At a Glance
- Jessie Owen became paralyzed after a tree fell on her family car on Dec. 21, 2012.
- She participated in a 2018 pilot study using ARC EX therapy, a non-invasive spinal-cord electrical stimulation.
- The treatment helped her regain hand strength, enabling her to care for her 3-year-old twins and pursue a new life.
- Why it matters: The story shows how emerging neurostimulation can transform the lives of people with spinal-cord injuries.
Jessie Owen’s life was forever altered when a tree fell on her family’s SUV on Dec. 21, 2012. At the time, she was 27 and on a snowy Washington State highway with her parents, siblings, and brother-in-law. The impact trapped her and left her unable to sit up.
“The first responders got there and needed the jaws of life to cut open the car,” she told News Of Los Angeles. As she was lifted out, she saw her mother, Cheryl, 57, and instantly knew she had died. The loss of her parents and her own paralysis left Jessie feeling like she had lost everything.
After the crash, Jessie was airlifted to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center, where doctors declared her paralyzed. She was later discharged to a skilled nursing facility for physical therapy. Over the next three years, she made progress, learning to move her legs a little and drive herself in a wheelchair, but upper-limb function remained limited.
During this time, Jessie connected with the Northwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury System at the University of Washington. Through the network, she learned about a pilot study focused on upper-limb function using ARC EX therapy-programmed electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to improve hand sensation and strength.
“I went to the seminar and I was like, ‘Hey, would I be a good candidate?’ And they said, ‘Come in, we’ll check.'” she recalled. In 2018, she became a pilot patient.
The first month of the study involved baseline tasks: tying a shoelace, inserting a key into a lock, holding a pencil, and rolling a ball between the hands, all performed without the stimulator. Over the next few months, Jessie repeated these tasks with an occupational therapist present, testing her progress.
“At this point, I’m so deep in it. I’m frustrated. It’s really confronting to have to do a task that a toddler could do with their eyes closed, and then just fail at it over and over again, no matter how hard you try,” she said.
ARC EX therapy uses a non-invasive stimulator that delivers electrical pulses to the cervical spinal cord via electrodes on the back of the neck. After about 3-4 sessions, Jessie noticed improvements: stacking blocks higher and pouring water more steadily.
“I’m still affected by paralysis and have difficulty with upper mobility function. But there is a vast difference between not being able to do something at all and being able to do something with a little bit of time and patience,” she explained.
The gains she achieved gave her confidence to start dating again. She met Alan Yang, 44, a data analyst, in 2018, and the two married three years later. Three months after the wedding, Jessie discovered she was pregnant and eventually welcomed twins Maxwell and Miles.
“At first, I felt cautious about caring for my newborns. I was learning how fragile or durable one of these tiny little humans could be, and I was learning what my own capability was within my disability,” she said.
Jessie and Alan divided childcare duties. Over time, she learned to manage nursing and pumping with her improved hand function, saying, “Because I had enough hand function now, I could put the bottle under, get it started, put the nipple on, twist it together, and make a bottle to feed my kids.” That felt empowering.
Today, the twins are three years old and increasingly independent. Jessie now can make toast, buckle them in car seats, and grab their preschool clothes.
“I trust my body more now. I trust my judgment more. Part of this might be strength and practice, and part of it might just be becoming a seasoned mom. The physical aspect of playing with a 3-year-old feels pretty normal to me,” she said.
Beyond her personal life, Jessie is an active disability advocate. She shares her experiences on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, emphasizing the opportunities that have come her way since the accident.
“The opportunities that have come across my life since this accident have been astounding,” she said. “I want to lean into them because they’re all really good, powerful things that I feel really proud of and happy to be a part of. I’m finding a lot of joy in all of this.”
When asked about the impact of the stimulator, Jessie described it as a game-changer: “A difference in 10% more function in someone’s life is a game changer. We’re talking about happiness, self-sufficiency,” she said.
She added that the therapy has boosted her confidence and zest for life. “Most of all, I think I would just say I have improved confidence and a zest for life. I’m happy. And part of that is having an improved level of independence and autonomy.”
Jessie’s story illustrates how emerging neurostimulation technologies can restore meaningful function to people with spinal-cord injuries. It also highlights the importance of supportive communities and the potential for new parents to thrive despite severe physical challenges.
Key Takeaways
- A tree-fall accident left Jessie Owen paralyzed, but a pilot study offered a path to regaining hand function.
- ARC EX therapy, a non-invasive spinal-cord stimulator, produced measurable improvements in hand strength and coordination.
- The therapy empowered Jessie to care for her twins and pursue a new life, underscoring the broader benefits of neurostimulation for spinal-cord injury patients.
- Advocacy and social media engagement help raise awareness of emerging treatments and inspire others with similar conditions.
