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 by STEPHEN'S MUM
Hi, here is a quick update of my trip to see Stephen at the Kennedy Krieger Rehab Hospital in Baltimore. To be honest, Baltimore was a place which I said I would never visit again, the last time I was there we were all filled with despair after Stephen's tragic accident and the life changing effect it h had on the lives of our family, .............but then we should all learn never to say never!
Stephen has been at The Kennedey Kreiger rehab hospital for 7 weeks and has just returned back home to California this weekend. I flew out to see him 2 weeks ago to see how he was progressing in rehab. I went to see him working out,and I mean working out, in the gymn where physio and occupational therapy take place.
There is no room for 'slackers' here. You come to work and learn how to get out of a wheel chair. The music is blairing away, the atmosphere is electric, whilst physios and patients are working together, the positive energy in that room is amazing, it makes you feel like lazy just watching and you just want to paricipate with everyone.
Stephen's OT and physio are supberb. His physio, plays no rules Australian ladies football and the words 'can't do' are not in her vocabulary, She's a tough cookie and just what Stephen needs. They have the greatest respect for each other.
He is under the wing of Dr John McDonald who we have spoken of previously. This man is a great scientist and has huge plans for Stephen. Stephen's confidence in him is unmeasurable and both of them are determined that he WILL get out of the wheelchair. It will take some time but everyone is so so positive that I truly believe he will.
One day I watched his physio get him onto a gym mat which is about 2 feet of the floor. She positioned him in a sitting position with his feet on the floor. Then she placed his arms behind him on the mat so that he was leaning backs upporting him all of the time . ...whilst she was doing this Stephen was watching himself in front of a mirror. Then she left go and Stephen had to support himself indepentently. The concentration on his face was just like when he was on top of the start hill waiting for his final run. It was amazing to see. He DID support himself for more than 30 seconds!He did this several times. These are small steps to people like you and I but GIANT to a person who was intially told that he would never get out of a wheel chair.
Stephen's positivity remains unchanged. He had Mason & Seth out for a 4 day visit to see him and Melissa.He had Mason sit on his knee in his wheelchair, charged across the lounge, slammed on the brakes and sent Mason flying onto the couch. They had such fun and the boys loved it.
Its amazing how you can find alternative ways to entertain your children!.He has had wheelchair races down the hospital corridors with other patients trying to beat them,he still has his competitive streak in him.
Stephen and Melissa are going to return to Baltimore in 3 months time for another 6 weeks,after Stephen has worked on the exercises given to him by his physio, they will then progress onwards and upwards.
Ofcourse there are many hiccups along the way and the road is is still a long one with many mountains to climb. He still has trmendous neck pain and nerve spasms. He is prone to pneumonia and UTIs but his body is now learning to cope better in these situations however,throughout all of this we would like you all to know that we are more positive and stronger than ever and would once more like to thank you all for your support, without which we may have been telling a different story.
Thank you all
Cynthia
Stephen's Mum
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  While much of the country was cold and wintry, everyone thought the SoCal national would be a great, sunny escape. Then snow fell on Thursday. Huh? And then Friday rolled around to gale force winds we were all wondering if we took a wrong turn somewhere! Saturday arrived and thanks goodness normalcy was returned and the races ran on-time and smoothly. The On-Trac squad kept up their winning ways at Lake Perris in two days of feisty, competitive racing where the comp kept it close!
Little "monster" Madison Martinez made her Mixed Open debut and began what we expect to be year's worth of terror for the boys! Madison pulled off two 3rds in the 7-8 Mixed Open class and doubled in 7 Girls. This little gal has got spunk and will get stronger and stronger as the year progresses. Kristen Long had a solid weekend notching up a pair of 2nds in 11 Girls and a pair of 3rds in 11-12 Mixed Open. "Fly'n" Felicia Stancil, and dad Jamie, briefly escaped the snow back home to enjoy some warmer weather and some great competition. The trip was worth the effort as Felicia doubles in 11-12 Mixed Open and takes two 2nds in 12 Girls. Taylor Wolcott has herself an excellent weekend, showing off her excellent track skill including one fine swoop pass for a win. Taylor doubles in 13-14 mixed open - no small feat - and takes a 2nd and a 1st in 14 Girls. And the last of our ladies, Shelbi Long doubled in 16 Girls and even broke out the cruiser for the weekend. After a 3rd place showing Saturday, Shelbi got  it together to take the win on Sunday. Nice job ladies!
We had a collection of "Keebler elves" out this weekend including the one-and-only "Vicious" Vaughn Herrick. Watching him off-the-track he's just a little boy having fun. Watching him ON the track explains the nickname. Vaughn tears it up this weekend with an impressive double-double in 7-8 Open and 8X. "Cruising" Christopher Blevins continues to not only dominate his class, but demonstrate skills way beyond his years. With his trademark sunglasses, Chris pedals, pedal manuals and jumps his way to yet another double-double in 9X and 9 and under Cruiser. Seanie, Seanie Gaian fights off a cold and puts together a 3rd and a 2nd in 11X.
 Rusty Nesvig is one of the winningest riders in the world right now and as such probably has the biggest bullseye on his back of nearly any rider. Rusty powers his way to two 1sts in 13-14 Open. In 13X, however, Rusty only achieves a 3rd and 1st in 13X, succumbing Saturday to a very focused, and hard-working Nate Padilla. That skinny digit is heavier than people realize and inspires competition in the hungriest riders. Connor "Conman" Fields debuted the cruiser this weekend and notched a pair of wins in 15 Cruiser. In 15X, it was another episode of what Jimmy Monroe called the "Fields - Sharrah show". These two races went to Corben with Conman taking two 2nds. Finally, Nic Long had another impressive weekend in 17-18X and 17 and over Open. Nic rode exceptionally well all weekend and was rewarded with his own double-double.
 At the close of the weekend, Intense/Phantom/On-Trac riders dominate the national rankings holding the top four spots led by Blevins, Herrick, Fields and Nic Long, all of whom are also already NAG 1's with Fields and Long already capturing coveted spots in the NAG 5 Challenge. Over in the ladies group, Martinez and both Long's are also in the coveted spot of NAG # 1's. The team has also jumped out to an early lead having won the first six competitions entered thus far this year and sits atop the Factory Team ranks.
The team's exceptional efforts couldn't be done without the constant and considerable support supplied by our great sponsors who include Intense BMX (www.intensebmx.com), On-Trac Garage Doors (www.ontracdoors.com), Phantom BMX Products, Fly Racing www.flyracingbmx.com, Bombshell (www.bombshellparts.com), FSA (www.fullspeedahead.com), THE Products (www.the- industries.com), SINZ Racing (www.sinz-racing.com), Intense Tire Systems, (www.intensetires.com ), BMX Jerseys (www.groupdmfg.com), and Scott goggles (www.scottusa.com).
Photos by Dan Mooney/ABABMXphotos.com
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