Ray, SCI Mentor (C1-C4, T1-T12, L1-L5)
Born: September 1941
Relationship Status: Married with a labradoodle
Occupation: Retired
Hobbies and Interests: Hunting, fishing, woodworking, writing, family time
Ray experienced a severe car accident in the early 1970s, causing trauma to his spine, and later suffered a spinal stroke in 2008 at the age of 66. Today, he uses a power wheelchair and intermittent catheters and maintains a bowel program. The most challenging aspect of transitioning home was the extensive modifications required to make his house accessible, including widening doors, adding a ramp, remodeling the bathroom, removing carpets and bringing in a hospital bed. Once home, nurses visited every few days to change bandages on pressure sores, and therapists worked with him on physical therapy. Currently, Ray serves as a Councilman on the Mayor’s Disability Council of Jacksonville, a Commissioner on the Jacksonville Waterways Commission, and a member of the Election Advisory Board. He believes staying active is crucial for both physical and mental health. Ray is also comfortable discussing all aspects of living with a spinal cord injury (SCI).