She is a modern-day superhero. She’s smart. She’s funny. She’s gorgeous. She is, without a doubt, the strongest person I know. She is the glue that holds her family together during the darkest of days. She is the coach, cheerleader, chauffeur, and filmographer for her favorite athletes. She is the voice of reason in desperate situations. She is an amazing cook. She will stop at nothing to make the lives of those around her easier. She is the one person people turn to for help. She is always thinking. She constantly has a thousand things going at once, yet makes everything seem effortless. She never gets enough sleep, time, or help… but you will never hear her complain. She is a registered nurse without the official title. She makes the impossible possible. She is the very definition of selfless. She’s the one person that understands me completely. She has no idea how important she is.
She’s my mom.
Kenny Salvini 
From a mom of three boys, thank you. I just stumbled onto your site. I look forward to reading more.
I just realized that you have more than one thing in common with the man I hold in my highest regard. My Uncle Kenny was completely paralyzed except his thumbs. I was initially attracted to your site because of your beautiful poetic writing and because your injury and how you are dealing with it reminded me of my Uncle Kenny. Funny, I just realized just now that you also share his first name! He was the most amazing man, and he did so much more with his life, and touched so many other people\’s lives after his injury than he ever would have if it had never happened. Perhaps this is your fate too?
Your words are always honest and inspirational. My dad flipped his Jeep just 8 1/2 months ago and is now a quad. It was always an accident that happened to "other" people…not one of my own. I\’ve learned so much since Christmas. I love your spirit and I hope someday my kids write something as lovely about me as you wrote about your mom. Wellness and Peace.
You Rock!!
You know how much I love your mom! She deserves every last bit of praise! She will love reading this!
Hi. I just found your blog and have been reading many of the entries with great interest. I am someone who was born with my disability and has had twenty-three years to figure out how to negogiate a world that was designed for the able-bodied. It\’s been very interesting (and educational) for me to read many of your posts. While, I don\’t agree with everything (namely your take on Million Dollar Baby), I\’ve really enjoyed reading and I\’ll definitely be back. Thanks!
man, i like you so much now… not a lot of people appreciate moms, but your giving her all the rights she needs to get =3 i\’m proud to live in this planet with people like you on it!do your best to keep your mom happy, good luck with your life man!
Hi Kenny,I have been deeply moved by your blog–your words are poetic, inspiring, and even in the midst of such a terrible experience your hope and optimism and courage shine through. You seem as one distilled down to the very essence of his own humanity and can show us how powerful a life force that is. You are an amazing young man. I\’m a documentary filmmaker and would love more than anything to take us into your world so that we can share your experience, understand and learn from it. I hope to hear from you. Lori
Kenny … you are full of life and I\’m glad that you are sharing your zest for life. Quadraplegic or not, you are one of God\’s gifts here on earth. Keep the FAITH … one day things will be different for someone because of you, and it just might be you! My story is about life in a large family that is coping with a possible misdiagnosis … oldest son had been told that he had 6 months left due to brain cancer … however 2 CT scans both reveal nothing … could be that the tumor is somewhere else, but two different places have taken the CT scans, one would think one would come up with something … On October 3rd, my mother\’s birthday … my son has an appointment for a neurologist. That is actually beyond the 6 month timeframe. We pray that an appointment becomes open before then, but we are acceptant of God\’s will … whatever that may be. Take care … and visit my site when you have a moment.
you are an amazing person. I think you are an inspiration and i hope that you have the strength of mind and body to see this through to the end. if you ever need a place to chat, send me an email. =)
Hi Kenny,I am the mother of three, two boys 13 & 9 and a daughter 19! I am up late when the house is quite reading emails and started reading your story. I was very touched and very proud for your mother to have a son like you! You very rarely hear your children acknowledge the work that a mother does for their children. We do it because we love you and thats what our job is, and it is the most important one! While I read your story I thought of my 13 year old son, quite the athlete and into anything on the water or land if it requires him to be moving at a high speed. My younger son the lovey, devoted, I dont want to say mommas boy, but, the one that loves to be with me and his dad all the time. Your blog made me hope that someday when my boys are your age that they feel that way about their mom, and want to tell people that. It makes all those tuff times that parents go thru worth while. Keep up your poisitive attitude and I will be back to read more. One other thing that kind of stuck with me……The bracelt was the perfect gift and you know what….Her loss!
aww man see once again you simply amaze me with your words. I realize you do get like TONS of comments so dont worry of you cant respond to mine although I do love the one comment you left me…. anyway as always god bless~Jennifer
Unfortunately my mother was nothing like yours, but I hope that my children think about me in the same way as you do yours someday. I am doing my best to be as involved with my children as much as possible while juggling working full time, and school full time. One thing I have learned is, the only person that is going to pat me on the back is me, but I will make sure that as my children grow up they know how much I love them, and will help them in their journey through life. your mother is a lucky woman…..
Hi Kenny….Moms are truely something special. The love issomething that is unexplaineable. I have a 2 yr. old, which his name also happens to be Carson!Isn\’t that your cousins name?? *Think I\’ve read that somewhere*Anyways…She is lucky to have a Son like you, as you arelucky to have a loving Mother like here.Nice blog. Keep it up!Take Care -~PIX~
I am inspired by what you say of your mother. I can only imagine what she has done for you. But seeing my boyfriend\’s mother (his father is also quadriplegic from an accident) does what she does for his father I can feel nothing more than the utmost respect for her. Mothers are truly the glue that holds a family together and without them we would all be nothing. I can only hope that as a woman my children will hold me in the high regard that you hold your mother.
Our second day back, and it\’s still a great blog!
To your wonderful mom a very huge kiss, and my deep admiration for you both.From Caracas, Venezuela.
I must say that you are one inspiring person to have wrote such amazing and great things so soon after the accident. I wish my son felt the same about me as you do of yours shes a very fortunate woman to have such a loving and caring son. My son was in an accident 6 yrs ago mothers day and is a c/4-5 complete quad and feels still that theres not much left to live for and he likes to constantly tell people and me that I have never done anything for him. I know he does this just to hurt me and to lash out but it hurts deeply I have done everything from the day of the accident to fight to get him the things he needs the hospital bed with air mattress, the handicap acccessible van which i think was the hardest and the wheelchairand also to be able to go into the locker room and to any practices of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers anytime that he wants. And I know what I have done and I just wish once he would tell me that he loves me and appreciates what I have done. I hope your mom knows what a great son she has raised.Pam
Hi Kenny, I just read you\’r storie & I can truley relate to you.In 89 I was a Truma Nurse @ Baltimore Shock Truma,went home after my shifts, was getting ready to rain had mail to get out went to post office mailed letters came back out & my world changed for ever,I fell on marbel steps @ post office june 16,1989, i\’ve had 8 back surgery\’s fused spine,enough rods,plates,screws to set off metal detectors anywhere,Nuro sergons told me they have done everything they can,so I have ajusted to being in a wheel chair for the rest of my life,but far from given up !! I teach young people how to deal on a daily base the fustration\’s of loosing the ability to walk, work & just everyday living,I was 28 when I fell now I\’m 46,you learn to deal with 1 day @ a time and never give up on yourself.would love to here from you…………….karen
A door closes and a window opens, your mother is your guiding light! The strength you garner from your mother and the internal fortitude you seem to have will see you through…. Am
Kenny,First of all I want to say I think our mothers would be best friends. My dad was paralyzed in a car accident 10 years ago and she truly is the most amazing person that I have ever met. She is everthing that you described about your mom. I want to write about her on my space, but I fear that would be plagerism. She is everything that I hope I will be someday, she is my hero. My Dad is also a hero, just like you. Everything happens for a reason, as cheesy and fatastical as it seems, it really is true. You never know how life will twist and turn and change for better or worse and I know that what has happened to my family has made us realize that you should cherish every moment you have. I know that you understand this the way that I do. I am so glad they put your space on the best of, I am truly inspired by your words and wisdom. Thank you so much. Davina p.s. i hope you don\’t mind if i put a link to your space on my space, i think you rock. also, don\’t know if fantastical is a word, but i really like it.
My twelve year old nephew was born paralyzed from the waist down. That is the only life he has ever known- in a wheelchair. I truly believe God only gives us only what we can handle (that is what he thinks we can handle not what we think we can handle). You have a special purpose in life and so does your mother. You have the opportunity to reach out to others and pass along your strength and courage; giving them the strength to face their challenges. May each day be a happy, bright and new a beginning for you.
My twelve year old nephew was born paralyzed from the waist down. That is the only life he has ever known- in a wheelchair. I truly believe God only gives us only what we can handle (that is what he thinks we can handle not what we think we can handle). You have a special purpose in life and so does your mother. You have the opportunity to reach out to others and pass along your strength and courage; giving them the strength to face their challenges. May each day be a happy, bright and new a beginning for you.
I just wanted to say that you have touched me in more ways than I can express. You\’re a great writer and a wonderful person. I think your ex-girlfriend was CRAZY for leaving such a great guy like you. But in the end you deserve someone better. You\’re absolutely gorgeous and you have a great personality (from what you\’ve written on your blog). Its very inspirational to me that you are such a strong person and you don\’t let your "disability" get the best of you. I also like reading the message you left about your mom, I\’m a single mother (at age 21) of 2 kids – Arianna, 3 and Nicholas, 8 months and I hope one day my kids will grow up to appreciate me as much as you appreciate your mother. You have inspired me to not take things that I have in life for granted and to enjoy every single moment I have on this Earth even when times are at their toughest points. If you don\’t mind having a pen pal, which I\’m sure after every single person that has read your blog, I wouldn\’t mind chatting with you. Well, have a great day and keep holding your head up high…you\’re DEFINITELY going somewhere in life!!
ive just read your blog, and it made me sad ,but i know youdont want pity ,but i want to express that you re a imspiration to me!! i feel deppress at moment concerning personal issues ,im not a happy chick, but i read your story and think ,why am i feeling like this when someone i dont even know as not stopped living or cut yourself off from the outside world after a terrible accident!! i send my love to you and respect hun ,if u read this and like to reply to me feel free? best wishes n this chicks sends u all her loving n respect ! x from lisajane(uk)
I want to thank you for the comments on your mother. My mother passed away 5yrs ago after losing a terrible battle with breast cancer. This summed up my thoughts. i was not always very nice to her when she was alive. But you have put my thoughts about her in perspective. Thanks again Holly
Damn, can I borrow that?! Would work fantastically on my mother too. I\’ve decided to link you on my space I thought it polite to inform you. Just happen to like the way you write (not literally of course) but your view is a good point of perspective, Do ya know that game "it could always be worse?" But in the same breath I give you mad props on everything………Blog Ya Later * apologizing in advance, just in case. (tend to have my foot in my mouth alot)
Kenny –Love your site, have learned SO much from your story, and was deeply touched by your SHE post (and all the others, for that matter). I am the mommy of a little girl who has profound special needs & is unable to walk/talk/sit/crawl/care for herself on any level. I\’ve always wished I knew how she might feel… how hard it must be for her, at age 4, to not be able to do the things other little girls are doing. I had that "perfect life" you described before she was born – – the one where you look back & it almost seems like it happened in a different reality and a completely different time. I too was insanely happy with my hubby & our son and a perfect daughter on the way. Life was GOOD. Everyone used to comment on how we\’d have the perfect life when she was born.Well, we STILL DO. We\’re still the same people as before, but now with new knowledge about what is REALLY important. I would gladly care for my little girl the rest of my life, if I\’m given that chance. Her prognosis is grim, and I pray I never have to say goodbye to her, but regardless, I am cherishing every day with her. Loving her and showing her how precious she is to me. Would I have chosen this life? F*ck no! I didn\’t want to know so much about feeding tubes & seizures & a body that doesn\’t work quite right. I know WAY more about the brain than I ever cared to know. 🙂 I remember my classic line before I had kids that I could TOTALLY handle any disability, just so long as it didn\’t involve the brain/cognition. HA! I\’m living it, and I\’m doing a damn good job of it, if I do say so myself 😉 And I\’ve got to give you props for doing that, too. This so easily could destroy you … and you\’ve not let it. Do you know that even though your life isn\’t what most people would choose — that you\’re doing more with it than most able people? So is my girl. Love you guys — love that you are touching SO many lives, quite possibly more than you would\’ve if you\’d gone on as before your accident.Just want to give you a hug across the miles, Kenny. You rock, dude. Thank you for inspiring me & reminding me how much my little one appreciates all I do, even though she can\’t tell me herself.I\’m bookmarking your blog!xo Gwen from KS
I never grew out of my ADHD…So….I\’m going off on a tangent. Have you listened to Elvis Costello? Your post reminded me one of his songs: She. Not the same She; but still a She. My mother would do anything for me. I fight with her too much. When I was a kid, I\’d go away to summer camp and miss her. I\’d end up writing her some long sappy letter about how sorry I was for being bratty. Mind you I was 10 or so. That\’s the problem. I could tell/write her those things at 10 – and now – for some crazy reason, fifteen years later, I can\’t. I can send flowers and gift baskets. But just saying or writing: I love you and thank you seems an obstacle.
I am deeply moved by everything here on your site. May God bless you and your family. I can\’t pretend to imagine what you have experienced – but you have such amazing insight, compassion and a maturity beyond your years. I cried because what has happened to you can happen to any one of us. I wish that more of us could, but for a moment, live in your shoes (okay, your chair) just to get a glimpse of all that we take for granted in our lives. I was struck with the simplicity of the things that you miss…your handwriting, scraping your windshield, having arms wrapped around you – I could go on. We are each placed here for a reason and I think that you\’ve just found yours – to help us realize that we are here for just a moment in time and to waste that time is selfish – we should savor each and every moment of the day! May you be blessed with happiness, love and joy like you\’ve never experienced before!!
Where to start……. you truley are a remarkable person and i am deeply touched by your story and the many you have told. I thought my life was bad my Aunt is terminally ill and i am here in Salt lake singing the blues on how tough it is and you know after reading your story it really isnt that bad! I lived in helena montana and worked as an aide taking care Of the mentally challenged and Disabled and I loved it and i am upset on how hard it is here and to be honest i think its cause she is family and it kills me to watch her hurt and die and there is nothing i can do make her feel better or get her comfortable enough to take the pain away. U make my out look on life, love and heart ache a lot different now! I know you probably get this a lot but i could really use a friend like you and i would like to message back and forth if your up for it. But like i said before you probably get that a lot and dont have much time for it but if you ever feel like it feel free i would love to hear from a hottie like you! DO you ever plan on getting in a realtionship or are you in one now? I send my prayers to you and your Family and I hope that Life brings you nothing but Happiness and Joy if anyone deserves it its you! Dont forget that you are a Beautiful person in and out! Hold your head high and dont get down on life God has everything happen for a reason and he doesnt throw anything at you that he doesnt think you can handle and after reading your story you are showing that it might take you a while to come to terms with what he has thrown at you but you WILL handle it! Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you!
Well-put, your way with words comes through once again. You may not realize it or even see anything I wwrite, but you\’ve inspired me to write my own story. I\’ve been a quad for a long time, and I realize how important your parents are; my Mom amazes me as well.Thanks again dude, come by and read mine some time. Another \’member of the club\’,Keith (buzz)
Kenny, I have been thinking about you all night. you write so beautifully, i hope that you will think about writing a book in the future. I now the publisher of Lance Armstongs books (not throwing names here, she is the sister of my neighbor…) and I would love to try to get her contact info. if you are interested. really, you write very well, especially for a former tech geek!I accidently hit on your site, and it really made me think… first about being a mother and what you wrote about your mother. Just so you know, when you are at the low times remember that you bring her JOY. Just as when she used to watch your wrestling matches, she watches you in amazement now. I am humbled every time i look at my daugther, that I had anything to do with her. She is so beautiful and perfect. Being a mother is not a burden, it is the greatest gift on earth. Even when it comes with a lot of work……Secondly, I hope you take this the right way. But I hope that someday you will let someone love you, as you clearly have love to give to so many others. I hope that someday you will have children of your own, as it is a "high" that far surpasses any sport on earth. If you thought speed and agility felt good, wait to you feel your child kiss your cheek and call you Daddy…..Paralysis comes in many forms. My husband described himself as someone who was "paralyzed by inaction" for many years. He refused to marry me for very silly reasons, (school debt etc.) It took a tragedy to show him that he was worthy of happiness. now we are married (finally) and we have one daughter, and we are about to bring home our adopted son from India. We are so blessed, and feel so fortunate. When i read what you wrote about the girl you loved, i thought to myself, "I know how that feels." When I look at my husband, he takes my breath away. And I am not twentysomething, let me tell you! When you love someone that way the feeling doesn\’t go away. I see that many girls have written to you, stating that they think you are "hot". There is one out there for you, and she will be just what you described. And you will be able to give her the same……so don\’t think that you will never have that, you can have it if you allow it….just remember that your body may be crippled, but your mind clearly isn\’t. If an accident like yours happened to my husband I would pray that he had the strength that you do, and be so happy that he lived. What he could or couldn\’t do would not matter a bit to me. So that is what I wanted to share with you. you are amazing, and I am so happy that i somehow got to meet you, by accident. Tell your mom that she is lucky that you have such a gift with words, and that you shared them with the world. Keep writing, and put a recent picture up there, would ya?take care, Sarah in Philly—-Go Eagles, (but TO is an idiot…)
I imagine you already know….your ITALIAN DRAMA MAMA is so very proud of you!Love you lots,your other mom
May God always be with you… and I know, from being a mother myself, it is also "She" that feels the same love and respect for "You".To have each other is a blessing from above!~Lee Ann~
I usually just scan blogs looking for intresting stuff, but yours made me want to read on. You have a story and your telling it in words and the in the pictures you present ,it all seems to flow together.thanks for the inspiration
Life creates a world where one day, everything looks so clear and the next moment it all changes. I admire your courage, take solace in family and friends and even strangers, sadly it usually takes a terrible event to open our eyes to truly see the things around us. None of us know our fate, but each of us can control how we handle it, find strength in the things you enjoy and know you are not alone, but you know that already. I have a friend who has MS and is now totally confined to a wheelchair and has lost his sight as well, he was much like yourself, very athletic and gregareous and yet the man I knew years ago, is still there, but he has continued to amaze all of us, and there are good days and bad but he has found new outlets, new friends, and I think you will continue to grow in ways you never would have imagined and you will touch people in ways you never would have before. The mind and heart are incredible devices and I just wanted to say hang in there!
TE AMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, she\’s your mother and she\’s an angel, too. U\’re lucky to have an angel by ur side. Lov ya.
Mothers are wonderful like that aren\’t they. I have one of those. I treasure her.
my mum doesnt live with me eny more, but i love her oh so much, and she is my inspiration, i love her with everything i have, mothers are a true blessing to there children, they are super heros! jsut like youa re, you show real strength kenny, stay strong mate!my god be with you allways!love cas
I hope my son one day speaks of me the way you have of your Mom. She sounds like an amazing Mom, and you are an amazing son!I send you the warmest wishes… Karen
I am a mother of two boys and after reading what you said about your mother I can only wish I become half of what she is…It\’s beautiful to see how a wonderful man loves her mother so much and is able to put that love into words! Thank you, Vicky
Hello Kenny. How are you?You have a great mother. She is really amazing!Be strong and be positive, Kenny. Your mother supports you forever, so do all the people who love you and care you.God bless you and your great mother.
Hey you! I always come to your page and leave a small comment for you, I haven\’t been here in a couple of days and thought I would visit you for a little bit and leave a hello note. WOW, you have received so many comments on your last blog!!! Do you really care about what all of us have to say? Because I trully do care about what you have to say, and I still think it\’s very strange!…Well, I have to go. Be back as always, Vicky
You are so lucky to have such a great mom. Make sure you tell her often, mom\’s never tire of hearing how much you love them. Trust me. I know!:) Have a good one!
There\’s a note for you in my space. I write here because there is not so much traffic 😉 be back as always…
Oh! I forgot to mention, it\’s under Categories -A little bit about me – Why?…In case you are interested…be back as always, Vicky
I enjoy browsing here, I am amazed at what a wonderful writer you are. Your spirit shines through your words. I loved the part about your Mom. My Mom passed away almost a year ago. As time passes, I find myself growing and exploring life as I did not before. Faith and peace are slow but SURE. The comments in your blog are heart-warming; to know there are so many caring, intelligent people out there.
thats soooo deep … talking about ur mother like that …u make me realize hoe much i miss my mom… i think ur mom is lucky to have someone like u… ^_^
That\’s the kind of mom I strive to be for my little girl.
What a beautiful thing to say about your mother…She raised a great guy !~MP
~ I can only hope that some day at least one of these rug rats (*wink*) will write something so fantastic about me!Your mom must be an amazing mother & one for all of us mortals to look up to!And once again you have made me cry!!!!!Julie
I am both impressed & amazed at your courage . just surviving not only your injuries , but the callous uncaring medical care . Reading about how the doctors were , enrages me ! There first priority should have been to instill hope , without hope healing is compromised . It sounds as if you have wonderful friends & family that surround you , it must be there you recieve hope . God bless you & keep you well , your story touched my heart !
You\’re really an inspiration…your courage and strive for life is one of a kind…you really have made me look at life from a different angle…God bless you..
i hope that i am living in such a way that my son – and my daughter – would feel that way about me. sometimes my teen feels about the opposite. you are blessed kenny, but believe me, (and i know she has told you) so is your mom. there is nothing more blessed, nor any greater thanks that we could receive, than to have our children grow up to become strong men and women who fight for what they believe. i know you have made her so proud.
Great tribute to your mom.
TabithaDarling
http://360.yahoo.com/tabithadarling
Very well said.
you mon is an superwoman.
That is the most beautiful thing a person could say about their mother ..I\’m sure she knows what a wounderful guy you must be….