KENNEBUNK, Maine — After a bad dive at Old Orchard Beach, Dylan Woodhouse was told his chances of ever walking again were below 10%. A spinal cord injury left him paralyzed from the chest down. Now, 14 years later, the father of two from Kennebunk is getting ready to walk in the Boston Marathon on Monday. It is a journey of literal blood, sweat, and tears, with the help of medical innovation.
On a hot summer day in 2010, Woodhouse's dive in the undertow of the ocean changed his life forever.
"It drove me down on my head and (I) hit the bottom," he said. "I kind of just saw white and realized I couldn't move my legs."
Woodhouse's friend pulled him out of the water and he was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he underwent surgery. He fractured his C7 vertebrae, causing major trauma to his spinal cord.
"I wasn't able to move anything below my chest," he said. "It was really scary."
Woodhouse's sister, Destiny Lucia, vividly recalled hearing the devastating news.
"The surgeon told us, there is a less than 10% chance that he is ever going to walk again," she said, holding back tears.
Woodhouse's family did not tell him that until a month after his surgery. He was able to walk out of the hospital on crutches. His sister, who was working at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, advocated for him to start therapy there and he spent five weeks undergoing therapies that involved cutting-edge equipment.
"They had me hooked up to robotic legs that helped (my) legs move properly. I feel that helped me get back into motion," he said.
He regained enough motion and function to take the plunge at the annual Lobster Dip in Old Orchard Beach the following January, with Carrie Callahan, his physical therapist from Spaulding, cheering him on. He also married his wife, Jeanie, and had two children, a 5-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter. In April last year, he participated in a month-long study at Spaulding's Inspire Lab, where scientists develop and test technology to help patients like him.
One procedure involves doctors stressing a spinal cord patient's nervous system, including administering several doses of low oxygen, similar to high-altitude training, to promote healing.
"That forces the nervous system to react ... in ways that are meant to strengthen the signals that are meant for recovery," said Dr. Randy Trumbower, lab director. "Then patients worked on gait training, but Dylan saw more gains."
"It helped lock into place like the motion I learned," Woodhouse said.
This year, Woodhouse set his sights on another goal: the Boston Marathon. Destiny ran most of the race in her brother's honor in 2013 but didn't finish because of the bombings.
Woodhouse straps a Bioness device on his left leg for his training walks to provide electrical stimulation.
"It helps lift my foot and walk in a more normal gait pattern," he said.
Woodhouse and Callahan plan to walk the first 17 miles together. His sister will join him for the rest of the race. The brother-and-sister team has raised $9,000 for Spaulding Hospital.
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Callahan said it's amazing to see how far Woodhouse has come.
"He is still making gains and working toward his next goal," she said.
Woodhouse said his two children are his motivation.
"I want to show them that they can do anything if they put their mind to it," he said.