Back on the (Writing) Saddle: Cathy-Cuff Coffman
by Cathy Cuff-Coffman, Content Writer
We are halfway through September, which is also Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.
As the content writer for The Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation, I/we are focused on bringing you the most up-to-date spinal cord injury (SCI) information and data we can offer.
However, on a personal note, I’ve been less than forthcoming about myself.
On March 6, 2020, I slipped and fell. I hit my chin on the floor and broke my neck from cervical 3-7. I at once suffered a spinal cord injury.
The local hospital was not equipped to handle my injury, so I was rushed to the Penn State Hospital complex in Hershey, PA, which is 90 minutes from home.
It was at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, which created a little “COVID family” among the patients, medical staff, and therapists. Looking back, it was this “shared camaraderie” which helped me navigate the unknown of my SCI.
That was six years ago. At that time, I was managing a large, shared office complex (Regus) and freelance writing for a few of the business-office clients.
I wasn’t about to give up on writing and joined The Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation as the Content Writer.
Admittedly, I kept my own injury and struggles out of the story.
Now, I’m on “full disclosure.”
My SCI has negatively progressed due to (then) undiagnosed severe osteoporosis. The rest of my spine’s vertebrae crumbled. This necessitated three more laminectomies—back surgeries—in 2026 to replace the crumbled vertebrae.
Each surgery was thought through and was necessary for my structural stability. I was under general anesthesia for 8.5 hours for the first surgery. That has caused some cognitive and memory problems that I’m still battling.
I’m now fused from my neck to my tailbone and the procedures have given my spinal cord room to work on healing.
“Zipped” from stem to stern.
But what I’ve subsequently lost during this round of surgeries and healing are tough to accept.
I’ve been a lifelong musician, playing saxophone, clarinet, and flute: the perfect trio for a jazz musician. I was active in a local jazz ensemble I helped found, “Sound Advice,” until my injury. Now, my right hand is in “contracture,” and I can’t play the “horns” I’ve been playing since childhood.
Playing sax in “Sound Advice.”
Typing is difficult, as my right hand won’t cooperate. I’m writing this with part of my left hand and right thumb.
And finally, I was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a muscle-weakening disease) at shoulder level, which prevents me from raising my arms. I don’t know any workarounds for this.
The most debilitating aspect of this, besides the physical limitations and pain, is the lack of “scenery changes.” I’m stuck in the house in a rural, Amish area. No public transportation, and I’m struggling with the “sameness” of it all.
To combat that, I’ve made a nice group of online friends.
And I’m back to writing but doing this with limited hand mobility is tiring and tough.
I’m going to try speech-to-text later.
And I remind myself it could be worse. I have movement. I have a great husband who has taken on extra duties with a cheerful attitude.
I have the drive and determination to restart again.
And I have my writing, especially here, to propel me forward.
In honor of Spinal Cord Awareness Month, you can make a donation to the Fund’s “We Shalieve Campaign” by clicking here. Campaign closes on 9/30/26.