In March of 2008, Gina was in a car accident in Wayne, Nebraska. The car flipped, and Gina was ejected from the car, but partially pinned by it. She was taken to the Wayne hospital, but was life-flighted to a Sioux City, Iowa, hospital where they performed surgery. Gina had a broken back and is now paralyzed from the waist down.
Her family had several rehabilitation programs come to visit them in Sioux City to determine the best place for Gina. One of those programs was Alegent Health Immanuel Rehabilitation Center. Gina and her family felt a strong connection because of the way that Alegent therapists took the time to get to know Gina. They focused on her personal well-being in addition to her medical needs.
Gina had always been very fit and active. She was a tumbler and had started her own business in Wayne teaching tumbling to kids aged 4 to 14. She has maintained the business after the accident, and now teaches from her chair.
She lives independently in an apartment in Wayne, and will graduate from Wayne State College in May, 2010. Her hometown of Glenwood, Iowa, held a fundraiser for her after the accident. They purchased a truck with a lift system that allows her to get her wheelchair into the vehicle and drive herself.
She has an amazing, positive outlook and is determined that whatever she wants to do, she will find a way to do it. She believes that her life hasn’t changed much since the accident. She does everything she did before, just from a chair – and now she gets much better parking.
Thanks
Thanks for sharing your story Gina! It really is inspirational to see how you've kept such a positive outlook through what must have been an incredibly difficult time in your life. Not only have you accomplished what you set out to do, but you've done it with such grace. I wish you the best!
Hey G! I'm so proud of you
Hey G! I'm so proud of you and your hard work and determination. I love that you are sharing your story with everyone. You have accomplished so much in your life and are a very determined young woman. Congratulations and love ya!
Way to go Gina!!!
Hey Gina so glad to see you sharing your story. You are one amazing women, and I am so proud of you! I love your determination and and your positive attitude you have had throughout everything you have been through. It was a privelege to work with you at Immanuel Rehab! You Go Girl!!!
Inspiration To All
You are an inspiration to all. Keep the positive attitude and the good work ethic. I hope you achieve all your goals.
Thank You!
Hey guys!! thank you for all the kind words!! :) Nothing would have been possible without all the belief and support for everyone around me! Thank you so much for everything!!
Gina! :)
Gina's Story
Gina... What can I say ! What a BEAUTIFUL Woman you are and I admire your positive additude. Your story will reach out to SO many people and show them you CAN do anything you put your mind to... because you PROVE it here in your story! You make HUGE steps and progress everyday! MY whole family LOVES YOU ! The Andersen Clan
Oh man..
I saw your story on tv and I just couldn't belive it! You always were a role model to me and you're such a strong person Gina. You really are an amazing person and a great inspiration. Keep doing what you do! :)
Great to see your smiling face!!
Gina,
I've missed seeing you! You're such an amazing woman...you always have been!! I admire your strength and perserverance. You are an inspiration to us all. To live with such dignity and grace without hardships is difficult enough, but to do what you've done and continue to do is simply amazing! So proud of you, girl!!
hey
hey gina, rock on! :) :D
You are AMAZING!!!
Hey Gina, I just want to tell you that you are sooo awesome!! Watching your video brings tears to my eyes. You have endured so much, and yet you are still so positive! You are truely an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your experience openly with all of us. One more thing, your eyes and beautiful face just glow...you make my heart smile :)
Gina's story
Unbelievable story. Gina you are truely and inspiration.God bless.
you're helping me get through my accident
thank you so much for sharing your story. I was in a really bad accident in June. I was on an atv and my friend was driving and I flew off twenty feet into a ditch and it came down after me and ran over my back side I couldn't move at all from the waist down I was terrified and completely concious the whole time. I was taken by ambulance to a Fremont hospital and there they took x-rays and put in a cathader they found out I was internally bleeding and I severly shattered my pelvis. I then was life flighted to creighton and I've had multiple surgeries and I have been in a wheel chair for five months. my story is nothing compared to yours but I just wanted to say you are inspiring me with how strong you have been with all of this. it is my freshman year in high school and I haven't been able to go to school and see my friends which just makes everything so much harder. thank you for sharing your story it was very good to hear how well you're handling this.
Story
What an inspiration. I've seen you and the girls perform at basketball games. You are a great role model. I wish you the best.
God Bless You
Hi Gina,
My daughter Chloe was a student of your Dad's gym in Glenwood. I absolutely loved hearing your story, and am so happy to hear you have your own business and are working with kids. I wish you the greatest happiness you have ever dreamed of, you and your family deserve it! God Bless. Mary
You are awesome!
Hi Gina!
I am so proud of you!!! You set your goals and accomplished them with determination and a positive attitude. You will be successful in every aspect of your life. You are amazing and I am so glad I have had the opportunity to get to know you and your family. Keep up the hard work! Janell Badami
Your inspiring
Hey Gina I love tumgling with your dad. Your so brave i listen to your story when i feel that i can do some thing and I'm so glad your telling your story to the people around the world.
god is really watching over you.
bye
Lov you,
Gabi Poole
(tumblier)
Hey Everyone, Again I just
Hey Everyone,
Again I just want to thank all of you for taking the time to watch my video and leave such wonderful comments. When I come to check the site to see if anyone new has written something, and I find all of these extremely kind words it makes me smile more than I could ever explain.
It's people like all of you and words like all of these that help people like me keep going and stay positive. So from the bottom of my heart I thank all of you for all of the support and belief you have in me!
Thank you so so much!
Gina Giaffoglione :)
Inside out
Hi Gina:
Just when I'm about to lose my faith in the human race, somebody like you pops up, to prove that there is still grandeur on this earth, and also higher realms do exist, otherwise, where did somebody like you, so regal and transcendental, come from? You are so beautiful inside out. I salute you, and I wish I could meet you one day.
Teacher of tumbling and so much more
Hi Gina, I heard many Patient Stories about you from your father Gary, and prayed much for your recovery. I saw your face finally on TV and said that's got to be THEE Gina! Don't take this the wrong way but you have a resemblance of your father just more feminine. You have done a remarkable job at recovering and you should be very proud. God bless you!
Joe Fortina
Rockbrook Camera
Omaha, Ne.
Hi Gina - I just want to say
Hi Gina -
I just want to say "thank you" for sharing your story and being such an inspiration. My 15-year old nephew was in a vehicle accident this past summer, and it resulted in an injury that has also left him paralyzed and wheel chair bound. After hearing your story and the positive attitude you have maintained, I would love for you to meet him! I am truly amazed and inspired by you!
Inspiring
Gina, you shine! You are remarkable and an inspiration to anyone - disabled or not.
Thank you, Alegent, for sharing this woman with us. She not only coaches people's bodies, she coaches people's spirits.
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