DMN Blog: Cowboys' scouting assistant paralyzed

[Scotman]

This is horrible news and I am saddened to hear Rich Behm is paralyzed. Being paralyzed since I was 15 I don't wish anyone to join this club, but life does go on. I have no doubt he will be able to continue on with his job as a scout for the Cowboys or move onto something else in the organization. The shock hasn't hit him yet and he is going to be overwhelmed, sad, frustrated, and go through every emotion you can think of, but he will get through this with flying colors. He has a tremendous support system with his family, team, coaches, staff, and owner.

He is a lower injury and he is young and I have no doubt Jerry Jones will see he gets the best rehab possible whether it is in Dallas or at Craig in Denver, etc. There is always hope. Doctors told my parents they didn't think I would live through the night and here I am 14 years later. My friend had a bullet go through her spine and five years later her legs are starting to move. Doctors give you a 6 month to 2 year window for function to come back, but doctors are NOT always right.

With stem cells getting approval and so many other therapies there is always a chance.

My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family and all those that were injured and went through this.

You are exactly right Kristi. When my niece had her car accident 4 years ago, they told us she was in a permanent vegetative state with little hope for recovery. She is now walking, talking, reading and writing and even talking of getting married to her boyfriend next year.

I too think he will walk again and I believe you will as well. I think we are on the verge of finding solutions to spinal cord injuries.

 

[burmafrd]

Complete severance of the spinal cord pretty much is final. All the other recoveries did not have that total cut. They have been working on electrical bypasses for years but that is limited. Getting nerve cells to regrow is still in the future. The brain has an abundance of cells and internal bypasses and the like are possible and have happened. But with the spine once its severed that is it.
By the way the major breakthroughs of the last couple of years in stem cells have all come in non-fetal type cells. Despite the billions of euros spent in Europe and elsewhere. Its becoming accepted that other stem cells have shown just as much if not more potential.

 

[DallasEast]

I hope this team dedicates this season to Rich Behm. Here's hoping for a miracle.

Every game.

Every quarter.

Every down.

Every second.

If Rich Behm cannot serve as inspiration for this team, nothing will. Maybe, just maybe, that same kind of inspiration can also evolve into a two-way street. Let's never stop praying for the impossible to become possible.