ROBERT'S SPINAL CORD INJURY
When: June 20, 1996   Age: 14 years   Level: C3/4/5
Description: Diving into a swimming pool at a friend’s house.

HIS BIO
Robert lives in Anne Arundel County, MD & is in school at the Art Institute online to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Videogame Art and Design. His ultimate goal is to create accessible videogames for people with disabilities such as himself.

HIS ADVICE
Building strong relationships with people and friends is very valuable in my condition. I learned that we can all help each other and learn from each other. I keep my spirits high by getting my strength from Christ. I like to encourage people in my same situation to keep exercising when they are first injured and soon you'll discover what you are truly passionate about. Having this disability forced me to start focusing for the first time really on school, art and to research my heart. I have some experience with relationships but I know it's difficult to have a relationship with a spinal cord injury. What else can I say? - We all find our own way when something life altering happens to us. It's the way that we share those experiences and what we have discovered that allows us to grow individually and when we are struggling. I like to take a quote from Joel Osteen, television evangelical preacher, "Now I tell my mountains about my God not my God about my mountains." This means I don't have to wait for my prayers to always be answered through prayer alone but I can tell my obstacles that He is much stronger and my faith in Him will make me rise above and be successful in whatever I pursue. You could even e-mail me I would love to talk about anything and help you.

HOW FOFTA IS HELPING HIM
FOFTA is helping me by allowing me to be a part of the efforts to help people in similar situations as myself. I am only 23 but there's so much I want to share and help with. FOFTA is helping to improve my living conditions through funds and fundraisers so I can live a better quality of life physically. Right now I am getting involved as much as I can to help and when I can get a job and get on my feet, so to speak, I hope to become an even bigger contributor. My own efforts and artistic abilities have been shared through FOFTA as you might find on their website. I can see the huge potential for this organization and I want to be there when it starts and when it helps others.