38 Radcliffe Ave.
Providence, RI 02908
(401)351-9375
Thank you very much for your continued support since I sustained my traumatic brain injury on July 5, 2002. Although I am still recovering and participate in regular rehab at the Sargent Rehabilitation Center in Warwick, RI, I am very proud of the progress I have made. My most recent achievements include entering and exiting a vehicle smoothly (that is, without having to sit down first and then swivel into position) and having independent control of each of the fingers on my left hand again. Since the loss of motor functions saddened me greatly, I am very pleased with these improvements; yet, I am not aware of when I might be able to return to my beloved pottery as an avocation or production pottery as a career endeavor.
Pottery was one of the two passions in my healthy life; the other was rugby. Because rugby is a contact sport, I will probably never be able to play again. However, I have begun volunteering as an assistant coach with a local team. Ideally I would like to find work coaching the sport while simultaneously creating pottery on the side, as these two activities hold such incredible interest for me.
On March 12, 2003, I saw my neurologist for the third time. He had praise for the improvements he observed and holds high expectations for my continued progress. He now believes that a sip of an alcoholic beverage such as wine is unlikely to be detrimental. Nevertheless, after nine months of total sobriety, I am not eager to push my luck. Indeed, I still intend to avoid all alcohol, except perhaps for desserts that were baked with liquors, such as whiskey cake or tiramisu.
Shake-A-Leg is a Newport, RI-based organization that focuses on helping persons with disabilities improve quality of life. It achieves this by raising the self-esteem and the self-confidence of each participant at the same time that it focuses on therapy and physical activity. I have recently applied to and been accepted for their five-week residential Adult Body Awareness program scheduled for this summer. This program assists participants in second phase therapy with specific activities such as Reiki, Feldenkrais, Rolfing, kayaking, hand-cycling, strength and conditioning, counseling, and much more. The complete program is described at its website, http://www.shakealeg.org.
Shake-A-Leg boasts two impressive statistics. The first is that 90% of participants increase their independent living ability. The second is that 53% are employed post program. This really matters to me because I am eager to return to the working world. The program is intensive, and the care they provide is extensive–including meals and lodging. As you might expect the cost is overwhelming. It costs $8000 to attend. (The actual program cost is $16,000 per participant, but Shake-A-Leg is able to reduce the fee to $8000 per individual because of their own fund-raising efforts. In addition they have offered me a $2000 scholarship. So now I must come up with only $6000.) Since I am currently unable to work, the fee is unfortunately more than I can afford.
Would you please be able to help make Shake-A-Leg a reality for me. I hold zero expectation and will be overjoyed for any contribution, regardless of size. Unfortunately, contributions are not tax deductible. Checks should be made out to Shake-A-Leg with my name in the memo line. Please send checks to the address above.
If you are able to assist me in any way, know that you are helping me ascend the most treacherous and steep mountain I shall ever face. Thank you very much in advance.
Very Truly Yours.
This site was originally created to chronicle my status beginning at the time of my snowboarding accident in New Zealand on July 5, 2002. Now, this is where I occasionally post things that are of interest to me. 
{Karlton Bontrager} 