Media

Adventures of ‘Michael's Angels'
by Catherine Lutz

They half-jokingly call themselves "Michael's Angels" - after Michael Fox, co-owner of the Aspen Club, who has opened the Club's doors to help Amanda Boxtel, Kasie Burtard and Leah Potts in their fundraising efforts.

It's an apt comparison to TV's famous female trio. The local women are every bit as tough as they are feminine, full of spunk and passion. But instead of battling bad guys with guns, they're fighting their way out of the wheelchairs and walking aids that have limited their movements for a co.mbined 30-plus years, with human embryonic stem cells.

And it seems to be working.

The Ups and Downs of Recent Events:
An Aspen Times Editorial 

Looking around town the past couple of weeks, we've seen and read about a few things that have made us proud of where we live and others that made us cringe.

Today, The Aspen Times editorial page serves up a few slices of what's good and what's bad about life in this mountain town, and beyond. Here goes:

Three local women - Amanda Boxtel, Leah Roland and Kasie Burtard - get three thumbs up. The trio recently returned from India after getting embryonic stem-cell injections for their spinal injuries. This week they all reported that their conditions are showing marked improvement, and they thanked valley residents for helping fund their two-month treatments. In turn, they deserve praise for the inspiration they have provided and for proving that the old cliché "anything is possible" is indeed true.

That was 54 years ago, and since then, after a few more falls, the Penticton, B.C., resident had endured consistent physical pain. For the last eight years she has suffered from severe back pain, walked with the aid of crutches, and has needed to use a wheelchair for longer distances.

From India to Aspen
by Charles Agar

Amanda Boxtel, Leah Roland and Kasie Burtard turned to valley residents in 2007 for the thousands of dollars needed for a treatment banned in the United States, and all three women said the controversial embryonic stem cell injections paid dividends.

Leah Roland just about lives at the Aspen Athletic Club.

She teaches spin classes there three days a week. Her body serves as a well-defined example to a life challenging the odds.

"It paralyzed me from here, no arms no legs, instantly," said Roland of the accident nine years ago.

Jeffrey interviews Leah Roland of Aspen, Colorado a recovering incomplete quadriplegic from a skiing accident where she broke her neck. Quadriplegia refers to the paralysis of all four limbs both arms and both legs, as from a high spinal cord accident. Incomplete refers to Leah's success in defying complete paralysis, as she has regained some use of her limbs.

Online Interview

Aspen's Soul Lives On
Letter to the EditorDear Editor:

I am writing to thank everyone who participated in our very special 30th anniversary celebration we held at the club this past Tuesday. The event which was called "Pursuing Possibilities" as it benefited three extraordinary individuals in our community - Amanda Boxtel, Leah Roland and Kasie Burtard - was a tremendous success. Though the kindness and generosity of the over 600 people who attended, Amanda, Leah and Kasie, who each have spinal cord injuries, raised over $100,000 of their $224,000 goal to allow them to travel to India and receive a promising stem cell therapy.

One of those women is Carbondale native, Kasie Burtard, who was paralyzed from just above her navel down in a 2002 car accident.

"Being 25, you don't want to be in a wheelchair for your whole life," she said.

Spinning for Leah
by Damien Williamson

It was Feb. 13, 1999, when Aspenite Leah Roland caught a ski edge, slipped on a patch of ice and crashed head first into an evergreen tree, instantly paralyzing her from the chest down.

Nearly nine years later, still struggling with intense pain, swelling and burning sensations, and after countless hours of physical therapy, yoga sessions and acupuncture, there‚'s one more thing that she needs to take her rehabilitation to the next level: your help.

Stem cell therapy recipient Amanda Boxtel and Leah Roland, stem cell therapy candidate, stopped by the set of MNN to talk about Aspen Club & Spa's upcoming Re-Grand Opening Party which benefits human embryonic stem cell therapy.

TV Interview

Also, it looks like Michael Sailor is going to help me out, so the Internet isn't always better than shopping locally, whether it's for a toaster or health insurance.