Spinal Cord Injury Information Determined2heal Foundation

Welcome to Determined2heal

The Determined2heal Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation. The foundation was created after Josh Basile, a Maryland teenager, suffered a spinal cord injury in Bethany Beach, Delaware during the summer of 2004. The accident left Josh, a former college tennis player, paralyzed from the shoulders down. His experiences motivated him to make a difference in the lives of others.

Determined2heal has three main goals:

To help ease and simplify the difficult transition families of newly injured spinal cord patients make from normal life to recovery. Determined2heal is working to provide knowledge, outreach and awareness to all interested parties and individuals afflicted by paralysis. The typical person living with paralysis has two major battles to overcome early on in their new life: physical and mental challenges. The physical paralysis is defined by one's injury level and degree of injury. The mental paralysis begins with the individual’s response to their injury. Determined2heal focuses on simplifying this transition process by providing strategic information to those affected with paralysis. This gives newly injured patients a better fighting chance to overcome these obstacles early on. Currently there is no absolute cure for paralysis. Determined2heal is a strong believer in a program known as Restorative Therapy, which focuses on exercising the body below and above a person’s level of injury. A specific therapy program is developed based upon a person’s specific level of injury and function using different technological advances in rehab equipment and techniques. This type of therapy keeps the entire body healthy. By keeping the body as healthy as possible we will be meeting the scientists and doctors halfway until a cure is found. It has become a race between medicine and technology to reach this cure. In order to benefit as much as possible from this race the spinal cord injury community needs to do their part by keeping their bodies healthy.

To widely circulate information about beach safety so that future beach injuries may be prevented. Beach injuries on the Delaware shoreline and around the country are increasing at an alarming rate. Beachgoers need to be warned about the dangers of the beach through clear and well-placed signs. Determined2Heal is working with local and federal officials to implement universal signage nationally. Many beach injuries are preventable through education and communication. Josh has been traveling throughout the country making speeches pertaining to beach safety.

To support and provide funding for paralysis related research and rehabilitative organizations and projects. A cure for paralysis is within our reach. Josh has been fortunate to meet many researchers who are changing the lives of those with paralysis through their research. Determined2Heal helps fund these important organizations and projects. Josh Basile is an active member of the Student Society for Stem Cell Research and has been advocating the importance of stem cell research and educating the public how to get involved with its promotion.

About Josh

Josh Basile grew up in Potomac, Maryland and graduated from the Bullis School in 2003. He enjoyed all sports, especially tennis. Josh played number one singles for the Bullis Varsity team and was recruited to play tennis at Skidmore College. After his freshman year at Skidmore, he went on his annual summer family vacation to Bethany Beach in August 2004.

Josh was standing in waist high water when he turned his back to the ocean. A single wave picked him up and slammed him head first against the ocean floor, shattering his fifth cervical vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He was told that he would never get off the ventilator that was keeping him alive.

After a month at the Baltimore Shock Trauma unit, Josh’s health improved enough to be weaned off the ventilator. He was then transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. He continued to improve and was released from the NRH in November. Josh went to outpatient therapy at NRH and enrolled in a college poetry course. Being home gave Josh the opportunity to look back on his experiences and helped him realize that his life would be “different, but not ruined.”

There were a number of lessons that Josh learned during the difficult first months of his recovery. He realized that things could always be worse, that hope was keeping him alive, and that nothing is impossible. He also learned that there is much he can do to help others.

Josh has been giving speeches around the country and at local schools educating students about beach safety and stem cell research. With the help of friends and family, Josh decided to form a foundation. Determined2heal helps newly injured patients make the transition from normal life to paralysis. Determined2heal also supports research and rehabilitation efforts for persons living with paralysis. Josh is developing another foundation called Adventures on Wheels. He is planning to take paralyzed children on adventures to get them out of the house and show them that there is still a lot of life to be lived.

Josh participated and benefited greatly from an intensive restorative therapy at the Kennedy Krieger International Center for Spinal Cord Injury under the care of Dr. McDonald and Dr. Sadowsky and a whole team of remarkable therapists. Josh dedicates four to five hours a day to his home therapy program which was developed at Kennedy Krieger. Almost a year after his accident, Josh was able to transition from a complete spinal cord injury to an incomplete spinal cord injury.

Since Josh's August 1, 2004 spinal cord injury, he has been a man with a plan. He has been able to battle through adversity and has come out on top.

Medical Disclaimer

The Determined2heal Foundation offers educational and health related information relevant to persons with spinal cord injuries, their families, and others of interest. The information contained herein on this site is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek advice from your physician or other qualified health professionals before implementing any new regiment concerning your individual health. Always seek the advice of your physician prior to starting or changing any medical or health treatment.

Links Disclaimer

The Determined2heal Foundation manages and updates information along with links to web sites around the world that contain spinal cord injury products and educational information. The links provided are not managed by the Determined2heal Foundation, and therefore, Determined2heal is not responsible for their content.

Copyright

All written information produced by the Determined2heal Foundation that is contained on this web site is protected under copyright laws. It is prohibited to copy in part or whole any written information from this web site to be posted on other web sites. Information that appears on this site is held by the publisher/developer of the material. Contact individual publisher/developer for permission to use their information.

Spinal Cord Injury Informational Website