Sebastian Rotteveel is an active recovering quadriplegic on a mission to help others with similar injuries. On the evening of March 31, 2000 Sebastian fell 20 feet from a second story deck railing. Sebastian hit the ground head first like a dart breaking C4,6, and dislocating C5 leaving him completely paralyzed.                      

 “I never lost consciousness and instinctively knew to tell everyone not to touch or move me and to call 911 and my parents immediately.”

Sebastian knew something was seriously wrong and continued to stay calm. The EMT on scene administered “The Golden Treatment” which was an intravenous cocktail injection including steroids to help reduce swelling. At the time it was considered to be the best on site treatment for SCI. Within 20 minutes Sebastian was taking a helicopter ride to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia where the talented Dr. Simeone and Dr. Shabilski planned their surgeries. The first 12 hour surgery was done through the front of the neck to realign the dislocated vertebrae which had also twisted, and install a Titanium plate and four screws. The second 8 hour surgery was done through the back of the neck where they would fuse C4-6 using Sebastian’s hip bone and installing two more plates with 6 screws to stabilize his neck. Sebastian’s initial diagnosis was that he would be a Complete quadriplegic. However, with time and rehabilitation his prognosis progressively changed and now he is considered an Incomplete Asia B. Sebastian spent 3.5 months in Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and another 3 months as an outpatient. Sebastian was the first person to enter the Locomotive Training Study at Magee in 2000 which is now standard practice throughout the world. Sebastian credits a lot of his gait speed and fluidity to the Lokomat but acknowledges that there were a lot of other things at play to help his recovery.

” You really have to think outside of the box and open your mind to any and all possibilities for recovery with a spinal cord injury. I learned to meditate, visualize movement, find new pathways for signals to get through, and became very open to the spiritual side of life which ultimately leads me on my path of recovery everyday.”

“I couldn’t have done any of this without the love, support, and patience of my family, friends, and loved ones. I am so grateful for all of you and the life i have.”