Determination, Loving Support Inspire Injured Woman To Walk In 5K
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (KDKA) -- It's not just a walk in the park for Cindy Vincent of East Liverpool, Ohio.
Three and a half years ago, she was suffered a spinal cord injury in a major fall.
"I was helping someone in their garage, and I was up in the rafters and I fell through the rafters," said Vincent. "So, it was 10 feet and I landed on concrete."
She was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.
"They did a couple surgeries. It was a spinal cord injury," said Vincent. "At the very beginning, they weren't sure that I would walk at all."
Two months in hospitals and years of rehab and loving support from family members gave Vincent the strength to walk a little further each day.
Beaver Creek State Park near her home became her training ground.
"There was one time when I said to my sister, 'I don't know why I'm doing this,' because it was so hard," Vincent said. "On March 7, I did an eighth of a mile, which was unbelievable. And finally, in July, I reached three miles."
Nearly five kilometers, just in time for Saturday's UPMC UrgentCare's 5K walk on the Montour Trail near the Mall at Robinson.
When Vincent's insurance temporarily ran out, her physical therapist came to her home and continued the treatment for free. A second physical therapist moved to Georgia, but has flown to Pittsburgh to accompany her on the 5K walk.
It's clear that Team Cindy has a lot of fans.
"I chose that road and got pushed that road, so I'm very thankful for that," Vincent said.
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