A Lake Park woman’s journey after severe spinal injury

FARGO, (KVRR) – This is Isabella Syvertson, a 23-year-old from Lake Park, Minn., who is on the road to recovery after fracturing her L1 vertebrae. She had a horse accident on November 28 which caused loss of feeling and movement from the waist down.

“I actually didn’t feel anything when I flew through the air. Whether it was from the adrenaline or the burst vertebrae, I kind of felt like Woody from Toy Story and just fell onto the ground.” said Syvertson.

Now she is walking and trying to get back to the one thing she loves doing. And that’s horse riding.

“Getting back on a horse has been my absolute number one goal. A lot of times it’s just thinking of it,” said Syvertson. “It’s kind of sad not being able to go out there on the really nice days. The really nice cool, calm days. It definitely makes me get that little itch inside me.”

Spinal injuries are life altering. For Syverston, that is no different. She has some feeling in her legs and the bottom of her feet. And she knows it could have been way worse considering the nature of her injuries.

“Compared to some people I get to be up, I get to be walking. I get to use my legs. I can’t feel my legs all the way but I get to use them. That is absolutely a huge thing for me.” said Syvertson.

What helped in her recovery process was her time at the Craig Hospital in Colorado. There she was able to learn how to walk again thanks to the staff there.

“They lift you up in this machine and I remember the first couple of times I wanted to puke. I definitely had to sit back down, get back up, sit back down. I remember telling my dad I will be up and walking out of this place.” said Syvertson.

Syvertson also says that the support from her parents, boyfriend, the hospital staff and friends helped her get to this point as continues her road to recovery.

For more on Syvertson and her journey, click here for fundraiser on Lend a Hand Up.