Rob Summers is a paraplegic. In the summer of 2006 he was hit by a car which hopped the curb and struck him. The driver of the car then sped away leaving him crippled on the ground. As a result of this collision, he was paralyzed from the waist down. Left to live life in a wheelchair due to someone's drunk driving, inattention whatever the case may have been for the driver.
Rob Summers was a baseball player for Oregon State University. He was a pitcher infact. He was on the 2006 All Star National Team. He was actually playing for the Aloha Knights during the 2006 offseason, in the period of time he was hit.
but he's recently made medical history. He was able to stand on his own for the first time since the accident. Doctors have installed a device which is able to stimulate his muscles to help him move and coordinate his lower body. He is now able to stand for short periods of time and move legs and toes on command. Doctors stress that this is not a cure, and may not work in all cases. There are 4 more trials planned with different patients to try and come up with a purpose built device to aid people in these types of cases. This research was funded by the Christopher and Diana Reeve foundation.
Hopefully this is a reminder to everyone that when we do something stupid behind the wheel, it doesn't always only affect ourselves.
Drive Safe.
