Latest / Numotion Ally Program Podcast / Wheelin' With Dylan: Catheter Representatives & Catheter Users With J.B. and Jake
Transcript
- Leah Holderbaum: Welcome to the Ally Program Podcast with our segment Wheelin' with Dylan, and I'm excited because we have a special type of ⁓ segment today. We don't have one guest, we have ⁓ two ⁓ very special guests with us. We have JB ⁓ in Jacksonville and Jake in St. Louis. ⁓ thank you guys for joining. Thanks for having us. Absolutely. If you don't mind ⁓ introducing yourselves ⁓ to everybody, just talking about ⁓ your background, where you're from, what's going on. ⁓ maybe JB can we start with you? Yeah, yeah. So I'm JB Saner. ⁓ been with New Motion ⁓ as a catheterp for ⁓ I wanna say five years now. And started off with Wheeler's medical supply several years ago. We were acquired by New Motion. So I've kind of been in the ⁓ catheter medical sales realm for Quite a while now. ⁓ company I worked for before Wheelers was actually started and owned by a friend of mine with a spinal cord injury. So I've been around spinal cord as far as business goes. Been injured with a spinal cord injury for 19 years now, which is crazy to say. And located, like you said, here in Jacksonville, Florida, and that's kind of the the short of it. Awesome, cool. Thank you for that for that intro. And and Jake? ⁓ yeah. I grew up in the St. Louis area. ⁓ been with New Motion for four months now, so still pretty new. ⁓ Yeah. Been really enjoyable so far. I ⁓ before I did this I was pretty into wheelchair rugby was a big thing for me. ⁓ so I was a big part of my life doing that. then that was done and here I am. Awesome, cool. Well, thank you guys a lot for joining. I know I've you know, know you both a little bit. Jake is is is newer. I was we were able to have some conversations and JB, he's he does a lot of he's in Jacksonville like he mentioned, so Brooks rehab is a big rehab there and ⁓ when I was doing Out Outpatient there, I'd see him every once in a while and a around that time I was kind of interested in being a catheter at myself, so I kept bugging the poor guy and then I and then He made a mistake of giving me his number one day and then I kept texting him. ⁓ but it's just funny looking back and and kinda seeing how things go. That's what you gotta do, man. Whatever works. Yeah. I'm really good at bothering people, so that that wasn't an issue for me. I I b I bothered J V. But now look at us, we're here on this podcast. ⁓ you know, I mean we started this ally program which has already been ⁓ beneficial and something we're look for looking forward to impacting people's lives which I'm excited about. ⁓ but I wanna ⁓ talk to you both ⁓ just in the fact that we have ⁓ the same role of being what's what we call here at New Motion MSAM which is a medical supply account manager. ⁓ but in short and what most people refer to as, as J B had had said earlier, you know, we're we're catheter reps ⁓ in our in our respected area. So some of you might know already if you've listened to past podcast. ⁓ I'm in Tampa. JB's in Jacksonville, so we're like across ⁓ the state probably four, four and a half hours or so. And then ⁓ Jake recently he actually recently moved, didn't you? Yeah, yeah. I was in Alabama up until September this year. Or September twenty five, I guess. Cool, cool. So we all have similar roles but definitely ⁓ different ⁓ backgrounds and things to bring to the table. So ⁓ I'd like to ask you both individually what kind of brought you into this space and ⁓ made you want to be a c a catheter rep? And I'm gonna I'm gonna ask Jake that, but also and J B if you don't mind adding what I'm interested in is what has, you know, kind of driven you to to do it for as long as you have and still maintained and I I've talked to you and I I know this, maintained your joy and kinda passion for it. Yeah, so I'll should I start? I'll go first. Yeah, sure. Yeah, it's good. So I was actually like looking to get into the ATP kind of side of things initially. and like maybe like servicing chairs or really like working with my hands. So ⁓ started out kinda in that aspect. ⁓ and then talked to a friend of mine named Mike Klinowski. He's ⁓ DSO over in ⁓ in Colorado Springs. but I was talking to him and he told me about this role. ⁓ and it was seemed really interesting, so I got into it through him. ⁓ reason I w kinda wanted to break into this industry is like as a wheelchair user, I don't know, I'm sure you guys have dealt with this too, but like having issues with a chair or having issues getting more catheters or there's always something that comes up, but it's always a big pain. Like for me, I was I wanted to kinda be a part of making that those types of things easier for other people. So making getting catheters, getting parts for a chair or whatever. Just all the all the stuff about wheelchair life that is difficult, trying to make that easier for other people is was my big motivation for coming into this space. Thank you, Jake, for kinda talking about your background there and We're glad to have you here with us at New Motion and I'm excited to be able to get to know you better. And JB, I know you talked about your your background ⁓ with how you kind of got into the the catheter world. ⁓ but you've been do how long have you been a catheter rep now? Around ten years, maybe. Yeah, around ten years. Okay. So is there what's kind of helped you to keep your passion and ⁓ doing it for the for this long and and still enjoy it? I I think just naturally it's you know, the fact that I get to meet new spinal cord injury ⁓ patients, it's it's always new. So not every spinal cord injury is the same, everybody's got a different story. ⁓ so for me I'm getting to interact with people that are going through what I went through, you know, almost twenty years ago. And and it's you know, it's exciting for me to meet with people even though, you know, they're at their sometimes worst time of their life. ⁓ I get to hear their story, tell them a little bit about my story, and just k kind of see ⁓ that affect them, the way people's stories affected me when I first got injured. ⁓ so that's been valuable for me to keep, you know, meeting new people, hearing new stories and trying to help out in a way that, you know, I was helped out when I first got injured. So I think that's kind of what keeps the fire going for me. is unfortunately people still are having spinal cord injuries and and ⁓ and I'm able to to go meet with them and provide some some light at the end of the tunnel, ⁓ hopefully. Yeah, no that's that's awesome and and trust me, and I'm sure people have told you, but guys like you really do make a big impact, ⁓ you know, when you first get hurt and then down the road as well. That's kind of what got me into this cat the catheter world a little bit as well, because the person who kind of helped me ⁓ get set up with my supplies, ⁓ like we do now. ⁓ he was also my peer support, kind of my peer mentor. And like you said, I mean you're kind of at your worst, yeah, y maybe your lowest in your life or at at a rough time, or at least it seems like that in the moment especially. but when you have someone like yourself, JB, who's been, you know, hurt for about nineteen nineteen years, I think you said, and h have a ⁓ great quality of life and a family and you've done so much for yourself, it's good because it's like light at the end of the tunnel. ⁓ you know, it's good to kinda see that even even when you first get hurt. So, ⁓ it's definitely I'd say a a fun part of our job. Thank you thank you for sharing that. And, you know, I'm sure you've gotten to meet a lot of people over the years, J B and just with this business and different things and and I know Jake and I as well, because of so many different things, including wheelchair sports. ⁓ and just there's a the spinal cord injury ⁓ community which you kind of find after you get hurt, maybe takes some time, but it's definitely out there and ⁓ you know, locally you're able to go maybe play some tennis and rugby, basketball, whatever with with one another. Jake, we'll start with you. ⁓ h how has the ⁓ spinal cord injury community benefited you and ⁓ why do you think it's it's so important to have? ⁓ Yeah, I mean it's been probably like the biggest difference maker for me. Was like I found wheelchair rugby right away. ⁓ when I was in the rehab hospital, somebody came in and talked about it and I was at a wheelchair rugby practice like three months after my date of injury. ⁓ so really really soon. ⁓ and yeah, like just that community, having all those people around that have like you were saying, been in a chair for ten years or twenty years or you know, all the frustrations and things that are going on in your life and things you're having to relearn how to do. Like they've all done it before. ⁓ so it's somebody else to kind of bounce ideas off of. Hey, how do you get your chair in your car? Hey, how do you do this, that, or the other, whatever. How do you get on an airplane? How does this work? Which like I think it's really cool 'cause like about the Ally program, 'cause not everybody gets involved in wheelchair sports. I would I would say for me, like, that was number one for me, but this is kind of a good substitute 'cause not everybody wants to go get beat up in a wheelchair rugby chair, you know. so I think that's a really cool aspect of ally, ⁓ is that you can kind of do that all virtually, but I got hurt before Ally was a thing and wheelchair rugby did that for me, was just bouncing ideas off of other people that have been in this world for a long time and learning tips and tricks and just how life works afterwards. I think it's Like I said, it's the been the biggest benefi beneficial thing that I've done since my injury was getting involved in sports. That's awesome. And and JB, how how about you? Have you I'm sure you've had some cool experiences over the years? Yeah, I mean I gotta piggyback on on Jake there. I mean, for me, ⁓ adaptive sports was the biggest value add for me when I got injured. ⁓ I mean I had great doctors, I had great therapists, ⁓ family around me, all that stuff. but adaptive sports is is kinda what molded me to be able to, you know, move forward again after an injury. ⁓ and it was something I I really didn't seek out. I was lucky enough to have someone come talk to me about it and kind of press me to go check it out and ⁓ and I was hooked after that and it was it was wheelchair rugby as well for me. ⁓ like Jake was saying, ⁓ But yeah, I was I was kind of resistant to the whole thing and I think a lot of people I meet are resistant to talking to somebody in a chair or being around somebody in a chair. and I was the same way. I mean, I tell people that story all the time that I didn't really want to go hang out with a bunch of guys in wheelchairs. you know, I had been athletic my whole life and obviously my goal was to have a recovery and and walk again, so I I really didn't have an interest in that. ⁓ but being being nudged a little bit to go, you know, see the sports, chat with the guys, ⁓ it was it was the biggest ⁓ value add that I that I had ⁓ as a new injury. and it was it was holistic for me. So you got the sports aspect of it, ⁓ you got the physical activity aspect of it, but it was also good for, you know, your mental like strength, ⁓ your confidence. ⁓ so really was able to get a lot of things from it ⁓ that aren't just about the sport. ⁓ you know, like Jake was saying, you're taught you're you're getting around guys who have already figured it out. ⁓ and th and they're not like some taboo type of thing. They're just guys like us that had injuries. One day they were, you know, able bodied and one day something happened and they had to kind of figure out how to move forward. So that was eye opening for me, ⁓ to realize, you know, I I wasn't different, they weren't different. and this was kind of my my circle to move forward with. so that was huge that was a huge springboard for me ⁓ when I first got injured was the ⁓ the adaptive sports community. ⁓ just a community in general that's kinda been through what you're going through. Yeah. It's funny how it takes some of us like some time to kinda get there. ⁓ 'cause I'm the same as you, JB. Like Jake was three months after he got hurt, which is like Super impressive. but I mean I'm I'm with you. I was super hyper focused on like therapy and maybe walking again and all that stuff. ⁓ and I've been hurt and I know you said it was crazy when you said saying nineteen years. For me it's crazy saying even six years. Like I can't it's just so weird. Like it's ⁓ I can't believe that. ⁓ but I probably I picked up my first sport like genuinely like probably a six like a year ago. ⁓ with tennis. I tried some other stuff out and met some cool guys and like basketball and all that stuff, but it didn't quite click. Like I feel like I like the people then almost the sport. The f the sport frustrated me more than it should have. You kinda like think about how it was maybe when you were able bodied or whatever and you kinda gotta find what works for you. ⁓ you guys found like it sounds like you both have played rugby. ⁓ Jake and you kinda got into tennis recently as well. Is there any other sports and different things that you've played? Yeah, so I've done I've tried out quite a few, like you said, like I did sled hockey, ⁓ but I don't have any trunk control, so I just flopped around on the ice for like a good half hour and then said, Yeah, this isn't for me. ⁓ got in a track chair a couple of times. So I've tried some things out, but ⁓ rugby was the big one for me and then maybe two years ago now, ⁓ started getting into tennis. ⁓ and yeah, that's been really it's quite a bit different than rugby. ⁓ There's lot more like fundamental learning that has to happen, so it's been challenging in a different way than rugby was. But ⁓ yeah, it's been really enjoyable, so Less physical, that's for sure. Absolutely, absolutely. But JB, you said like that you were an athlete before. Have either one of you ⁓ god. ⁓ I I just had a question. So like I know for me getting in that rugby chair and feel like I felt like an athlete again after my injury and that was kind of like a good lesson to learn about like hey, you can still live a normal life. ⁓ so I was wondering if you had any like experience with that either. like having that Bring that athlete aspect of your personality back in, if that helped you out at all. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I think I think initially it was just seeing it, you know, seeing guys w when I got around the adaptive sports that they were athletic, that were competitive, that were you know, they worked out, you know, they looked athletic, ⁓ they were independent. ⁓ so for me at my my injury level, being a C five six, you know, I didn't jump into a rugby chair and immediately feel athletic again. You know, it was kinda like a struggle just to get across the court or push a chair. ⁓ so for me that feeling took a while to kind of feel like within myself because I couldn't be the athlete you know as a as a low point player sometimes you don't feel like the athlete that you were before. ⁓ you're kinda like the ⁓ I always say you're kind of like the offensive lineman ⁓ of the team. You don't you don't you know you don't get the glory or the touchdowns or the interceptions. ⁓ but it took time I mean it you know, that's how I built independence and strength and I think as I got better at that position, ⁓ you know, comparatively speaking to other guys that were playing the same position, that's where you really started to feel like, you know, you're gaining strength, you're, you know, good at your position. You you have an athletic aspect to it again. ⁓ but I could see it and that was enough for me. you know, was seeing other guys who were, you know, where I wanted to be and and that was ⁓ That was again kinda like my springboard for everything, ⁓ mentally, emotionally, physically. ⁓ but yeah, it took takes a little I think it tak took me a little longer to feel ⁓ like an athlete or athletic again being ⁓ you know, a high level injury. Yeah. No, and for I think we're all like pretty I mean, we're all kind of in even as a medical sales rep, you kinda have to have this mentality, but like I enjoy being competitive. And It's felt like something that, you know, I kinda missed for a little bit when I wasn't doing sports. I mean, I'm competitive in other ways. You can kinda be competitive with yourself in ways as well. You kinda set goals for yourself and do it. But it's different when you're kinda playing with other people. ⁓ but I'm with J B though. Like at first I just felt like oof, this is tough. Like I couldn't like compete with anyone ⁓ yet because I was so bad. Like, even for example, like in tennis, you're holding the tennis racket while you're trying to roll around. And that's almost like tough enough and then the ball comes and you're trying to like time it up and get a good like it just i there's a lot that kinda goes into it. And I'm still, you know, not great. I'm still like trying to get better at it. ⁓ but then when you do kind of overcome that beginner like obstacles, it's kinda fun. Like, ⁓ wait, hold on, we're actually rallying points here. ⁓ I can actually get a win, so it's fun, it's cool that you guys b ⁓ both experienced that. ⁓ as well. Did either have either one of you got been able to do any ski ⁓ anything like skiing or anything like that before or no? I've I've tried water skiing ⁓ a few times which you know, which I enjoyed. Haven't done the ⁓ haven't done the snow skiing. Not a huge fan of of cold weather. ⁓ especially now with a little bit of lack of temperature regulation, but my wife is from ⁓ up north so I would imagine ⁓ a ski trip at some adaptive ski trip ⁓ at some point is is on my horizon but I've I've done the water skiing which is pretty cool. That's cool. That's cool. Yeah I haven't being in Florida I'm surprised I haven't done the water skiing and I have done the snow skiing. ⁓ go ahead Jake. So I I've done both. ⁓ I've done the water skiing like two, maybe three times and snow skiing once. ⁓ it was cool. The water skiing beat me up too bad. Like I'd you get tossed around on that behind that boat. Beats you up pretty bad, so probably not something I'm gonna pursue too much more, but ⁓ they were both very cool and interesting for sure. Cool, yeah, it looks fun. I always tell people that ⁓ I only went did the adaptive like snow skiing ⁓ one time on one trip and did it like for like two or three days. And I will say it was like the most freeing experience I've had since I've been hurt. Something about it, I don't I don't even know how to put it into words, but when you're on the slope, I don't know, and you're just kinda I would say in control, even though I didn't actually feel like I was in that much in control. ⁓ but I it felt very freeing. You know, you're out of your chair and you're going down the hill and you're just kinda like Criss Crossing. It's pr it's pretty fun, but ⁓ anybody kinda listening or watching definitely encourage everyone to just just try try some stuff out, you know. ⁓ whether it's a sport, get involved in the s you know, community, ⁓ spinal cord injury community that is, you know, near you. It's good. It's good for your you mentally, good for you physically, ⁓ and and it's fun. It's g it's good nice to be competitive again. Hey, I'm Dylan from Wheelin' with Dylan. And I'm Leah with the CAFCAST. If you're listening to this, you are already part of the conversation. But there's a lot more to explore inside New Motion Medical Supplies Ally program. And all our podcasts live there too. So if you want to catch past episodes or get the earliest access to new ones, that's where to go. And the podcast is really just one piece. Inside Ally, there's a full library of articles, webinars, and short videos focused on bladder health. Catheter use and building routines that work for you. It's also a great place to see how others are navigating things day to day. Real setups, real experiences, and things you might not always hear in a clinical setting. And a big part of that is the community forum. There are sub-forums for different experiences and stages of life. So whether you're just getting started or have been doing this for years, there's a space for you. You can ask questions, share what's worked for you. Or just read and see how others are handling similar situations. It's a really easy way to connect and not feel like you're figuring everything out all on your own. And it's simple to access. If you're a New Motion Medical Supplies customer, you can log in with your My New Motion account information and start exploring right away. It's completely free and everything's in one place at catheters.newMotion.com/slash ally. Head to the Ally program today and join the conversation. We'll see you there. Following up with that and Jake touched on this, being we talked about this community in person, but this ally community, ⁓ everything that you guys have kind of seen and heard about it, how how do you think that it's gonna be able to ⁓ benefit those with spinal cord injuries and especially those who obviously ⁓ have to catheterize daily? ⁓ as fortunate as as I was with discharging into a community with an adaptive sports program. I meet a lot of people who are discharging to like rural communities that aren't near big cities, they aren't near, you know, anything adaptive sports, anything support group. So ⁓ to have something centralized that's got, you know, resources like these podcasts, vide training videos about how to do things. ⁓ from stuff as simple as, you know, transferring to dru you know, caffing, all that stuff. I mean that's huge. ⁓ I think, you know, when I first came home I was Googling things, looking on YouTube and if I could find a a ⁓ centralized place ⁓ where I could not only find resources but I could chat with people who were willing to be open about, you know, what they had gone through or what were the tips and tricks to becoming independent. I mean that would have been huge for me. ⁓ like I said, I was lucky enough to have my adaptive sports community but ⁓ but meet a lot of people who don't who don't have that opportunity and are probably not gonna have that opportunity near where they live. ⁓ so I think it's huge to have it ⁓ you know, within Ally and within a centralized place that anybody can access. Yeah. No, a absolutely. I I agree. ⁓ and I think it is gonna be and it already is a great resource for people and ⁓ you know, it's cool that community as well because we can kinda chat with each other and runs run you know, bounce off each other's brains tips and ideas and kinda how to ⁓ prevent things sometimes. And I know one thing that that is always brought up, probably the number one thing when it comes to cathing, is you know, UTIs. It's something that ⁓ I feel like everybody's had. ⁓ if you have a spinal cord injury and you catheterize and stuff like that. Do you guys have any ⁓ go to tips that when it comes to UTI prevention and and keeping those down? I'll I'll start with you, Jake. Do s is there anything ⁓ that has helped you? no, I think just like all I try to do is just don't touch as much as possible, don't touch anything. like you want your catheter being obviously like as clean as possible, so grabbing it, touching it in any way, I try to avoid that as much as possible. but like you you said tips and tricks and it made me think of something. ⁓ every person that I've told this to, ⁓ like their jaw hits the floor if they're in the catheter world, but like for a straight catheter, opening the bottom end of it, so you open both ends of the catheter and then use like the actual packaging for your extension tubing is a huge like independence tip. ⁓ that I've learned so that way because like usually if you're using a straight catheter you're having a urinal or something else that you're having to bring with you. ⁓ so like opening both ends of the catheter packaging and letting it go through that into the toilet. ⁓ for me that like just made me a lot more independent. ⁓ so that's been like one really big tip or trick I could give you. But ⁓ as far as UTIs I would say just be as clean as possible. Yes, you get you got a makeshift ⁓ extension tube there is what it sounds like, Jake. Exactly, yeah. And like every time I've talked to a OT or somebody that works with catheters, they're like, That is the greatest idea I've ever heard and I I can't take credit for it. I learned it from rugby guys. ⁓ but it's been really beneficial for me. That's a great tip. And how about you, JB, is there anything ⁓ that you would recommend or a a type of catheter like a closed system or anything like that that you've seen h help with preventing UTIs? Yeah, I mean obviously the you know, closed systems, ⁓ you know, we're familiar with the fact that they reduce UTIs, it's it's touchless, it's self-contained. So you're you know, they're they're naturally doing what Jake talked about, which is not touching the catheter to anything else. but I mean i beyond that, ⁓ you know, I had a ton of UTIs when I when I first got ⁓ injured, almost couldn't get beyond having them all the time. So I was on this vicious cycle of antibiotics and then UTI coming back twice as bad when I'd stopped taking the antibiotics. ⁓ so I just had to kind of figure out a solution that that worked for me because the antibiotic route was not working. ⁓ so what I found was just using natural supplements. I use D-Manos is a big one that I use. I know a lot of people talk about cranberry tablets or, you know, c cranberry extract. ⁓ so that helps me, you know, if I if if I see the signs and symptoms of a of a UTI coming on, I'll try to catch it early and, you know, increase my fluid intake. ⁓ start taking a little bit of the the D manose that I've found, which is just a It's kinda I think it's a natural glucose that bacteria attaches to in your bladder and then it just kinda flows out when you when you urinate or you calf. so that's worked for me, got me out of the cycle of antibiotics and then UTI right after that that's it's it's twice as bad, like I said. ⁓ and I always tell, you know, people as well it's you know, it's a misconception that, you know, calfing in itself is causing causing UTIs cause, you know, when I start to get a UTI, I calf more often. ⁓ I'm trying to flush that bladder out, you know, as much as I possibly can. So increasing the fluid intake, ⁓ cathing more often and kind of flushing all that bacteria and and sediment out of there. And that's worked well for me for a while. I haven't taken a an antibiotic for a UTI in over ten years. ⁓ and that's not to say I don't get, you know, the start of a UTI, but nothing that's had to been had to be treated ⁓ in in a very long time. So that's kind of my my tip and trick that's worked for me. But it took a while to get there. You know, I would get insight from other guys on what they were doing or or, you know, and and you've just got to take information from everybody and ⁓ and really apply it to yourself in your life and figure out what works for you and what doesn't work for you. But, you know, that's been the biggest thing for me. ⁓ staying hydrated, cathing often. ⁓ And and obviously not touching the catheter to a bunch of other things before it before it enters the body. Yeah. Like good hygiene is the kind of like basic step number one that, you know, I think we it's kind of a no brainer, but in case it's not, it's good to remind people, you know, washing your hands and stuff like that is super important when it comes to cathing. But I'm I'm with you, J B, about just kind of finding what works good for you and that takes some time. I feel like it took me a solid five years to really kinda get down like what's causing these U T I's. It wasn't cathing. It w for me it was ⁓ actually kinda drinking like so not just alcohol but like with like sugar sugary drinks. Like sugary drinks like with alcohol was a bad one for me. Yeah, I mean that's a huge thing. I t when I when I go in a p when a in a patient's room and and we're talking about UTIs or we're talking about cathing and I see nothing but like sodas and Gatorades and Red Bulls all over the counter. ⁓ and we're talking about U T I's, I mean, I gotta be the bad guy and say You gotta drink plain old boring water until you get this thing under control and then you can start dabbling in, you know, the coffee and and the drinks here and there and and and the, you know, alcoholic drinks. Not to say you can't ever drink again, but I wouldn't jump out of the gate, ⁓ you know, just slamming beers and and drinking Cokes and Gatorades all day 'cause you're gonna have bladder issues, you know. Yeah. Yeah, it's something that you just have to be like more thoughtful of. ⁓ before I got hurt When I thought of my routine, 'cause I was in construction, like I'd start off the day with a coffee. Now this is disgusting and unhealthy, but then I'd go to gas station, get some food with some Mountain Dew. Again, this is awful. But, you know, I'd drink like a Mountain Dew, then I'd drink another coffee, and then I think I drink another Mountain Dew and then I don't even know about the rest of the day. But that star like if I did that now, I mean, it'd put me in a hospital. I mean I'd I would I definitely would have to like maybe go on an ambiotic or something like that, but You know, just gotta be more aware, like you said, drink more water. ⁓ cranberry ⁓ tablet seem to be a good one for me. D manos I've heard is a is a great one that's worked for people. So ⁓ thank you for kinda sharing what what works for for you guys and and some catheter tips there. ⁓ you guys are the are fun to bounce those ideas around since you're we're in this world. It's like all we have to well, all we do is talk about ⁓ catheters and ⁓ with nurses and with patients and stuff like that. So it's it's awesome to to pick you guys' brains, but I appreciate the time ⁓ that you guys have given us to wrap things up I kinda wanted to do a little recap because this podcast gonna be released in sometime in ⁓ twenty twenty six. ⁓ but right now as we're recording it's actually ⁓ New Year's Eve, so this is a time that we kinda reflect on twenty twenty five a little bit and we're thinking about our goals into the new gear. So Jake, if you don't mind ⁓ telling us you know, recap twenty twenty five for you. What what was good or you've accomplished any goals That you're excited about. ⁓ you know, what good happened to you? What did you learn? And what are some of your goals that you're looking forward to in in 2026? Yeah, so good stuff. I ⁓ I moved back to Illinois. ⁓ so I'm back around friends and family, so that's been really good. ⁓ started this new job with New Motion, that's been really good. ⁓ really looking forward to that. ⁓ coming up in the future, which I guess would be my goal for twenty twenty six. I'm trying to kind of dive into this a little bit more. ⁓ I've been working with some rehab facilities here in St. Louis, so trying to get more involved in that scene and kind of make an impression on more freshly injured ⁓ spinal cord injury folks. ⁓ I think that's probably the most exciting part about this job for me is being able to kinda help people along through that probably the worst experience of their life. So, ⁓ being able to help out through that. ⁓ Kinda why I'm here, so hopefully be able to expand on that and get more involved in that side of this. So Awesome. Well I look forward to to following you along that along that journey here. And J B, how about you? And and please tell us about your twenty twenty five because I've been following you on social media and just as a friend and I've been excited for you. Yeah, you're you're gonna make it sound like I'm actually good at social media that you've been following. It's pretty pretty sad on there, but you can see the bare bones. Yeah, man, so really, really exciting for me and my family, my wife and I We ⁓ welcomed our first baby girl in ⁓ in February of twenty-five. so that's another one of those things that I get to talk to a lot of ⁓ new injuries about and you know, a lot of them are shocked to hear that, you know, that you can you know, they they've only been injured for maybe three weeks or a month or two months and you know, they haven't had a conversation with anybody yet about are they gonna be able to have kids, are they gonna be able to have a relationship or a job. So that's one of those things that I've I've had fun being able to talk about this year with, you know, some of our customers that I've met ⁓ when they're first injured is, you know, that we we had a we had a baby this year and it's been great, you know, and biggest thing that's ever, you know, happened to to myself and my wife and, you know, just kinda getting to share that after a spinal cord injury 'cause, you know, not only did Do they not know sometimes that that's possible? I mean, there were definitely points along my journey where I didn't know if it was possible. So ⁓ that was huge, huge for us. ⁓ as far as twenty twenty five goes, I would say that's the that's the top thing at the list there is is bringing in the new baby girl. So can't believe we're already getting to ⁓ almost a year old now. Crazy. That's yeah. That's that's awesome. And then anything you're looking forward to in twenty twenty six? Yeah, I would say maybe just the dust settling on that and kinda getting back to you know, doing doing some routine things. I mean I'm sure people are gonna laugh at that that that have already had kids because it's only gonna get more chaotic and and busy from what I hear. But yeah, I mean I look forward to kind of getting beyond that ⁓ big event and and getting back to, you know, maybe being a little bit more healthier with with what I eat and and and activity and and and some workouts ⁓ here and there and ⁓ maybe a little travel. We were kinda grounded ⁓ the last year or so with my wife, you know, being pregnant and then having a newborn ⁓ and navigating ⁓ that with obviously my spinal cord injury. So it'll be good to get back to kinda doing some of the other things that that we enjoy ⁓ doing this coming year. That's awesome. No, and and that gets me excited and and you know makes me want to talk to you more too and pick your brain about how that all is working out, because I think a lot of people with spinal cord injuries and stuff like that, it's something that you think about. ⁓ possibly having kids, navigating that that journey and kind of what you've learned works good and and and maybe doesn't work so well and stuff like that. So ⁓ and f and for me personally in 2025, this was my first full year as a ⁓ as a catheter rapper. for like like a through and through January through December. ⁓ so that was it was it was fun. ⁓ you know, I definitely had learned a lot and I'm excited to see what twenty twenty six brings. ⁓ and and I w was able to go actually go to Hawaii. So we talked about like traveling and stuff like that. I feel like I've been really trying to push myself to travel more these past two years. ⁓ and I know that you guys have have done so too and and you learn kind of like tricks and hacks like around the airport. ⁓ and and traveling, ⁓ tips and, you know, all that good stuff. ⁓ so that that's that's been fun and and one of my goals as well that I think people will see is I'm hoping to travel over there to Jacksonville and and see you in person, J B and and get you on the the podcast again and we'd love to talk talk more, maybe go a little bit more in depth too, just about ⁓ your life but just twenty twenty five in general, you know, with it with the kid and ⁓ having a family and stuff like that. We'd we'd love to hear more. And then same with you, Jake. ⁓ one of these days we'll we'll have to get together and do something and ⁓ I I'm really looking forward to see what this ally program does in twenty twenty six. I think it's gonna do really big things. ⁓ we just started it. I think it's only been maybe a month or two ⁓ going, but it's going strong and it's only gonna get better ⁓ in twenty twenty six as long as we keep having people join it. ⁓ so if you're if you're watching now or you're listening and you have some other friends who Also has a spinal cord injury, tell ⁓ about it. ⁓ tell them about these podcasts, ⁓ share the link, send it ⁓ to them because we want everybody possible to join because the more people we have, that's a bigger community that we have online here and and the more people's brains that we're able to pick and and kind of be able to talk with one another. So ⁓ thank you guys so much for for joining today. I I appreciate it. ⁓ and we'll we'll see you guys in the Yeah.