My name is Pastora Goldner. I am a mother of three and a grandmother of five, and family has always been at the center of my life.

Over thirty years ago, while traveling in Egypt with my daughters, I was involved in a devastating car accident in the middle of the desert. I was 47 years old. That accident changed everything. I have lived with a spinal cord injury ever since.

After my injury, I had to learn how to navigate life in an entirely new way. With the help of my daughters, Alana, Taryn, and Rebeca, I adapted to life in a wheelchair. They were my motivation and my reason for pushing forward. I learned to manage daily activities many people take for granted: bathing, dressing, transferring in and out of my wheelchair, and driving again. Over time, life found a new rhythm. Life was good.

I also became a grandmother. Spending time with my grandchildren, Andrew, Jonathan, Naomi, Chloe, and Michael, is one of the greatest joys of my life. Being present for them, watching them grow, and sharing everyday moments means everything to me.

More recently, I faced another unexpected challenge. I began experiencing severe pain in my right shoulder caused by a combination of damage from my original accident and years of overuse. Those of us with spinal cord injury rely heavily on our shoulders. The pain became so intense that I could barely lift my arm. Pushing my wheelchair was nearly impossible, and I needed help transferring in and out of it.

I sought help from a highly regarded shoulder specialist at a major New York City medical center, only to be told that nothing could be done.

That was difficult to hear, but my story did not end there.

I learned about innovative regenerative rehabilitation research at Kessler Foundation and decided to participate in a study. I received a simple, minimally invasive injection. The outcome was life changing. I no longer live with constant shoulder pain. I regained my independence and, with it, a sense of freedom I feared I had lost.

Today, I live with my daughter Rebeca and her three children. Rebeca is a physician with a demanding schedule, and I am grateful to be able to help at home. I especially enjoy my role as “Grandma Chauffeur.” Since my treatment, I can move around the house independently, run errands, lift heavier items, and get in and out of my car on my own. It means a great deal to be able to support my daughter now, just as she supported me after my injury.

Before my accident, I had already raised a family, traveled extensively, and even hiked in the Himalayas. As a mother and grandmother, it breaks my heart to think about people who sustain spinal cord injuries early in life and have not yet had the chance to experience many of life’s adventures. That reality stays with me and motivates my continued involvement in rehabilitation research.

Researchers are exploring new approaches not only for shoulder injuries, but also for other joints such as the knee, as well as for conditions including traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and autism. Progress in this work brings hope for greater independence, improved quality of life, and more time spent doing what matters most with the people we love.

More research leads to more knowledge, more advancement, and more possibilities.

This Mother’s Day, I reflect on how far I have come and how grateful I am for the opportunity to live fully, surrounded by family. My journey fills me with hope, and I believe the best discoveries are still ahead.