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A graduate student at the University of Florida, Belinda Post, asked if she could do a video story on me and our efforts to get wheelchair users (back) in the game of life, especially power wheelchair users. I agreed, although for several months my voice has been unusually soft, so I'm hard to hear in the video (we're still trying to determine the cause and solution).
My Stepmom just watched it and thought it was "wonderful" and she and my Dad said I should share it, so I am. I think the video is very well done, however the on-screen name for my friend should read Lilian Strandlund. No worries.
Here's the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txpw6Vla5RY
God bless all!
Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 255 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net
My friend Aaron Parker bowled a 209 on March 23rd, 2013. Many people have bowled that well before, but not many — if any — who have lived with paralysis for more than 31 years.
Aaron has been a C7 quadriplegic since July 1st, 1981. He is paralyzed from his chest down and thus uses a power wheelchair. That doesn’t sound like a typical description for someone who just set a personal bowling record of 209, but adding an IKAN Bowler to a wheelchair allows its user to bowl in a way that is equivalent to how able-bodied people bowl (so says the USBC). For an explanation and video example, checkout WheelchairBowlingRecords.com.
I personally find it amazing that someone who has been paralyzed for over 31 years can compete in a sport on a level “playing field” and do so very well.
For Aaron’s scoresheet and more, click here:
http://www.wheelchairbowlingrecords.com/Aaron_Parker_209.htm
CONGRATULATIONS Aaron!
Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 255 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net
On February 6th, I "introduced" myself (via email) to Steve Kettenhoven, a Wisconsin man who was awaiting delivery of his IKAN Bowler. I just wanted to offer tips or help to make his IKAN experience as fun and successful as possible, since I'm the co-inventor and overall world record holder (this is something I just started doing with customers; if any existing customers have any questions or want tips, please contact me here, as I should've started emailing customers from the beginning and I apologize for not doing so).
Little did I know just how eager Steve was to receive his IKAN Bowler. It turns out, Steve has bowled a 248 with a stationary ramp, but said he wanted to bowl in a more "realistic and quicker" fashion with an IKAN Bowler. Plus, he wanted to learn quickly and start using his IKAN in a league right away.
To make a long story shorter, Steve received his IKAN Bowler on Friday, February 8th, and started practicing that weekend (and some during the week also). The following weekend, on Sunday, February 17th, he went out and bowled a FANTASTIC 598 series -- 205, 211, and 182 -- just nine days after receiving his IKAN Bowler! In doing so, he became just the 7th IKAN user to join the "200 Club" (the other six are listed and linked in the write-up about the 6th member HERE).
Steve also set the wheelchair bowling record for a male with cerebral palsy.
For Steve's scoresheet, commentary, and YouTube clip of him, click HERE!
CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU for sharing Steve! Keep it up!
Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 255 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net
On January 26th, 2013, my friend and fellow Central Florida Quad Squad Bowler Aaron Parker bowled a 202 and became the 6th IKAN Bowler user to bowl 200 or better (to our knowledge; if you know another IKAN user who has broken 200, please contact me).
The 200-Club now consists of these wheelchair & IKAN users: Aaron Parker, Alex McDonald, Anthony (a Veteran who called us about breaking 200, but he passed away before we got his last name or scoresheet), Jon Musgrave, Lilian Strandlund, and me (Bill Miller).
CLICK HERE for more details on Aaron's big day and links for the people mentioned above.
CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME to the 200-Club Aaron! :-)
Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 255 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net
I created a YouCaring donation page for my friend Rhonda. Rhonda is a quadriplegic paralyzed from the neck down who needs 24/7 around the clock care (like me). Rhonda recently lost both her Mom and Dad in the span of 11 days. Rhonda's Mom (Jackie) was her primary caregiver for basically the last 21 years and shared an apartment with her. If Rhonda cannot find the funds to keep her apartment and afford her care, she will end up in a nursing home. She is 46 years old. Even the smallest donation will help. Thank you for your consideration and potential generosity.
Here's the link for Rhonda's YouCaring donation page:
http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/Help-for-Rhonda/37633
In Rhonda's Own Words (pictures below)...
Imagine your 25 year old daughter becoming completely paralyzed from the neck down in a car crash. She now requires 24 hour care and you have to decide if she goes to a nursing home or you give up your job, friends, & life in another city to provide that care. For my Mom, Jackie, there was no hesitation, she was going to take care of her child! That was in 1991 and up until August 4, 2012 (21 years and one day after the anniversary date of my car crash) she provided that care.
My name is Rhonda. On June 19, 2012, my Mom (Jackie) started having issues walking and with her balance. After many trips to doctors, x-rays, scans, biopsies, etc, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Battling constant nausea for months, she very weakly underwent one round of chemotherapy on Oct. 3. She became more ill and it was apparent to her that her body wouldn't allow her to get better. It was her wish to come home from her two month hospital stay and be with family for her remaining days. Bravely, Jackie lost her battle and passed away on Nov. 7, 2012.
Throughout her years of caring for me and most especially during her illness, Jackie worried constantly about who would care for me when she was no longer here. Her ultimate wish for me was that I would never have to enter into the care of a nursing home facility. I tried to assure her that maybe by the grace of God, I would never have to reside in a facility. I desperately didn't want her worrying about that at such a difficult time. I am hoping with all hope and everything in me that with help from others I can make Jackie's wish come true. She deserves that peace of mind even though she is no longer here.
If enough caring people are willing to help me by donating towards my care and future stability, then Jackie's wish could be granted. I would be forever grateful! All monies will go into a trust and will be used for my care. I thank you for even considering helping me.
Contributions can be made online via this YouCaring page (no PayPal account is required to donate) or directly via PayPal using this email address: ForRhonda@yahoo.com.
Or here's the bank info:
Rhonda's Benefit Trust Fund
CITIZENS FIRST (Bank) OF THE VILLAGES
1050 Lake Sumter Landing
The Villages, Florida 32162
352-751-2100
* * * * *
Personally, I've known Rhonda for roughly the last fifteen years and I've never once heard her complain about anything. She has such a kind, caring heart. Please consider helping her if you can. Thank you and God bless.
Sincerely,
Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 255 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net
It's still November and I want to use this blog entry to share some belated Thanksgiving thoughts. I especially want to mention how grateful I am for the many blessings that the Good Lord has given me.
Yes, I'm a quadriplegic, and yes, I'm ventilator dependent, but I'm also blessed in many ways. I'm thankful to my family because I'm able to live at home (and not in a nursing home). I have no pain (some people and some quadriplegics in particular have a tremendous amount of pain). Despite quadriplegia, I have meaningful things I can still do and have been blessed to be able to achieve quite a bit, and I have a good life, which I share some about in this six-minute "Meet Bill Miller" video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiVonbXUWcU
I have learned that we're all blessed in different ways, and that regardless of how tough a situation may seem, there's always someone in a tougher situation. A good friend of mine, Rhonda Reese, is also a quadriplegic, but she's blessed to not be vent-dependent. She too has also been blessed to be able to live at home throughout the duration of her paralysis, which has now been for over 21 years. But she recently lost both of her parents, and may need to move to a nursing home.
We're going to setup an online donation page for Rhonda, to help keep her out of a nursing home for as long as possible. And I'll be sharing more about Rhonda's situation on this blog. But the point here is that we all have blessings that we should not take for granted.
Since becoming a quad, I've learned that good health is relative. Almost everyone has some type of health issue, whether it's a bad knee, frequent headaches, or something more serious. But if it's bearable and we're in decent shape otherwise, I'd call that relative good health. Cherish your (relatively) good health and cherish your loved ones, for they are two of the most precious blessings we can have.
"There but for the grace of God go I."
May God bless us all -- and may we continually appreciate His blessings.
Sincerely,
Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 255 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net
- Donation-Matching Deadline Extended until November 15th -
This blog is about empowering wheelchair users, and one non-profit organization striving to do so is the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation (CDRF). They use donations to fund both quality-of-life grants and "cure" research.
Until midnight on November 15th, all donations are being matched dollar-for-dollar -- with the goal of turning donations totaling $250,000 into $500,000. And all CDRF donations are tax deductible.
So if you have the ability and desire to help people who are paralyzed, this is an opportunity to double the impact of your tax-deductible donation.
This link has the details.
Thank you for your consideration.
Bill Miller :-)
C1-2 Quadriplegic with a 255 High Bowling Game
Co-founder of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. d/b/a MGT
Business website: http://www.ikanbowler.com
Personal website: http://www.lookmomnohands.net
