Tune into this poignant episode where we explore the journey of adolescence with a spinal cord injury, with content relevant to both newly acquired conditions and those experienced since early childhood. Our first guest, highly experienced physical therapist Cathi Duggar, brings nearly two decades of expertise from her work with a specialised adolescent spinal cord team. Cathi highlights the vital roles of healthy competition and peer camaraderie in recovery and emphasises the importance of maintaining connections to education and social lives so that teens can navigate critical milestones.

We’re also honoured to hear from Anthea, a parent who has raised four adolescents, including twins, one of whom suffered a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident at age 15. Anthea shares invaluable insights on balancing a healthy parent-child relationship while fostering independence, and highlights the sensitivities required to empower young people with knowledge about their healthcare.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver or healthcare professional, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical advice for supporting teens through their most formative years.

Meet our guests:

 Cathi Duggar

 Cathi is a highly experienced physical therapist and therapy manager, with 25 years of experience at the US-based Shepard Spinal Center, including 18 years on the specialised adolescent spinal cord team. With a strong focus on development of holistic care models, Cathi tailors her approach to resonate with teenagers, helping them achieve the milestones and rites of passage that are essential during this pivotal stage of life. Her extensive expertise ensures that adolescents receive the support they need to thrive both physically and emotionally.

Anthea McClintock

 Anthea is a devoted mother of four young adults, balancing her parental duties with her professional life as a senior executive. For Anthea and her family, life changed abruptly when, on a Saturday afternoon in spring, her 15-year-old son had a mountain bike accident.  His injury was a C4 Complete Spinal Cord Injury.  “At the time, the world stopped and it was hard to understand how we could ever smile again.”

Her son is now studying at a University in Sydney (3.5 hours from home) and is living on campus. Life is good, just different and requiring a few more logistics at times.  Anthea and her family would like to thank the wonderful teams at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Orange Base Hospital, the Paediatric Spinal Outreach Service, and Royal Rehabilitation in Ryde as well as the community of Orange, their family and friends, including precious friends made in the Intensive Care Unit of the Children’s Hospital over many weeks. 

Image by: Anthea Mclintock provided for by SpineCare Foundation