Inspiring Women Fall 2018

I must say, that it is truly surprising to see how society talks about inclusion but does not live it. I
seek help because the needs of these people are not met. Our vital help can and will change
their lives and relieve pressure from governmental responsibilities as well. Self-sufficient spinal
cord injury patients would not be cast away from their families and they would not need to seek
government housing if they were trained and could have micro-businesses in their homes.
I have discovered that activism, volunteering, advocating requires an inexplicable passion from
within. It is birthed from a dream and dreams are great but not everyone shares your dream. This
passion is the fuel you need to keep on going when you are tired or feel defeated or you feel
alone in your struggle. I have also discovered that others consider me a leader, when I would call
myself a worker bee. I have discovered that I was so much more capable than I ever thought I
was. I have discovered the joy in serving others mysteriously elevates you.
I still have not accomplished what I had in my head and heart to do, and for that I am very sorry.
But I have been told that I have given them so much over the years. I know that since 1992 our
small volunteer group has given the people of APNOP companionship, training in work and
financial skills, supplied materials for them to work with and they have indeed mastered many
artisan crafts and sold them. We have provided Godly words of encouragement, and taken
them to TV shows using the school buses from local schools, taken them on long walks to parks
and shopping malls, we have taken them to resorts and even taken them swimming with the
help of one of our strong male volunteers. We have taken them on outings that they never
dreamed of.
The bottom line was to encourage them to feel important and valuable both individually and as
a group. I wanted to teach them not to be afraid of opening up to others and to never lose
hope. Confidence, excellence and
persistence: we have that in us but we
must learn to live it.
I would like to invite all who are reading
this article to stop and reflect for a
moment on how blessed you are, how
much you have and in reality, all the
excess you have. Now stop and think
about sincerely sharing what you have
with strangers… If you think about
sharing with your best friend, you would
not think twice. But it is so rewarding
when you do something for someone
you don’t even know and who truly
needs the support. If you have a
dream, great, I encourage you to
chase it. If you do not have a dream, I
invite you to come and join us in fulfilling our dream. Can you see it? Picture an eco-rehab ranch,
out in the open, with life changing experiences for spinal cord injury patients who need so much
and appreciate every little thing. We have what they need, so let us work together and create
something beautiful.
GETTING TO KNOW CINDY
If you could interview one “activist”, dead or
alive, what question would you and why? I
would love to interview Craig H. Neilsen of the
Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, who himself
became a quadriplegic and whose
foundation is a huge supporter in the areas of
spinal cord injury research on the translational
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spectrum as well as scientific research projects
in behavioral, social and psychological factors
affecting people with spinal cord Injuries. They
also have medicine fellowships, and then
close to my heart is a program which is called
Creating Opportunity and Independence.