Hello. My name is Chiara. I am a T-12 complete paraplegic. This means I have no movement and feeling from the waist down. My spinal cord has been completely severed at the T-12 level. I also cannot urinate or have bowel movements normally. I have no use of the muscles required to urinate and empty my bowels. I also have 24/7 burning nerve pain in my legs. I get muscle spasms because my legs want to send signals to my brain, but can't.

I am sitting in my wheelchair by the side of the road just getting some fresh air. I look up as someone approaches me. "Oh hello." I wave.