Kellie
21-11-2025
What Happened: The Day Everything Changed
Sudden Traumatic Spinal Injury
THE STORY
On November 14, my mother and co-founder of Ageless Conversations, Leslee—62 years old, vibrant, active, (always extra) sharing her strength training journey with you all—went in for what was supposed to be a routine pain-management procedure. She has degenerative spinal issues and bulging discs, and her doctor recommended a steroid injection to help control the pain so she could continue her mobility and strength work. We expected a routine procedure, with maybe a little pain and a short recovery window. We were not prepared for what actually happened. Something went terribly wrong and she was pierced in the spinal cord. The moment the needle entered, she jerked violently and screamed in pain.
Immediately she went numb from the waist down. She couldn’t stand. She couldn’t walk. She was in more pain than she had ever experienced besides child birth. What was meant to be routine turned into an emergency. We rushed her to the local ER, and then she was transported to a larger hospital. After many scans she was admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of severe spinal cord trauma. For seven days she was monitored for swelling, inflammation, and nerve function, and infused with norepinephrine to force blood flow to the spine, legs, and feet.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
Leslee is now in the Neuro Specialty Rehab Clinic for intense physical and occupational therapy. She is relearning how to walk, rebuilding neural pathways, and gradually regaining independence. Progress can be slow and the rehab can be brutal, but we have had so many glimmers of hope! We don’t know if she will completely recover full sensation in her extremities, walk on her own alone again,
or if the pain throughout her pelvic girdle will subside, but she, and we are optimistic about her outcomes. Leslee turns out to be quite competitive, so when the therapist says something like “this will be hard” she’ll reply with “Bring it on." She’s just grateful that those therapists don’t see her collapse in exhaustion at the end of the day! She says saying things like that helps her attitude and psychs her into trying that much harder.
WHY WE ARE SHARING
Only weeks ago we were filming my cofounders (AKA parents) for the Ageless Conversations strength training series. They were excited, motivated, and ready to show other seniors what was possible with the right tools and encouragement. Now, unexpectedly, we find ourselves in a different type of strength journey. One we never asked for or wanted. But we know millions of people face these kinds of setbacks every year, and that’s why we’re sharing.
Because aging isn’t just about wellness routines and success stories. Sometimes it’s about medical trauma. Sometimes it’s about starting over. Sometimes it’s about learning to walk again at 62. This is real life. and real aging. This is what so many seniors and caregivers are living through silently. If our story can provide comfort, clarity, community, or hope to even one other family navigating something similar, then sharing it matters. Most importantly, mom wants to share her tale of an unplanned pivot, and if it will help her recover in any way, we are doing it.
“Tell them I’m not giving up. Tell them I plan to walk, prance and dance again. And tell them thank you for caring.”
Community is Critical to Recovery and We Welcome All Supporters.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing:
- Daily mini-updates from the ICU
- What the PT process really looks like
- Tools and equipment that genuinely help
- Honest discussions about pain, fear, and progress
- Adaptive strength training for seniors
- Caregiving insights for families navigating medical trauma
If you’d like to follow along with Leslees recovery, learn, or simply support our family during this time, you can hit the link or join our email list below.
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