Paul's Path

On June 26, 2004, Paul Rudat shattered his C-7 vertebrae in a diving accident, the same day as his high school graduation. (Click here to read his story. ) He is currently paralyzed from his chest down. He has limited use of his hands - 40% usage in his left, only 5 to 10% usage in his right. Paul, formerly right handed, quickly learned to use his left hand.

Since his accident he has defied boundaries. With a modified vehicle he drives himself to his workouts. He works out several days a week with his trainer, building upper body strength and conditioning core muscles. At least four days he's in the pool, in addition to his weight training. His endurance training includes the butterfly, freestyle and backstroke. He also rides his four-wheeler which is a good cardio-workout and helps build upper body strength.

Paul was the 100th patient to undergo an experimental stem-cell surgery (read more on the fundraiser page) in Portugal where they took his olfactory (nasal) mucosal cells and used them to help restore the site of his injury. Some recipients of this procedure are already taking steps! Paul has already been blessed with new sensations in his arms and added activity in his hands!

The race is on! Paul's family raised enough money to pay for the surgery, but they need to raise an additional $30,000 as soon as possible. They need to be able to cover flights, physical therapy, and required equipment for continued development. (See detailed cost analysis here.) Paul's Mother will be joining him at the Shepherd Center to assist him with Physical Therapy. Be sure to read Paul's Progress, his online journal, for frequent updates on his progress.

How can you help? Prayers and support are welcome! If you'd like to make a financial contribution, you can click the donation button on the left side of this page or see the fundraiser page for a little more information. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Paul. We hope his journey has inspired you, as it has us!