Leah Roland, 31, of Aspen, Colorado is a recovering incomplete quadriplegic. Quadripelegia refers to the paralysis of all four limbs — both arms and both legs, as from a high spinal cord accident. Incomplete refers to Leah’s success in defying complete paralysis, as she has regained some use of her limbs. Prior to moving to Colorado to pursue her love of the mountains and an active outdoor lifestyle and a career in graphic design, Leah grew up in the Midwest.

On February 13, 1999 Leah’s life changed forever. While skiing at Eldora Mountain outside of Boulder, Colorado, Leah was taking her second warm-up run of the day when she ran into a tree and broke her neck. Within an instant, Roland’s life changed forever, paralyzing her from her chest down. After her initial surgery, she was taken to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital where she was told that she would never walk again. Specifically Leah sustained a C-5 burst fracture and a ½” bruise on the left side of her spinal cord. After being told she would never walk again, she was determined to prove her doctors wrong. With a small amount of luck and a lot of sweat and tears; support from her community, friends and family, today Leah walks with the assistance of only a cane.

On that fateful day in February, Leah, who had been an incredibly active woman - who had relocated to pursue her dreams in the mountains of Colorado - found herself in a state where she could not cough nor sneeze, nor could she move from her chest down. Every day for three months she relearned how to sit up, stand, feed herself, and perform simple tasks. She continues today to push the limits of her abilities by remaining an incredibly active woman – participating in regular spin classes and yoga. Leah had to reach very deep down inside her soul to find the determination and courage from within to continue her journey, called life.

Inspired by her friend Amanda Boxtel, who recently became the first United States citizen to receive human embryonic stem cell therapy, Leah’s next journey will take her to India in the spring of 2008 to receive similar human embryonic stem cell therapy. To date, over 70 other spinal cord injuries have been successful with no adverse side effects. Leah is incredibly excited and nervous about the work she has ahead. She is anticipating success but feels a little apprehensive about giving her body to science, “I feel I’m on the right path and that this is my calling; the future for me, our community and for the many others suffering from incurable diseases and spinal cord injuries.”

Today Leah lives in Aspen with her husband Dan and their 2 cats Daisy and Mayday. She continues intense physical therapy, with a regular routine of acupuncture, yoga, and spinning. In November 2006, Leah took the essential element of her rehab a step further and became a spinning instructor, “Now I motivate others to overcome their own obstacles. It is both rewarding and challenging and I love it.”

Despite Leah’s physical impairments, she continues an active outdoor lifestyle. She enjoys riding her recumbent bike, 4-tracking (skiing), scuba diving, traveling with her husband, and hanging out with friends. Leah is filled with renewed found hope that her progress will continue on, “Here’s to the future with stem cells and more physical therapy, my quest continues….”