Learning to Walk Again
By: Kristi Nelson, KXAS
Updated: September 14, 2012
The expression on her face is that of great effort and determination.
Despite the physical challenge underway here at Project Walk in Dallas, Texas, she wants other people with spinal cord injuries to experience the feelings of strength, joy and confidence that come with doing this.
"I don't think anyone can really understand spinal cord injuries until someone in your family has it," said Hall, Project Walk Executive Director. "You can hear about it, you can see someone go by in a wheelchair, but really you can't know it until you live it."
Hall just opened Project Walk which is a workout-based spinal cord recovery center that supporters say goes beyond traditional rehabilitation.
"We take a full body approach and we get you out of your wheelchair and we do work on the areas where you have function, but we also focus a lot on the areas where you don't," said Hall
The Project Walk program is not covered by insurance, so to come here, families must raise money or pay their own way.
Samantha Horn, a client, says the expense has been worth it.
"It gives you the hope to stand and hope to walk and just the confidence, I've said it many times, the confidence, independence..." said Horn.
Horn enjoyed soccer and other sports before a diving accident.
She hopes to stand on her own again someday.
There have been critics of Project Walk who worry it gives people with spinal cord injuries false hope about someday walking again.
But these women say hope is never a bad thing.
