Louise (Toronto, ON)

By Louise Russo

The first bullet grazed my scalp. The second one ripped into my lungs and exploded my spine. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor, I heard my daughter scream, I sensed darkness gathering around me…During the simple act of buying a sandwich, I became the victim of a drive-by shooting.

My name is Louise Russo. Now my body, from the middle of my chest down, is paralyzed and without sensation. I can never walk again. I am susceptible to infections and suffer from fatigue. The simplest daily routine requires a titanic effort. Now, every day is a challenge.

Through all the grief, anger, and excruciating pain, the people at the Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) Ontario have offered their help and warm support. They provide me with inspiration and motivation through peer support, workshops, and other services dedicated to specifically enhance the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries. Through CPA Ontario’s help and support, my life that was overwhelming and energy-consuming now seems manageable. I still get scared about the obstacles in life and uncertainties in the future, but I know CPA Ontario will be by my side to help me at every stage.

I know that a spinal cord injury can happen to anyone in an instant. Did you know there is approximately one spinal cord injury a day in Ontario? Prior to 1945, only 10% of people who experienced a spinal cord injury were expected to survive beyond one year. 65 years after the founding of Canadian Paraplegic Association the survival rate of an individual who sustains an injury is 85-90%.

Please consider the barriers people with spinal cord injuries face in your community and know that your actions do count. There’s not a lot of difference between you and me. Things can change in an instant.