On a sunny fall morning at Pensacola Beach, Fla., in 1990, Mike Savicki’s life changed forever. After finishing a volleyball game with a buddy, Savicki waded into the water and dove under an incoming wave to rinse off the sand. But the wave broke early and pushed his head down. His body wasn’t strong enough to absorb the downward force and the violent movement of hitting the Gulf floor. Conscious but floating upside down, Savicki was unable to move much more than his shoulders and neck. A Life Flight helicopter took him to an area hospital, where tests confirmed broken C6 and C7 vertebrae.
After the accident Savicki, in flight school to become an F-14 pilot at the time, became an incomplete quadriplegic. Seven months in rehab left him determined the injury wouldn’t change his active lifestyle and competitive nature. “Sure, I knew there would be challenges, but it never stopped me from pursuing my passions,” says Savicki, now married with a one-year-old daughter.
To The Starting Line
Savicki is one of between 250,000 and 400,000 people in the U.S. living with some type of spinal cord injury or disorder that significantly affects their life activities. More than 13,000 people in the U.S. alone sustain a spinal cord injury every year, with more than half of those injured between ages 16 and 30. On a positive note, 90 percent survive and live near-typical life spans. DME/HME products have made it possible for Savicki to continue his active life. “Wow, they are lifesavers on so many levels,” he says. “There is no way I could do what I do without them.” His day begins with a rolling shower chair, then his lightweight everyday chair. When it comes to sports, he has an arsenal. Through the years he has used a racing chair, a rugby chair, a handcycle, a golf cart and even an adapted kayak.
While Savicki was still in rehab, a therapist suggested he try a standing frame, which provides physical benefits of standing as well as psychological benefits. “I spend my life rolling around at 4-feet tall, and people look down at me all the time,” he says. “To be able to stand and remember I’m 6’3” is quite empowering. It reminds me I’m still me.”
“Sports-specific wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment expand the scope of what’s possible,” says Savicki. “They allow you to be in the game. And I’ll tell you what, being a part of a race or even just pushing in a park is empowering. It gives you energy and confidence.”
Since the injury, Savicki has won 79 gold medals in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (1991-2013), the largest annual wheelchair sports competition in the world. He is also the only person to ever finish the Boston Marathon on foot and in a wheelchair, a race he has competed in 18 times since 1990. Mike Savicki received the 2013 Spirit of the Games award at the 33rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games in July in Tampa, Fla.
Educating people with disabilities about available equipment is a key aspect of remaining active—and one that HME providers can help with. “The disabled are huge users of technology, so I would suggest dealers increase their presence on the Web. Put together an educational video that demonstrates a product and answers questions, schedule a webinar, link to a disability-friendly organization, group or team and get your products seen. An effective relationship with an HME dealer should be built on the best interest of the client and not on trying to sell the newest and latest device or gadget,” says Savicki.
“One of the biggest misconceptions people have about wheelchair users is that we are fragile,” he says. “These guys mix it up with the best of them, and they back off from no one. I tell people to look beyond the chair and get to know the person first. I’d be happy if there were more hours in a day. I never seem to have enough time for all my dreams.”
