the accessible stall to take a crap., Your sh*t isn\u2019t going to stink less from the larger stall. I have a neurogenic bladder, meaning I don\u2019t have the luxury of \u201cholding it in\u201d. Be considerate, use the smaller stall before the accessible one., 9. Rushing out of your way to help me., If you see me rolling towards a business and you are halfway to your car, DO NOT rush back to the door to hold it for me. Also, if you\u2019re opening a door do not stand inside of it to hold it as I can\u2019t get through. If I tell you I\u2019ve got it kindly dismiss yourself., YouTube<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>",
"content_text": "\u201cI\u2019m just a wheel girl in a walking world,\u201d is one of my go-to lines when people ask me what life as a wheelchair user is like. In reality, the community isn\u2019t really set up for a wheelchair user. What is considered \u201cwheelchair accessible\u201d typically isn\u2019t, so when an able-bodied (AB) person makes your life more difficult for their own convenience you can start to get frustrated leading you to lose your patience. Here are a few habits that abled bodies can kick to show some consideration for wheel folks., 1. Speak to me, DIRECTLY, not the AB with me., I went to the post office. I had a friend with me. I put my package on the counter, informing the clerk I needed to overnight the package. He started asking my friend for the details about the package. She told him, \u201cspeak to her, it\u2019s her package.\u201d I\u2019ve heard story after story of this happening in restaurants, department stores, grocery stores, etc. Also, don\u2019t speak louder to me because I am a wheelchair user. I have a spinal cord injury; I\u2019m not deaf., 2. Get off your phone when you\u2019re walking in public., Being 4\u20193\u201d in a mall or airport in 2018 is hazardous. The amount of people consumed by their phone while walking in public is alarming. It\u2019s even more alarming when they look at me like I\u2019m the inconsiderate one when they land in my lap. No, I will not move out of my path for your convenience., 3. Stop piling on the elevator, A packed elevator is not an invitation to continue to pack on. Do what I cannot and take the stairs. Most of you could use the exercise anyway., 4. Piling your stuff on our lap., We are not a table to throw your things on. Also, do not ask to put your stuff on my chair or in my backpack; I am not your personal pack mule., 5. Stop Parking on the slashed lines of the parking space., Most people with a disabled parking placard don\u2019t even know what the white slashed lines are for. PSA IT\u2019S A LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONE FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS. Please park correctly if you\u2019re going to use the space., 6. Pulling your children away., They won\u2019t offend us and the wheelchair isn\u2019t contagious. Children are curious creatures, let them be. It gives them a chance to learn about wheelchair users and it lets them see we are not different., 7. Moving me for your convenience., If you want to get by me please say excuse me. DO NOT THINK IT IS OKAY TO MOVE MY CHAIR. Countless times, rather than saying excuse me someone has grabbed my chair to move me out of their way. How would you feel if someone picked you, placing you where they wanted?, 8. Stop using the accessible stall to take a crap., Your sh*t isn\u2019t going to stink less from the larger stall. I have a neurogenic bladder, meaning I don\u2019t have the luxury of \u201cholding it in\u201d. Be considerate, use the smaller stall before the accessible one., 9. Rushing out of your way to help me., If you see me rolling towards a business and you are halfway to your car, DO NOT rush back to the door to hold it for me. Also, if you\u2019re opening a door do not stand inside of it to hold it as I can\u2019t get through. If I tell you I\u2019ve got it kindly dismiss yourself., YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter",
"summary": "\u201cI\u2019m just a wheel girl in a walking world,\u201d is one of my go-to lines when people ask me what life as a wheelchair user is like.",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T23:11:51+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T23:11:51+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "43ec517d68b6edd3015b3edc9a11367b",
"title": "UTI Care and Prevention",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/uti-care-and-prevention",
"content_html": "A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of any part of the urinary system \u2013 kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra. Most females have experienced the pain of a UTI at least once in their lifetime. The consistent pressure of needing to use the bathroom, the smell of your urine, the burning pain when you urinate\u2026add a spinal cord injury to the mix and you will be having another accident before you change from the first one., Prevention, -cleansing genitals\/urinating after sexual intercourse, -diet and exercise, -drink water, -take a d-mannose supplement or shot of apple cider vinegar daily, -(if you\u2019re an intermittent catheter user) try Lofric Catheter, Treating a UTI, Take the following twice daily for 5 days. (If symptoms do not begin to clear in 3 contact your physician.), -Doterra Essential Oils (2 drops), oregano, frankincense, lemon, -a capful of apple cider vinegar, -d-mannose supplement, -drink a lot of water, Why Natural Remedies, A year and a half into my injury I became resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (commonly prescribed for UTI\u2019s). As soon as I finished one round my symptoms would return. I had to find a way to end the cycle. Through trial and error, I lowered the frequency of my UTI\u2019s. Healthy diet and exercise helped to boost my immune system\u2026and made me start drinking more water! But it wasn\u2019t until I became a catheter sales rep that I would learn what would end them altogether. Lofric claims to be the only catheter on the market clinically proven to reduce catheter associated UTI\u2019s by over 40%. I choose them not only for this reason, but because they are the only brand to develop catheters specifically designed to prevent UTIs. I also recommend DoTerra essential oils because they are the only brand I know of that is safe for ingestion., Please leave your comments of how this works for you or anything you use to treat your UTI\u2019s!, UTI YouTube Video<\/a>, Click here<\/a> to learn more about DoTerra essential oils., Click here<\/a> to learn more about Lofric Catheters., **The views and opinions in this post have NOT been reviewed by the FDA or a medical professional.",
"content_text": "A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of any part of the urinary system \u2013 kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra. Most females have experienced the pain of a UTI at least once in their lifetime. The consistent pressure of needing to use the bathroom, the smell of your urine, the burning pain when you urinate\u2026add a spinal cord injury to the mix and you will be having another accident before you change from the first one., Prevention, -cleansing genitals\/urinating after sexual intercourse, -diet and exercise, -drink water, -take a d-mannose supplement or shot of apple cider vinegar daily, -(if you\u2019re an intermittent catheter user) try Lofric Catheter, Treating a UTI, Take the following twice daily for 5 days. (If symptoms do not begin to clear in 3 contact your physician.), -Doterra Essential Oils (2 drops), oregano, frankincense, lemon, -a capful of apple cider vinegar, -d-mannose supplement, -drink a lot of water, Why Natural Remedies, A year and a half into my injury I became resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (commonly prescribed for UTI\u2019s). As soon as I finished one round my symptoms would return. I had to find a way to end the cycle. Through trial and error, I lowered the frequency of my UTI\u2019s. Healthy diet and exercise helped to boost my immune system\u2026and made me start drinking more water! But it wasn\u2019t until I became a catheter sales rep that I would learn what would end them altogether. Lofric claims to be the only catheter on the market clinically proven to reduce catheter associated UTI\u2019s by over 40%. I choose them not only for this reason, but because they are the only brand to develop catheters specifically designed to prevent UTIs. I also recommend DoTerra essential oils because they are the only brand I know of that is safe for ingestion., Please leave your comments of how this works for you or anything you use to treat your UTI\u2019s!, UTI YouTube Video, Click here to learn more about DoTerra essential oils., Click here to learn more about Lofric Catheters., **The views and opinions in this post have NOT been reviewed by the FDA or a medical professional.",
"summary": "A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of any part of the urinary system \u2013 kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra.",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T23:08:19+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T23:08:19+00:00",
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"title": "Navigating NYC as a Wheelchair User",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/navigating-nyc-as-a-wheelchair-user",
"content_html": "I have traveled all over the United States. This country has surprised me in the best ways and in some of the worst. I recently made my second trip to New York City<\/a>, but it was the first time I was able to get out and explore. While the Big Apple is an exhilarating place to visit, its lack of accessibility was surprising., Sidewalks, The NYC sidewalk can be dirty, uneven, and rough. Be sure to pay close attention to where your front castors are headed. Obstacles such as holes, ledges, cobble stone and debris are anything but scarce. There are small inclines scattered throughout the city as well, making it the perfect place for an assistive power device, such as a Smart Drive. If you cannot pop down and up curbs you may find yourself in a sticky situation due to the lack of curb cut-outs. The places that had cut-outs typically were accompanied by a large puddle of garbage water, a product of NYC\u2019s dense population of over 8 million. I strongly recommend wearing a set of gloves if you plan on pushing through the city., With construction all over the city this was common., Garbage water is found at almost every curb cut., Subway, Taking the cities Access-A-Ride (accessible cab service) could be time consuming due to traffic; the subway system is a great way to make the most of your time in New York (when you can find an accessible station near your destination). Give yourself plenty of time when choosing the subway, lack of signage stating what access elevator takes you where can lead to boarding the wrong train. Also there is a small gap between the platform and train when boarding, (I wheelied over this.) Again as with everywhere in NYC the subway is exceptionally dirty, so mentally prepare for your hands and forearms to be black. Accessible stations are listed on the MTA subway map, and you can check elevator status at this website: http:\/\/web.mta.info\/mta\/eles.html., The newer cars have the stops listed on a digital screen., There is a wheelchair symbol next to the accessible stops on that line., (I did not take other public transit while in the city. If you have a disability you can get a reduced fare card by completing this application http:\/\/web.mta.info\/nyct\/fare\/rfapply.htm), Here you can see the small lip to enter the train., Businesses, New York City was founded in 1624; it has been around a while. The [lack of] wheelchair accessibility displays this. Most businesses had stairs to access them. When Googling businesses they do not tell you whether or not they are accessible. You could make a trip across town only to find you cannot get up the flight of stairs. Others \u201ctried\u201d to make their business wheel friendly by installing a steep cement ramp where the stairs were. Twice there were instances were I chose outdoor seating because I didn\u2019t want to squeeze through tight tables inside of the restaurant. After lunch I went to use the restroom only to find the doorway was too narrow for my wheelchair to get through. I was shocked to see the shortfall of accessibility in such an advanced city., All this outdoor dining made me thankful for nice weather., Attractions, I do not recommend driving to New York. Finding parking is difficult and pricey. I would recommend flying in, catching public transit to your lodging, and wheeling\/walking everywhere., While in New York I went to Beat The Bomb<\/a> with a group of friends. It was a cool experience and the facility was beyond accommodating when it came to accessibility!, As you can see we did NOT beat the bomb., On a rainy day I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a>. The museum was MASIVE. Between fighting crowds and the size of this building it could take an full day to see the museum in its entirety., FREE activities to enjoy in the city:, -Time Square (especially at night), -Central Park, -Staten Island Ferry, -Grand Central Station, -9\/11 Memorial, -Museum of Art (fridays 4pm-8pm), -Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, -Kayak the Hudson River, -LOVE statue, Ride the Staton Island Ferry., See the Statue of Liberty., Catch a view of One World Trade., Soak up the sun in Central Park., Check out the Love statue with someone you love.",
"content_text": "I have traveled all over the United States. This country has surprised me in the best ways and in some of the worst. I recently made my second trip to New York City, but it was the first time I was able to get out and explore. While the Big Apple is an exhilarating place to visit, its lack of accessibility was surprising., Sidewalks, The NYC sidewalk can be dirty, uneven, and rough. Be sure to pay close attention to where your front castors are headed. Obstacles such as holes, ledges, cobble stone and debris are anything but scarce. There are small inclines scattered throughout the city as well, making it the perfect place for an assistive power device, such as a Smart Drive. If you cannot pop down and up curbs you may find yourself in a sticky situation due to the lack of curb cut-outs. The places that had cut-outs typically were accompanied by a large puddle of garbage water, a product of NYC\u2019s dense population of over 8 million. I strongly recommend wearing a set of gloves if you plan on pushing through the city., With construction all over the city this was common., Garbage water is found at almost every curb cut., Subway, Taking the cities Access-A-Ride (accessible cab service) could be time consuming due to traffic; the subway system is a great way to make the most of your time in New York (when you can find an accessible station near your destination). Give yourself plenty of time when choosing the subway, lack of signage stating what access elevator takes you where can lead to boarding the wrong train. Also there is a small gap between the platform and train when boarding, (I wheelied over this.) Again as with everywhere in NYC the subway is exceptionally dirty, so mentally prepare for your hands and forearms to be black. Accessible stations are listed on the MTA subway map, and you can check elevator status at this website: http:\/\/web.mta.info\/mta\/eles.html., The newer cars have the stops listed on a digital screen., There is a wheelchair symbol next to the accessible stops on that line., (I did not take other public transit while in the city. If you have a disability you can get a reduced fare card by completing this application http:\/\/web.mta.info\/nyct\/fare\/rfapply.htm), Here you can see the small lip to enter the train., Businesses, New York City was founded in 1624; it has been around a while. The [lack of] wheelchair accessibility displays this. Most businesses had stairs to access them. When Googling businesses they do not tell you whether or not they are accessible. You could make a trip across town only to find you cannot get up the flight of stairs. Others \u201ctried\u201d to make their business wheel friendly by installing a steep cement ramp where the stairs were. Twice there were instances were I chose outdoor seating because I didn\u2019t want to squeeze through tight tables inside of the restaurant. After lunch I went to use the restroom only to find the doorway was too narrow for my wheelchair to get through. I was shocked to see the shortfall of accessibility in such an advanced city., All this outdoor dining made me thankful for nice weather., Attractions, I do not recommend driving to New York. Finding parking is difficult and pricey. I would recommend flying in, catching public transit to your lodging, and wheeling\/walking everywhere., While in New York I went to Beat The Bomb with a group of friends. It was a cool experience and the facility was beyond accommodating when it came to accessibility!, As you can see we did NOT beat the bomb., On a rainy day I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum was MASIVE. Between fighting crowds and the size of this building it could take an full day to see the museum in its entirety., FREE activities to enjoy in the city:, -Time Square (especially at night), -Central Park, -Staten Island Ferry, -Grand Central Station, -9\/11 Memorial, -Museum of Art (fridays 4pm-8pm), -Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, -Kayak the Hudson River, -LOVE statue, Ride the Staton Island Ferry., See the Statue of Liberty., Catch a view of One World Trade., Soak up the sun in Central Park., Check out the Love statue with someone you love.",
"summary": "I have traveled all over the United States. This country has surprised me in the best ways and in some of the worst.",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T23:04:53+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T23:04:53+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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"id": "fe9fc289c3ff0af142b6d3bead98a923",
"title": "10 Things Wheelchair Users Don't Want to Hear",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/10-things-wheelchair-users-dont-want-to-hear",
"content_html": "Before you approach a wheelchair user think about how you would feel if you were on the receiving end of what is coming out of your mouth. Here are 10 of the most common things I've heard since being a wheelchair user., 1. \u201dOh it must suck being in a wheelchair. I couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d, Do you think I am in a wheelchair by choice? Take that negativity somewhere else. There is a positive in every negative. If I looked at wheel life with your attitude I would be miserable. With that said it must suck not having a seat everywhere you go., 2. \u201dYou\u2019re too pretty to be in a chair.\u201d, Disability doesn\u2019t discriminate. At any moment in time disability can affect you changing your life forever. Just because you're smart, funny, pretty, etc does not mean you can avoid an accident caused by someone else., 3. \u201cWhat do you need the wheelchair for? You don\u2019t look paralyzed your legs are thick.\u201d, Uh, Thanks? But really I use Wearable Therapy by Axiobionics<\/a>. It's electric stimulation shorts I sleep in to keep muscle mass on my legs. So yes my legs are not atrophied too bad., 4. \"It\u2019s so nice to see you in public! You're such an inspiration!\u201d, This is nothing but discouraging. Are we supposed to be a recluse because we use a wheelchair? Am I inspiring for continuing life after an obstacle? Tell me I'm inspiring for all of the cool stuff I do (see ADAPT); not for pumping my gas!, 5. \u201dDo you have a license to drive that thing?\u201d, Or when you say, \u201cYou\u2019re going to get a speeding ticket.\u201d Also, if there are two wheelchair users together DO NOT ASK THEM IF THEY\u2019RE RACING. How would you feel if you and your friend are walking together, minding your own business when someone yells, \"ARE YOU GUYS RACING?!\" It's unnecessary and a bit obnoxious., 6. \"Are you going to walk again? How much longer until you\u2019re healed? Can you feel your legs?\", No two spinal cord injuries are the same, so no two wheelchair users are going to be the same. It gets old hearing about your old neighbor's cousin up the road who worked really hard and now they walk. It\u2019s actually discouraging. Just like many others I am completely content with my wheel life regardless of recovery., 7. \"Can you still have sex?\u201d, Have you ever heard the old saying \u201ccuriosity killed the cat\u201d? Imagine if I asked you about your sex life. It wasn\u2019t until I started using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble that this question came into my inbox. My reply, \u201cThe doctors sewed it up and called it a lost cause. I can\u2019t feel it anyways., But yes, I can still have sex and still have children. I just choose not to, with you., 8. \u201cWhat happened to your legs?\", Looks down. \u201cThey look fine to me?\u201d, It was my spinal cord that was damaged not my legs., 9. \"You\u2019re so lucky you always have a seat!\", Lady Luck is on my side. Have you seen the parking? Or noticed my low need for new shoes?, 10. \u201cHave you tried to move your legs? You\u2019re not trying hard enough to recover. Get up and walk already.\u201d, Of course I\u2019ve tried to move my legs. You telling me, \u201cGet up and walk already,\u201d is not speeding up the process. I may be recovering, but it doesn\u2019t happen overnight. It takes time for nerves to reconnect. The only thing you\u2019re doing is reminding us of the progress we aren\u2019t making.",
"content_text": "Before you approach a wheelchair user think about how you would feel if you were on the receiving end of what is coming out of your mouth. Here are 10 of the most common things I've heard since being a wheelchair user., 1. \u201dOh it must suck being in a wheelchair. I couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d, Do you think I am in a wheelchair by choice? Take that negativity somewhere else. There is a positive in every negative. If I looked at wheel life with your attitude I would be miserable. With that said it must suck not having a seat everywhere you go., 2. \u201dYou\u2019re too pretty to be in a chair.\u201d, Disability doesn\u2019t discriminate. At any moment in time disability can affect you changing your life forever. Just because you're smart, funny, pretty, etc does not mean you can avoid an accident caused by someone else., 3. \u201cWhat do you need the wheelchair for? You don\u2019t look paralyzed your legs are thick.\u201d, Uh, Thanks? But really I use Wearable Therapy by Axiobionics. It's electric stimulation shorts I sleep in to keep muscle mass on my legs. So yes my legs are not atrophied too bad., 4. \"It\u2019s so nice to see you in public! You're such an inspiration!\u201d, This is nothing but discouraging. Are we supposed to be a recluse because we use a wheelchair? Am I inspiring for continuing life after an obstacle? Tell me I'm inspiring for all of the cool stuff I do (see ADAPT); not for pumping my gas!, 5. \u201dDo you have a license to drive that thing?\u201d, Or when you say, \u201cYou\u2019re going to get a speeding ticket.\u201d Also, if there are two wheelchair users together DO NOT ASK THEM IF THEY\u2019RE RACING. How would you feel if you and your friend are walking together, minding your own business when someone yells, \"ARE YOU GUYS RACING?!\" It's unnecessary and a bit obnoxious., 6. \"Are you going to walk again? How much longer until you\u2019re healed? Can you feel your legs?\", No two spinal cord injuries are the same, so no two wheelchair users are going to be the same. It gets old hearing about your old neighbor's cousin up the road who worked really hard and now they walk. It\u2019s actually discouraging. Just like many others I am completely content with my wheel life regardless of recovery., 7. \"Can you still have sex?\u201d, Have you ever heard the old saying \u201ccuriosity killed the cat\u201d? Imagine if I asked you about your sex life. It wasn\u2019t until I started using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble that this question came into my inbox. My reply, \u201cThe doctors sewed it up and called it a lost cause. I can\u2019t feel it anyways., But yes, I can still have sex and still have children. I just choose not to, with you., 8. \u201cWhat happened to your legs?\", Looks down. \u201cThey look fine to me?\u201d, It was my spinal cord that was damaged not my legs., 9. \"You\u2019re so lucky you always have a seat!\", Lady Luck is on my side. Have you seen the parking? Or noticed my low need for new shoes?, 10. \u201cHave you tried to move your legs? You\u2019re not trying hard enough to recover. Get up and walk already.\u201d, Of course I\u2019ve tried to move my legs. You telling me, \u201cGet up and walk already,\u201d is not speeding up the process. I may be recovering, but it doesn\u2019t happen overnight. It takes time for nerves to reconnect. The only thing you\u2019re doing is reminding us of the progress we aren\u2019t making.",
"summary": "Before you approach a wheelchair user think about how you would feel if you were on the receiving end of what is coming out of your mouth",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T22:57:54+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T22:57:54+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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"id": "68d30a9594728bc39aa24be94b319d21",
"title": "Why I wear Pull-Ups...",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/why-i-wear-pull-ups",
"content_html": "When Depends became too baggy after my weight loss causing leaks and the pads would slide to the side, I switched to GoodNites brand children\u2019s diapers. Immediately, my confidence was boosted with the cute designs and panty like fit. Even though I have my bladder well managed, I still wear them daily. With my active lifestyle I like the piece of mind that if I have an accident my wheelchair cushion and clothes will still be dry. I simply rip the diaper off, clean my downstairs \u201carea\u201d with a baby wipe, put a new diaper on and wheel on my way., Often times SCI survivors suggest Botox Injections and pharmaceuticals to help with my incontinence. I used both up until April 2017 when they quit working. I searched high and low for natural alternatives after realizing how well my body felt after getting off of the pharmaceuticals. The uncomfortable constipation and dry mouth ceased within days!, Early summer 2018 I had a bladder study done. The nurse who perform the study shamed me for refusing to take the prescribed medicines. She put me in tears saying due to the amount of spasms my bladder has shrunk significantly. She continued on with a shame train because I refused pharmaceuticals after explaining they didn\u2019t work and made me feel funny. She placed fear deep within my soul threatening that I would need a permanent catheter in my stomach with a bag or bladder augmentation (surgery where they take a piece of your bowel to make you bladder bigger) before I knew it., After calming myself down, reading the materials she gave me I realized I caused these issues. When I was first injured I didn\u2019t take cathing seriously. I would let my bladder fill and fill sometimes filling and entire cath bag (1200mL), extremely distending my bladder. The urologist was not available that day and I was leaving to my hometown for the summer. I had an appointment in August but after waiting an hour I was informed it would be another hour and half before the urologist could see me. He was booked out until November. Worried about my future bladder health, his scheduler reassured me if there were serious issue he would have seen me sooner. I didn\u2019t appreciate the way the nurse had made me feel., Since then, I have had the opportunity to speak with my urologist, he suggested a low side-effect pharmaceutical ( Myrbetriq<\/a>) and in-office Botox injections. My bladder has shrunk significantly due to the amount of spasms causing me to leak rather than letting it fill. Cutting out sugar, drinking plenty of water and switching to the Lofric catheter ( get your sample here<\/a>) significantly reduced my risk of UTI. (Which I found a natural cure to here<\/a>.), If you take anything from this blog post, please please please take your bladder health seriously. Cath according to the schedule your urologist suggests, take the medicine that works for you, and live your best life!",
"content_text": "When Depends became too baggy after my weight loss causing leaks and the pads would slide to the side, I switched to GoodNites brand children\u2019s diapers. Immediately, my confidence was boosted with the cute designs and panty like fit. Even though I have my bladder well managed, I still wear them daily. With my active lifestyle I like the piece of mind that if I have an accident my wheelchair cushion and clothes will still be dry. I simply rip the diaper off, clean my downstairs \u201carea\u201d with a baby wipe, put a new diaper on and wheel on my way., Often times SCI survivors suggest Botox Injections and pharmaceuticals to help with my incontinence. I used both up until April 2017 when they quit working. I searched high and low for natural alternatives after realizing how well my body felt after getting off of the pharmaceuticals. The uncomfortable constipation and dry mouth ceased within days!, Early summer 2018 I had a bladder study done. The nurse who perform the study shamed me for refusing to take the prescribed medicines. She put me in tears saying due to the amount of spasms my bladder has shrunk significantly. She continued on with a shame train because I refused pharmaceuticals after explaining they didn\u2019t work and made me feel funny. She placed fear deep within my soul threatening that I would need a permanent catheter in my stomach with a bag or bladder augmentation (surgery where they take a piece of your bowel to make you bladder bigger) before I knew it., After calming myself down, reading the materials she gave me I realized I caused these issues. When I was first injured I didn\u2019t take cathing seriously. I would let my bladder fill and fill sometimes filling and entire cath bag (1200mL), extremely distending my bladder. The urologist was not available that day and I was leaving to my hometown for the summer. I had an appointment in August but after waiting an hour I was informed it would be another hour and half before the urologist could see me. He was booked out until November. Worried about my future bladder health, his scheduler reassured me if there were serious issue he would have seen me sooner. I didn\u2019t appreciate the way the nurse had made me feel., Since then, I have had the opportunity to speak with my urologist, he suggested a low side-effect pharmaceutical ( Myrbetriq) and in-office Botox injections. My bladder has shrunk significantly due to the amount of spasms causing me to leak rather than letting it fill. Cutting out sugar, drinking plenty of water and switching to the Lofric catheter ( get your sample here) significantly reduced my risk of UTI. (Which I found a natural cure to here.), If you take anything from this blog post, please please please take your bladder health seriously. Cath according to the schedule your urologist suggests, take the medicine that works for you, and live your best life!",
"summary": "When Depends became too baggy after my weight loss causing leaks and the pads would slide to the side...",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T22:52:39+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T22:52:39+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "3ef815416f775098fe977004015c6193",
"title": "ADAPT",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/adapt",
"content_html": "ADAPT<\/a>, On January 18th, 2015 my life changed in a way I never expected. It was a beautiful 60 degrees in Charlotte, North Carolina, a perfect day to go on a motorcycle ride. I jumped on the back of the R1 like I had so many times before. We left the traffic light, gaining speed quickly when I saw the SUV going for the u-turn. I began hitting the driver of the bike screaming, but he didn\u2019t stop - I closed my eyes and tucked into the driver\u2019s back, closing my eyes. The last thing i heard was metal crunching before everything went black. The first week in the hospital was a blur. I briefly remember the many visitors I had including a dream of my deceased grandmother telling me it wasn\u2019t my time. What I do remember is my parents saying they enrolled me in a clinical trial, and that it was my only hope at a recovery. At first I didn\u2019t take the situation seriously because of the trial. Even though I was the second person in the world to receive this neuro-spinal scaffold, I was sure I would only be paralyzed a few months. After I became healthy enough, I was sent to inpatient rehabilitation where I learned the skills to live as a new paraplegic. After 3 long months I was finally going home, not realizing the obstacles that lie ahead., I returned home and reality set in. I wasn\u2019t making the \u201cbenchmarks\u201d in the trial that patient one was. I was paralyzed, losing all hope of a full life. I was angry. I was frustrated. I started living life to the fullest for the wrong reasons. I was selfish, competing in adaptive athletics to try to be better than the top competitors. I thought I was invincible putting myself in dangerous situations with no regard for my safety., Then things changed. Shortly after my two year mark and a follow up with the trial where I was told I had no improvement, I fell on a hotel room and couldn\u2019t get myself up. I posted a meltdown video<\/a> on youtube that gained over 40,000 views. I quickly realized I had platform to inspire people to live the life they want and my negative attitude wasn\u2019t doing anything except bringing me down. I went home from that trip with a new attitude. I started working out and changed my diet. I started regaining sensation and small movements. I then had the opportunity to visit a healer who restored hope in recovery after I regained movement., I worked on my physical recovery for a year before I began addressing the mental recovery. I never thought I would walk again before regaining movement and I was okay with this. I then had to make the decision to work. I put in work daily both physically and mentally. Some days it feels like I\u2019m moving backwards. One day I feel everything and my legs will be strong, others I\u2019m where I was when first injured. This is beyond taxing. Without regular meditation and self care I break down. Countless times I have had mental breakdowns on the floor similar to the one I had on the hotel room floor, though less frequent these days., Despite the hardship, I would never take back this injury. The journey it has taken me on has been nothing less than incredible. The people I\u2019ve met, the amount of strength my faith has gained, and my perspective are irreplaceable. Not to mention the opportunities this injury has brought! I never thought I would get to compete in Tough Mudder competitions. It\u2019s absolutely humbling to rely on others with my safety through the course. That brings me to ADAPT. I hope when you watch it I hope you are inspired to Live Life to the Fullest like I do everyday., Be sure to check out I Am Becoming's<\/a> 5 inch line! They are shorts that are unintentionally adapted for wheelchair users, plus all of their high waisted leggings tuck in that pesky para belly! Check it out!",
"content_text": "ADAPT, On January 18th, 2015 my life changed in a way I never expected. It was a beautiful 60 degrees in Charlotte, North Carolina, a perfect day to go on a motorcycle ride. I jumped on the back of the R1 like I had so many times before. We left the traffic light, gaining speed quickly when I saw the SUV going for the u-turn. I began hitting the driver of the bike screaming, but he didn\u2019t stop - I closed my eyes and tucked into the driver\u2019s back, closing my eyes. The last thing i heard was metal crunching before everything went black. The first week in the hospital was a blur. I briefly remember the many visitors I had including a dream of my deceased grandmother telling me it wasn\u2019t my time. What I do remember is my parents saying they enrolled me in a clinical trial, and that it was my only hope at a recovery. At first I didn\u2019t take the situation seriously because of the trial. Even though I was the second person in the world to receive this neuro-spinal scaffold, I was sure I would only be paralyzed a few months. After I became healthy enough, I was sent to inpatient rehabilitation where I learned the skills to live as a new paraplegic. After 3 long months I was finally going home, not realizing the obstacles that lie ahead., I returned home and reality set in. I wasn\u2019t making the \u201cbenchmarks\u201d in the trial that patient one was. I was paralyzed, losing all hope of a full life. I was angry. I was frustrated. I started living life to the fullest for the wrong reasons. I was selfish, competing in adaptive athletics to try to be better than the top competitors. I thought I was invincible putting myself in dangerous situations with no regard for my safety., Then things changed. Shortly after my two year mark and a follow up with the trial where I was told I had no improvement, I fell on a hotel room and couldn\u2019t get myself up. I posted a meltdown video on youtube that gained over 40,000 views. I quickly realized I had platform to inspire people to live the life they want and my negative attitude wasn\u2019t doing anything except bringing me down. I went home from that trip with a new attitude. I started working out and changed my diet. I started regaining sensation and small movements. I then had the opportunity to visit a healer who restored hope in recovery after I regained movement., I worked on my physical recovery for a year before I began addressing the mental recovery. I never thought I would walk again before regaining movement and I was okay with this. I then had to make the decision to work. I put in work daily both physically and mentally. Some days it feels like I\u2019m moving backwards. One day I feel everything and my legs will be strong, others I\u2019m where I was when first injured. This is beyond taxing. Without regular meditation and self care I break down. Countless times I have had mental breakdowns on the floor similar to the one I had on the hotel room floor, though less frequent these days., Despite the hardship, I would never take back this injury. The journey it has taken me on has been nothing less than incredible. The people I\u2019ve met, the amount of strength my faith has gained, and my perspective are irreplaceable. Not to mention the opportunities this injury has brought! I never thought I would get to compete in Tough Mudder competitions. It\u2019s absolutely humbling to rely on others with my safety through the course. That brings me to ADAPT. I hope when you watch it I hope you are inspired to Live Life to the Fullest like I do everyday., Be sure to check out I Am Becoming's 5 inch line! They are shorts that are unintentionally adapted for wheelchair users, plus all of their high waisted leggings tuck in that pesky para belly! Check it out!",
"summary": "On January 18th, 2015 my life changed in a way I never expected. It was a beautiful 60 degrees in Charlotte, North Carolina...",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T22:50:16+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T22:50:16+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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"tags": [ "In The News" ]
},
{
"id": "93db85ed909c13838ff95ccfa94cebd9",
"title": "Seasonal Affective Disorder",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder",
"content_html": "As the weather begins to cool, the leaves begin to fall, and the days become shorter with the time change, my mood typically goes with it. Around the beginning of November I notice a cloud that begins to follow me. By the end of November the funk is alive and well in full force make me an anxious, sad, ball of mess., Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of depression that relates to the change of season. They typically arise the same time each year; starting in late fall and ending in early spring or when the sun comes back out. Summertime SAD is common but less frequent., I have never been a fan of the holidays. My spinal cord injury just amplified my dislike for the season. Every year I am reminded of the tasks that are a little more difficult for me, so I don't partake at all. Putting up various decorations including the tree, lights, wreaths - I avoid these like the plague. My drive for life is extremely dulled and my awareness of my disability is magnified to the highest degree., Could it be the cold weather? The grey skies? Or is it my that my last walking memory was the Holidays?, My fondest memory is December 21st, 2014. My aunts and uncles piled in their vehicles to make the drive to North Carolina from Ohio for the Browns v. Panthers football game. My parents had rented a party bus as a Christmas gift to the family. It reminded me of when I was a kid living in ohio, the entire family would come to our house on Christmas Eve. It was always my favorite part of the holidays. None of us knew less than a month later our lives would change forever\u2026, How to beat seasonal depression...can you beat it?, The most popular recommendation for seasonal depression is a light box. I personally enjoy the Sun Angel Tanning bed at Kimber Tanz. I put on headphones with sounds of the ocean and meditate my way to a warm beach. I notice this significantly improves my mood, but I try not to lay more than 3 times a week for my skin health. The limited daylight hours and chilly weather of the winter months make it difficult, but getting natural sunlight is the best remedy. Another suggestion is more light through a dawn simulator. It is like an alarm clock. Rather than using noise it simulates the sun rising., Schedules are critical to most people's sanity. Keeping a routine prevents SAD symptoms., Take a nighttime bath or use a diffuser with calming essential oils. I personally use lavender and chamomile. (For more about essential oils email me at jesi@jesistracham.com). Aromatherapy is great for mood enhancing., The hardest SAD struggle I have is my drive to do anything. I have to force myself to get out of bed. I may complain the entire time but I do it anyways. Keep a packed schedule to staying proactive., Go to the gym, a solid sweat session always improves my mood, plus you are helping with the weight gain that commonly accompanies seasonal depression., Talk to your doctor about seasonal depression and your vitamin D levels. It may be beneficial for you to take a Vitamin D supplement or in extreme cases an antidepressant., Self-care is imperative to overcoming SAD symptoms. Keeping a journal helps. I personally try to write daily 7 things I am Proud of myself for, Forgive myself for, and Commit to myself. Meditation is also a solid self-care tool. Try everything and find out what works for you. (For more about self care email me at jesi@jesistracham.com).",
"content_text": "As the weather begins to cool, the leaves begin to fall, and the days become shorter with the time change, my mood typically goes with it. Around the beginning of November I notice a cloud that begins to follow me. By the end of November the funk is alive and well in full force make me an anxious, sad, ball of mess., Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of depression that relates to the change of season. They typically arise the same time each year; starting in late fall and ending in early spring or when the sun comes back out. Summertime SAD is common but less frequent., I have never been a fan of the holidays. My spinal cord injury just amplified my dislike for the season. Every year I am reminded of the tasks that are a little more difficult for me, so I don't partake at all. Putting up various decorations including the tree, lights, wreaths - I avoid these like the plague. My drive for life is extremely dulled and my awareness of my disability is magnified to the highest degree., Could it be the cold weather? The grey skies? Or is it my that my last walking memory was the Holidays?, My fondest memory is December 21st, 2014. My aunts and uncles piled in their vehicles to make the drive to North Carolina from Ohio for the Browns v. Panthers football game. My parents had rented a party bus as a Christmas gift to the family. It reminded me of when I was a kid living in ohio, the entire family would come to our house on Christmas Eve. It was always my favorite part of the holidays. None of us knew less than a month later our lives would change forever\u2026, How to beat seasonal depression...can you beat it?, The most popular recommendation for seasonal depression is a light box. I personally enjoy the Sun Angel Tanning bed at Kimber Tanz. I put on headphones with sounds of the ocean and meditate my way to a warm beach. I notice this significantly improves my mood, but I try not to lay more than 3 times a week for my skin health. The limited daylight hours and chilly weather of the winter months make it difficult, but getting natural sunlight is the best remedy. Another suggestion is more light through a dawn simulator. It is like an alarm clock. Rather than using noise it simulates the sun rising., Schedules are critical to most people's sanity. Keeping a routine prevents SAD symptoms., Take a nighttime bath or use a diffuser with calming essential oils. I personally use lavender and chamomile. (For more about essential oils email me at jesi@jesistracham.com). Aromatherapy is great for mood enhancing., The hardest SAD struggle I have is my drive to do anything. I have to force myself to get out of bed. I may complain the entire time but I do it anyways. Keep a packed schedule to staying proactive., Go to the gym, a solid sweat session always improves my mood, plus you are helping with the weight gain that commonly accompanies seasonal depression., Talk to your doctor about seasonal depression and your vitamin D levels. It may be beneficial for you to take a Vitamin D supplement or in extreme cases an antidepressant., Self-care is imperative to overcoming SAD symptoms. Keeping a journal helps. I personally try to write daily 7 things I am Proud of myself for, Forgive myself for, and Commit to myself. Meditation is also a solid self-care tool. Try everything and find out what works for you. (For more about self care email me at jesi@jesistracham.com).",
"summary": "As the weather begins to cool, the leaves begin to fall, and the days become shorter with the time change, my mood typically goes with it.",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T22:46:48+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T22:46:48+00:00",
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"title": "Worlds Toughest Mudder",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/worlds-toughest-mudder",
"content_html": "\"World\u2019s Toughest Mudder is the most extreme, insane, imposing, pulse-pounding, heart-stopping 24-hour obstacle course challenge on the planet.\u201d -Tough Mudder, World's Toughest Mudder 24 hours is a 5 mile obstacle course that tests your mental and physical strength. This was my second World\u2019s Toughest Mudder. Last year, I had a goal of 50 miles with no idea of what I was getting myself into; this year I was prepared (and a little more grounded) with a goal of 25 miles. , With temperatures predicted in the low 30\u2019s my chances at 25 miles looked more and more unlikely. After Sarah and I had a chance to talk, our goal was to simply have fun and finish. Little did we know, this year would be more challenging and exhausting in ways we could never imagine., Race morning came. I woke up around 6:00 am, no alarm clock needed. I put shorts on so it would be easy to place my Foley (catheter) when I got to the venue. On the drive to the venue Sarah called saying all of our gear had been moved. She was on the hunt to find it, and eventually did, that\u2019s why she\u2019s in charge. I waited on Sarah to get to my car with the Foley., Foley placed and layered up in neoprene, I was ready to head to the pit where things were a bit chaotic upon my arrival., That noon start time came upon us quicker than expected., The first mile of the race was pretty rough. There was one team member who acted like he wanted to run everything, and had bad energy, I knew it was going to be a long day. About halfway through the course my left front wheel started acting wonky. It had loosened up so we tightened it and continued. I kept my eye on it as we went on., The obstacles open on a rolling start basis. You have one hour out of the 24 with no obstacles. In our first lap the only open obstacle we hit was mud mile (a series of mud mounds and water filled pits). About a mile from the finish the left front wheel started acting wonky again when it fell off completely. I held the wheel while the guys fastened a rope around the side it was missing from and we slowly finished our last mile. We got into the pit and the team quickly got geared up for the night., Hypothermia wasn\u2019t an \u201cif\u201d it was a \u201cwhen\u201d for us (myself and the team alike since they move so slow compared to runners) and that changed the way we approached things. Our pit crew was incredible. They were quick to help my team put on wetsuits and get the wheelchair patched up. We left without headlamps out for another lap. We didnt take into consideration that by this time most of the obstacles would be open, slowing down our lap times. Sarah was the only person to bring a headlamp. Almost 2 hours we navigated in the dark before making it to Mudder Horn - a 30-35 foot climbing net. By this time I couldn\u2019t feel my fingertips. I was in pain and tears were flowing. With the help of my team I was able to conquer it to move on to the pit., As soon as we stopped moving, the chill set in. Like flies we dropped from hypothermia, one by one. Within an hour my team had me stripped out of my wet clothes and wrapped in emergency blankets to bring my temperature back up. By midnight I was warmed back up ready to roll. Sarah promised me we\u2019d go back out for our final lap in the morning. 6 am came and what was left of my team got me dressed. We went back on course with nothing but the goal to finish. Our team had been cut in half. We started with eight and finished with four. My team was physically drained after fighting the cold all night. We didn\u2019t attempt any obstacles. Getting the chair through the course is an obstacle in itself and with our lack of manpower we didn\u2019t want to risk my safety on the obstacles., When we crossed the finish line the sense of accomplishment and growth I felt was indescribable. Last year I fought tooth and nail to get dressed and finish the race. This year I was begging my team to finish the race with me. I pushed my body past physical and mental limitations in the hardest obstacle course race in the world. If I can get my ticket covered I will be back in 2019 for more cold, mud, and self growth.",
"content_text": "\"World\u2019s Toughest Mudder is the most extreme, insane, imposing, pulse-pounding, heart-stopping 24-hour obstacle course challenge on the planet.\u201d -Tough Mudder, World's Toughest Mudder 24 hours is a 5 mile obstacle course that tests your mental and physical strength. This was my second World\u2019s Toughest Mudder. Last year, I had a goal of 50 miles with no idea of what I was getting myself into; this year I was prepared (and a little more grounded) with a goal of 25 miles. , With temperatures predicted in the low 30\u2019s my chances at 25 miles looked more and more unlikely. After Sarah and I had a chance to talk, our goal was to simply have fun and finish. Little did we know, this year would be more challenging and exhausting in ways we could never imagine., Race morning came. I woke up around 6:00 am, no alarm clock needed. I put shorts on so it would be easy to place my Foley (catheter) when I got to the venue. On the drive to the venue Sarah called saying all of our gear had been moved. She was on the hunt to find it, and eventually did, that\u2019s why she\u2019s in charge. I waited on Sarah to get to my car with the Foley., Foley placed and layered up in neoprene, I was ready to head to the pit where things were a bit chaotic upon my arrival., That noon start time came upon us quicker than expected., The first mile of the race was pretty rough. There was one team member who acted like he wanted to run everything, and had bad energy, I knew it was going to be a long day. About halfway through the course my left front wheel started acting wonky. It had loosened up so we tightened it and continued. I kept my eye on it as we went on., The obstacles open on a rolling start basis. You have one hour out of the 24 with no obstacles. In our first lap the only open obstacle we hit was mud mile (a series of mud mounds and water filled pits). About a mile from the finish the left front wheel started acting wonky again when it fell off completely. I held the wheel while the guys fastened a rope around the side it was missing from and we slowly finished our last mile. We got into the pit and the team quickly got geared up for the night., Hypothermia wasn\u2019t an \u201cif\u201d it was a \u201cwhen\u201d for us (myself and the team alike since they move so slow compared to runners) and that changed the way we approached things. Our pit crew was incredible. They were quick to help my team put on wetsuits and get the wheelchair patched up. We left without headlamps out for another lap. We didnt take into consideration that by this time most of the obstacles would be open, slowing down our lap times. Sarah was the only person to bring a headlamp. Almost 2 hours we navigated in the dark before making it to Mudder Horn - a 30-35 foot climbing net. By this time I couldn\u2019t feel my fingertips. I was in pain and tears were flowing. With the help of my team I was able to conquer it to move on to the pit., As soon as we stopped moving, the chill set in. Like flies we dropped from hypothermia, one by one. Within an hour my team had me stripped out of my wet clothes and wrapped in emergency blankets to bring my temperature back up. By midnight I was warmed back up ready to roll. Sarah promised me we\u2019d go back out for our final lap in the morning. 6 am came and what was left of my team got me dressed. We went back on course with nothing but the goal to finish. Our team had been cut in half. We started with eight and finished with four. My team was physically drained after fighting the cold all night. We didn\u2019t attempt any obstacles. Getting the chair through the course is an obstacle in itself and with our lack of manpower we didn\u2019t want to risk my safety on the obstacles., When we crossed the finish line the sense of accomplishment and growth I felt was indescribable. Last year I fought tooth and nail to get dressed and finish the race. This year I was begging my team to finish the race with me. I pushed my body past physical and mental limitations in the hardest obstacle course race in the world. If I can get my ticket covered I will be back in 2019 for more cold, mud, and self growth.",
"summary": "World's Toughest Mudder 24 hours is a 5 mile obstacle course that tests your mental and physical strength. ",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T22:37:08+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T22:37:08+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "2a38a4a9316c49e5a833517c45d31070",
"title": "Memorable Moments of 2018",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/memorable-moments-of-2018",
"content_html": "What an incredible year I\u2019ve had! I want to recap my most memorable moments from 2018! I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did looking back. , |Partnering with IAB MFG (I Am Becoming), IAB<\/a> is more than a fitness clothing brand. The founder Tom supports personal growth and want you to look good while doing it. They share stories of strong women in the fitness community while marketing a quality attractive clothing line!, Check out this mini documentary they did about me -- ADAPT<\/a>, |Worlds Toughest Mudder , After getting hypothermic in the night and losing half my team I was able to rise to the challenge of 24 hours Worlds Toughest Mudder. Pushing my body past its limits and overcoming mental challenges I wasn\u2019t able to last year was a rewarding recognition of my growth. , |Experiences with old friends\/gaining new friends , Early in the year I gained a few new friends after reaching out to them on social media, growing closer. I've also traveled spending time with many close friends all over the US. The experiences were irreplaceable!, |Making Developmental Team USA In Wheelchair Curling , I went through an entire trials process this year to ultimately be selected for the developmental program within Team USA in wheelchair curling. Words cannot describe how proud I felt to receive a jacket with the American flag and my last name on it. I\u2019m excited to continue to grown my curling skills, continuing my path to Team USA. , |Breaking my hardware\/Back Surgery, This was a humbling experience. I was in the best shape of my life during my summer in Ohio when my back started making a clicking noise. After a visit to the urgent care we found I had broke a rod on my back. I scheduled an emergency visit with my Neurosurgeon in Charlotte. After a CT Scan we found not only was a rod broke but two screws in the lower part of my hardware. The plan was simple back surgery. Two small incisions. One to fix the rod, one to remove the screws. What I wasn\u2019t prepared for was the humbling experience recovery would be the months after. I didn\u2019t realize how taxing surgery was on your body. , |Sailing In Washington , I had a gentleman by the name of Bob reach out to me on Facebook letting me know he had an organization on Lake Washington in Seattle called Footloose Sailing<\/a>. With a motto of leaving disability at the dock, you quickly forget you use a wheelchair outside of that boat. Knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to share his passion of sailing Bob is always game to get out on the water. , Thanks to Bob I found my big adventure of 2019 - NORDIC SKIING MOUNT RAINER with another adaptive athlete and a small team!, |Breaking out of my Comfort Zone , This year I finally broke out of my comfort zone. Between reaching out to strangers while conversation or being completely transparent about my struggles, I finally stopped caring what people thought of me. This year, I grew more than I could have ever imagined. Growth is critical in life. Everything around us is evolving, so we must evolve with life. Excited to see the work I put in 2018 begin to flourish in 2019.",
"content_text": "What an incredible year I\u2019ve had! I want to recap my most memorable moments from 2018! I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did looking back. , |Partnering with IAB MFG (I Am Becoming), IAB is more than a fitness clothing brand. The founder Tom supports personal growth and want you to look good while doing it. They share stories of strong women in the fitness community while marketing a quality attractive clothing line!, Check out this mini documentary they did about me -- ADAPT, |Worlds Toughest Mudder , After getting hypothermic in the night and losing half my team I was able to rise to the challenge of 24 hours Worlds Toughest Mudder. Pushing my body past its limits and overcoming mental challenges I wasn\u2019t able to last year was a rewarding recognition of my growth. , |Experiences with old friends\/gaining new friends , Early in the year I gained a few new friends after reaching out to them on social media, growing closer. I've also traveled spending time with many close friends all over the US. The experiences were irreplaceable!, |Making Developmental Team USA In Wheelchair Curling , I went through an entire trials process this year to ultimately be selected for the developmental program within Team USA in wheelchair curling. Words cannot describe how proud I felt to receive a jacket with the American flag and my last name on it. I\u2019m excited to continue to grown my curling skills, continuing my path to Team USA. , |Breaking my hardware\/Back Surgery, This was a humbling experience. I was in the best shape of my life during my summer in Ohio when my back started making a clicking noise. After a visit to the urgent care we found I had broke a rod on my back. I scheduled an emergency visit with my Neurosurgeon in Charlotte. After a CT Scan we found not only was a rod broke but two screws in the lower part of my hardware. The plan was simple back surgery. Two small incisions. One to fix the rod, one to remove the screws. What I wasn\u2019t prepared for was the humbling experience recovery would be the months after. I didn\u2019t realize how taxing surgery was on your body. , |Sailing In Washington , I had a gentleman by the name of Bob reach out to me on Facebook letting me know he had an organization on Lake Washington in Seattle called Footloose Sailing. With a motto of leaving disability at the dock, you quickly forget you use a wheelchair outside of that boat. Knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to share his passion of sailing Bob is always game to get out on the water. , Thanks to Bob I found my big adventure of 2019 - NORDIC SKIING MOUNT RAINER with another adaptive athlete and a small team!, |Breaking out of my Comfort Zone , This year I finally broke out of my comfort zone. Between reaching out to strangers while conversation or being completely transparent about my struggles, I finally stopped caring what people thought of me. This year, I grew more than I could have ever imagined. Growth is critical in life. Everything around us is evolving, so we must evolve with life. Excited to see the work I put in 2018 begin to flourish in 2019.",
"summary": "What an incredible year I\u2019ve had! I want to recap my most memorable moments from 2018! I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did looking back.",
"date_published": "2023-08-14T22:33:51+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-14T22:33:51+00:00",
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"id": "7647966b7343c29048673252e490f736",
"title": "Moving Mountains",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/moving-mountains",
"content_html": "01\/11\/2019, This summer, I was entranced by Mt. Rainier while sailing on Lake Washington. After doing some research, it appeared that very few adaptive athletes have reached its summit. I am announcing my intent to attempt that climb during summer of 2019., I am aware that this would be no small feat. Already, the odds are stacked against me in the form of physical limitations and medical concerns. However, I have no doubt that with careful planning and support from my sponsors, I can successfully complete what is regarded as a significant accomplishment for even an abled-bodied hiker., In the same breath, I do not intend to trivialize this climb by commercializing it. Nor do I intend to degenerate this experience into a competitive endeavor. In the same vein as thousands before me, I view it as a sacred and precious achievement. I view it as an incredible privilege to use this as an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. My wish is only to inspire disabled and abled-bodied alike to not set limitations on what they can achieve., Over the next six months, I will be tirelessly securing support, training my body, and preparing my mind to endure the rigor of what I am confident will be a physically grueling and emotionally trying experience., Please share this message. If you can personally help, I encourage you to reach out. Let\u2019s make this happen together. Wheel with me.",
"content_text": "01\/11\/2019, This summer, I was entranced by Mt. Rainier while sailing on Lake Washington. After doing some research, it appeared that very few adaptive athletes have reached its summit. I am announcing my intent to attempt that climb during summer of 2019., I am aware that this would be no small feat. Already, the odds are stacked against me in the form of physical limitations and medical concerns. However, I have no doubt that with careful planning and support from my sponsors, I can successfully complete what is regarded as a significant accomplishment for even an abled-bodied hiker., In the same breath, I do not intend to trivialize this climb by commercializing it. Nor do I intend to degenerate this experience into a competitive endeavor. In the same vein as thousands before me, I view it as a sacred and precious achievement. I view it as an incredible privilege to use this as an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. My wish is only to inspire disabled and abled-bodied alike to not set limitations on what they can achieve., Over the next six months, I will be tirelessly securing support, training my body, and preparing my mind to endure the rigor of what I am confident will be a physically grueling and emotionally trying experience., Please share this message. If you can personally help, I encourage you to reach out. Let\u2019s make this happen together. Wheel with me.",
"summary": "This summer, I was entranced by Mt. Rainier while sailing on Lake Washington. After doing some research...",
"date_published": "2023-08-12T02:10:27+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-12T02:10:27+00:00",
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"id": "8613985ec49eb8f757ae6439e879bb2a",
"title": "10 Tips For Flying With A Manual Wheelchair",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/10-tips-for-flying-with-a-manual-wheelchair",
"content_html": "Flying is a pain without a disability, so after my injury I was pretty nervous about flying. Most airlines would charge an arm and a leg in baggage fees along with an attitude when you request extra assistance due to your disability. With my added medical supplies my bags would often be overweight and the option to just use a carry on was taken away. Here are a couple of tips and tricks I have when it\u2019s related to flying. , 1. Make a list when you pack. I don\u2019t know about you but my mind runs a hundred miles a minute. If I didn\u2019t make a list with the essentials I would surely forget the most important items., 2. TSA Pre-check. If you want to avoid the full body patdown (unless your hands test positivite), I HIGHLY recommend spending $80 for 5 years of TSA precheck. They swab your hands and cushion then inspect\/patdown your chair. It takes your TSA experience from 20 or 30 minutes to 10., 3. Your bag ALWAYS contains medical\/assistive devices. I remember being so frustrated that I\u2019d have to pay for luggage when the only reason I was checking luggage was due to my medical supplies. A close friend informed me airlines often make an exception for medical supplies and assistive devices. I always pack my Axiobionics Wearable therapy, loose catheters, diapers, and gloves on top of my luggage. Be sure not to lie about your supplies because often times they will check. , 4. Fly Southwest. The Southwest Staff is typically more friendly and willing to accommodate its passengers with disabilities and with a smile! My chair is narrow enough that with their open seating policy I can board the plane straight from my chair rather than transferring to an isle chair. They also are very accommodating with helping me use the restroom. They have the lowest rate for damaging my wheelchair with one time out of the twenty something flights I have taken compared to the other airlines. On the rare occasion I have had an issue the customer service team was quick to take care of it. , 5. Keep enough supplies on you for an overnight stay. With unpredictable weather and unforeseen events flights may get cancelled and luggage can get misplaced. The last thing you want is to be stranded somewhere without your medical supplies. For me it\u2019s catheters. I always make sure to have enough for a day in my pack. , 6. Remove any removable pieces of your wheelchair before they take it. A lot of people are inconsiderate that your chair acts as your legs. They often treat it like luggage, tossing it (literally) under the plane. The last thing you want is to lose your cushion, side guards, backrest, or pack under the plane. Rather be safe than sorry so I remove everything. , 7. Meal prep and bring an empty bottle. Airports are EXPENSIVE. The food is typically packed with salt and grease. Rather than worrying about finding something to eat I always pack snacks, and a meal (depending on how long my day is.) With water fountains scattered throughout the airport, bringing your own water bottle saves money. , 8. Be patient with the employees. Especially if your flight is delayed or cancelled. The employees have no control over flight status. They are the messengers. Don\u2019t shoot the messenger., 9. Give yourself enough time during a layover. As a wheelchair user you are first to board the plane and the last one off. You want to be sure to give yourself enough time to get from one gate to another., 10. Car Rentals. You can request a vehicle with hand controls. You\u2019ll want to call to specify that you need a right or left hand control when booking the car, 48 and 24 hours before. Sometimes the rental company will STILL fail you. Before leaving the facility always say there is damage anywhere your wheelchair could cause damage so you\u2019re not liable.",
"content_text": "Flying is a pain without a disability, so after my injury I was pretty nervous about flying. Most airlines would charge an arm and a leg in baggage fees along with an attitude when you request extra assistance due to your disability. With my added medical supplies my bags would often be overweight and the option to just use a carry on was taken away. Here are a couple of tips and tricks I have when it\u2019s related to flying. , 1. Make a list when you pack. I don\u2019t know about you but my mind runs a hundred miles a minute. If I didn\u2019t make a list with the essentials I would surely forget the most important items., 2. TSA Pre-check. If you want to avoid the full body patdown (unless your hands test positivite), I HIGHLY recommend spending $80 for 5 years of TSA precheck. They swab your hands and cushion then inspect\/patdown your chair. It takes your TSA experience from 20 or 30 minutes to 10., 3. Your bag ALWAYS contains medical\/assistive devices. I remember being so frustrated that I\u2019d have to pay for luggage when the only reason I was checking luggage was due to my medical supplies. A close friend informed me airlines often make an exception for medical supplies and assistive devices. I always pack my Axiobionics Wearable therapy, loose catheters, diapers, and gloves on top of my luggage. Be sure not to lie about your supplies because often times they will check. , 4. Fly Southwest. The Southwest Staff is typically more friendly and willing to accommodate its passengers with disabilities and with a smile! My chair is narrow enough that with their open seating policy I can board the plane straight from my chair rather than transferring to an isle chair. They also are very accommodating with helping me use the restroom. They have the lowest rate for damaging my wheelchair with one time out of the twenty something flights I have taken compared to the other airlines. On the rare occasion I have had an issue the customer service team was quick to take care of it. , 5. Keep enough supplies on you for an overnight stay. With unpredictable weather and unforeseen events flights may get cancelled and luggage can get misplaced. The last thing you want is to be stranded somewhere without your medical supplies. For me it\u2019s catheters. I always make sure to have enough for a day in my pack. , 6. Remove any removable pieces of your wheelchair before they take it. A lot of people are inconsiderate that your chair acts as your legs. They often treat it like luggage, tossing it (literally) under the plane. The last thing you want is to lose your cushion, side guards, backrest, or pack under the plane. Rather be safe than sorry so I remove everything. , 7. Meal prep and bring an empty bottle. Airports are EXPENSIVE. The food is typically packed with salt and grease. Rather than worrying about finding something to eat I always pack snacks, and a meal (depending on how long my day is.) With water fountains scattered throughout the airport, bringing your own water bottle saves money. , 8. Be patient with the employees. Especially if your flight is delayed or cancelled. The employees have no control over flight status. They are the messengers. Don\u2019t shoot the messenger., 9. Give yourself enough time during a layover. As a wheelchair user you are first to board the plane and the last one off. You want to be sure to give yourself enough time to get from one gate to another., 10. Car Rentals. You can request a vehicle with hand controls. You\u2019ll want to call to specify that you need a right or left hand control when booking the car, 48 and 24 hours before. Sometimes the rental company will STILL fail you. Before leaving the facility always say there is damage anywhere your wheelchair could cause damage so you\u2019re not liable.",
"summary": "Flying is a pain without a disability, so after my injury I was pretty nervous about flying.",
"date_published": "2023-08-12T02:09:31+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-12T02:09:31+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "54229abfcfa5649e7003b83dd4755294",
"title": "Mourning My Losses",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/mourning-my-losses",
"content_html": "My spinal cord injury is one of the greatest things that could have happened to me. It has given me perspective of what\u2019s important, put incredible people in my life, taught me to love myself, and made my faith stronger than ever. The opportunities outweigh the list of things I can\u2019t do but I just would like to take a moment to mourn my losses., Wake up, Get ready, leave the house (in 15 minutes)., This adjustment has been the hardest for me. It wasn\u2019t until 3 years into my injury I even acknowledged it takes me longer to get ready (which was the main reason I was always late). When I\u2019m at home it takes me about 30 minutes to get out the door, when I\u2019m traveling it may take close to an hour, (as long as all goes well.) Some days are easy, some days I put my shoe on and off 5 times because my toes keep rolling in the shoe., 2. My Ability to Use the Bathroom, I took for granted the days I didn\u2019t have to worry about peeing myself or using catheters. Sometimes I have the sensation to pee, sometimes I don\u2019t get it until I pee myself. I have a 2-3 hour window between catheterizations. I used to struggle with UTI\u2019s, getting an infection in my intenstines (c-diff) twice and becoming immune to an antibiotic in my first year of injury! I then switch to Lofric catheters and don\u2019t even worry about UTI\u2019s anymore., The weirdest part of my spinal cord injury has to be how I number 2. On the days my sphincter (your butt hole muscle) doesn\u2019t want to work, I put a glove on and have to digitally stimulate my poop out. You read that right, I finger blast my fart box to poop. The bowel\/bladder stuff wasn\u2019t bad when I couldn\u2019t feel it. Now I feel the pinch every time I catheterize myself and the finger entering my rectum. This is probably the weirdest and hardest thing for me to accept about this life. , 3. My Mobile Freedom, I miss the days I could pack a backpack of clothes for the week not worrying about all of my medical supplies. Or when I could carry every grocery bag in one trip. Spend a day hiking. Jump into any body of water. Not worry about where I\u2019ll use the bathroom while camping. One of my biggest struggles is asking for help. There\u2019s this beautiful waterfall I used to go to in a park called South Mountain in North Carolina. I often dream of visiting it again but the stairs leading to it quickly remind me of my limitations., 4. How Easy it Was To Train at the Gym, I really took my health and fitness for granted before I was injured. Binge drinking and taking things I shouldn\u2019t have, I partied hard. It wasn\u2019t until the year before my injury I really started taking fitness seriously. It wasn\u2019t 2 years into my injury I took my mental and physical heath seriously. I changed my diet in what I eat and what I view. I don\u2019t watch the news scroll or Facebook because filtering what you take in mentally is just as important as what you eat. I\u2019m the healthiest physically and mentally I\u2019ve ever been. Some days while training I still can\u2019t shake the haunting memory how easy it was to train at the gym pre-injury. , 5. When I Chose to Be a Jerk, This is another struggle for me. Because my spinal cord injury is visible my brain injury is often forgotten about...until I lose it on a friend or say something off the wall. It\u2019s exhausting filtering every thought that comes to mind. Everyday I work to be a better version of me, but some days this seems to hold me back. , 6. Life without Logistics, The days of simply visiting a friend\u2019s house or checking out that historic restaurant are gone. I wish I didn\u2019t have to worry about finding a bathroom while camping. Or a pad under my air mattress so I don\u2019t get a sore. Or my Axiobionics wearable therapy to maintain my muscle mass. I feel like I cannot go anywhere without all of my \u201cnecessary stuff\u201d. When I visit friend houses I\u2019m often plagued with worry. \u201cI wonder how many stairs they have.\u201d \u201cI hope I can get into the bathroom.\u201d True friends often don\u2019t see your disability, forgetting the logistics that come with it, not taking your mobility limitations into consideration. In the same sense they will also do everything they can to help you overcome it. , So life looks a little different with a spinal cord injury. There are still a ton of opportunities it brings to you. You get a different perspective of life and get to see not only your physical but mental strength to adapt and overcome obstacles. It\u2019s okay to think about your limitations, but don\u2019t stay in life-long mourning of them, for you will miss out on a life full of opportunity. For my abled-bodied friends it\u2019s important to remember this may happen to you at any time. Disability doesn\u2019t discriminate. Don\u2019t get so caught up in life\u2019s woes you forget all of the things you have to be grateful for., I may have a lot of \u201closses\u201d, but I have a lot more wins. This injury has brought opportunities I would have never thought were possible! I\u2019ve tried out for the NATIONAL CURLING TEAM! \ud83e\udd4c I never thought of curling, never mind being involved in the National Developmental program. It brought me my love for helping others to use their obstacles to live the life they want. This injury taught me to love myself, and continue to grow into a better version of that person. Everyday it helps me strive to be my best version of me. It grew my faith stronger than I ever thought possible. And it has shown me just how limitless I can be. \ud83d\udc95 #wheelwithme",
"content_text": "My spinal cord injury is one of the greatest things that could have happened to me. It has given me perspective of what\u2019s important, put incredible people in my life, taught me to love myself, and made my faith stronger than ever. The opportunities outweigh the list of things I can\u2019t do but I just would like to take a moment to mourn my losses., Wake up, Get ready, leave the house (in 15 minutes)., This adjustment has been the hardest for me. It wasn\u2019t until 3 years into my injury I even acknowledged it takes me longer to get ready (which was the main reason I was always late). When I\u2019m at home it takes me about 30 minutes to get out the door, when I\u2019m traveling it may take close to an hour, (as long as all goes well.) Some days are easy, some days I put my shoe on and off 5 times because my toes keep rolling in the shoe., 2. My Ability to Use the Bathroom, I took for granted the days I didn\u2019t have to worry about peeing myself or using catheters. Sometimes I have the sensation to pee, sometimes I don\u2019t get it until I pee myself. I have a 2-3 hour window between catheterizations. I used to struggle with UTI\u2019s, getting an infection in my intenstines (c-diff) twice and becoming immune to an antibiotic in my first year of injury! I then switch to Lofric catheters and don\u2019t even worry about UTI\u2019s anymore., The weirdest part of my spinal cord injury has to be how I number 2. On the days my sphincter (your butt hole muscle) doesn\u2019t want to work, I put a glove on and have to digitally stimulate my poop out. You read that right, I finger blast my fart box to poop. The bowel\/bladder stuff wasn\u2019t bad when I couldn\u2019t feel it. Now I feel the pinch every time I catheterize myself and the finger entering my rectum. This is probably the weirdest and hardest thing for me to accept about this life. , 3. My Mobile Freedom, I miss the days I could pack a backpack of clothes for the week not worrying about all of my medical supplies. Or when I could carry every grocery bag in one trip. Spend a day hiking. Jump into any body of water. Not worry about where I\u2019ll use the bathroom while camping. One of my biggest struggles is asking for help. There\u2019s this beautiful waterfall I used to go to in a park called South Mountain in North Carolina. I often dream of visiting it again but the stairs leading to it quickly remind me of my limitations., 4. How Easy it Was To Train at the Gym, I really took my health and fitness for granted before I was injured. Binge drinking and taking things I shouldn\u2019t have, I partied hard. It wasn\u2019t until the year before my injury I really started taking fitness seriously. It wasn\u2019t 2 years into my injury I took my mental and physical heath seriously. I changed my diet in what I eat and what I view. I don\u2019t watch the news scroll or Facebook because filtering what you take in mentally is just as important as what you eat. I\u2019m the healthiest physically and mentally I\u2019ve ever been. Some days while training I still can\u2019t shake the haunting memory how easy it was to train at the gym pre-injury. , 5. When I Chose to Be a Jerk, This is another struggle for me. Because my spinal cord injury is visible my brain injury is often forgotten about...until I lose it on a friend or say something off the wall. It\u2019s exhausting filtering every thought that comes to mind. Everyday I work to be a better version of me, but some days this seems to hold me back. , 6. Life without Logistics, The days of simply visiting a friend\u2019s house or checking out that historic restaurant are gone. I wish I didn\u2019t have to worry about finding a bathroom while camping. Or a pad under my air mattress so I don\u2019t get a sore. Or my Axiobionics wearable therapy to maintain my muscle mass. I feel like I cannot go anywhere without all of my \u201cnecessary stuff\u201d. When I visit friend houses I\u2019m often plagued with worry. \u201cI wonder how many stairs they have.\u201d \u201cI hope I can get into the bathroom.\u201d True friends often don\u2019t see your disability, forgetting the logistics that come with it, not taking your mobility limitations into consideration. In the same sense they will also do everything they can to help you overcome it. , So life looks a little different with a spinal cord injury. There are still a ton of opportunities it brings to you. You get a different perspective of life and get to see not only your physical but mental strength to adapt and overcome obstacles. It\u2019s okay to think about your limitations, but don\u2019t stay in life-long mourning of them, for you will miss out on a life full of opportunity. For my abled-bodied friends it\u2019s important to remember this may happen to you at any time. Disability doesn\u2019t discriminate. Don\u2019t get so caught up in life\u2019s woes you forget all of the things you have to be grateful for., I may have a lot of \u201closses\u201d, but I have a lot more wins. This injury has brought opportunities I would have never thought were possible! I\u2019ve tried out for the NATIONAL CURLING TEAM! \ud83e\udd4c I never thought of curling, never mind being involved in the National Developmental program. It brought me my love for helping others to use their obstacles to live the life they want. This injury taught me to love myself, and continue to grow into a better version of that person. Everyday it helps me strive to be my best version of me. It grew my faith stronger than I ever thought possible. And it has shown me just how limitless I can be. \ud83d\udc95 #wheelwithme",
"summary": "My spinal cord injury is one of the greatest things that could have happened to me. It has given me perspective of what\u2019s important...",
"date_published": "2023-08-12T02:08:17+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-12T02:08:17+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "92cc227532d17e56e07902b254dfad10",
"title": "Excerpt From My Journal",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/excerpt-from-my-journal",
"content_html": "I\u2019m so frustrated. I\u2019m frustrated at my limitations. That I have to rely on mechanical devices that can fail me for my independence., A lifts that stop working., In moments like these it\u2019s easy to get caught up in everything I haven\u2019t figured out how to do yet or choose not to do. As much as I would like to act like I am able to do everything I still have limitations. This is often hard for me to admit. I\u2019ll often avoid certain activities so I don\u2019t have to deal with my limitations., It\u2019s a weird place to be, having to rely on equipment for mobility. Some days your limitations add up. Things you never thought twice about take methodical planning. It\u2019s hard to comprehend life this way. Maybe not comprehend but understand. Rarely do I think this deeply on my disability., Typically if something is out of my reach, I quickly find a solution without thinking about it. When I keep dropping stuff from my lap, I get frustrated. Not at my wheelchair but that the item just won\u2019t stay. I don\u2019t think about how much easier it would be if I could use my hands to carry something rather than using them as legs to move me forward., It\u2019s mind blowing to me how cathing is so routine. I hardly think about how I pee just as before my injury even though there are so many steps. Small things like pulling my pants up are now mindless tasks that get me through the day., Everything that generated fear while laying in that hospital bed is now daily routine. Something I hardly think twice about. It\u2019s amazing how quickly we adjust to new circumstances when we focus on gratitude rather than loss. Often times our obstacles are so overwhelming, we struggle to see how we can work through them, until we do. How often do we take a step back to reflect on the big picture? Reflect on how much growth we have achieved? How much we have developed personally? Daily reflection is an important exercise that should be a part of your daily routine.",
"content_text": "I\u2019m so frustrated. I\u2019m frustrated at my limitations. That I have to rely on mechanical devices that can fail me for my independence., A lifts that stop working., In moments like these it\u2019s easy to get caught up in everything I haven\u2019t figured out how to do yet or choose not to do. As much as I would like to act like I am able to do everything I still have limitations. This is often hard for me to admit. I\u2019ll often avoid certain activities so I don\u2019t have to deal with my limitations., It\u2019s a weird place to be, having to rely on equipment for mobility. Some days your limitations add up. Things you never thought twice about take methodical planning. It\u2019s hard to comprehend life this way. Maybe not comprehend but understand. Rarely do I think this deeply on my disability., Typically if something is out of my reach, I quickly find a solution without thinking about it. When I keep dropping stuff from my lap, I get frustrated. Not at my wheelchair but that the item just won\u2019t stay. I don\u2019t think about how much easier it would be if I could use my hands to carry something rather than using them as legs to move me forward., It\u2019s mind blowing to me how cathing is so routine. I hardly think about how I pee just as before my injury even though there are so many steps. Small things like pulling my pants up are now mindless tasks that get me through the day., Everything that generated fear while laying in that hospital bed is now daily routine. Something I hardly think twice about. It\u2019s amazing how quickly we adjust to new circumstances when we focus on gratitude rather than loss. Often times our obstacles are so overwhelming, we struggle to see how we can work through them, until we do. How often do we take a step back to reflect on the big picture? Reflect on how much growth we have achieved? How much we have developed personally? Daily reflection is an important exercise that should be a part of your daily routine.",
"summary": "I\u2019m so frustrated. I\u2019m frustrated at my limitations. That I have to rely on mechanical devices that can fail me for my independence.",
"date_published": "2023-08-12T02:04:37+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-12T02:04:37+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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{
"id": "98dce83da57b0395e163467c9dae521b",
"title": "Taking A Step Back From Competitive Curling",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/taking-a-step-back-from-competitive-curling",
"content_html": "In 2016 I was on a mission to try as many adaptive sports as possible. My goal was to show others the numerous activities available to them. Toward the end of 2016 I found wheelchair curling. Wheelchair Curling is quite unique in it doesn\u2019t have the sweepers traditional curling has. The sport is about technique and patience. The wheelchair curler sets up their stone, taps it in to position, aims, and throws it at the perfect weight to land where the skip, (the person calling the shots), asked it to land. I was consumed by the finesse! I have competed in 2 US pre-trial selection processes and 2 Team USA selection trials. I\u2019ve participated in numerous camps across the country, having the opportunity to curl in different clubs. I\u2019ve created life long friendships., Wheelchair curling has taught me a few lessons. The importance of unity and flow it takes to make a successful team. Mental management that I apply to every aspect of my life. Wheelchair curling gave me the skill of detailed documentation, which I use for my education and fitness routine. It taught me patience, to anticipate the unexpected, and how to let go. But most importantly wheelchair curling taught me the game isn\u2019t over until it\u2019s over., I recently have been experiencing shoulder pain; seeking medical attention for the pain. After 3 weeks off of the ice due to the shoulder pain, I have had time to think. I wasn\u2019t applying myself to the national program as much as it takes to be a world caliber athlete. In the 3 years I have been with the program my priorities have shifted from athletics to my education and non-profit. I will still curl for fun but at this time it is not fair to my teammates nor myself to continue to participate in the national program. I am taking time off to allow my achy shoulder to heal and to focus on my main priorities., This was not an easy decision to make. Being a world caliber athlete is an experience that words cannot describe. To represent the USA in an International competition is the stuff dreams are made of. This is not goodbye forever but until later.",
"content_text": "In 2016 I was on a mission to try as many adaptive sports as possible. My goal was to show others the numerous activities available to them. Toward the end of 2016 I found wheelchair curling. Wheelchair Curling is quite unique in it doesn\u2019t have the sweepers traditional curling has. The sport is about technique and patience. The wheelchair curler sets up their stone, taps it in to position, aims, and throws it at the perfect weight to land where the skip, (the person calling the shots), asked it to land. I was consumed by the finesse! I have competed in 2 US pre-trial selection processes and 2 Team USA selection trials. I\u2019ve participated in numerous camps across the country, having the opportunity to curl in different clubs. I\u2019ve created life long friendships., Wheelchair curling has taught me a few lessons. The importance of unity and flow it takes to make a successful team. Mental management that I apply to every aspect of my life. Wheelchair curling gave me the skill of detailed documentation, which I use for my education and fitness routine. It taught me patience, to anticipate the unexpected, and how to let go. But most importantly wheelchair curling taught me the game isn\u2019t over until it\u2019s over., I recently have been experiencing shoulder pain; seeking medical attention for the pain. After 3 weeks off of the ice due to the shoulder pain, I have had time to think. I wasn\u2019t applying myself to the national program as much as it takes to be a world caliber athlete. In the 3 years I have been with the program my priorities have shifted from athletics to my education and non-profit. I will still curl for fun but at this time it is not fair to my teammates nor myself to continue to participate in the national program. I am taking time off to allow my achy shoulder to heal and to focus on my main priorities., This was not an easy decision to make. Being a world caliber athlete is an experience that words cannot describe. To represent the USA in an International competition is the stuff dreams are made of. This is not goodbye forever but until later.",
"summary": "In 2016 I was on a mission to try as many adaptive sports as possible. My goal was to show others the numerous activities available to them.",
"date_published": "2023-08-12T02:04:56+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-12T02:04:56+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/w4nmidCNnRksOszgkNgkB8ZRvtKPpQJXIq1sTAnf.webp",
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{
"id": "f4b9ec30ad9f68f89b29639786cb62ef",
"title": "Wheel With Me x iAccess x Purposity Partnership",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/wheel-with-me-x-iaccess-x-purposity-partnership",
"content_html": "iACCESS LIFE PARTNERS WITH WHEEL WITH ME, PURPOSITY TO BENEFIT SPINAL CORD INJURY SURVIVORS<\/b>, Mission-Driven Partnership Provides Assistance For Accessibility, Independent Living For Spinal Cord Injury Survivors Through Purposity Platform, BUT WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU!, How to Follow, Atlanta, GA - July 28, 2020 - On the heels of the Americans With Disabilities Act\u2019s 30-year anniversary, iAccess Life and Wheel With Me Foundation (WWMF) have partnered with Purposity, an app connecting users with one-to-one needs in their community, to fulfill the essential needs of people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI). From providing equipment to other medical costs, people can sign up on Purposity to receive alerts and immediately help fulfill these requests directly to those who will benefit., \u201cWheel With Me and iAccess Life are dedicated to improving the lives of SCI patients by creating accessibility to the tools and skills needed to live an independent life as an SCI Survivor,\u201d said Jesi Stracham, Founder, WWMF and SCI survivor., \"Seeing how families struggled to pay for every day medical supply expenses really struck a nerve with me. How could something so vital be so expensive?! I wanted to find a solution to help those without adequate medical insurance cover the cost of these necessities. I am excited to team with Purposity and Wheel With Me Foundation to do just that,\" said Brandon Winfield, Founder and CEO, iAccess Life and SCI survivor. \u201cWith the ADA\u2019s 30-year anniversary, we have much to celebrate but so much more to do to ensure true accessibility for all. The time is now to act.\u201d , Through their partnership with Purposity, WWMF and iAccess Life aim to remove barriers to independent living that spinal cord injury survivors must overcome. Inadequate access to necessary medical equipment is a constant source of stress for many SCI survivors, preventing them from achieving a life of independence that they deserve. Now, people with SCI can post these needs on Purposity and have community members fulfill them directly., To begin meeting the needs of SCI survivors, iAccess and WWMF are seeking 600 followers on Purposity. Download the Purposity app from the App Store or Google Play and follow Wheel With Me under the Organizations Page. Followers then receive an alert with a link to a story of an individual in need and can choose to meet that need right on their device. The requested item is in the hands of the organization in just a few days. It takes one notification, under a minute, and a few clicks to make a difference for an SCI survivor., About iAccess Life:, Founded in 2018, iAccess Life empowers people with mobility issues to live life to the fullest with its award-winning mobile application. iAccess\u2019s mission is to provide a platform that sets the bar for improved accessibility, and help build barrier-free communities that benefit everyone. iAccess enables those with marginalized access to have their voices be heard and to share their experiences with accessibility with others. iAccess has curated a community of loyal users that can rate, review and research the accessibility of locations they visit. Headquartered in Atlanta, iAccess Life is available to download for iOS and Android. For more information, visit www.iaccesslife.com, About Wheel With Me Foundation:, Jesi Stracham was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 2015. During her in-patient rehabilitation treatment she made her first \u201cwheel friend,\u201d Chris. Upon discharge Jesi was sent to live life to the fullest while Chris was sent to a nursing home where he still resides. As Jesi got to know Chris\u2019s situation in more detail, she realized the gap between inpatient rehabilitation and life after a spinal cord injury. In 2016 the Wheel With Me Foundation was born. Dedicated to serving the needs of the newly injured, Wheel With Me Foundation is determined to give individuals the skills, coaching, and support needed to get back to living life to the fullest. To help support the WWMF, visit https:\/\/www.wheelwithmefoundation.org\/ and donate today!, About Purposity:, Purposity is an Atlanta-based organization formed on the principle that individuals find purpose through generosity: Purposity. Their mission is to connect people in need with those that can help and work to accomplish this mission through an app, making it easy for neighbors to help neighbors. Users of Purposity experience transparency and a one-to-one relationship with philanthropy, based on knowing the story of the exact need their donation is meeting. Purposity\u2019s platform also allows timely access to donors within a community for schools and other nonprofits. To learn more, visit www.purposity.com.",
"content_text": "iACCESS LIFE PARTNERS WITH WHEEL WITH ME, PURPOSITY TO BENEFIT SPINAL CORD INJURY SURVIVORS, Mission-Driven Partnership Provides Assistance For Accessibility, Independent Living For Spinal Cord Injury Survivors Through Purposity Platform, BUT WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU!, How to Follow, Atlanta, GA - July 28, 2020 - On the heels of the Americans With Disabilities Act\u2019s 30-year anniversary, iAccess Life and Wheel With Me Foundation (WWMF) have partnered with Purposity, an app connecting users with one-to-one needs in their community, to fulfill the essential needs of people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI). From providing equipment to other medical costs, people can sign up on Purposity to receive alerts and immediately help fulfill these requests directly to those who will benefit., \u201cWheel With Me and iAccess Life are dedicated to improving the lives of SCI patients by creating accessibility to the tools and skills needed to live an independent life as an SCI Survivor,\u201d said Jesi Stracham, Founder, WWMF and SCI survivor., \"Seeing how families struggled to pay for every day medical supply expenses really struck a nerve with me. How could something so vital be so expensive?! I wanted to find a solution to help those without adequate medical insurance cover the cost of these necessities. I am excited to team with Purposity and Wheel With Me Foundation to do just that,\" said Brandon Winfield, Founder and CEO, iAccess Life and SCI survivor. \u201cWith the ADA\u2019s 30-year anniversary, we have much to celebrate but so much more to do to ensure true accessibility for all. The time is now to act.\u201d , Through their partnership with Purposity, WWMF and iAccess Life aim to remove barriers to independent living that spinal cord injury survivors must overcome. Inadequate access to necessary medical equipment is a constant source of stress for many SCI survivors, preventing them from achieving a life of independence that they deserve. Now, people with SCI can post these needs on Purposity and have community members fulfill them directly., To begin meeting the needs of SCI survivors, iAccess and WWMF are seeking 600 followers on Purposity. Download the Purposity app from the App Store or Google Play and follow Wheel With Me under the Organizations Page. Followers then receive an alert with a link to a story of an individual in need and can choose to meet that need right on their device. The requested item is in the hands of the organization in just a few days. It takes one notification, under a minute, and a few clicks to make a difference for an SCI survivor., About iAccess Life:, Founded in 2018, iAccess Life empowers people with mobility issues to live life to the fullest with its award-winning mobile application. iAccess\u2019s mission is to provide a platform that sets the bar for improved accessibility, and help build barrier-free communities that benefit everyone. iAccess enables those with marginalized access to have their voices be heard and to share their experiences with accessibility with others. iAccess has curated a community of loyal users that can rate, review and research the accessibility of locations they visit. Headquartered in Atlanta, iAccess Life is available to download for iOS and Android. For more information, visit www.iaccesslife.com, About Wheel With Me Foundation:, Jesi Stracham was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 2015. During her in-patient rehabilitation treatment she made her first \u201cwheel friend,\u201d Chris. Upon discharge Jesi was sent to live life to the fullest while Chris was sent to a nursing home where he still resides. As Jesi got to know Chris\u2019s situation in more detail, she realized the gap between inpatient rehabilitation and life after a spinal cord injury. In 2016 the Wheel With Me Foundation was born. Dedicated to serving the needs of the newly injured, Wheel With Me Foundation is determined to give individuals the skills, coaching, and support needed to get back to living life to the fullest. To help support the WWMF, visit https:\/\/www.wheelwithmefoundation.org\/ and donate today!, About Purposity:, Purposity is an Atlanta-based organization formed on the principle that individuals find purpose through generosity: Purposity. Their mission is to connect people in need with those that can help and work to accomplish this mission through an app, making it easy for neighbors to help neighbors. Users of Purposity experience transparency and a one-to-one relationship with philanthropy, based on knowing the story of the exact need their donation is meeting. Purposity\u2019s platform also allows timely access to donors within a community for schools and other nonprofits. To learn more, visit www.purposity.com.",
"summary": "iACCESS LIFE PARTNERS WITH WHEEL WITH ME, PURPOSITY TO BENEFIT SPINAL CORD INJURY SURVIVORS ",
"date_published": "2023-08-11T19:06:15+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-11T19:06:15+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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"tags": [ "In The News" ]
},
{
"id": "812b4ba287f5ee0bc9d43bbf5bbe87fb",
"title": "My Biggest Hero is.......",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/my-biggest-hero-is",
"content_html": "In an interview, Matthew McConaughey said his biggest hero is him ten years from now. This resonates with me. When I think of a hero in my life, I automatically think of the person I am and the person I am continuously developing into. To me, a hero is someone who shows courageous strength, even when the future is uncertain. A person who values the impact they leave on the individuals they serve. A hero is a person who, regardless of their fears or the doubt in their success, shows up anyway. An individual that continuously exhibits mental grit is a hero. Heroes are all around us., Had you asked me this question 6 years ago, I\u2019m sure my answer would NOT be the same. After the accident that left me a paraplegic, my once determined future became unclear in an instant. I struggled to change my lifestyle to accommodate my disability. I lost not only the use of my legs but my bowel and bladder control as well as the perceived \u201ccontrol\u201d I had over my life. I had to relearn everything I previously knew about day to day functions. Various examples of everyday tasks I had to remaster were how to get my pants on, use a catheter to pee, how to poop, how to shower, get in and out of bed or a car, and how to use a wheelchair. Refusing to accept the reality of my life-changing injury, I overlooked my physical and mental health and wellness. , One of my biggest struggles as a wheelchair user was the amount I fell out of my wheelchair. Sometimes my legs would get caught wrong when transferring out of bed, sucking me to the floor. If I had a bladder infection, it would cause my legs to spasm straight out, flipping me over backward. Getting myself from the floor to my wheelchair was near impossible. While traveling, I fell on a hotel room floor. After struggling a few minutes, I recorded a rant (later posted to youtube), about the unseen struggles of my day to day life with a disability. The video had thousands of views within days. After realizing the number of people I could reach, I decided to make a lifestyle change. I added physical activity to my daily life. I began paying close attention not only to my physical diet but my mental diet, paying close attention to the content I consumed. In the moment of my lifestyle change, the long-term impact this would have on my entire existence wasn\u2019t realized., Today I am in the best physical and mental shape of my life, finding self-gratification in the process of continued growth. I have let go of every judgment I had of others and myself. I have let others\u2019 opinions realizing they do not determine my happiness (unless I allow them to). I have learned how to evaluate a situation rather than react right away. I have learned not to respond to negativity. When I reflect on who I was, at 22 years old, after a life-transforming injury to the woman I am today, I am inspired. I inspire myself with my drive and desire to help others. The passion I carry throughout my day to day life. My resilience in the face of adversity. And my commitment to being the best version of ME. Reflecting on the challenges I have faced and overcome, my heart, and who I am continuing to grow into, I am my biggest hero.",
"content_text": "In an interview, Matthew McConaughey said his biggest hero is him ten years from now. This resonates with me. When I think of a hero in my life, I automatically think of the person I am and the person I am continuously developing into. To me, a hero is someone who shows courageous strength, even when the future is uncertain. A person who values the impact they leave on the individuals they serve. A hero is a person who, regardless of their fears or the doubt in their success, shows up anyway. An individual that continuously exhibits mental grit is a hero. Heroes are all around us., Had you asked me this question 6 years ago, I\u2019m sure my answer would NOT be the same. After the accident that left me a paraplegic, my once determined future became unclear in an instant. I struggled to change my lifestyle to accommodate my disability. I lost not only the use of my legs but my bowel and bladder control as well as the perceived \u201ccontrol\u201d I had over my life. I had to relearn everything I previously knew about day to day functions. Various examples of everyday tasks I had to remaster were how to get my pants on, use a catheter to pee, how to poop, how to shower, get in and out of bed or a car, and how to use a wheelchair. Refusing to accept the reality of my life-changing injury, I overlooked my physical and mental health and wellness. , One of my biggest struggles as a wheelchair user was the amount I fell out of my wheelchair. Sometimes my legs would get caught wrong when transferring out of bed, sucking me to the floor. If I had a bladder infection, it would cause my legs to spasm straight out, flipping me over backward. Getting myself from the floor to my wheelchair was near impossible. While traveling, I fell on a hotel room floor. After struggling a few minutes, I recorded a rant (later posted to youtube), about the unseen struggles of my day to day life with a disability. The video had thousands of views within days. After realizing the number of people I could reach, I decided to make a lifestyle change. I added physical activity to my daily life. I began paying close attention not only to my physical diet but my mental diet, paying close attention to the content I consumed. In the moment of my lifestyle change, the long-term impact this would have on my entire existence wasn\u2019t realized., Today I am in the best physical and mental shape of my life, finding self-gratification in the process of continued growth. I have let go of every judgment I had of others and myself. I have let others\u2019 opinions realizing they do not determine my happiness (unless I allow them to). I have learned how to evaluate a situation rather than react right away. I have learned not to respond to negativity. When I reflect on who I was, at 22 years old, after a life-transforming injury to the woman I am today, I am inspired. I inspire myself with my drive and desire to help others. The passion I carry throughout my day to day life. My resilience in the face of adversity. And my commitment to being the best version of ME. Reflecting on the challenges I have faced and overcome, my heart, and who I am continuing to grow into, I am my biggest hero.",
"summary": "In an interview, Matthew McConaughey said his biggest hero is him ten years from now. This resonates with me. ",
"date_published": "2023-08-18T21:57:21+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-18T21:57:21+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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},
{
"id": "26657d5ff9020d2abefe558796b99584",
"title": "Should Sports Arenas Be Funded by the Public?",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/should-sports-arenas-be-funded-by-the-public",
"content_html": "Public funding of sports arenas is not a cut and dried, yes or no question. Numerous factors contribute to either answer to this question. I conducted a poll of my Instagram followers, and some of their viewpoints were quite interesting. Some of their perspectives are quite interesting, leaving the answer to this cloudy question no clearer from different American citizens\u2019 views. Some argued that new stadiums benefit local economies, while others stated our local law enforcement, public education, and public services\u2019 need for more funding. Unknown to me, according to Joel Potter\u2019s research, 50% of new stadium construction is funded by the general public, totaling over $15 billion in taxpayers\u2019 dollars in a twenty-two-year span. (Potter) , There are benefits in the form of a ripple effect of sports arenas on the local economy. Surrounding hotels, shops, restaurants, etc., benefit immensely from the increased traffic through the city. The individual sports arena brings additional tax revenue to the city and state and a significant employment influx. An accurate depiction of this will be to track the economic impact the Raider\u2019s move to Las Vegas had on the City that never sleeps. Tom Sadler says the keyword is \u201cpotential\u201d economic impact. He argues that Las Vegas will be competing with Los Angeles and Phoenix for contracts due to the location. (Popke) Due to COVID-19, the team\u2019s first-year revenue may not be an accurate representation of the new sports arena\u2019s actual economic impact on the local economy. , Another positive of sports arenas moving into cities is the humanitarian work the players and local businesses provide in the community. We see this first hand in Charlotte with the Carolina Panthers. Greg Olsen regularly visits Levine Children\u2019s Hospital. While Cam Newton played for the Panthers, he hosted \u201cChristmas with Cam\u201d at Levine\u2019s Children's Hospital. (Atrium Health) Local businesses such as Nevada\u2019s \u201cMove 4 Less\u201d donates to charity for every Raider win. (Move4less)The humanitarian benefits of a local sports team are irreplaceable. , It seems that the individuals who responded to my Instagram poll don\u2019t realize that the government already provides support to the construction of sports arenas via stadium subsidies. Is this something that most of America doesn\u2019t recognize? One of the biggest arguments and my initial opinion was, what about those who don\u2019t watch sports? Due to facilities being called \u201csports arenas,\u201d it implies that they are only used for sports when this is inaccurate. I have visited Spectrum Stadium (home of the Charlotte Hornets basketball team) for both a basketball game and a concert. I once volunteered my services at a free dental clinic for the local community at Atrium Health Stadium (home of the Carolina Panthers). These facilities offer support for events other than sports, giving less validation to the \u201cI am not a sports fan\u201d argument.\u201d , I have a personal issue with tax dollars going to sports stadium subsidies because that money could go back to public education or health and human services. Many schools in populated cities face overcrowded classrooms, inadequate facilities, and little access to technology. Covid is not assisting educators in making resource demands. (Jones) Funding is regularly cut from health and human services. I had experienced the result of budget cuts when my lift in my home broke. Previously Independent Living for People With Disabilities would cover the maintenance of the equipment needed to live your life. Upon contacting my local office, they informed me the funding is no longer available to assist with the maintenance of the lift. When my wheelchair-lift goes out, I\u2019m stuck in the basement, or I have to climb the stairs until I have the money to fix the issue. How many people are trapped in their homes due to no funding for their accessibility needs?, The economic impact of a new sports stadium is not always positive. There is an extensive argument of the inequality a new stadium may cause. (Potter) With rising property values and the cost of living, it forces lower-income individuals out. As the populations of cities increase, typically, so does the gentrification of neighborhoods. With gentrification, as we see poverty forced out of an area, you can expect inequality. According to Potter, \u201cLarge and growing peer-review economic literature of the economic impact of stadium arenas, sports franchise, and sports mega-events has consistently found no substantial evidence of increased jobs, income, or tax revenue.\u201d (Potter) One of the reasons for these findings is the average total cost of living in that area is still more significant than the average total revenue from the arena due to the overall increase in the cost of living. I do not believe the stadium to be the leading cause of this, but a factor in the larger picture of widespread gentrification in an area., As someone who is not a sports enthusiast but enjoys live sports and is an avid concert-goer, I am on the fence with this subject. Potter estimates that $15 billion in stadium subsidies paid by tax dollars contributing to the construction of these arenas has been distributed over 22 years. That breaks down to over 681 million dollars a year spent on sports arenas. When looking at the breakdown of the numbers, I am frustrated. The number of tax dollars contributed to stadium subsidies should create lower ticket prices or cut the amount of taxes contributed to the construction of sports arenas. An excuse we often hear for lack of accessibility, education, or lack of general public goods is inadequate funding. We should make team owners, the players, and the team themselves responsible for constructing their arena, but due to the various uses of the venue, public funding makes sense. I would argue that the number of subsidies these facilities receive to build specific sports venues should be reduced significantly, especially in local economies where individuals in the lower-income bracket go deep into poverty due to gentrification., Sources, Atrium Health. (n.d.). Cam Newton Gives Levine Children's Patients a Christmas to Remember. Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https:\/\/atriumhealth.org\/dailydose\/2019\/12\/16\/cam-newton-gives-levine-childrens-patients-a-christmas-to-remember, Jones, S. (2020, July 27). Did America Set Public Schools Up to Fail? Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https:\/\/nymag.com\/intelligencer\/2020\/07\/the-triple-crisis-facing-americas-public-schools.html, Popke, M. (2017, April 19). A Sure Bet: The Economic Impact of Oakland Raiders' Move to Vegas. Retrieved December 10, 2020, from https:\/\/www.sportsdestinations.com\/destinations\/nevada\/sure-bet-economic-impact-oakland-raiders%E2%80%99-move-veg-12717, Potter, Joel M. \"\"Publicly Subsidized Sports Events and Stadiums: Have Economists done Justice to the Impact on Inequality?\"\" Managerial Finance, vol. 42, no. 9, 2016, pp. 879-884. ProQuest, http:\/\/ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/login?url=https:\/\/www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/scholarly-journals\/publicly-subsidized-sports-events-stadiums\/docview\/1823185880\/se-2?accountid=10008, doi:http:\/\/dx.doi.org.ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/10.1108\/MF-03-2016-0075.",
"content_text": "Public funding of sports arenas is not a cut and dried, yes or no question. Numerous factors contribute to either answer to this question. I conducted a poll of my Instagram followers, and some of their viewpoints were quite interesting. Some of their perspectives are quite interesting, leaving the answer to this cloudy question no clearer from different American citizens\u2019 views. Some argued that new stadiums benefit local economies, while others stated our local law enforcement, public education, and public services\u2019 need for more funding. Unknown to me, according to Joel Potter\u2019s research, 50% of new stadium construction is funded by the general public, totaling over $15 billion in taxpayers\u2019 dollars in a twenty-two-year span. (Potter) , There are benefits in the form of a ripple effect of sports arenas on the local economy. Surrounding hotels, shops, restaurants, etc., benefit immensely from the increased traffic through the city. The individual sports arena brings additional tax revenue to the city and state and a significant employment influx. An accurate depiction of this will be to track the economic impact the Raider\u2019s move to Las Vegas had on the City that never sleeps. Tom Sadler says the keyword is \u201cpotential\u201d economic impact. He argues that Las Vegas will be competing with Los Angeles and Phoenix for contracts due to the location. (Popke) Due to COVID-19, the team\u2019s first-year revenue may not be an accurate representation of the new sports arena\u2019s actual economic impact on the local economy. , Another positive of sports arenas moving into cities is the humanitarian work the players and local businesses provide in the community. We see this first hand in Charlotte with the Carolina Panthers. Greg Olsen regularly visits Levine Children\u2019s Hospital. While Cam Newton played for the Panthers, he hosted \u201cChristmas with Cam\u201d at Levine\u2019s Children's Hospital. (Atrium Health) Local businesses such as Nevada\u2019s \u201cMove 4 Less\u201d donates to charity for every Raider win. (Move4less)The humanitarian benefits of a local sports team are irreplaceable. , It seems that the individuals who responded to my Instagram poll don\u2019t realize that the government already provides support to the construction of sports arenas via stadium subsidies. Is this something that most of America doesn\u2019t recognize? One of the biggest arguments and my initial opinion was, what about those who don\u2019t watch sports? Due to facilities being called \u201csports arenas,\u201d it implies that they are only used for sports when this is inaccurate. I have visited Spectrum Stadium (home of the Charlotte Hornets basketball team) for both a basketball game and a concert. I once volunteered my services at a free dental clinic for the local community at Atrium Health Stadium (home of the Carolina Panthers). These facilities offer support for events other than sports, giving less validation to the \u201cI am not a sports fan\u201d argument.\u201d , I have a personal issue with tax dollars going to sports stadium subsidies because that money could go back to public education or health and human services. Many schools in populated cities face overcrowded classrooms, inadequate facilities, and little access to technology. Covid is not assisting educators in making resource demands. (Jones) Funding is regularly cut from health and human services. I had experienced the result of budget cuts when my lift in my home broke. Previously Independent Living for People With Disabilities would cover the maintenance of the equipment needed to live your life. Upon contacting my local office, they informed me the funding is no longer available to assist with the maintenance of the lift. When my wheelchair-lift goes out, I\u2019m stuck in the basement, or I have to climb the stairs until I have the money to fix the issue. How many people are trapped in their homes due to no funding for their accessibility needs?, The economic impact of a new sports stadium is not always positive. There is an extensive argument of the inequality a new stadium may cause. (Potter) With rising property values and the cost of living, it forces lower-income individuals out. As the populations of cities increase, typically, so does the gentrification of neighborhoods. With gentrification, as we see poverty forced out of an area, you can expect inequality. According to Potter, \u201cLarge and growing peer-review economic literature of the economic impact of stadium arenas, sports franchise, and sports mega-events has consistently found no substantial evidence of increased jobs, income, or tax revenue.\u201d (Potter) One of the reasons for these findings is the average total cost of living in that area is still more significant than the average total revenue from the arena due to the overall increase in the cost of living. I do not believe the stadium to be the leading cause of this, but a factor in the larger picture of widespread gentrification in an area., As someone who is not a sports enthusiast but enjoys live sports and is an avid concert-goer, I am on the fence with this subject. Potter estimates that $15 billion in stadium subsidies paid by tax dollars contributing to the construction of these arenas has been distributed over 22 years. That breaks down to over 681 million dollars a year spent on sports arenas. When looking at the breakdown of the numbers, I am frustrated. The number of tax dollars contributed to stadium subsidies should create lower ticket prices or cut the amount of taxes contributed to the construction of sports arenas. An excuse we often hear for lack of accessibility, education, or lack of general public goods is inadequate funding. We should make team owners, the players, and the team themselves responsible for constructing their arena, but due to the various uses of the venue, public funding makes sense. I would argue that the number of subsidies these facilities receive to build specific sports venues should be reduced significantly, especially in local economies where individuals in the lower-income bracket go deep into poverty due to gentrification., Sources, Atrium Health. (n.d.). Cam Newton Gives Levine Children's Patients a Christmas to Remember. Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https:\/\/atriumhealth.org\/dailydose\/2019\/12\/16\/cam-newton-gives-levine-childrens-patients-a-christmas-to-remember, Jones, S. (2020, July 27). Did America Set Public Schools Up to Fail? Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https:\/\/nymag.com\/intelligencer\/2020\/07\/the-triple-crisis-facing-americas-public-schools.html, Popke, M. (2017, April 19). A Sure Bet: The Economic Impact of Oakland Raiders' Move to Vegas. Retrieved December 10, 2020, from https:\/\/www.sportsdestinations.com\/destinations\/nevada\/sure-bet-economic-impact-oakland-raiders%E2%80%99-move-veg-12717, Potter, Joel M. \"\"Publicly Subsidized Sports Events and Stadiums: Have Economists done Justice to the Impact on Inequality?\"\" Managerial Finance, vol. 42, no. 9, 2016, pp. 879-884. ProQuest, http:\/\/ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/login?url=https:\/\/www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/scholarly-journals\/publicly-subsidized-sports-events-stadiums\/docview\/1823185880\/se-2?accountid=10008, doi:http:\/\/dx.doi.org.ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/10.1108\/MF-03-2016-0075.",
"summary": "Public funding of sports arenas is not a cut and dried, yes or no question. Numerous factors contribute to either answer to this question..",
"date_published": "2023-08-11T19:00:53+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-11T19:00:53+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/mxMQ15TUKuofJEDQt5ZhQ9e10SmrJgyD7Q5Lcft2.webp",
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"tags": [ "The New Age Journal" ]
},
{
"id": "e2ef524fbf3d9fe611d5a8e90fefdc9c",
"title": "The Price Of Life",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/the-price-of-life",
"content_html": "\"Estimating the price\" of a human life sounds insensitive, although necessary in certain circumstances such as agreeing on a personal injury settlement, a decision in a murder case, or when sex trafficking organizations raise awareness for their cause. Humans are unique beings with unique perceptions and beliefs. We value individual humans within our life different amounts. I remember when I was a child, I would play, would you rather. In reality, we were evaluating the opportunity cost of giving up one thing or another. What is the opportunity cost of human life? How do we calculate the economic value of life? , The right to life is one of the universal fundamental human rights. There are international, regional, and national legal protections for human life. (Belo) One of the most significant difficulties is different countries' respect and ensure human rights in various manners. The US system compensates for death concerning the individual's financial circumstances, creating extreme economic estimates of human life costs., Perspectives of how we value human life varies as moral beliefs of humans vary. Adam Smith says moral sentiments come from the bottom up rather than handed down. (Gulker) For example, my family's life has more value to me than to a stranger, so what we would value our life at is vastly different from how an outsider would appreciate our life. The Human-Life approach that health insurance companies use calculates the amount a family would need if they were to incur the insured family member's loss. Some of the factors considered include the insured individual's age, gender, planned retirement age, occupation, annual wage, employment benefits, and the personal and financial information of the spouse and dependent children. (Kagan) We have seen different views clash and divide us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Anti-maskers state the mask doesn't protect them from the transmission of the virus, so they shouldn't be worn, while pro-maskers argue it reduces the risk of us spreading it, so masks are necessary. This example demonstrates how some individuals will not inconvenience themselves to preserve others. When evaluating the economic value of life, do personal beliefs intervene? Max Gulker believes basing care or monetary value of a person's life off of social class or status is counter-productive to our growth as a society., The dollar value of human life is modified with the changing political tides. The president's political affiliation wasn't as much of a factor in the cost of human life as much as the individual perspective. Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush both lowered the value while Al Gore and Barack Obama raised it. (NY Times) If regulations (cost of implementation) exceed the current amount of lives it will save, the law will not be implemented until life's value transcends the cost of implementation. The process of valuing human life leaves me with more questions than answers. How can we love human life less than the price of safety implementations that will preserve it? Would an equal system do more harm than good? Being at the lower socioeconomic level, I would want equal value, but what if I was on the other end of the spectrum?, Sources, Belo, Eran, and Tomislava Savcheva. \"\"Value of Human Life: Different Cultures, Different Values?\"\" Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, vol. 3, no. 3, 2011, pp. 143-146. ProQuest, http:\/\/ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/login?url=https:\/\/www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/docview\/922374977?accountid=10008.2, Frakt, A. (2020, May 11). Putting a Dollar Value on Life? Governments Already Do. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https:\/\/nyti.ms\/3cnXFJg, Gulker, Max. \"\"Reflections on the Economic Value of Life.\"\" CE Think Tank Newswire, April 25, 2020. ProQuest, http:\/\/ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/login?url=https:\/\/www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/docview\/2394767695?accountid=10008, Kagan, J. (2020, August 28). Human-Life Approach. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/h\/humanlifeapproach.asp",
"content_text": "\"Estimating the price\" of a human life sounds insensitive, although necessary in certain circumstances such as agreeing on a personal injury settlement, a decision in a murder case, or when sex trafficking organizations raise awareness for their cause. Humans are unique beings with unique perceptions and beliefs. We value individual humans within our life different amounts. I remember when I was a child, I would play, would you rather. In reality, we were evaluating the opportunity cost of giving up one thing or another. What is the opportunity cost of human life? How do we calculate the economic value of life? , The right to life is one of the universal fundamental human rights. There are international, regional, and national legal protections for human life. (Belo) One of the most significant difficulties is different countries' respect and ensure human rights in various manners. The US system compensates for death concerning the individual's financial circumstances, creating extreme economic estimates of human life costs., Perspectives of how we value human life varies as moral beliefs of humans vary. Adam Smith says moral sentiments come from the bottom up rather than handed down. (Gulker) For example, my family's life has more value to me than to a stranger, so what we would value our life at is vastly different from how an outsider would appreciate our life. The Human-Life approach that health insurance companies use calculates the amount a family would need if they were to incur the insured family member's loss. Some of the factors considered include the insured individual's age, gender, planned retirement age, occupation, annual wage, employment benefits, and the personal and financial information of the spouse and dependent children. (Kagan) We have seen different views clash and divide us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Anti-maskers state the mask doesn't protect them from the transmission of the virus, so they shouldn't be worn, while pro-maskers argue it reduces the risk of us spreading it, so masks are necessary. This example demonstrates how some individuals will not inconvenience themselves to preserve others. When evaluating the economic value of life, do personal beliefs intervene? Max Gulker believes basing care or monetary value of a person's life off of social class or status is counter-productive to our growth as a society., The dollar value of human life is modified with the changing political tides. The president's political affiliation wasn't as much of a factor in the cost of human life as much as the individual perspective. Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush both lowered the value while Al Gore and Barack Obama raised it. (NY Times) If regulations (cost of implementation) exceed the current amount of lives it will save, the law will not be implemented until life's value transcends the cost of implementation. The process of valuing human life leaves me with more questions than answers. How can we love human life less than the price of safety implementations that will preserve it? Would an equal system do more harm than good? Being at the lower socioeconomic level, I would want equal value, but what if I was on the other end of the spectrum?, Sources, Belo, Eran, and Tomislava Savcheva. \"\"Value of Human Life: Different Cultures, Different Values?\"\" Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, vol. 3, no. 3, 2011, pp. 143-146. ProQuest, http:\/\/ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/login?url=https:\/\/www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/docview\/922374977?accountid=10008.2, Frakt, A. (2020, May 11). Putting a Dollar Value on Life? Governments Already Do. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https:\/\/nyti.ms\/3cnXFJg, Gulker, Max. \"\"Reflections on the Economic Value of Life.\"\" CE Think Tank Newswire, April 25, 2020. ProQuest, http:\/\/ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/login?url=https:\/\/www-proquest-com.ezproxy.cpcc.edu\/docview\/2394767695?accountid=10008, Kagan, J. (2020, August 28). Human-Life Approach. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/h\/humanlifeapproach.asp",
"summary": "Estimating the price of a human life sounds insensitive, although necessary in certain circumstances such as agreeing on a personal injury settlement...",
"date_published": "2023-08-11T19:01:31+00:00",
"date_modified": "2023-08-11T19:01:31+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/T0HBYYYrcGuUAzHHTfe5kJLoIweGUTl12iVTQn2W.webp",
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"tags": [ "The New Age Journal" ]
},
{
"id": "ed3d2c21991e3bef5e069713af9fa6ca",
"title": "Quieting Your Quit",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/quieting-your-quit",
"content_html": "I remember in fourth or fifth grade when we had track and field day, everybody got a ribbon for participating., Fast forward to when I was 22 and became a paraplegic. I believed because I went through this hardship because life didn't go in my way, I was entitled to goods from companies, I was entitled to the support of people on my journey, I was entitled to all of the things just because I was a wheelchair user just because I experience tragedy., I'm not sure if psychologically receiving that ribbon for participating is linked to me believing that I deserve things because of my hardship, because of my Wheelchair, but that's not the way the world works., It wasn't until I started building something, putting effort into both my external being and my internal being., So often we focus on the workouts to create fitness:, but fitness is developed with our nutrition., Not only the nutrition of our body but of our mind., I think one of our biggest mistakes is not paying attention to the dialogue happening within ourselves., The more you pay attention to that dialogue, the more you can control it, controlling the way you show up, and quieting your quit.<\/b>",
"content_text": "I remember in fourth or fifth grade when we had track and field day, everybody got a ribbon for participating., Fast forward to when I was 22 and became a paraplegic. I believed because I went through this hardship because life didn't go in my way, I was entitled to goods from companies, I was entitled to the support of people on my journey, I was entitled to all of the things just because I was a wheelchair user just because I experience tragedy., I'm not sure if psychologically receiving that ribbon for participating is linked to me believing that I deserve things because of my hardship, because of my Wheelchair, but that's not the way the world works., It wasn't until I started building something, putting effort into both my external being and my internal being., So often we focus on the workouts to create fitness:, but fitness is developed with our nutrition., Not only the nutrition of our body but of our mind., I think one of our biggest mistakes is not paying attention to the dialogue happening within ourselves., The more you pay attention to that dialogue, the more you can control it, controlling the way you show up, and quieting your quit.",
"summary": "I remember in fourth or fifth grade when we had track and field day, everybody got a ribbon for participating.",
"date_published": "2024-08-16T13:19:27+00:00",
"date_modified": "2024-08-16T13:19:27+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/D0mV83bxMNwCGXJQa15Ld3CXhRC0aPIhReOTQYnb.webp",
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"tags": [ "Wheel With Me" ]
},
{
"id": "ac627ab1ccbdb62ec96e702f07f6425b",
"title": "10 Year SCI Reflection",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/10-year-sci-reflection",
"content_html": "10 Years ago today<\/b> I rode as a passenger on a motorcycle for the last time. As we left the traffic light, the SUV coming from the opposite way wasn\u2019t slowing down in the turning lane. The next thing I knew we headed straight for the back passenger door. We collid with the SUV. Everything goes black. The driver of the bike smashes through the back window breaking his leg. I fly over about 30 feet before my body crashed onto the pavement. I was rushed to the hospital where staff urgently began life saving matters as I code. \u201cClear!\u201d my lifeless body is shocked back\u2026they lose me again. \u201cClear!\u201d I\u2019m shocked back to life. <\/span>, For a brief moment I cease to exist. It\u2019s peaceful here. Nice, warm, bright. Grandma Boyce tells me, \"Jesi May you cannot stay here, you must go back, you have things to do, and people to get back to, you must go now.\u201d She sends me back to the real world. Freshly saved, a born again believer, after spending years being an atheist, THE DAY BEFORE MY ACCIDENT. I wake up, \u201cMom, Grandma Boyce said it\u2019s not my time and I had to come back.\u201d Then I\u2019m out again. <\/span>, \u201cShe saw my mom, she died.\u201d My mom blatantly states to my dad. He thinks she\u2019s crazy. (It wouldn\u2019t be until a year later I find out how close to no longer being on this side I was.), When I initially found out I was paralyzed my initial thoughts were \u201cWell Jesi, you really fucked up this time.\u201d <\/span>, I made a pact to myself, this will not be my life forever. <\/span>, I would never choose my Spinal Cord Injury, but I would never undo my SCI. After the initial hurdles, it has given me a fuller perspective, life, and faith than I believe I could have found with out it. Each year has brought different trials, tribulations, and lessons. Most days I don\u2019t even think about being paralyzed. <\/span>, YEAR ONE- <\/span><\/b>, The year of denial. Focusing solely on \u201cgetting back\u201d to the way it was, I spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on physical therapy to have ZERO return. My only mental focus was walking again while I ate junk food, binged Netflix, drank daily, and smoked an ounce a week. I did not take care of myself in a way that would even begin to support recovery. I struggled with Urinary infection after urinary infection. I made life harder than it already was with my piss pour attitude and effort. <\/span>, YEAR TWO-<\/b>, The year of anger. The money ran out, but there was still no recovery. Reality set in. I\u2019m paralyzed. I became angry and resentful that \u201cTHIS WHEELCHAIR\u201d and the struggles that came with it were apart of my day to day life. I took this anger out on everyone around me. I was rude to my family, burned friendships to the ground, and became very entitled. There was no healing to be had. I partied harder, partook in drugs, lived reckless with an \u201cI\u2019m invincible\u201d mindset. <\/span>, YEAR THREE-<\/b>, The year of change. I became sick and tired of being sick and tired. What I had been doing the past two years was not making life any better. After falling on the floor numerous times and getting stuck, I knew I had to change my lifestyle to be conducive to getting stronger. I began consuming better nutrition both through food and the content I consumed mentally. Coupled with adaptive sports, I began getting deeply committed to Jesi. I started being \u201cokay\u201d living with a spinal cord injury even needed a second back surgery to repair the broken hardware in my back. Although I was working on myself, there were some old habits and tendencies I had to let go of to grow., YEAR FOUR-<\/b>, The year of trial & error. I began trying different avenues for my future. Re-enrolling in college to finish my associates degree I started long before the accident coupled with traveling the country as a member of the Wheelchair Curling Paralympic Developmental Team I began to navigate what Jesi wanted in life., YEAR FIVE-, The year I gave it all to God. With my shoulder health deteriorating rapidly and my desire to finish my degree, I left the Developmental Team and focus solely on my studies along with rehabbing my shoulders. I spiral deep to the dark depths of the mind, finding myself wrestling with suicide. I no longer want to struggle with a failing body and defeated mind. I need my higher power to help me out of this, so I asked God to take my life for his will. With God I began seeing the light in life. <\/span>, YEAR SIX-<\/b>, The year I became fueled by a desire to have deeper purpose and meaning in life. My focus is helping people heal their deteriorating body from the inside out. I invest in a nutrition coaching certification. The goal is to help us heal from the inside out. I begin to find my way. <\/span>, YEAR SEVEN-<\/b>, The year I left my financial comfort zone. After my dad\u2019s health scare, I was pushed into going back to work full-time as an orthodontic assistant. I began working my way off Social Security Disability, committing to the first step to financial independence. Going back to work full-time, quickly being advanced to a leadership position due to my commitment to going the extra mile, I gained a confidence I didn\u2019t know was possible. This was my first time being around non-disabled people (besides my parents) for long periods of time. They called out often, where I never called out. It made me realize EVERYONE has debilitating issues. Mine is just visible. My disability was no longer an excuse for me not to be able to do more in life. I allowed it to be an excuse for too long.\n
YEAR EIGHT-\n
<\/b>
The year that broke me down. I had so many incredible experiences up to this point, after a year and half of celibacy from the opposite sex, I\u2019m ready to share my life with someone else. I opened myself up to another wheelchair user only to be crushed after a seven month fling. At the same time he ended it, I found out my hardware was broken and I would need a third back surgery to remove and replace the old hardware. Again, I quickly found myself fantasizing death. I prayed to God everyday not to let me die on the table, guiding my surgical team through the procedure. Recovery was also a dark period. I scheduled heavy work travel just three weeks after surgery to quiet my mind. I had this deep yearning to love another human deeply and feel that same love back. A partner to grow and elevate with, build a home with, have a baby with. I\u2019m tired of doing it alone. But I also refuse to settle, so I put my head down. I have continue to work on myself, becoming the quality of partner I desire.\n
YEAR NINE-\n
<\/b>The year that tested me in all areas. I took a job as traveling consultant for Wellspect, a bowel\/bladder management company. This would get me out of the dental office and back into my element, speaking to rehabilitation facilities about life after a spinal cord injury or back on the run as I called it. Travel was my way to escape my reality. If I\u2019m always on the go I can\u2019t think about being alone. Around the same time I met A. From the moment he walked to my car I knew there was something different about him He solidified this after our 4 hour conversation that went by in a blink of an eye. Holy shit, I met the man I\u2019m going to spend my life with, I just don\u2019t know how. Things were complicated on both sides, and neither of us were where we needed to be to start this level of a relationship, so we focused on friendship. Never crossing a physical line more than hugging. We spoke about our feelings once or twice, but then left it at that. My friends and family thought I was nuts, but the more our friendship grew, the more solidified it was for me that he is my person. Around the same time I became co-owner of Freedom LKN. An elite wellness facility focused on the longevity and independence of the Lake Norman community. A local business where I get to serve people in real life and that supports my healing. Through using our modalities consistently, I regained sensation of temperature & deep pressure in my legs. Holy crap, I just crossed something off my vision board, the goal of serving people in person and recovering from my SCI while I do it. <\/i>Halfway through the year I receive a cold DM from an employee of the USOPC asking if I would want to partner with Team USA to cover the Paralympics in Paris, all expenses paid. Holy Shit! The opportunity to partner with Team USA and represent my country! <\/i>Another check off the vision board. By the end of the year I had massive growth in patience, emotional control, and expressing gratitude for those around me. And after eleven months of becoming best friends, that man I met at the beginning of the year, became my boyfriend and we moved in together. Moving out of my parents basement after almost twelve years, another check off the vision board. <\/span>This year taught me genuinely create our reality through our consistent habits, continuing to pour into ourselves physically & mentally, and through our connection to our higher power.
YEAR TEN-\n
<\/b>
The year I fully step into my power. My book comes out, I have a beautiful home with my dream man. I have a long list of supportive friends, everywhere I look there are opportunities, and I am finally in a place that I can FULLY focus on my coaching program. I started PT again with the best neurorecovery PT in the southeast, with my muscles firing in my legs, I have nothing but options. This is the year I stop talking about it and be about it, FULLY, UNAPOLOGETICALLY.
My spinal cord injury has been the greatest blessing. It took me from an alcoholic, pill abusing, irresponsible young adult, to a limitless, powerful woman. I couldn\u2019t change the situation so I made the best of it, turning life\u2019s lemons in to the best damn lemonade you\u2019ve ever had. <\/span>",
"content_text": "10 Years ago today I rode as a passenger on a motorcycle for the last time. As we left the traffic light, the SUV coming from the opposite way wasn\u2019t slowing down in the turning lane. The next thing I knew we headed straight for the back passenger door. We collid with the SUV. Everything goes black. The driver of the bike smashes through the back window breaking his leg. I fly over about 30 feet before my body crashed onto the pavement. I was rushed to the hospital where staff urgently began life saving matters as I code. \u201cClear!\u201d my lifeless body is shocked back\u2026they lose me again. \u201cClear!\u201d I\u2019m shocked back to life. , For a brief moment I cease to exist. It\u2019s peaceful here. Nice, warm, bright. Grandma Boyce tells me, \"Jesi May you cannot stay here, you must go back, you have things to do, and people to get back to, you must go now.\u201d She sends me back to the real world. Freshly saved, a born again believer, after spending years being an atheist, THE DAY BEFORE MY ACCIDENT. I wake up, \u201cMom, Grandma Boyce said it\u2019s not my time and I had to come back.\u201d Then I\u2019m out again. , \u201cShe saw my mom, she died.\u201d My mom blatantly states to my dad. He thinks she\u2019s crazy. (It wouldn\u2019t be until a year later I find out how close to no longer being on this side I was.), When I initially found out I was paralyzed my initial thoughts were \u201cWell Jesi, you really fucked up this time.\u201d , I made a pact to myself, this will not be my life forever. , I would never choose my Spinal Cord Injury, but I would never undo my SCI. After the initial hurdles, it has given me a fuller perspective, life, and faith than I believe I could have found with out it. Each year has brought different trials, tribulations, and lessons. Most days I don\u2019t even think about being paralyzed. , YEAR ONE- , The year of denial. Focusing solely on \u201cgetting back\u201d to the way it was, I spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on physical therapy to have ZERO return. My only mental focus was walking again while I ate junk food, binged Netflix, drank daily, and smoked an ounce a week. I did not take care of myself in a way that would even begin to support recovery. I struggled with Urinary infection after urinary infection. I made life harder than it already was with my piss pour attitude and effort. , YEAR TWO-, The year of anger. The money ran out, but there was still no recovery. Reality set in. I\u2019m paralyzed. I became angry and resentful that \u201cTHIS WHEELCHAIR\u201d and the struggles that came with it were apart of my day to day life. I took this anger out on everyone around me. I was rude to my family, burned friendships to the ground, and became very entitled. There was no healing to be had. I partied harder, partook in drugs, lived reckless with an \u201cI\u2019m invincible\u201d mindset. , YEAR THREE-, The year of change. I became sick and tired of being sick and tired. What I had been doing the past two years was not making life any better. After falling on the floor numerous times and getting stuck, I knew I had to change my lifestyle to be conducive to getting stronger. I began consuming better nutrition both through food and the content I consumed mentally. Coupled with adaptive sports, I began getting deeply committed to Jesi. I started being \u201cokay\u201d living with a spinal cord injury even needed a second back surgery to repair the broken hardware in my back. Although I was working on myself, there were some old habits and tendencies I had to let go of to grow., YEAR FOUR-, The year of trial & error. I began trying different avenues for my future. Re-enrolling in college to finish my associates degree I started long before the accident coupled with traveling the country as a member of the Wheelchair Curling Paralympic Developmental Team I began to navigate what Jesi wanted in life., YEAR FIVE-, The year I gave it all to God. With my shoulder health deteriorating rapidly and my desire to finish my degree, I left the Developmental Team and focus solely on my studies along with rehabbing my shoulders. I spiral deep to the dark depths of the mind, finding myself wrestling with suicide. I no longer want to struggle with a failing body and defeated mind. I need my higher power to help me out of this, so I asked God to take my life for his will. With God I began seeing the light in life. , YEAR SIX-, The year I became fueled by a desire to have deeper purpose and meaning in life. My focus is helping people heal their deteriorating body from the inside out. I invest in a nutrition coaching certification. The goal is to help us heal from the inside out. I begin to find my way. , YEAR SEVEN-, The year I left my financial comfort zone. After my dad\u2019s health scare, I was pushed into going back to work full-time as an orthodontic assistant. I began working my way off Social Security Disability, committing to the first step to financial independence. Going back to work full-time, quickly being advanced to a leadership position due to my commitment to going the extra mile, I gained a confidence I didn\u2019t know was possible. This was my first time being around non-disabled people (besides my parents) for long periods of time. They called out often, where I never called out. It made me realize EVERYONE has debilitating issues. Mine is just visible. My disability was no longer an excuse for me not to be able to do more in life. I allowed it to be an excuse for too long.\nYEAR EIGHT-\nThe year that broke me down. I had so many incredible experiences up to this point, after a year and half of celibacy from the opposite sex, I\u2019m ready to share my life with someone else. I opened myself up to another wheelchair user only to be crushed after a seven month fling. At the same time he ended it, I found out my hardware was broken and I would need a third back surgery to remove and replace the old hardware. Again, I quickly found myself fantasizing death. I prayed to God everyday not to let me die on the table, guiding my surgical team through the procedure. Recovery was also a dark period. I scheduled heavy work travel just three weeks after surgery to quiet my mind. I had this deep yearning to love another human deeply and feel that same love back. A partner to grow and elevate with, build a home with, have a baby with. I\u2019m tired of doing it alone. But I also refuse to settle, so I put my head down. I have continue to work on myself, becoming the quality of partner I desire.\nYEAR NINE-\nThe year that tested me in all areas. I took a job as traveling consultant for Wellspect, a bowel\/bladder management company. This would get me out of the dental office and back into my element, speaking to rehabilitation facilities about life after a spinal cord injury or back on the run as I called it. Travel was my way to escape my reality. If I\u2019m always on the go I can\u2019t think about being alone. Around the same time I met A. From the moment he walked to my car I knew there was something different about him He solidified this after our 4 hour conversation that went by in a blink of an eye. Holy shit, I met the man I\u2019m going to spend my life with, I just don\u2019t know how. Things were complicated on both sides, and neither of us were where we needed to be to start this level of a relationship, so we focused on friendship. Never crossing a physical line more than hugging. We spoke about our feelings once or twice, but then left it at that. My friends and family thought I was nuts, but the more our friendship grew, the more solidified it was for me that he is my person. Around the same time I became co-owner of Freedom LKN. An elite wellness facility focused on the longevity and independence of the Lake Norman community. A local business where I get to serve people in real life and that supports my healing. Through using our modalities consistently, I regained sensation of temperature & deep pressure in my legs. Holy crap, I just crossed something off my vision board, the goal of serving people in person and recovering from my SCI while I do it. Halfway through the year I receive a cold DM from an employee of the USOPC asking if I would want to partner with Team USA to cover the Paralympics in Paris, all expenses paid. Holy Shit! The opportunity to partner with Team USA and represent my country! Another check off the vision board. By the end of the year I had massive growth in patience, emotional control, and expressing gratitude for those around me. And after eleven months of becoming best friends, that man I met at the beginning of the year, became my boyfriend and we moved in together. Moving out of my parents basement after almost twelve years, another check off the vision board. This year taught me genuinely create our reality through our consistent habits, continuing to pour into ourselves physically & mentally, and through our connection to our higher power. YEAR TEN-\nThe year I fully step into my power. My book comes out, I have a beautiful home with my dream man. I have a long list of supportive friends, everywhere I look there are opportunities, and I am finally in a place that I can FULLY focus on my coaching program. I started PT again with the best neurorecovery PT in the southeast, with my muscles firing in my legs, I have nothing but options. This is the year I stop talking about it and be about it, FULLY, UNAPOLOGETICALLY. My spinal cord injury has been the greatest blessing. It took me from an alcoholic, pill abusing, irresponsible young adult, to a limitless, powerful woman. I couldn\u2019t change the situation so I made the best of it, turning life\u2019s lemons in to the best damn lemonade you\u2019ve ever had. ",
"summary": "10 Years ago today I rode as a passenger on a motorcycle for the last time. As we left the traffic light, the SUV coming from the opposite way wasn\u2019t slowing down in the turning lane. The next thing I knew we headed straight for the back passenger door. We collid with the SUV. Everything goes black. The driver of the bike smashes through the back window breaking his leg. I fly over about 30 feet before my body crashed onto the pavement. I was rushed to the hospital I to code. code.",
"date_published": "2025-09-03T00:21:14+00:00",
"date_modified": "2025-09-03T00:21:14+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/nDHcDxCnaa7ntKrUrTLsMGuWkWYUzCD69qXB9y7W.webp",
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}],
"tags": [ "Wheel With Me" ]
},
{
"id": "f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd",
"title": "When the Plate Is Too Full: Learning to Choose You",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/when-the-plate-is-too-full-learning-to-choose-you",
"content_html": "When the Plate Is Too Full: Learning to Choose You, We live in a culture that celebrates \"yes\". Yes to opportunity. Yes to growth. Yes to responsibility. Yes to being the strong one. But there's a cost to constant agreement.
Eventually, your time runs out.\nYour peace gets noisy.\nYour purpose gets cloudy.\nAnd the person you\u2019re meant to become gets buried under everyone else\u2019s expectations., I\u2019ve always asked God to give me options\u2014to open doors, create abundance, and allow me to live out my purpose loud and proud. And He did.\nHe blessed me with options so full, my plate started to overflow., But here\u2019s the thing no one tells you: You can\u2019t eat everything on a plate that\u2019s overflowing. You have to choose what you\u2019re going to consume\u2014what you\u2019re going to nourish yourself with\u2014and what you need to set down., And sometimes, what needs to go\u2026 is what you prayed for., The Quiet Chaos of Holding on Too Long, It\u2019s easy to say you want peace. That you\u2019re tired of the chaos.\nBut when it comes to making the decision to let go of what\u2019s too much\u2014that\u2019s where the real work begins., Do I stay or do I leave?\nDo I try to fix it or do I set it down?\nDo I continue out of obligation\u2014or do I honor my own capacity?, These aren\u2019t black-and-white questions. They live in the messy gray area of being human\u2014especially when you\u2019re someone like me who knows what it feels like to lose it all and come back swinging. More than once.
Sexual Addiction. Failed relationships. Bankruptcy. Paralysis. Bad jobs. Bad business decisions. And life will continue to swing. , See, when you\u2019re in a wheelchair, the world already sees you through a lens of \u201cless.\u201d\nSo subconsciously, I\u2019ve always felt the need to prove I\u2019m more., But there comes a point when being strong starts to look a lot like self-betrayal., Responsibility \u2260 Sacrifice of Self, Owning businesses. Running programs. Writing a book. Managing health challenges. Showing up when your body says no. It\u2019s a wild, unpredictable ride., But here\u2019s what I\u2019ve realized:, \ud83d\uded1 Just because I can do it all doesn\u2019t mean I should.\n
\ud83d\uded1 Just because something once served me doesn\u2019t mean it still does.\n
\ud83d\uded1 Just because I said \u201cyes\u201d before doesn\u2019t mean I have to say \u201cyes\u201d now., When I was younger in this journey, I thought life owed me ease because of my struggle. But I\u2019ve learned\u2014life doesn\u2019t owe us anything.\nAnd that\u2019s okay. Because I don\u2019t want easy. I want aligned., Peace Requires a Choice, The thing about peace is\u2014it doesn\u2019t find you.\nYou have to choose it.\nEvery. Damn. Day., It\u2019s not passive. It\u2019s not a soft whisper.\nIt\u2019s a loud, firm boundary with yourself.\nIt\u2019s knowing that you don\u2019t have to attend every fire, fix every problem, or show up for everyone but yourself., You can\u2019t become who you're meant to be if you're constantly consumed by what\u2019s keeping you from her., And that\u2019s what I\u2019ve been wrestling with lately. Not just whether to let go\u2014but whether I\u2019m finally ready to fully choose me., This Isn\u2019t Quitting. It\u2019s Committing., So many of us think letting go is giving up.\nBut maybe it\u2019s not., Maybe letting go is actually the highest form of commitment.\nCommitment to your vision.\nCommitment to your peace.\nCommitment to your energy, your integrity, your becoming., There\u2019s no shame in choosing yourself.\nThere\u2019s only freedom on the other side of that decision., So the question isn\u2019t \u201ccan you handle it all?\u201d\nThe question is: Who are you becoming by continuing to try?, Because if it\u2019s not making you better,\nIf it\u2019s costing you your clarity,\nIf it\u2019s exhausting your soul\u2026, It might be time to set it down.\nAnd finally choose YOU.
For a raw account of my past mistakes and the lessons i've learned through them, preorder my book, Power in the Roll here:, Publisher (best way to support :) )<\/a><\/span>, Amazon<\/a><\/span>, Barnes & Noble<\/a><\/span>",
"content_text": "When the Plate Is Too Full: Learning to Choose You, We live in a culture that celebrates \"yes\". Yes to opportunity. Yes to growth. Yes to responsibility. Yes to being the strong one. But there's a cost to constant agreement.Eventually, your time runs out.\nYour peace gets noisy.\nYour purpose gets cloudy.\nAnd the person you\u2019re meant to become gets buried under everyone else\u2019s expectations., I\u2019ve always asked God to give me options\u2014to open doors, create abundance, and allow me to live out my purpose loud and proud. And He did.\nHe blessed me with options so full, my plate started to overflow., But here\u2019s the thing no one tells you: You can\u2019t eat everything on a plate that\u2019s overflowing. You have to choose what you\u2019re going to consume\u2014what you\u2019re going to nourish yourself with\u2014and what you need to set down., And sometimes, what needs to go\u2026 is what you prayed for., The Quiet Chaos of Holding on Too Long, It\u2019s easy to say you want peace. That you\u2019re tired of the chaos.\nBut when it comes to making the decision to let go of what\u2019s too much\u2014that\u2019s where the real work begins., Do I stay or do I leave?\nDo I try to fix it or do I set it down?\nDo I continue out of obligation\u2014or do I honor my own capacity?, These aren\u2019t black-and-white questions. They live in the messy gray area of being human\u2014especially when you\u2019re someone like me who knows what it feels like to lose it all and come back swinging. More than once.Sexual Addiction. Failed relationships. Bankruptcy. Paralysis. Bad jobs. Bad business decisions. And life will continue to swing. , See, when you\u2019re in a wheelchair, the world already sees you through a lens of \u201cless.\u201d\nSo subconsciously, I\u2019ve always felt the need to prove I\u2019m more., But there comes a point when being strong starts to look a lot like self-betrayal., Responsibility \u2260 Sacrifice of Self, Owning businesses. Running programs. Writing a book. Managing health challenges. Showing up when your body says no. It\u2019s a wild, unpredictable ride., But here\u2019s what I\u2019ve realized:, \ud83d\uded1 Just because I can do it all doesn\u2019t mean I should.\n\ud83d\uded1 Just because something once served me doesn\u2019t mean it still does.\n\ud83d\uded1 Just because I said \u201cyes\u201d before doesn\u2019t mean I have to say \u201cyes\u201d now., When I was younger in this journey, I thought life owed me ease because of my struggle. But I\u2019ve learned\u2014life doesn\u2019t owe us anything.\nAnd that\u2019s okay. Because I don\u2019t want easy. I want aligned., Peace Requires a Choice, The thing about peace is\u2014it doesn\u2019t find you.\nYou have to choose it.\nEvery. Damn. Day., It\u2019s not passive. It\u2019s not a soft whisper.\nIt\u2019s a loud, firm boundary with yourself.\nIt\u2019s knowing that you don\u2019t have to attend every fire, fix every problem, or show up for everyone but yourself., You can\u2019t become who you're meant to be if you're constantly consumed by what\u2019s keeping you from her., And that\u2019s what I\u2019ve been wrestling with lately. Not just whether to let go\u2014but whether I\u2019m finally ready to fully choose me., This Isn\u2019t Quitting. It\u2019s Committing., So many of us think letting go is giving up.\nBut maybe it\u2019s not., Maybe letting go is actually the highest form of commitment.\nCommitment to your vision.\nCommitment to your peace.\nCommitment to your energy, your integrity, your becoming., There\u2019s no shame in choosing yourself.\nThere\u2019s only freedom on the other side of that decision., So the question isn\u2019t \u201ccan you handle it all?\u201d\nThe question is: Who are you becoming by continuing to try?, Because if it\u2019s not making you better,\nIf it\u2019s costing you your clarity,\nIf it\u2019s exhausting your soul\u2026, It might be time to set it down.\nAnd finally choose YOU.For a raw account of my past mistakes and the lessons i've learned through them, preorder my book, Power in the Roll here:, Publisher (best way to support :) ), Amazon, Barnes & Noble",
"summary": "Life will pile your plate high with opportunities, responsibilities, and expectations\u2014until you're drowning in the very things you once prayed for. In this raw reflection, Jesi Stracham breaks down what it really means to let go, set boundaries, and choose peace over chaos. This isn\u2019t about quitting\u2014it\u2019s about committing to the life you\u2019re meant to lead.",
"date_published": "2025-09-03T12:32:34+00:00",
"date_modified": "2025-09-03T12:32:34+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
"image": "https://cdn.qikcms.com/jesi-stracham/photos/NvnmEmu5BRG5NfVggw8mqPMCJwMg31Mn21T1QcWH.webp",
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}],
"tags": [ "The New Age Journal" ]
},
{
"id": "38b3eff8baf56627478ec76a704e9b52",
"title": "How I Lost 3 Inches in 3 Months",
"url": "https://jesistracham.com/blog/how-i-lost-3-inches-in-3-months",
"content_html": "When I Moved In With My Boyfriend, I Gained 20 lbs \u2014 And Here\u2019s What I Did About It, I didn\u2019t give up on myself.\nI stopped leading myself., No structure. No protein focus. No consistent sleep.\nJust drifting day-to-day, reacting instead of creating.\nAnd my body paid the price., So I did what I teach my clients when it comes to fat loss and keeping it off: I went back to Phase 1, the foundation phase. Because you can\u2019t skip this part if you want to keep long-lasting results.
, \ud83d\udecf\ufe0f Phase 1: Sleep, I set a bedtime: 10 p.m., and committed to waking at 5:30 a.m.\nMy body needed rest. My mind needed structure., Here\u2019s why sleep is everything:, Sleep lowers cortisol, reduces inflammation, restores hormone balance, and helps your body properly metabolize food.\n, In one study, when sleep was restricted, the fraction of weight lost as fat dropped by 55%. PubMed Central<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>\n, Another study found that with less sleep, people lost more lean mass instead of fat, even when total weight loss was similar. Oxford Academic<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>(UChicago Medicine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>(During the day, I would experience these INSANE crashes; they stopped me in my tracks.) , Bottom line: If you expect to burn fat while feeling exhausted and overworked, the odds are stacked against you. (And I experience this first hand, wondering why I couldn't drop weight for over 6-months when I never had a problem with weigth loss before.) , \ud83e\udd69 Protein First, Then Tracking, Before I jumped into macros, I re-anchored on prioritizing protein. The rest followed this habit., Here\u2019s my approach:, Protein coffee in the morning(I Level-1 from 1st Phorm<\/a>, it\u2019s low-temp processed, which helps with digestion and absorption, while adding a nice flavor to your coffee, leading to a more stable release of energy and a more balanced effect on yoru system compared to drinking coffee alone.)\n, High-protein breakfast (I use Oikos Pro Yogurts<\/a>, they have 23g of protein with ZERO sugar)\n, Protein at lunch, snack, and dinner\n, Why?\nMuscle tissue is your metabolic engine. More muscle = more calorie burn at rest. Feed it, protect it, support it., After workouts, I used a post-workout shake (protein + fast-acting carbs) to tell my body: \u201cStop breaking down, start rebuilding.\u201d, When carbs are ingested with protein after exercise, they help spike insulin, which supports amino acid uptake into muscles. MDPI<\/span>+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>\n, Carbs post-workout also help blunt cortisol, counteracting the breakdown process triggered by stress. PubMed<\/span>+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>\n, Why fast-acting? Because whole foods can take 2\u20133 hours to digest, during which your body might still be in breakdown mode. The post-workout window is short; the faster you feed, the faster recovery starts., \ud83d\udca7 Hydration, I went from barely 32 oz\/day to 80\u2013100 oz\/day., Hydration helps:, Reduce cortisol\n, Support digestion\n, Lubricate joints\n, Help your body feel safe enough to burn fat\n, Drink like you mean it. Your body & metabolism will thank you., \ud83d\udcda Mindset & Inner Work, Physical work is nothing without internal transformation., I reintroduced:, Visualization\n, Reading nonfiction\n, Future-based thinking\n, Because if your mindset is messed up, nothing else sticks.\nResearch shows that stress, mental fatigue, and negative beliefs can sabotage diets, habits, and hormonal balance. (While I didn\u2019t pull a single study here, this is well-supported in behavioral and psych literature.), \ud83c\udfcb\ufe0f Movement With Intention, I committed to 3\u20134 intentional workouts per week, not insane volume, but focused effort., Some days I lifted. Some days I rehabilitated (PT work, mobility, rolling).\nI prioritized precision over chaos., Why? Because consistency, sustained over time, crushes sporadic \u201cgo hard, then quit\u201d cycles.,
If you're a wheelchair user and looking for a program to follow both AT HOME<\/u><\/b> or IN THE GYM<\/u> <\/b>download the Wheel With Me Adapt Fit App here.
, This Is Phase 1: The Foundation, You can\u2019t jump to fat loss without building the system that supports it.\nPhase 1 is about reclaiming structure, teaching your body what safety feels like, plugging holes so your results don\u2019t leak., If you're ready to get tracking, strategy, full lifestyle overhaul, that\u2019s where 1:1 work comes in., If you want to start Phase 1 right now (with me guiding you), hit me up:, \ud83d\udce9 Text 704\u2011736\u20113222 with \u201cCOACH ME.\u201d\nI\u2019ll help you figure out which phase you\u2019re in and what support you need.
But you can start right now without my help. , Your body is waiting. Let\u2019s build the foundation.
For group accountability, apply to the exclusive Freedom Fam community, 2 Zoom calls a week, a community chat, and a group to hold you accountable. CLICK HERE TO APPLY TO OUR COMMUNITY.<\/a>",
"content_text": "When I Moved In With My Boyfriend, I Gained 20 lbs \u2014 And Here\u2019s What I Did About It, I didn\u2019t give up on myself.\nI stopped leading myself., No structure. No protein focus. No consistent sleep.\nJust drifting day-to-day, reacting instead of creating.\nAnd my body paid the price., So I did what I teach my clients when it comes to fat loss and keeping it off: I went back to Phase 1, the foundation phase. Because you can\u2019t skip this part if you want to keep long-lasting results. , \ud83d\udecf\ufe0f Phase 1: Sleep, I set a bedtime: 10 p.m., and committed to waking at 5:30 a.m.\nMy body needed rest. My mind needed structure., Here\u2019s why sleep is everything:, Sleep lowers cortisol, reduces inflammation, restores hormone balance, and helps your body properly metabolize food.\n, In one study, when sleep was restricted, the fraction of weight lost as fat dropped by 55%. PubMed Central\n, Another study found that with less sleep, people lost more lean mass instead of fat, even when total weight loss was similar. Oxford Academic(",
"summary": "When Jesi gained 20 pounds after moving in with her boyfriend, it wasn\u2019t because she \u201clet herself go\u201d \u2014 it was because she stopped leading herself. In this post, she shares how she got her body and mindset back on track using the same foundational strategies she teaches her clients: intentional sleep, protein-first nutrition, hydration, inner work, and movement with purpose. If you're stuck in a cycle of chaos or yo-yo dieting, this is where you start.",
"date_published": "2025-09-30T23:28:59+00:00",
"date_modified": "2025-09-30T23:28:59+00:00",
"authors": [{ "name": "Jesi Stracham" }],
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