FES Client Kevin in the news

A news item in the Courier features Anatomical Concepts (UK) client Kevin Christie.  Left blind and paralysed from the chin down following an accident at a summer barbecue a number of years ago, Kevin has expressed his lasting gratitude to all those who continue to support and care for him. Kevin (37) severed his spinal cord and suffered terrible consequences when a seemingly harmless bit of horseplay at a party in 2004 went horribly wrong.  On that day Kevin miscalculated a dive into a children's paddling pool and sustained an injury which has left him requiring almost round-the-clock care.

The injury, and the consequences for Kevin and his family, galvanised a huge fund-raising effort that still continues to this day.

After a period in intensive care at the Scottish Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow, Kevin was able to move to the Seven Arches annex of the South Grange Care Home in Monifieth where he has surprised family, friends, staff and medical professionals with his determination to regain as much of his health as possible.

His drive to give himself the best chance of recovery was boosted further on Wednesday when he took possession of a custom-built exercise bike bought with help from the Kevin Christie Fund.

Fund co-ordinator Margaret Laird said, "In the summer of 2004, Kevin had a tragic accident which has left him paralysed from the chin down and blind.

"During the years since his accident people have been raising funds for specialist equipment to give Kevin a better quality of life. Recently James Barr of Carnoustie had his chest waxed and raised £730.

"It is imperative that Kevin's joints are kept mobile so that when a breakthrough happens his joints will not have seized up.

"He is provided with physiotherapy by the NHS once or twice a week but this is not enough to keep his joints agile and through the generosity of the fund-raisers we have been able to supplement this with privately funded physiotherapy.

"Recently, the fund identified a Scottish-based company called Anatomical Concepts, who design, develop and distribute innovative rehabilitation support systems, amongst other orthopaedic healthcare treatments.

"Thanks once again to the funds donated towards Kevin's care, we have been able to provide a piece of equipment called RehaMove FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) to Kevin's care package.

"Whilst this machine cannot repair the damage sustained to Kevin's spinal cord, there are benefits to his cardiovascular fitness, it reduces the risk of pressure sores, aids circulation, allows him to sleep better at nights, makes him generally 'feel better' but most importantly helps him keep fit whilst waiting hopefully, for a cure.

"It achieves all this by co-ordinating the stimulation of the muscles to the legs, arms and shoulders.

"People are still thinking of Kevin and this helps not only him, but also his family to cope."