Finding Strength in the Fall – Faith Over Fear

At 32, Alvaro G. was known for being someone who never slowed down. Always happy and bringing joy to the people around him, he specialized in carpentry as a new construction framer. He built a life that he loved with his hands and the physicality of his body. That all changed in a single, life-altering moment when the ladder he was working on gave out and fell from the side of the home, projecting him straight down onto his back.

The fall fractured several vertebrae and left Alvaro paralyzed from the waist down. In an instant, everything he knew was about to change. At first, he did not realize he could not move his legs as he attempted to get up and get back to work. He then tried yelling for his brother’s help before eventually blacking out.

Days went by and consciousness was only a secondary possibility to his current reality – Alvaro’s work, sense of purpose, his life as he knew it – was gone. After three days in a coma, he was welcomed back to a stiff reality of pain, confusion, and grief. No matter how hard he tried, depression crept in. He got to a point where all he could ask is, “what will my life be like?” He never thought at his prime an injury like this would be possible, that in no way a freak accident could happen to someone who knew what they were doing and took pride in the work they loved.

Alvaro felt he had not only lost his body, but his identity. He knew that God had a plan, and the only option was to persevere so he could succeed at gaining the most out of life. He had to focus on recovering and continuing to be a light for others.

Carolyn Resler, the case manager for Allegiant Care, was assigned Alvaro’s Paradigm worker’s compensation case and with tenacity she fought for the best care. She held each person and herself accountable to his recovery and upon finding Rehab Without Walls, she ensured we could start care as quickly as possible.

Therapists Lori and Mandi would again transform Alvaro’s life when he least expected it. They never promised miracles, but their love for therapy and their care for his success is immeasurable. This trio is a force to be reckoned with! From the initial steps of leaving his house to starting ESL classes, there is no stopping this goal-oriented team.

Those early weeks were tough, though Alvaro was physically fit, he had to relearn skills such as transferring and showering independently. Over time, therapy became less about what he could not do and more about discovering what he could. Alvaro began exploring an adaptive lifestyle, learning to navigate his home independently and eventually unafraid to go out in public, allowing him to re-frame his future.

Within one year, Alvaro was setting new goals of learning how to drive, getting his driver’s license, and continuing to learn the English language. He also volunteered for peer support for other Spanish-speaking spinal cord injury survivors. Alvaro hopes in sharing his story with others this will help them see a brighter future. Life didn’t end on that ladder – it just changed course. He is a testament and reminder that even in the hardest falls, there is the potential to rise stronger, wiser, and with a renewed purpose.