---
title: Voices From The Community | Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis | Amber Collie
description: My life has had many parts, I could write a book just on that section but let's fast forward to when I married Adron Collie. Two weeks after turning 20 (yes, very young!) I had Zackery at age 22, Levi at 24, six years later Kaden, and 18 months after that daughter Laila, making me a busy mother of four. At that time, I also ran a photography business. The year Zack was injured, I had a child in preschool, elementary, junior high and high school. Four kids in four schools! I thought I was so busy, just getting their drop off and pick up times correct was a challenge. I have to laugh now thinking back on that because little did I know my life was just about to turn upside down.
---
[Community](https://www.christopherreeve.org/community) [Voices From The Community | Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis | Amber Collie](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/amber-collie)
# Voices from the Community
Our blog offers stories from the community, updates from the Reeve Foundation, and breaking news on research.
The opinions expressed in these blogs are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
[Latest from our community](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en) [Reeve Round Up](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=reeve-round-up) [Life After Paralysis](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=life-after-paralysis) [Research](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en?cat=research)
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[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/accessible-travel-planning)
Travel Caregiving
## [Accessible Travel Planning](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/accessible-travel-planning)
March 13, 2024
Just because you use a wheelchair doesn't mean you're limited to staying at home. YES, you can travel! Sure, there will be limitations but there are... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/accessible-travel-planning)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/new-year-reflections-results)
## [New Year Reflections & Results](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/new-year-reflections-results)
January 23, 2024
What can be accomplished in one years’ time? [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/new-year-reflections-results)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/will-my-quadriplegic-son-ever-get-married)
Caregiving Relationships
## [Will My Quadriplegic Son Ever Get Married?](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/will-my-quadriplegic-son-ever-get-married)
November 9, 2023
Society likes to ask the question “when are you getting married?” As a mother of a quadriplegic son, I remember having stressful thoughts about this.... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/will-my-quadriplegic-son-ever-get-married)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/pumpkins-spooky-fun)
Caregiving
## [Pumpkins & Spooky Fun!](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/pumpkins-spooky-fun)
October 23, 2023
Pumpkin season is in full swing with the spooky fun of Halloween creeping up. Our family celebrates at my home, decorating the house by October... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/pumpkins-spooky-fun)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/do-i-say-hello)
Caregiving
## [Do I Say Hello?](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/do-i-say-hello)
September 27, 2023
Have you seen people in wheelchairs and wanted to say simply say “Hello” but didn’t know how to approach them? Before my son’s spinal cord injury, I... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/do-i-say-hello)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/yes-bad-things-do-happen-to-good-people)
Caregiving
## [Life's Unexpected Adversities](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/yes-bad-things-do-happen-to-good-people)
August 28, 2023
I don’t know why I’m shocked when I hear stories about tragedy, it happens every day. I suppose it’s a coping method. We all want to live a safe... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/yes-bad-things-do-happen-to-good-people)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/lighten-up)
Caregiving Mental Health
## [Lighten Up](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/lighten-up)
August 11, 2023
How could anyone say lighten up after a spinal cord injury has completely devastated you? You can’t, not right away but it can happen. It now feels... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/lighten-up)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/vacation-planning-wheelchair-and-all)
Travel Caregiving
## [Vacation Planning: Wheelchair and All](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/vacation-planning-wheelchair-and-all)
August 2, 2023
Any vacation requires planning. It starts with an idea, some research, dates, flights or rental car, place to stay and you’re going somewhere! It’s... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/vacation-planning-wheelchair-and-all)
[ National Paralysis Resource Center](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/the-to-do-list-is-not-your-enemy)
Caregiving
## [The To-Do List is not your Enemy](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/the-to-do-list-is-not-your-enemy)
July 7, 2023
I glance around my house and see everything that needs to be done, that never-ending to-do list. I seem to get the bare minimum done, but the bigger... [Read More](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/the-to-do-list-is-not-your-enemy)
[1](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/amber-collie/page/1) [2](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/amber-collie/page/2) [3](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/amber-collie/page/3) [4](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/amber-collie/page/4) [5](https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/author/amber-collie/page/5)
The opinions expressed in these blogs are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
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