The latest episode of the QP features an amazing young man, Owen Weiss. He is a wheelchair athlete, educator, and storyteller, whose life changed after a rare spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) led to three spinal surgeries. He recovered fully from the first two, but following the third (after walking himself into the operating room), he woke unable to move his legs, and with major loss of sensation from the waist down.
Today, Owen is an active wheelchair tennis player, a paraprofessional working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, and the creator of his signature speech “You Always Have a Choice”, where he shares the mindset and lessons he developed while rebuilding his life after paralysis. Owen’s story offers a meaningful foundation for conversations about resilience, adaptation, independence, and personal agency in the face of sudden change.
Takeaways
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Medical Journey Sensory perception differences in individuals with spinal cord injuries
- Challenges of transitioning from inpatient care to home life Impact of language deprivation
- Transition to wheelchair tennis
- Adaptive sports programs and scholarships
- Future goals and aspirations
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction and Mutual Friend
- 05:09 Inclusivity and Sign Language
- 11:14 Return of Symptoms and Third Surgery
- 16:20 Complexity of Spinal Cord Injury
- 22:25 Hospital Stay and Sensory Experience
- 29:00 Impact of Age on Rehabilitation Experience
- 35:49 Perspective Shift and Return to Education
- 41:26 Discovering the Role of a Paraprofessional
- 52:11 Adaptive Sports Programs and Scholarships