Patricia (Trish) Figueroa

 fitness & wellness professional that sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury on 7.2.17. ok with being not ok, but not ok with staying not ok! using this space to prove to myself that whole-person wellness can get anyone through anything, and excited to share my story (good, not-so-good, and everything in between) with anyone that wants to listen.  Link to GoFundMe    

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day 580 : i quit my job 1 month ago today. . this is currently what many of my days look like, and i'm not mad about it. . quitting my job was the scariest decision i think i've ever made, and i went back and forth agonizing for months on end. in reality, i needed the experience/to prove myself that i COULD go back to work, but the effect on my personal wellness and recovery was never positive from the start. . i am confident i've made the right decision, both for my soul and for continued focus and dedication to all of this return in function and feeling i'm feeling and continue to get back. i am amazed and eternally grateful. . i've gone back to driving #uber and #lyft, but to counteract all of that sitting (wellness, come on people) i've become a grocery shopper for #instacart and #shipt. turns out, it's kind of the perfect training tool i need right now?? . sometimes i end up at 6-8 stores a day. legs are definitely feeling it, but i'm refining my walk and getting some fast paces in! plus, carrying groceries is like, peak function training - am i right #fitfam . doc says i really don't need any more physical therapy, but i'm NOWHERE NEAR where i want to be! anyone have any ideas for something a step beyond personal training with a touch of neuro?? #help . that's enough of an update for now. just doing my best every day, which sometimes isn't that great, but hey - does it really even matter? 😬🙃 . cheers friends. keep on keepin on 🖤 . . . #spinalcordinjury #rebuild #scirecovery #notimeforparalysis #whatparalysis #notalldisabilitiesarevisible #paraplegiclife #incompleteparaplegic #bionicbadass #lifeaftersci #nothingisofflimits #moveyourbody #keeponkeepinon #neverstopplaying #justgottagetthroughit #healingisnotlinear #ambulatorywheelchairusersexist #dothehardstuff https://www.instagram.com/p/Bte0eOmhSvX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=m0tmx3cvc70k

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day 560 : a tiny progress update. . first, i moved. AGAIN. that’s now 5 times in 4 years, and twice post-paralysis 🙄 . second, currently not doing any physical therapy so i'm using my natural environment. not that that's any different from any other of the last 560 days. #nevernottraining #letsfixthis . thankfully these are the only stairs in this house! . third, glad i made the decision to buy two packs of wool socks because my feet have only been winterfell-level cold, not beyond-the-wall cold this winter. also just proud that i crushed my #birksandsocks goal this year. couldn't even dream of them this time last year. . meh...a bunch of other big news circling around me. big things, regardless of good or bad, throw me for a spin and make me feel like the depression and anxiety win every day. just kind of hunkering down, feeling the feels, and waiting for the storm to pass. . also, it wouldn't be one of my videos if i didn't almost fall in it. double eye roll 🙄🙄 i had just done it seamlessly! 🤬 . keep on keepin' on y'all. . . . #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #incompleteparaplegic #thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback #whatparalysis #bionicbadass #disabledandcute #lifeaftersci #walkingparaplegic #mentalhealthawareness (at Paris Mountain State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsrDmx9B0Mk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1x46n45k6nrom

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day 520 : FINALLY a solution for the ice blocks attached to the end of my legs. . two days ago i made a grave mistake. i got into a pool (a lap pool that was pretty chilly because, you know, exercise) and then immediately went into a sauna. i had never been in a sauna and was excited about the idea of being warm for a quick minute. . boy, was i wrong. . although i was only in there for a few minutes, i had no idea how much it would mess with my neurological system and already-present temperature control issues due to SCI. . i spent that night sleepless, drenched in sweat, and colder than i've ever been, despite wool socks, two thick blankets, warm pants, and a chunky sweater. . yesterday was spent in pure misery and confusion as my skin would get warm but i felt like the outside was just a warm covering over the ice that was inside. nothing, nothing, nothing worked and i constantly fluctuated between burning and sweating to freezing and sweating from half a second to the next. . lessons learned. . thanks boyfriend for the good ideas and for spoiling me way more than i deserve. 🖤 . sci friends : if you have chronic cold feet, do yourself a favor. the effects of this warmth lasted like 12 hours!!! . . . #coldfeet #paralysisproblems #scirecovery #spinalcordinjury #footbath #paraplegic #thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback #dominoeffects #whatparalysis https://www.instagram.com/p/BrWK7L0BI5T/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hs47jjgk2qfb

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day 520 : !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . don't tell my pt's at @uptsm that i did tigerFIT or multiple instances of jump rope today...three weeks post knee surgery is enough, right? . my goal was just to clear the jump rope past one foot - almost fainted when i cleared BOTH after a few tries! . jumping has been my new obsession. every day gets better and better. cannot wait to get after those tuck jumps! #impatience . . . #whatparalysis #tigerfit #exerciseismedicine #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #incompleteparaplegic #moveyourbody #thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback #jumprope #practicemakesprogress https://www.instagram.com/p/BrGYcpzBVAs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=k2ur88s5ir8y

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day 508 : be. still. my. 🖤. . i'm usually a bit of a 💩 (ok, maybe more than a bit?). i'm pretty grinch-y during the holidays, and thanksgiving is just ughhhhvdjskxnrkdjdjd.... . but i've found myself feeling an unexpected wave of gratitude the last few days for the short list of things going well right now. . i forgot my cane and parking tag galavanting through the carolinas yesterday. bless @timberland boots for allowing this paraplegic to feel confident over most terrain, especially big gravel like the kind i ate it on about a year and a half ago lol. #walkingparaplegic . i also walked up that big hill in the background, and felt really good about it?!?! . i'm thankful for this sunshine of a man that was a bright light at a very dark time in my life. thanks for being stubborn when i was pushing you away 🌞 . thankful for two loving parents that came to me when traveling was just too much for me this year. . thankful for the best pup pup that could ever happen to a person with sci. or any person. lucy, i dont know what i'd do without your dragon noises and cute zoomies every day. . also the fact that you're an obstacle course because you refuse to move from taking up the entire hallway every time i walk by. my dog is daily physical therapy. . in the past few weeks, something has happened to my legs. i got up from a regular height chair with no hands yesterday. also a low-ish toilet. . and about two weeks ago, the top half of my left leg like, came back. sort of like it walked back in from vacation and was like, "what's up?" it's the weirdest thing ever. . anyway, i don't like wine, but i drank wine. and i'm getting better at drinking and walking. 🙌🏽 . . . #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #timberlandboots #paraplegic #incompleteparaplegic #thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback #whatparalysis #moveyourbody #depression #mentalhealthawareness #endthestigma #movember #moustache #ambulatorywheelchairusersexist https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqko4V3hkwb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ghnaej9xvicb

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day 500 : in recovery - kinda sucks that this one hurts worse than leftie's surgery. . ethel (rightie) has been falling behind lately in that i can feel the stark difference between lucy's (leftie's) almost full sensation, and sometimes hypersensitivity, yet my entire r knee joint feels like it doesn't exist in space and time, and the front of my shin is mostly numb to temperature and light touch. . going into this surgery i figured more nerve pain and such would be involved in this one. i'm at least grateful for the nerve pain since that means things are damaged, but still firing, right? . so currently feeling like my knee and incisions are balls of fire, and the nerve pain has been onnnnn itttttt since i woke up from anasthesia yesterday morning. . as always, medication makes me loopy af, so not fully with it, which is cool. gives me a tiny shelter from the cloud of depression for a bit. 🌧 #endthestigma #mentalhealthrecovery . it has been 500 days of paralysis. it has not gotten any easier. but focusing as much as i can in the moment and not worrying about the past or future or planning as much has sure as hell helped me cope. remaining committed to following only what feels good has saved my mind and soul from the living nightmare that i call spinal cord injury. . i am looking forward to both knees recovering and feeling like new again so i can continue my physical therapy and reaching my one and only goal of being able to move better, stronger, faster, more agile, and more capable than before. i've been pining for your #trishstrong workout @acfit_4 . nothing else will be acceptable for me. . #500daysofparalysis . . . #icansoiwill #paralysissucks #scirecovery #dominoeffects #takecareofyourdamnbody #walkingparaplegic #bionicbadass #dothehardstuff #incompleteparaplegic #notalldisabilitiesarevisible #disabledandcute #coldtoes https://www.instagram.com/p/BqNCS98BShB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rnq6r6qtdvhf

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day 491 : after lots of tears and fearing for my life due to this man's driving, i was able to unleash some sass. . as he was getting my wheelchair out of the bus, i says, "i WOULD thank you, but honestly, this has been hands-down the most hurtful and worst interaction with another person since my injury. please don't EVER talk to another person with a disability the way you just spoke to me. . . . #micdrop #ambulatorywheelchairusersexist #stopsayingstupidshit #yesiamaparaplegic #paralysisrecovery #spinalcordinjury #walkingparaplegic #sass #advocateforyourself #thecomeback https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp0-Wd6BSef/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14mt2ga02ogmy

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day 487 : i didn’t think i’d have the spoons to vote... . going to a conference next week (wish me luck surviving socialization and movement non-stop for 4 days) and i won’t be in town to vote. my initial thought was ughhhhhhhh now i need to figure out how to vote another way. and honestly, that was too big of an obstacle for me to file for an absentee ballot - i know it would have been easy, don’t judge me...some things are just too much for me to want to handle 🙈 . realized i could do an absentee in person and had an unexpected morning with free time so TADAAAAAA. . i did a thing. #smallvictory . . . #ivoted #paraplegic #ambulatorywheelchairusersexist #spoons #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #moveyourbody #dothething (at South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bprrts0hRUl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1icptsnccf69

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day 465 : i 🖤 this beautiful thing. . it makes the world easier for me to navigate. when i'm in it, i feel confident, capable, comfortable. emphasis on that last one. . it gives me lovely wheelchair radius with people, unfortunately leads to more pity-smiles than one should ever have to endure, helps me not be self-conscious when i use the accessible stall, and come onnnn i always have a drink at my fingertips. #paralysisperks . this past weekend i was a bridesmaid at a friend's wedding that was held on the beach. IN THE SAND. . the ramp to get down to the beach was terrifying af, the sand was soft & plushy south florida sand, and i didn't see where the chair had been set for me, so i stood for the entire ceremony as well as pictures afterwards....i'm pretty sure i'm not recovered yet. 🙃 . post-wedding update : only fell once (RIP my tricep), and managed to dance. a lot. fast (kinda). . . . #wheelchairlife #tilite #wheelchair #wheelchairgirl #paraplegic #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #wheelchairtravel #disabledandcute https://www.instagram.com/p/BoxRrJfBMhv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9gnokhxkmc9l

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day 460 : kinda sorta getting better at doing the "normal" thing?! . trying to give up my hands from taking so much weight off (ahem, cheating) without just faceplanting. #comeonquads #getittogether . . . #disabledandcute #relearningtowalk #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #incompleteparaplegic #paralysissucks #paralyzedlife #robotlegs #stairs #exerciseismedicine #moveyourbody #thecomebackisstrongerthanthesetback https://www.instagram.com/p/BokBq9iBfpa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3xfjn2siqtzp

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day 451 : although practically impossible to see, i learned a fun paralysis fact today. . extreme stress causes my quads to freak out and incessantly spasm?! except, i still have control of my muscle if i try to use it, it's just sort of strongly pulsating. is this happening to any #sci friends out there? . top corner featuring my one and only lucy. haven't left her side after she dealt with some hardships of her own today. recovering from some hefty wounds. . once again reminded by life that no one is in control and bad things 👏🏽 just 👏🏽 happen. it's about how i ride out the storm, not about being mad that there is a storm. . . . #paralysisrecovery #spinalcordinjury #musclespasms #paralysissucks #incompleteparaplegic https://www.instagram.com/p/BoNcnrOBee1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uijzkevlzpr2

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day 447 : let me tell you about how joltingly honored i am to have been included in this first-ever women's empowerment and powerlifting event benefitting an organization near and dear to my heart, @smartfitgirls. . feeling the boom of #intersectionalfeminism and meeting some of the most powerful, badass, and confident women i have ever encountered has been beyond humbling. . i've been sick with worry the past few months thinking, how am i supposed to get in front of people and talk about this injury and my life. i'm in a dark place, paralysis is heavy, and what do i currently have to offer to help anyone. . but, as i've made #vulnerability my commitment, i went up there, spoke my truth, and didn't fall on the stage 😜 . my soul is bursting with magic at seeing how amazing this event was and how impactful coming together to truly support one another can be. . @chrissy_chard and @smartfitgirls, thank you for letting me be a part of this revolution, and let this be my insta-official notice that i WILL be powerlifting at this event next year. even if i can only crush the 15-pound bar! . to every person i've met this weekend - i am grateful to know you and have heard your story. thanks for sharing your good juju with me. . . . #uniteforstrength #womenempowerment #strongishappy #thefutureisinclusive #thefutureisaccessible #spinalcordinjuryrecovery #sci #wheelchairlife #wheelie #thecomebackisgreaterthanthesetback #exerciseismedicine #moveyourbody #vulnerabilityisstrength #healingisnotlinear #ambulatorywheelchairusersexist https://www.instagram.com/p/BoC-LzThXZe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p3g4zosf5lwp

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day 437 : 24/7 frozen toes have quite the way of putting a damper on my spirits. . or maybe that’s the plethora of other issues plaguing my body currently. . one week post-surgery today. been mainly using the wheelchair to get around because i’m limping a bit and trying to give the knee a rest while not developing bad walking habits. . the soreness of suddenly starting pushing a wheelchair around a hilly and obstacle-ridden town is no joke. also loading the chair in and out of the car (you can just imagine onlookers’ faces, but i came across the hashtag #AmbulatoryWheelchairUsersExist yesterday so that’s neat). i typically stand and load it in the back, but because my legs aren’t very strong, i can’t squat and lift correctly, so my form suffers and it’s probably not the smartest move (shout-out to bestie for calling me out 😂). my muscles hate me. . started full-time at work today. been ramping up my hours the past 6 weeks, but i still felt like it has been hella fast and all of the things that were helping me through my day the past few months i no longer have the time or energy for. . which leads me to the hard lesson i’m coming to learn about how healing is not linear. i’ve become so disheartened at realizing that i’m in another depressive bout. it so totally and completely sucks to not feel good, to feel numb, to not want to do anything including drinking and eating. . i know this is not forever, so i just plan on riding it out, gracefully or not. not judging and being kind to yourself is really hard b-t-dubs. . there’s so much more in my head, but i’ll save that for another day. if you’ve read this far, please know i am thankful for you and that i’m ok, just going through a low spot. thanks for being here, friend. . oh, and have I mentioned that i’m tired of paralysis and it’s domino effects? 🙃 . . . #rebuild #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #learningtowalkagain #notimeforparalysis #whatparalysis #notalldisabilitiesarevisible #paraplegiclife #incompleteparaplegic #thecomebackisstrongerthanthesetback #brokenbody #bionicbadass #lifeaftersci #nothingisofflimits #exerciseismedicine #moveyourbody #takecareofyourbodyandyourbodywilltakecareofyou #liveyourbestlife https://www.instagram.com/p/BnpZGm4hGJv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dxqt5sbg5w0r

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day 430 : didn't think i'd be going under the knife again so soon. . having minor surgery done to my left knee where i'm missing a chunk of cartilage. it's making my recovery very difficult because i've got bone on bone popping every time my knee flexes and extends. . feeling eh about all of this because i know it's going to set me back a bit for a small while, but i just want them to FIX IT. i have paralysis to attend to. #fixitnow . . . #rebuild #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #learningtowalkagain #notimeforparalysis #whatparalysis #notalldisabilitiesarevisible #paraplegiclife #incompleteparaplegic #thecomebackisstrongerthanthesetback #brokenbody #bionicbadass #lifeaftersci #nothingisofflimits #exerciseismedicine #moveyourbody #takecareofyourbodyandyourbodywilltakecareofyou #liveyourbestlife #craighospital #chickswithsticks #keeponkeepinon #neverstopplaying #justgottagetthroughit #vulnerabilityisstrength #disabledandcute https://www.instagram.com/p/BnWFkUNhB-h/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uly371caafmy

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day 414 : missing my body a little bit (ok, a lotta bit) today. . return to work has been more difficult than i've given it space for. been go go go the past few weeks without really processing how i feel about it. . working at a college recreation center means you're surrounded by fit and capable bodies that like to move and play and exert massive amounts of effort. and i'm reminded every moment that i don't recognize or trust this new body. i try to be present and positive, but spinal cord injury is like a snapchat filter that never turns off and has dampened my flame a bit. sorry if i've been a downer lately (and i know i shouldn't be apologizing for it, but still) . anyway. it's not all darkness inside of me these days. my burpee is getting stronger every time i try it, and our brand new fitness facility inspired me to get on my head again. i guess bionic spine still works the same upside down. . . . #rebuild #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #learningtowalkagain #notimeforparalysis #whatparalysis #notalldisabilitiesarevisible #paraplegiclife #incompleteparaplegic #thecomebackisstrongerthanthesetback #brokenbody #bionicbadass #lifeaftersci #nothingisofflimits #exerciseismedicine #moveyourbody #takecareofyourbodyandyourbodywilltakecareofyou #liveyourbestlife #craighospital #chickswithsticks #keeponkeepinon #neverstopplaying #justgottagetthroughit #vulnerabilityisstrength #disabledandcute (at Clemson University)

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day 413 : oh hey everybody, i went to florida last weekend 😬 . learning to walk on a moving boat for the second time in my life. . thanks mom & dad for boat life that i am so grateful for 🖤 it was one of the things that ran through my head most while using a wheelchair because i didn't know how i was going to make it happen. it's a struggle to get around now, but getting easier each time. . . . #rebuild #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #learningtowalkagain #notimeforparalysis #whatparalysis #notalldisabilitiesarevisible #paraplegiclife #incompleteparaplegic #thecomebackisstrongerthanthesetback #brokenbody #bionicbadass #lifeaftersci #nothingisofflimits #exerciseismedicine #moveyourbody #takecareofyourbodyandyourbodywilltakecareofyou #liveyourbestlife #craighospital #keeponkeepinon #neverstopplaying #justgottagetthroughit #vulnerabilityisstrength #disabledandcute

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day 404 : it’s not if you fall, it’s when you fall right? . i fell at work. lol. good thing i work at a gym and my co-workers are beasts. @jenlynnrod you the real bionic mvp today. 🖤 . . . #rebuild #spinalcordinjury #scirecovery #learningtowalkagain #notimeforparalysis #whatparalysis #notalldisabilitiesarevisible #paraplegiclife #incompleteparaplegic #thecomebackisstrongerthanthesetback #brokenbody #bionicbadass #lifeaftersci #nothingisofflimits #exerciseismedicine #moveyourbody #takecareofyourbodyandyourbodywilltakecareofyou #liveyourbestlife #craighospital #chickswithsticks #keeponkeepinon #neverstopplaying #justgottagetthroughit #vulnerabilityisstrength #disabledandcute