Lee was just thirteen when he broke his neck.
A mate’s pool. A mistimed dive. His life changed in an instant. Being a teenager is tough enough – imagine being a thirteen-year-old in a wheelchair, who needs help to go to the toilet.
Lee Taniwha has been a tetraplegic since the age of 14, following an accident in a home swimming pool. He is now Chief Executive of Care Upfront, providing Personal Care to others with disabilities or injuries. Lee joined the Board of CatWalk Trust in 2024 and provides invaluable insight and support to the whole team.
Spinal cord injuries affect all the organs below the injury site. The bowel and bladder are the lowest and so are the most commonly affected. The organs themselves continue to function. But gone is the ability to feel the need to go to the toilet, and to control the muscles that make that happen.
After a spinal cord injury, people need to learn how to manage and track their bladder and bowel function. They may have to use catheters or laxatives. They may need more intimate assistance from carers. It’s a sensitive area and a sensitive topic. It’s hard for anyone, let alone a teen, to get their head around.
Teenage pastimes don’t all rely on the ability to walk, but they do rely on the ability to manage incontinence.
However, the impact on bladder control goes far beyond incontinence. Urinary Tract Infections plague those with spinal cord injuries. The bladder also plays a vital role in blood pressure regulation. Bladder fullness increases blood pressure. This, in turn, may result in Autonomic Dysreflexia – acute, potentially fatal, hypertension.
How does your donation help?
CatWalk’s Spine Squad aim to heal spinal injury. Others are exploring augmentation and artificial stimulation, but our Kiwi team want to repair the spinal cord. They’re working to restore bodily functions, including bladder and bowel control.
Research is expensive. Healing the spinal cord is priceless.
Dr Salvador Lopez, CatWalk Spine Squad Lead Researcher
Spine Squad member, Dr Salvador (Sal) Lopez has experience in bladder function research. Without altering the team’s existing research programme, Sal has incorporated a new assessment. He’s now taking measurements to assess the potential of the Cure Programme to improve bladder function.
This will provide an early indication the potential of the Cure Programme techniques to improve bladder function.
Within just six months, Sal will have a robust indication of the potential of the current programme to improve bladder function. This will allow the team to plan future research effectively and efficiently.
Even indicative research like this would normally require proposals and funding applications. All time and effort that constantly slows research.
Thanks to your support, Sal and the team can explore new opportunities. They can follow up on ideas and test possibilities. The Spine Squad are encouraged to be curious, proactive and agile. Your help allows us to drive research outcomes faster and more efficiently than ever.
It’s not always the most obvious things that make the biggest difference. With your help, we aim to improve bladder and bowel function. It’s so important.
Make a difference, today.
Thank you.