BAD AXE -- A local man searched the globe to find a cure when he was paralyzed in a tragic four-wheeler accident, and he found his answer here in Mid-Michigan.
Eddy Tarzwell, Imlay City, was in a tragic four-wheeler accident in August of 2003. The accident left him with a severe spinal cord injury called Central Cord Syndrome.
Eddy and his wife Marcia searched for a treatment option that could help improve his condition. Their search took them to China for experimental treatments involving stem cells.
But Eddy says he saw no improvement, and the treatments were expensive.
"[My] fingers were just limp," says Eddy.
Last November Eddy began to see a doctor who treats spinal cord injuries with a method call spinal decompression.
Dr. Sami Makhoul, a chiropractor at Health Quest of Badaxe, says he has seen major improvement in Eddy since he first began with his treatments.
"His spirit was better, he felt better, he was able to do some work with his shoulders, something I was very impressed with," says Dr. Makhoul.
Eddy's caretaker says she has also seen more than just a physical improvement.
"Psycologically he's doing a lot better also," she says.
Dr. Makhoul says spinal decompression works by taking the pressure off the spinal cord, and has allowed Eddy to move his arms and legs, which is something he was unable to do before.
*Author: NBC25's Jessica Lyons
