Spinal Cord Injury team helps Army Vet keep competing
The strength, persistence and power of SCI rehabilitation
Army veteran Mark Maloney suffered a spinal cord injury after falling off his bicycle six years ago. The fall broke his neck and paralyzed him.
Maloney, now 90, has run marathons, competed in the Pikes Peak Ascent in Colorado Springs and been a competitive runner for decades. He was physically active, out in the community, constantly challenging himself; all that changed in just one fall.
After several years of painstaking rehabilitation and care in the spinal cord injury (SCI) department at Rocky Mountain Regional (RMR) VA Medical Center in Aurora, Maloney is back to doing what he loves: competing.
“I feel fantastic,” Maloney said. “When I was there I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get out of bed. I didn’t know if I’d be able to taste food again. I wasn’t clear about my future but the physios got me out of bed, it was a long process but eventually they helped me learn how to swallow food again.”
Maloney’s injury resulted in what is classified as a C3 incomplete spinal cord injury, meaning his spinal cord injury begins at his C3 vertebrae.
“It’s really high (on the spinal cord) for any injury,” said Liam Kiernan, a clinical specialist and physical therapist at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS). “So it has a big impact on his whole body. So in his case, he has a lot of dysfunction with his arms, breathing problems, and it goes all the way down to his legs. ‘Incomplete’ means there are some signals going through the spinal cord to his legs. If he was complete, he would be on a ventilator, even more than a complete impai.”
Although an incomplete spinal injury is better than a complete spinal cord injury, Maloney still had challenges to overcome to get to where he is now. And now he is able to participate in races, such as the Boulder Boulder race that took place on May 25.
SCI team at the address RMR helped him adapt to his new circumstances, working with Maloney to restore as many functions as possible.
“I had to pass tests to do it,” Maloney said. “I was able to eat food again and taste it instead of having a tube going into my stomach. So even though I was only there for three months, they provided me with exercise equipment, and I’ve been ambulatory for almost five years now. I’m a huge advocate for the VA.”
Finding purpose in helping other veterans
During that time, going through hospice care, Maloney worked with other veterans who had suffered spinal cord injuries, serving as an empathetic ear, confidant and resource.
“When I got there, I didn’t know what questions to ask. I wasn’t in a clear state of mind,” he said. “And what I’m doing now, I don’t do it as often as I’d like, but when I get a chance, I go up there and talk to either veterans that have just arrived or that are just leaving. Well, maybe I can answer their questions either way.”
Kiernan echoed that sentiment.
“I think it means a lot,” Kiernan said. “This veteran had a similar injury, and he came to terms with the fact that life would never be the same, and his conversation with Mark gave him some hope.”
When recovering from such serious injuries, it is especially important to have a goal to motivate yourself. Maloney’s goal was to continue the race.
Motivation through racing
“I’ve been a competitive runner since I was 55,” Maloney said. “I’ve run marathons, triathlons. I’ve won my age group. I hope I can walk a mile to the football stadium in Boulder. If I make it all the way, it’s going to be tough. Probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
This type of motivation helps in the recovery process and those at the SCI clinic. It helps them not only to recover, but also to come to terms with their current situation.
“With all veterans, we try to find things for veterans that they have an interest in and love to help them,” Kiernan said. “It’s important for veterans to have a goal that keeps them physically active as much as possible.”
Maloney’s recovery is not just an individual effort by just one member. It was a team process that helped him get to where he is today.
A team approach to recovery
“There are three or four different therapists,” Kiernan said. “Different people take turns working with him, a bunch of other physical therapists and occupational therapists who have worked with him to help him recover. I’ve been working with him for the last three or four years, working on his strength, balance. Between the three of us, we’ve gotten him to where he is today.”
Continuing to inspire others
With the help of the RMR SCI department, Maloney was able to compete in the Bolder Boulder, inspiring other veterans who may be going through a similar situation.
“I hope I can show others that if a 90-year-old guy can do it, maybe they can. I ran the race a few times before the accident. I (ran) in my age group. This will be another nice accomplishment for me. I was on the front page of the Colorado Springs Gazette not too long ago, talking about what the VA has done to help me, and I’ve used this support to help me. The VA over the past five years has been outstanding.”
Find out about VA’s system of care for spinal cord injuries and disorders.
