Latest / The QuadCast / S7 E6 - Catching Up With My New Buddy, Steve Zutty
Transcript
- John McAleavey: Zutty, thank you for coming on and welcome to the Quadcast. Steve Zutty: Thank you, John, for having me. I'm glad to be here. John McAleavey: Yes, and off the top now for the fifth time we've had some technical difficulties, but we're going to thank our dear friend Tracy Iroca. We've done this about five times in it. It has gone south on us, but we have to sing her praises one more time. I had the pleasure of meeting Tracy a couple of years back. She was with us at Kessler for many months and it's been a pleasure, as I said, getting to know her. Steve Zutty: Thank you. John McAleavey: her husband Kevin, her daughter Abby. I haven't had the chance to meet her son Jacob yet, but I hope to do so one day. Tracy is what I would like to refer to as a repeat offender here on the QP. She's been with me twice now, two episodes, and I'm hoping to get her back for a third time because now I'm in video and I want everyone to see her shining and beautiful smile. So why don't you tell us, how did you and Tracy meet? Steve Zutty: I was lucky enough to meet Tracy. I was looking at gyms and I was leaving after taking a tour of one and she was in the parking lot and we bumped into each other in the handicapped parking and she and I looked very similar so we started chatting and she actually motivated me that day to join that gym and from that point on we've become great friends. She's amazing, so kind, generous and down to earth and great support. John McAleavey: You picked- Steve Zutty: And her family's awesome. I've met her family. They're all great. John McAleavey: Yeah, you picked a great word there, generous. Tracy has been a benefactor of mine in ways that are way above and beyond the call of duty and I love her for that and ⁓ for just who she is and her spirit because she hasn't had it easy, I can tell you Steve. She came to us and it was a long process and ⁓ well you know, you're going through it yourself. We all have these journeys that have twists and turns and Steve Zutty: Why not? John McAleavey: There's not a straight line once you do something to your spinal cord and you're injured and you're in pain. It's just a whole new world. Steve Zutty: It absolutely changes you, that's for sure. But that's I'm glad I met Tracy, because she gets it. John McAleavey: Yeah, it sure does. Yes she does and she has another dear friend over here ⁓ sitting at my feet, my service dog, Jokin, absolutely loves Tracy and ⁓ vice versa. I know there were many times where she would be wheeling back from a rough day in therapy and she'd see him and she'd just sort of light up. It would really put a little pep in her step and I know that ⁓ they are vast friends and have been for some time as well. Yeah. Steve Zutty: you Great. No, I'm lucky enough to call her a friend now. It's great. John McAleavey: without question. So what I like to do usually with my show, Steve, is begin at the beginning. why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where did you grow up and what were some things you enjoyed doing in your youth and, you know, young adulthood? Steve Zutty: Well, I'm lucky enough to have grown up in the 70s in New York on Long Island, South Shore. So we had the access to the beach, we had access to all the sporting events, concerts, and it was just, it was great. And I was into all the athletics. I was always out and about doing things outdoors. It was just great. I had a great childhood. John McAleavey: Boy, you mean you weren't inside on your cell phone? Steve Zutty: playing video games? No. John McAleavey: You weren't getting likes posting on Instagram? ⁓ you were. Boy, you were like a Martian, Steve. I spent all day inside on my phone. ⁓ man. Right? What a world these kids have now. Steve Zutty: ⁓ Yeah, it's a whole different thing. Ours was so cool. We were lucky. Now I sound like my father though. ⁓ John McAleavey: Yeah. Yeah, I grew up around the... Yeah, right. I grew up around the same time as you did. was one of those things where you went out and your parents knew where you were. You were down the street at so-and-so's house and once it started to get dark you just knew it was time to mosey on home for dinner. Yeah, boy, I tell you, nowadays kids have play dates that are pre-arranged and then they're doing all sorts of playing these video games and... Steve Zutty: That's exactly right. full structure. John McAleavey: I don't know how they do it. really don't. I really don't. Steve Zutty: Well, it produces anxiety is what it's doing. John McAleavey: Yeah, for the kids and for the parents. Yeah, yeah. And I know we have one, among other things we have in common is you have a ⁓ really great group of friends, ⁓ group of buddies that you're still in touch with. Why don't you tell me a little bit about that, how it started and how you guys still keep in touch today. Steve Zutty: Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Well, I'm the luckiest guy when it comes to family and friends. My friends are unbelievable and I still keep in touch with most of my good friends. They're all over the country. They all reached out to me. They were helping me out. You really find out who really is important in your life and who makes a difference. John McAleavey: ⁓ yeah, without a doubt when when the proverbial you know what hits the fan, right? You find out who's in the foxhole with you. You really do. Steve Zutty: And I had those, you know, tight friends and they were all by my side, all through it. And it was, was a long journey while I was by myself. So it was, it was great to have them. They're always around. One showed up last night. He lives in Virginia. showed up. had some dinner with us, woke up and went home. And it great. John McAleavey: Yeah. Yes. Yep. Yeah, and you picked up like it was 100 years ago, right? Like no time had ever gone by. Yeah. Steve Zutty: ⁓ Yeah. And I have a lot of friends like that where we meet a couple of times a year and it's just like we were in college or we were one guy I'm going to see next week. I've known him since we were six or seven years old. And he's also, you know, he's a quadriplegic. So he's been like that since we were 17. John McAleavey: It's the best. ⁓ wha- ⁓ yes! Yeah, you were telling me about him. What a story. ⁓ my gosh. Steve Zutty: Yeah. Look, and he's got strength you wouldn't believe. John McAleavey: Oh man, without a doubt he's got since 17. Wow, he certainly does have strength that you wouldn't believe. Wow, unbelievable. Yeah, I had a friend I was telling you before that was injured on senior cut day for my high school and she went head first into the Navasink River and that certainly put a damper on not only senior cut day but our prom and graduation and she was... Steve Zutty: No, no, no, John McAleavey: She was a C5 quad and she has been for all these years. so, yeah, these bloody things, these injuries really have a way of putting a damper on things, you know, but we have to soldier on like you and I and Tracy have over the years and all the people that I have on here that, you know, in spite of these terrible things, there's still so much that can be done and so much that can be accomplished and, you know, such great lives in spite of it all. Steve Zutty: Yup. ⁓ absolutely. it's your story. It's not your life. It's not who you are. So if you can figure it out and work with yourself and be positive, adapt. And that's what you have to do. John McAleavey: Yeah, yeah, it is, it is. Tell us about some hobbies that ⁓ you sent over your bio, which was like war and peace. It was amazing. You had so much stuff in there. ⁓ You have many, many hobbies. Tell us about a few of them and how that they've been fulfilling for you. Steve Zutty: it. Well, now they're not so fulfilling, but I tried them because it was always about sports, being outside, fishing. I was into the martial arts for many years. I did four different styles and ⁓ I was pretty into it. I don't really have an on-off. It's either on or off, but I really into it. And most of my hobbies I can't do right now. So it's a very trapped feeling. I'm trying and what's happening is as I progress, which is great. John McAleavey: Hehehehehe Yeah. Steve Zutty: Cause I was in the wheelchair for a year and then I was on the Walker, the cane, and now with this brace. But with that also comes other structural problems that I'm finding. So like I'm enjoying the gym. I'll start working out. I can't do that. So there's a lot of that. And you know, you feel great that you're doing it, but you also feel bad because you can't do it. There's it's a big mixed feeling. So it's a head game too. John McAleavey: Yeah. I know. Yeah, I have to tell you, ⁓ I feel your pain in that respect. I was a sports guy all my life ⁓ and after I had my spill, I couldn't do anything like that anymore either. And what I found, Steve, was I got into a friend of mine asked me to help him out with coaching. And I thought he was coaching basketball, youth basketball. I said, how the heck am I going to coach? I can't even hold a basketball, let alone dribble one. And I thought that, you know, the kids would be Steve Zutty: That's a great idea. Right. John McAleavey: making fun of me behind my back and I really didn't know what to do. Turned out it was 22 years of absolutely the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me. It gave me that ⁓ that itch. Yeah, it was that itch that I could finally scratch and you know I was always competitive. So, you know, put a scoreboard up and a time clock and I want to have one more point than the guy sitting over there. Steve Zutty: Holy cow, that's great. That's exactly right. John McAleavey: Yeah, and it really, it got me through a lot of dark times, I tell ya. It really gave me that, you know, let's go, I wanna win, come on guys. And we had a lot of fun with that. Steve Zutty: And that also keeps you from thinking a lot. It keeps you in the moment. All those sports, all the martial arts, you're always in the moment. Now, I'm thinking about what I could do today. It's a whole different world. John McAleavey: Right. Yeah, it is a whole different world. And before we get into ⁓ your journey with all of you, what you have going on, why don't you tell us about your family? You know, have a lovely wife you've been married to for many years. Tell us about your It's great. Steve Zutty: 32 years. I have a great family. My family, extended family, my wife's side of the family, we're all tight. We all get along. We all laugh together. My parents are the best. I worked with them for 26 years. We had a business that we sold souvenirs to the traveling public, know, that kind of stuff. And we did it together for all those years. And then after September 11th, I started doing it on my own. But my wife, John McAleavey: Is that right? Yeah. Steve Zutty: She's beautiful inside and outside. She puts up with me. She puts up with this. And ⁓ my daughter, same thing, just beautiful, down to earth people. My daughter's fairly successful. She's living up in Hoboken on her own. And she works for Fandool, doing very well. My wife, yeah, my wife's the reference librarian for our town. Yeah, and thank John McAleavey: Hehehe Great. ⁓ cool, talking about sports. Okay, that's great. Steve Zutty: Thank God for that because we have the medical insurance. John McAleavey: ⁓ you need that, right, Steve? Mm, they tell it really is. ⁓ know, the older I get, the more I, I realized that there's really nothing in this world like family and old friends. And we've, you know, we've hit on that, to those two big things already, your buddies and your family. And so we're lucky to have that support behind us. And so now why don't we delve into it? Because I know things have not always Steve Zutty: Holy cow, it's so important. It's everything. John McAleavey: things are not all beach balls and sunshine in your world. know that you at some point you started to have some back issues I think. Is that what started with you? Was it back issues? Steve Zutty: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I actually had back issues from high school, know, spasms and stuff like that, but all the time. And then when I got older and I started doing those martial arts, I started having issues in my neck. And then, you know, you go through all the injections, all the ablations, all the physical therapy that led me to a fusion at C4-5. And that was successful. Great. Went back to doing everything. And then John McAleavey: Yeah. Okay. And how long ago, if I may interrupt you, how long ago was the first intervention that you did? Well, first of all, what is an ablation? What is an ablation? Steve Zutty: 2001. An ablation is burning the nerve, deadening it so it doesn't fire, so it kind of kills the signal of the pain. John McAleavey: Okay. I thought that's what it was, but I didn't want to sound like a moron. But okay, as I do that all the time when I open my mouth, I point the finger at myself. But yeah, so okay, you start, you did that. And how long ago was that the first thing? Steve Zutty: 2001 I had a whole series leading up to that fusion and then 2019 Well, actually after that fusion after it healed I got in a car accident and I herniated T7 I think it was and that was in my thoracic That was brutal because what it did was it affected every breath I took and that lasted for months on end and again John McAleavey: Okay. ⁓ god, grief. Steve Zutty: ablations and all this stuff. actually did something called a discogram. They put 73 pounds of pressure into my disc on three different levels to recreate the pain to see which disc it was. It was so primeval. John McAleavey: Wow. ⁓ my gosh. Oh my God. Oh my God. I thought you were going to say they were going to put a disco ball in the operating room. It sounded like that was what it was all about. Wow. And how did that go? Steve Zutty: Yeah? No. Unbelievable. And I've done stuff like that. It was the worst thing I've ever been in. That was the worst. They had to keep pulling the needle out because it stopped me from breathing. John McAleavey: I kid him. ⁓ dear god. Steve Zutty: But then it doesn't do anything. I never got the surgery on T7. It died out like the guy at the Rothman Institute told me it would. And then 2019, I needed another neck fusion. This one was a little more difficult because they had to take the hardware off the first one. And now I have three levels fused and that worked fine. Back to doing everything I ever did. And then in 2019, John McAleavey: Right. Okay. Steve Zutty: I was getting a burning in just the front of my thighs, which is only L2, L3, I think. So I spoke to my two surgeons and they wanted to do a full blown fusion again. I really didn't want to go through all of that because I had just had that one. So I went to my pain management guy who I've seen for five years. I trusted him and that might've been my mistake, but I tried something with them and John McAleavey: ⁓ dear god. Yeah. Right? Steve Zutty: I woke up, I was fine, and then I don't know how much I'm actually gonna be able to say because I did take it to suit, but there was, it got screwed up, and all of a sudden I had incredible pain below my waist, which is from quata aquina, which is the burning of every nerve below my waist, and I was wide awake. John McAleavey: Uh-huh. ⁓ I've heard of that. ⁓ dear God, I've heard of that. We've had some individuals at Kesta with that caught at Aquina. Yeah, I had never heard of it before, but ⁓ my boss brought it to my attention. Yeah, that's very painful. Steve Zutty: And then a brutal. it, and you know, I don't know how much I could, they didn't know what to do basically. And that water point is supposed to be treated immediately. It wasn't. John McAleavey: So you have a ⁓ case in court or something like that? Are you doing that? ⁓ you did. Okay. Right, right, sure. Steve Zutty: I settled my case. That's why I don't know how much I can say or not say, but I can tell you that in order to settle the case, there has to be standard of procedure that was not followed. John McAleavey: Okay. Wow. Yeah, I hear you. We've had some folks who unfortunately have gone in for elective surgeries and will never walk again. And that's what really freaks me out. I just put myself in their position like, whoa, what's the old saying? The devil you know rather than the devil you don't know? Yeah. obviously the doctors... Steve Zutty: Yeah. is better. That's exactly right. John McAleavey: They don't do this on purpose and they feel rotten. mean, one guy, one of the... Steve Zutty: I can't agree with that on this case. John McAleavey: ⁓ okay. Yeah. Well, I've had one, I had one patient that told me the doctor, ⁓ he was so distraught with what he did to this person that he quit, he gave up his practice and he really like went talk about going down the rabbit hole. I mean, he really, it affected him beyond recognition. But yeah, I mean, nothing is foolproof, right? I mean, you have to sign on the anytime you do any sort of a thing and but ⁓ boy, I'm sorry that that Steve Zutty: Yeah. And I was unlucky enough to let it happen during COVID. So I had no family with me. And actually that was... John McAleavey: ⁓ tell you take take me through that Steve that that must have been like, ⁓ talk about being on your own and being alone. had a friend from high school, her son had a spinal cord injury right at the outset of COVID. And he was at Kessler for I think two or three months, they were not allowed to set foot in the building, they had to like wave at him through the window. So tell me what that was like. Steve Zutty: Well, that's what I did and it was unbelievable because actually what I really needed was an advocate when the procedure ended and that might've prevented my outcome. So then I ended up in that St. Lawrence, well actually I ended up in another hospital for a week and then they... John McAleavey: Yeah, where did you do the initial surgery? Where was that done? ⁓ can't, ⁓ okay, okay. Whereabouts unknown. Steve Zutty: Can't tell you that. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. But then their backup plan wasn't followed because I didn't have an advocate. And I guess, you know, I don't know, everyone can use their own imagination, but I ended up at a hospital an hour and a half away. had quadra aquina. It's supposed to be handled within the first 15 minutes. I don't know if that's okay to say or not. I don't know. John McAleavey: Okay. Yep. Of course. ⁓ geez. Yes. Yeah. ⁓ no. Yeah, yeah. Well, it is what it is. So then you did your rehab by yourself, right? How did that go? Steve Zutty: ⁓ yeah. Then I ended up in St. Lawrence rehab. And I'll tell you something, the rehabilitation people there were fantastic, but during COVID, during Thanksgiving and Christmas, the help at the place, my friends would say to me, don't turn off the lights. It always happens at night. It was, it was unbelievable. Scary. Scary. John McAleavey: ⁓ good. Yeah. ⁓ was scary, huh? ⁓ no. And did you have roommate? Did you have a private room? mean, were there a couple of you in? Steve Zutty: private room. First week, I couldn't come out of the room. Second, then I couldn't get off the floor. And my room was straightened up every day at least 400 times by me. I didn't know what else to do. Yeah, ⁓ it was hard. But then again, that's where all my great friends came in. That hospital they took me to, they put me in a room with like six or seven people. John McAleavey: Okay, alright, COVID, yeah. ⁓ You should write a book, Steve. Steve Zutty: I don't really know what was going on because my blood pressure was like 250. They were pumping me with these pills. All of a sudden, nurse goes to me, I don't know who you know, but John, he just got you a single. That was the guy who came here yesterday. He made a phone call to the hospital and got me out of that room. John McAleavey: ⁓ Bless his heart, thank you John. Steve Zutty: You better believe it, John's the man. John McAleavey: ⁓ John is the man. ⁓ wow. So then you you got yourself into a single and and like how many people were were in this facility? Were there a lot of people that you were doing therapy with? Steve Zutty: Yup. No, and they wouldn't do a lot of therapy with other people around because it was COVID. It was a very lonely feeling, I'll tell you that. John McAleavey: ⁓ right, yeah. ⁓ those stupid masks we were all... Yeah, all those those masks we were wearing around the costumes. was ridiculous. Yeah, when you really think back on it all what we know now and what what was happening and I think they knew more than they were letting on and they just made us wear those stupid things. Yeah. Yeah, it's it was not so how long did you spend there? Steve Zutty: It was ridiculous. It'll all come out. It'll all come out. I got in there on the 25th of November. I got out of there New Year's Eve. John McAleavey: Okay, and we're talking that's 2020. Steve Zutty: Yeah, to 2021, right when New Year's Eve. And the only reason I was able to get out was because my parents would let me stay with them. Now they were in their eighties and they had to see their son. I mean, I couldn't roll over in a bed. I was using the urinals. had come into, my family was still at my house. People couldn't really come see me because of COVID and my parents were older. I didn't want them there. John McAleavey: And you got out on New Year's Eve? Oh wow. ⁓ God. Right, ⁓ god, they were the ones that were most susceptible to that stupid thing. ⁓ man. Steve Zutty: Right. It was, and then, and that's when the rehab started. They would come to the house and then I went to Trinity rehab. went to Rothman rehab. went to a capital health rehab. went to center state rehab. They all kept telling me no more we can do for you, but I'll tell you a fantastic place is, ⁓ project walk down. I think it's, I think it's Marlton or Mount Laurel area. They're great. John McAleavey: ⁓ ⁓ yeah. Yes, yes, yes. Tell me, Steve, tell me, when you were discharged and you went home to your parents, what shape were you in? Were you walking at that time? Did you... I mean, like, when you say paralyzing, nothing? You didn't have any movement at all or it was just sort of really... Steve Zutty: No, couldn't walk. No, I couldn't move my legs. John McAleavey: ⁓ my goodness gracious, how did that? But today you do. How did it all come back? Was it just time? Steve Zutty: My right leg started to come back while I was there. And the second I could put some weight on it, I started getting on the walker. And I mean, the way I pushed myself... John McAleavey: Okay. Okay. Yeah. Steve Zutty: I wouldn't accept it. John McAleavey: Yeah, yeah. Now, yeah, it is important. Yeah, it's very true. Yeah, you have to come to grips with it. I still, I like to choose different words. I still, you know, can't accept what happened to me, but I've grown to be able to live with it because the alternative is if you go down the rabbit hole, which we all do, and I still do on occasion because sometimes it's like enough is enough. I can't do this anymore. Steve Zutty: But know what's weird is acceptance is important. It's really, it's a twisted thing. Me too. John McAleavey: ⁓ If you choose to go down there, then you just basically throw your life away because you won't, you'll just give up and complain about it. There was a guy that was with me. Yeah. Right, yeah. It's your family. Steve Zutty: And you're not just hurting yourself. That made it hard for me too, for my daughter to see me like this. I'll tell you, I don't cry much, but when I took her to a first dance after I was able to get to her, I went to college, it's supposed to be a father daughter dance thing and I couldn't dance. I cannot even tell you what that did to me. And it's a lot of those things that still does it, but not the same way. John McAleavey: Yeah. Of course, that killed you. Yeah, I know. So you're at your parents and you're starting to get some movement back, you're doing some therapy. When do you finally make it home to the old saying, be it ever so humble, there's no place like home? When do you get back with your wife and your daughter? Steve Zutty: May. John McAleavey: Wow, so you were out of the house for how long? How many months, like seven or eight months? Steve Zutty: ⁓ I guess it would be November until May. yeah, think May 4th is the date I actually got back into my place. John McAleavey: Geez, that's today, May 4th as we're recording. Yeah, that's okay. Don't worry about it. Let it rip. Steve Zutty: ⁓ shit. ⁓ excuse me. I think if I remember correctly, I think that's when it was. And then I had to sell my place because I couldn't do the stairs. I had the ⁓ lift on the wall for a while. That broke the first week it broke on me. was sitting in the middle of the staircase. I'm like, ⁓ come on. John McAleavey: Unbelievable, yeah, here we are. God, yeah. It's almost like, you know, sometimes I feel like I'm on candid camera where something will happen. Like I'll drop something and I just kind of look around like, really? Like I don't have, I don't have, I don't have so much on my plate that this has got to happen now. ⁓ Let me ask you this, because I know that I am moving my way up in the age bracket now. And so now what I'm encountering is not just spinal cord injury, Steve Zutty: Absolutely! This could be right. That's it, that's the thing. John McAleavey: Maladies what I'm getting is I like to tell my friends and I say we're getting old man problems now So now my my lower back is barking at me my knees and stuff from the old Sports days or do you feel that that's sort of creeping into what you're dealing with now on top of everything Yeah Steve Zutty: You just didn't say that. Absolutely. Because now on top of it all, have osteophyte complex, which is a heavy duty arthritis kind of thing. Everything's fusing together. But I did have fun doing all the sports up until now. John McAleavey: Gosh. Yeah, right. Yeah. What I like to tell my friends, we always say that these injuries are the gift that keeps on giving, you know? It's always something. ⁓ goodness. Now, not that it's... Yeah, I wanted to ask you, do you have, along with the pain and the walking mobility issues, are you bowel and bladder okay? Do you have issues with that stuff or you're no? Steve Zutty: Exactly. Yep. And that's it. ahead. I didn't think the beginning, now ⁓ I don't. But I have that feeling I will, it's weird. Because with the Aquina, I had saddle anesthesia, I think they call it. So my whole butt area, everything was numb. A lot of it came back, my left cheek is still numb, but I'll take it. John McAleavey: Thank God. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. ⁓ Hey, we'll to try that next time. We'll have to squeeze your cheeks and see which ones you can feel, right? ⁓ my gosh. Steve Zutty: I just say that so people do that. John McAleavey: Exactly. There's a method to your madness, Steve. I like that. Yeah, maybe I'll have to use that as an excuse. So why don't you, if you could at this point, tell us where you are now and then maybe take us through a day in the life ⁓ of Steve Zutty. Steve Zutty: Ha Okay. I wake up. am stiff as hell. I'm in tremendous pain because of that retro loathesis that I'm Well, I'm just telling you. But I get up, I do my thing. My wife's still working, I'm not. So I do as much as I can around the house to help her out. And then ⁓ I go to the gym. I do the sauna for about 15 minutes. I get out, I go into the therapy pool and I... John McAleavey: Don't sugarcoat it at all, Steve. Tell us how you really feel. I know, I know. Steve Zutty: do my soft stretching and some movement and walking against the water and stuff. And then I had to get back in the sauna. And that's, I try to do the machines. I do some, hurt for a few days. I don't know if I'm hurting myself. Every time I add something, there's a step back kind of thing. But I fill my day with trying to make myself feel better now. My hobby is me. John McAleavey: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I like that. Yeah, if it's good for me, it's good for me, right? Steve Zutty: Yeah, I try other stuff. have to, you know, it's a horrible feeling. I know you know it. When you get up, you say, what can I do today? And what can I deal with doing today? And then, and when I do that, how long am I going to recover from doing that? So it's a lot. John McAleavey: I'm in therapy now and I swear and I tell my PT's this, I say, I started probably about four weeks ago and you're supposed to be getting better and I tell them, I almost feel worse today than I did when I started with you four weeks ago. It's like one step forward and two steps back. But the alternative, you can't just sit on your butt because then you'll just completely atrophy and then you'll really have no choice. Steve Zutty: Absolutely. John McAleavey: You'd be in a wheelchair. So it's kind of like, you gotta move it or lose it. I've heard that one for years. Move it or lose it. The newest one that I've heard now, tell me if you've heard this, is motion is lotion. Have you heard that one? Yeah. I'd like to slap these people that come up with these things. It's some able-bodied 25-year-old who can do back flips and do the splits. Yeah, right. Steve Zutty: Yup. Absolutely, that was the one. Yeah. It's not lotion. Exactly. Who can fall and get back up? John McAleavey: I like to laugh. Remember those commercials when we were kids where the old lady where she falls down and she's yelling, I've fallen and I can't get up. I used to laugh at her but now I am her. Oh good grief, now I am her. Oh gosh. Yeah. So what are some hobbies that you still have that you can do with your wife? Oh good. Steve Zutty: It's amazing. ⁓ I still go fishing. I still do the fishing and my wife and I still go out. We still do the dinners and stuff like that. know, concerts or whatever. Seating's a problem. You know, I can't do a lot of stairs and I have to be fairly close to a bathroom, you know. So all that comes into play every time I do something. But ⁓ we still do stuff. I push it. John McAleavey: Right. Yeah, it sure does. Yeah. Yeah. Now, do you have any plans for any more ⁓ therapies or going back to see any other doctors? Are there any things on the horizon that might work for you? Steve Zutty: Yeah, because I just, I just had a lot of the times those injections you get, I just got a facet joint injections in my neck, like four weeks ago. And there were eight of them, four on each side. They actually made me feel better. It even took some pain out of my shoulder. the next step is the ablations. But every time I do some, I'm risking something. I don't know if I want to do it. John McAleavey: Okay. Okay. Good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And do you take meds for the pain? you? Do you do anything now? Steve Zutty: But I might have to. No. No. Ibuprofen, red light therapy, Matt. But ⁓ I've never liked pills. John McAleavey: Okay, yeah, yeah, because the, yeah, the pills, not only is it not great to be on something, it, you know, then it backs you up. And then you're dealing with that whole situation. How about I've had some friends that, that swear by medical marijuana, have you given that a shot? Steve Zutty: ⁓ that I use. Yeah, before it was medical. No, it does help. But the only way it's really helping me is a distraction from it, I think. It's not reducing it, it's just distracting me. John McAleavey: ⁓ good. And does it help? Yeah, right, exactly, yeah. ⁓ huh. Yeah. Yup. No. Yeah. And do you notice, my mom is 84 and she, she's had back injuries for years and she'd had broken bones and so the poor thing is in pain like 24 hours a day and we haven't been able to find anything that can help her with that. But I do notice that like when her friends are around or when her grandchildren are around and she's talking and she's involved and she's Maybe it's sort of like playing tricks on your mind where you're not thinking about it. Do you feel that that helps you? Yeah, right. That's the word. Yeah, distraction. guess that's the... Steve Zutty: Absolutely. No question. Distraction. Absolutely. But the problem is, a lot of times my... The distraction's not strong enough. I guess that's... That's the problem. John McAleavey: Yeah, you need distractions from your distractions. ⁓ man. Steve Zutty: correct. And also, like, when the weather's not—the weather affects me tremendously. John McAleavey: Yeah, that was my next question. Tell me what is that? How does the weather affect you? Which is better warm, cold and how do they both work on you? Steve Zutty: They're kind of hurt. They're different though. ⁓ The cold, because of my leg, I have no circulation in it. The leg hurts a lot, but the humidity swells me. And then everything hurts. My neck is hurting, my back hurts. But when a storm comes in, the change from rain to not rain, that hurts. The pressure is unbelievable. John McAleavey: ⁓ ⁓ Yeah, yeah, you're the, sounds like you're the human Doppler machine because you can tell when something's coming around the bend, right? Steve Zutty: Yes. And it'll look nice and I'll say to my wife, it's going to rain. She's like, it's not supposed to rain. I'm like, it's going to rain. It rains. Not that that it's just, I don't know whether really affects it. That's when I leave, finally leave Jersey. I don't know where to go. John McAleavey: It's right. Yeah. Yeah. Do you think you'll go somewhere? Do you think you're gonna go Florida or something like that? The Carolina somewhere warm? Steve Zutty: But, Carolina maybe, I won't go to Florida. It's just crazy expensive and you never know what's gonna happen down there. I lived in Florida for six years when I was young. But ⁓ I don't know, North Carolina maybe. But the desert is where I should be. John McAleavey: Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ okay. Okay. Yeah, because it's hot. Have you been? Have you ever tried that? Been out to Arizona or any of those spots? Steve Zutty: Vegas and Arizona, it feels a little bit better, but I wasn't like this when I was out there. So now I gotta check it out. John McAleavey: Right, yeah. I had one of my good friends was out there in February. We have another buddy of ours moved out there about five, six years ago, he's in Scottsdale. so my friend Dennis went out ⁓ to see my buddy and to take in some spring training baseball. And he said, know, John, I bought tickets and I went to the game and he said by the second inning, I was sweating my you know what off. I had to get I couldn't sit in the seat. I had to move my seat. Steve Zutty: That's too hot. John McAleavey: ⁓ my God, in heaven, he said it was like 108 degrees, I couldn't do it. So, yeah, so I don't know, I mean, my body reacts better when it's hot and humid, but I, since mine is a cervical injury, I have, you know, blood pressure issues. And when I get hot, man, that, yeah, I can't cool off. So I can tank and before you know it, I'm out, I just go right out. Something called autonomic dysreflexia and it's... Steve Zutty: Yeah. Too hot. Oh, that's right, you're being cool. Yup. John McAleavey: something you can't fool around with. So I don't really know where the heck I'm going to go. need I need to be at like the perfect. It's like 73 and sunny and no breeze where it gets cold. I need the perfect. It's like I know but I have to win the Powerball to get a place in San Diego. Yeah. Steve Zutty: Yeah, that's San Diego. That's the problem. Anyway, that's really nice to live. You got to win the Battle Ball. John McAleavey: I know. ⁓ yeah, San Diego. Boy, I love it out there. What a great spot that is. ⁓ wow. Love that. Yeah, well, if you find the right place, send me a postcard and Tracy and I will be right there behind you. Sounds like we should all buy a big house like a dorm and we could all live together and commiserate. Yeah, well, we're going to have to... Steve Zutty: But yeah, I don't know where to go. Absolutely. Absolutely. I'd like to party again, I'm in. John McAleavey: We're going to definitely have to meet up one of these days in in person. Now I have some I have some wheels that work. can I can drive and meet up with with you guys in person. Yeah we got to do that. Tracy and maybe her friend Jennifer can join us. We should ⁓ we should definitely do that. So why don't I I'll leave you with Steve. My my the last question is usually what I ask of all my friends that my guests that are banged up in one form or fashion and that it's an interesting story. I'll tell you it came about Steve Zutty: Absolutely. A welcome up there. Yes? John McAleavey: I was waiting in the hallway to see my doctor and I was with a high school friend, believe it or not, another high school friend had a serious spinal cord injury. He was injured in a wakeboarding accident and he was a C5 complete quad. This was a really tough story and unfortunately we lost him two years ago. He had a septic reaction and he just, his body couldn't handle it. But I was sitting there, we were waiting and I said, hey Tommy. you know, if I could snap my fingers right now and you would be completely able-bodied again, what do you think the first thing you would do would be? And as I looked over at him and saw the smoke pouring out of his ears, I heard from behind me this woman said, you know, I would go out into my ⁓ garden and plant some flowers. And then the guy off to the right said, I was always a car guy. I'd go into my garage and turn a wrench a few times or two. And I thought, hey, know, everybody's going to have a different sort of an answer to that. And so... Steve Zutty: you John McAleavey: I'll ask you if you didn't have any of your issues any longer and you woke up tomorrow morning, what do think the first thing you would do would be? Steve Zutty: Run up and down some stairs. John McAleavey: That's a good one. Yeah. Steve Zutty: Yeah, I probably go go to the gym and do everything probably play some basketball. I miss basketball. John McAleavey: Yeah. Yeah, I had, you know Eric LeGrand, he was the gentleman that he was injured, he was a Rutgers football player. And ⁓ yeah, he got hurt at Giant Stadium. I asked him that question and he said, the first thing, you really wanna know the first thing? I said, yeah. He said, I would run out my front door butt naked up and down the street. Yeah, I've heard some good ones. I've heard I would. Steve Zutty: ⁓ yeah, yeah. John McAleavey: lift up my grandchildren and dance with my wife. I've heard some people Steve Zutty: Well, I want that dance, I want that dance with my daughter. John McAleavey: Yeah, yeah. I had a guy tell me, really want to know? I would stand in front of the toilet and empty my bladder without having to do anything else. I said, hey man, it's nothing, ⁓ nothing wrong with that. I would like to do the same thing myself. Yeah. mean, simple pleasures, right? Steve, I mean, like, like we said before, people don't know until you know. And it's like these things that everybody takes for granted. It's, it's so amazing. Steve Zutty: Hahaha! Exactly. It is. But it's good when you and I and Tracy and I, when we meet and we get it, it's a nice community. It's really, it's good. John McAleavey: Yeah, I was having lunch with a friend the other day and he is a para. And ⁓ so his upper body, his arms and everything work. And we were having lunch as I said and he was opening his bag, whatever he brought with him and I had gotten something from the cafeteria. And he was basically almost done with his food before I could even open the bloody bag that my stuff was in. I can't do anything with my hands and I'm looking at... Steve Zutty: Yup. John McAleavey: You know, I'm looking at something simple as somebody using their hands and I'm like, you know, those instruments are the most amazing things. Like, look what you can do with that hand. You can open things, you can peel things, you can turn things. And I'm like, look at these things, you know? I mean, I got, Yeah, and I got these stumps that do nothing for me. And it was like, you you take such things for granted and ⁓ it really is amazing. ⁓ well, this... Steve Zutty: Yup. They move individually? Yeah. And all these people complain about the... ...nonsense. John McAleavey: yeah, they have no idea. They really have no idea. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, you have to be. You have to be and you have to, ⁓ you have to surround yourself with people who are positive and that want to be there with you because that's the other thing if you're if you're hanging around with a bunch of Debbie Downers, then you're going to go down that rabbit hole that we talked about. Steve Zutty: You know what's really good in the life that I do do is the mindfulness, you know, like being present. Yeah. No, I'm the luckiest guy alive that with relationships and stuff. Yeah. John McAleavey: Yeah, yeah. And speaking of which, like we mentioned before, we're going to have to, ⁓ we'll have to put the, ⁓ we'll call ourselves the three musketeers, you, me and Tracy. I feel, I feel in these 45 minutes as if I've known you my whole life. It's, yeah, this is really a good thing. Tracy told me, she said, you're going to love Steve, you're going to love him. I said, I know I will. If he's a friend of yours. Steve Zutty: Definitely. ⁓ good, thank you. I just hope I got I just hope I was okay with all this John McAleavey: You were terrific, you were you, and that's what we ask for. You were real, and that's what these conversations are all about. Steve Zutty: Cause you know, your head starts to fire up. I don't know what I touched down on. John McAleavey: I know, I know, I know. Well you hit everything straight down the fairway. I don't know if you're a golf guy, but you hit it straight down the fairway. Yes. Well Steve, thank you so much. After all the technical difficulties we had, we were able to get things squared away and we put it together and we got a real nice episode together. And I know that my audience will be thrilled to hear your story and to be able to highlight you. Steve Zutty: No, and I won't be. ⁓ so glad. John McAleavey: all you've been through and ⁓ all you're doing now with a smile on your face is what we hope for and that's, I appreciate you coming on with me today. Steve Zutty: I hope I was clear enough on everything and I really appreciate to get be able to chat with someone about it. And John, you're a gentleman. Thank you very much. John McAleavey: Yes,