Success Story
Lonnie's Story
“I’ve seen motion return in my right foot. I can move it some, wiggle my big toe, move my foot down and inward to the left. Last month, I even got a little movement out of my left toe.”
— Lonnie Christian
Lonnie had a blood clot pressing on his spine, causing paralysis. Doctors worked for several hours to remove the lamina on the back of his spine in order to access the 4-inch clot.
He left the hospital a paraplegic, immobile from the chest down.
“I saw Dr. John McDonald on MSNBC talking about the functional electrical stimulation he was developing, and I contacted him.”
Soon after, Lonnie bought his own RT300. He has seen better muscle tone and decreased muscle spasticity.
After each session, he feels mentally rejuvenated.
“I depend on the RT300 as a critical part of my routine. I like that I can pull my wheelchair right up to it – no transfer. And the RT300 is so compact, it doesn’t take up a lot of space in my living room and has wheels if we have to move it. I haven’t traveled with it yet, but I want to.”
Lonnie also appreciates that the device electronically transmits his session performance data to Restorative Therapies, where a proactive patient service representative monitors results and contacts him with feedback.
“It makes me more accountable!” he confesses. “If I fall off my therapy routine, I can immediately tell the difference. I definitely get more muscle spasticity.”
With his newfound strength and functionality, Lonnie started aiming for another goal: Competitive archery.
“My goal is to make the 2008 US Para Olympic team. No one has ever made it in the short tenure I’m going to try to make it in,” smiles Lonnie. “I hope to be disqualified from Para Archery one day because I’ll be walking!”
It’s clear that the sky is the limit for Lonnie.
“I’m so glad God gave me a second chance at life,” reflects Lonnie.