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“The NeuRx DPS™ has afforded me the freedom to do those things which fueled my life before the injury. It has helped me become me again :) Now, not even the sky is the limit.” – Justin Cochran

“It’s true that the diaphragm pacer doesn’t change the fact that I’m paralyzed, but it really has enhanced my life.” – Heather Johnson

“I feel more social. I can talk clearly and louder, which sure helps when you’re in a crowd. The sense of freedom that it’s given me has made me do things that I wouldn’t have.” – Daniel Leblanc

“The NeuRx DPS™ has done more than change the way I breath it has changed my life.” – Samantha Rodzwicz

“Seven weeks after the surgery, I was ventilator free for 24 hours a day, 7 days a wekk” – Laszlo Nagy

“The NeuRx DPS™ System has revolutionized my lifestyle. I no longer have to lug around that heavy ventilator on the back of my chair” – Tom Davis

“This definitely gives me more confidence. It also reduces my risk of getting the upper respiratory problems that come along with the vent, since the pacer is more natural.” – Adam Booker

“Because caring for Heather is easier, because we get out of the home more often, and because my life is less stressed, the diaphragm pacer has improved the quality of my life as well as Heather’s.” – Diane Johnson

Patient Testimonial | Caregiver Testimonial

Tom Conlon (Cleveland, Ohio)

Clevelander Tom Conlon speaks about being on and off a ventilator

Justin Cochran (Kennesaw, Georgia)

"A little over two and a half years ago I was skydiving, bungee jumping, hiking, traveling around the world, training to be a pilot, etc. I took full advantage of my youth and abilities, and never felt more alive than when I was leaping through the door of an airplane at 14,000 ft or clutching onto the side of a cliff in hopes of reaching the summit of a mountain. Neither gravity nor the tallest mountain could stand in my way. And then I incurred a C1/C2 spinal cord injury, leaving me paralyzed from the neck down and on a ventilator. My abilities, the physical abilities that I defined my life by, were stripped from me faster than you can blink your eye. What happens to a person when everything they defined themselves by is destroyed? What happens when the framework upon which one built their lives collapses in upon itself? What I came to realize is the goals, aspirations, and passion with which I lived my life before my injury were still there, buried deep inside all of the misery and self-pity. The limitation was not in my arms and legs; it was in my mind. All I needed then at that moment was a way of crossing over the threshold, the last 3% of the journey. That last 3% for me was the pacer. Although a seemingly small number, I’ve been able to take that plunge again from 14,000 ft, hang glide over Lookout Mountain, and hike the tallest peak in Georgia. I’m planning on bungee jumping, scuba diving, horseback riding, etc. It has afforded me the freedom to do those things which fueled my life before the injury. It has helped me become me again :) Now, not even the sky is the limit."

Heather Johnson (Barnhart, Missouri)

I was excited when I found out that I was getting the diaphragm pacer, but I didn’t think it was going to change my life. I was wrong! It has given me back some of the peace of mind and confidence that I lost in my car accident. When I’m out in public, I feel that I look more normal without the ventilator hooked up to me, or hanging off the back of my wheelchair. I also used to fear popping off in public because of the attention that the loud ventilator alarm would attract. It’s so much easier to go out now, too, since we don’t have bulky ventilator batteries to carry along. The pacer has allowed me to do many things that I never thought I would be able to do again. I’ve taken several road trips, and have even started taking college classes again – things I wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing while I was on the ventilator. It’s true that the diaphragm pacer doesn’t change the fact that I’m paralyzed, but it really has enhanced my life.

Daniel Leblanc (Vancouver, Canada):

“The NeuRx DPS™ system has been the best thing that has happened to me since I got hurt. Being on a vent was like an insult to injury to me. Not being able to move and breathe. Things started to look up when I herd about the NeuRx DPS™. It took some work but eventually I was able to get the surgery. The first thing I noticed when they turned on the pacer was this big rush of air that I was sucking in. With that breath I could smell the coffee that was next to me. Seeing me breath normally brought tears of happiness to my family. Now that I’m on the pacer 24-7 things taste and smell normal. I’ve been really healthy (knock on wood). Getting around is so much easier with out that damn vent. I feel more social. I can talk clearly and louder, which sure helps when you’re in a crowd. The sense of freedom that it’s given me has made me do things that I wouldn’t have with the vent. Most of all I feel more ‘normal’ and I would recommend this to anyone.”

Samantha Rodzwicz (Pensacola, Florida):

“Although I dream of a cure for paralysis, as a C1 quadriplegic my miracles are increases in quality of life. I received the NeuRx DPS™ 11 months after my injury and have had it for 2 years. Some may say that it has been a failure because I only use the NeuRx DPS™ for about 16 hours a day. However, by my standards the technology has been a miracle. The pacer immediately eliminated the need for ambu bagging during transfers, suctioning, and ventilator malfunctions, enabling me to be cared for by one person instead of the previous necessity of two sets of hands. I primarily use the NeuRx DPS™ while in bed. With the reprieve from the hum of the ventilator and tubes pulling at my throat I am now able to sleep throughout the night. Finally, since I began using the NeuRx DPS™ I have not had any cases of pneumonia. The pacer plays such a vital role in my respiratory health that there is a noticeable difference in my secretions if for some reason I am unable to pace for as little as 24 hours. The NeuRx DPS™ has done more than change the way I breath it has changed my life.”

Laszlo Nagy (Cleveland, Ohio):

C3 quadriplegic as a result of a motorcycle accident in June 2002. “I was implanted with the NeuRx DPS™ System exactly one year later. Seven weeks after the surgery, I was ventilator free for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Since then, I have never needed to use a ventilator, and I have been infection free. I have also developed the ability to breathe on my own for up to several hours, turning off the NeuRx DPS™ System. I use this as my ‘backup,’ although I keep an Ambu bag on my wheelchair. I am able to live in my own home. On August 12, I got married. The NeuRx DPS™ System allows me to travel and to leave my home virtually worry free. It has made my life much easier.”

Tom Davis (Pensacola, Florida):

C1/C2 quadriplegic had the NeuRx DPS™ System procedure in May 2004. One month later he was completely “freed from the ventilator” and remains so. “The NeuRx DPS™ System has revolutionized my lifestyle. I no longer have to lug around that heavy ventilator on the back of my chair. Instead, I have a small box that is tucked in the waistband of my pants. Without the ventilator, the length of my wheelchair has been shortened by nearly two feet and has given me much more maneuverability in tight spaces. When they turned the pacer on for the first time, I could smell everything in the room. This of course has made food taste much better, which has caused me to gain a little weight. The procedure has cut in half the amount of times I need suctioning. Also, I no longer have those long pauses between breaths from the ventilator. When people talk to me on the phone, they have no idea that I use an assisted breathing device. I love it!”

Adam Booker (Ridgeland, Mississippi):

“The Pacer has changed my life tremendously. It gives me the freedom to move around easier and to transfer easier. It is easier on my step mom (my caretaker) especially when getting me dressed. I don’t feel like I have the worry of the vent popping off. It also gives me a better appearance because I don’t have the vent on the back of the chair with all the tubes running everywhere. This definitely gives me more confidence. It also reduces my risk of getting the upper respiratory problems that come along with the vent, since the pacer is more natural. I haven’t had a single problem with the pacer and it has for sure given me a better quality of life. My goal now is to wean off the Pacer!”

Caregiver

Diane Johnson (Mother of Heather Johnson)

I was excited for Heather to get the diaphragm pacer because I thought it would improve the quality of her life. I didn’t realize what a blessing it would be for me, the care giver. Dressing, bathing, and transfers are so much easier without the ventilator tubing. I can even do transfers myself if I have to. Going out into the community with Heather is easier now, too. I do not have to pack and carry several large batteries for the vent, or keep an eye on how much power is left in the battery so as to avoid the vent alarming in public. Because getting out is easier than it was on the vent, Heather and I go out more often, stay out longer, and enjoy it more. We even started taking road trips to visit family again–something I had missed terribly. In addition to feeling a little more free now, with Heather on the pacer, I am also more relaxed. I always worried about Heather popping off the vent if I ran out to get the mail, took a shower, vacuumed, or slept. That is not a concern anymore. I am able to sleep more deeply, not only because popping off is not a worry, but because the pacer is so much quieter than the ventilator. So I am better rested and feel better. Because caring for Heather is easier, because we get out of the home more often, and because my life is less stressed, the diaphragm pacer has improved the quality of my life as well as Heather’s.