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Man who was paralyzed in Myrtle Beach accident making a difference for others with spinal cord injuries

Westmoreland Wheelhouse would be a full-time living facility with health care services for six adults who suffered spinal cord injuries.

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Casey Westmoreland still remembers the day 20 years ago, playing with family and friends on Myrtle Beach.

"I was in the water facedown for several minutes and then they finally realized something wasn't right and decided to flip me over and told them I couldn't move," Westmoreland recalled.

He says he fell the wrong way into hard sand and spent several months recovering in the hospital. Westmoreland was permanently paralyzed from the chest down.

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Since then, he's been helped by family and friends. His parents renovated their Huntersville home to accommodate Casey's needs and he estimates he's been through 50 caregivers. Westmoreland said it's incredibly difficult to find consistent, quality healthcare professionals to provide necessary services. 

"There are no options around here for him other than going into a nursing home if he wasn't able to live at home, Candace Small, one of Westmoreland's friends, said. 

Credit: WCNC Charlotte
Casey Westmoreland says he's been through dozens of caregivers during the 20 years since he was paralyzed. That's why he is working to make a difference for other adults suffering from spinal cord injuries.

Given Westmoreland's challenges, he and Small teamed up to create a facility that would make a difference for other middle-aged adults with spinal cord injuries looking to have productive lives. They're calling it the Westmoreland Wheelhouse. It would be home to six patients sharing a caretaker who would also live at the facility.

"What better person to do it than someone who's been there who's just done it, who lives it day to day," Westmoreland said.

They've secured a plot of land in Iredell County and are seeking donations to get the project off the ground. Click here to learn more about Westmorland Wheelhouse

Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

   

WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com.

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