hello everybody it’s good to be here you guys are about to witness the first
you guys are about to witness the first
you guys are about to witness the first camp stand-up comedy routine ever
camp stand-up comedy routine ever
camp stand-up comedy routine ever congratulations huh
congratulations huh
congratulations huh actually I want to tell you a little bit
actually I want to tell you a little bit
actually I want to tell you a little bit about myself how I was injured and of
about myself how I was injured and of
about myself how I was injured and of course my best friend and five years ago
course my best friend and five years ago
course my best friend and five years ago the tender age of 23 I had a tragic
the tender age of 23 I had a tragic
the tender age of 23 I had a tragic accident that left me paralyzed from the
accident that left me paralyzed from the
accident that left me paralyzed from the neck down I broke my neck the c4 c5 and
neck down I broke my neck the c4 c5 and
neck down I broke my neck the c4 c5 and c6 level and because of that I have no
c6 level and because of that I have no
c6 level and because of that I have no sensation from my shoulders down in fact
sensation from my shoulders down in fact
sensation from my shoulders down in fact I can’t feel my armpits and well as that
I can’t feel my armpits and well as that
I can’t feel my armpits and well as that I only had use of my biceps and no
I only had use of my biceps and no
I only had use of my biceps and no triceps and life of a spinal cord injury
triceps and life of a spinal cord injury
triceps and life of a spinal cord injury can be very challenging extremely
can be very challenging extremely
can be very challenging extremely challenging in fact just about every
challenging in fact just about every
challenging in fact just about every aspect of my life
aspect of my life
aspect of my life I need a helping hand in one form or
I need a helping hand in one form or
I need a helping hand in one form or another whether it be eating food
another whether it be eating food
another whether it be eating food getting dressed showering getting up out
getting dressed showering getting up out
getting dressed showering getting up out of bed everything I need a little bit of
of bed everything I need a little bit of
of bed everything I need a little bit of help with that and when I broke my neck
help with that and when I broke my neck
help with that and when I broke my neck not only did I lose the ability to do a
not only did I lose the ability to do a
not only did I lose the ability to do a lot of easy tasks everyday tasks I lost
lot of easy tasks everyday tasks I lost
lot of easy tasks everyday tasks I lost a lot of friends it was kind of a lonely
a lot of friends it was kind of a lonely
a lot of friends it was kind of a lonely time for me in fact it’s kind of a sad
time for me in fact it’s kind of a sad
time for me in fact it’s kind of a sad story but when I broke my neck and I was
story but when I broke my neck and I was
story but when I broke my neck and I was in the hospital
in the hospital
in the hospital one thing I was looking forward to was
one thing I was looking forward to was
one thing I was looking forward to was my girlfriend was talking hey don’t
my girlfriend was talking hey don’t
my girlfriend was talking hey don’t worry try this we’ll get through this
worry try this we’ll get through this
worry try this we’ll get through this together we’ll do this but about a month
together we’ll do this but about a month
together we’ll do this but about a month that she was planning on moving out of
that she was planning on moving out of
that she was planning on moving out of here about a month after I got injured
here about a month after I got injured
here about a month after I got injured and this is baking closer and closer I
and this is baking closer and closer I
and this is baking closer and closer I started hearing hearing from her less
started hearing hearing from her less
started hearing hearing from her less and less and five days after she was
and less and five days after she was
and less and five days after she was supposed to be here
supposed to be here
supposed to be here she changed her relationship status on
she changed her relationship status on
she changed her relationship status on facebook in a relationship with somebody
facebook in a relationship with somebody
facebook in a relationship with somebody else and that was when I really hit rock
else and that was when I really hit rock
else and that was when I really hit rock bottom
bottom
bottom I felt I felt yeah what I’m going to do
I felt I felt yeah what I’m going to do
I felt I felt yeah what I’m going to do and and luckily I had a helping hand
and and luckily I had a helping hand
and and luckily I had a helping hand my new best friend came into my life and
my new best friend came into my life and
my new best friend came into my life and I want to take that opportunity to
I want to take that opportunity to
I want to take that opportunity to introduce you guys to her everyone say
introduce you guys to her everyone say
introduce you guys to her everyone say hello siggy oh oh she’s a little shy
hello siggy oh oh she’s a little shy
hello siggy oh oh she’s a little shy stay a little softer with you hello
stay a little softer with you hello
stay a little softer with you hello singing there she is
singing there she is
singing there she is ask the party animal and so the first
ask the party animal and so the first
ask the party animal and so the first thing people often asked me about see is
what does she do for you and the answer
what does she do for you and the answer is she can do a lot she’s trained to do
is she can do a lot she’s trained to do
is she can do a lot she’s trained to do a series of complex tasks such as open a
a series of complex tasks such as open a
a series of complex tasks such as open a water bottle put a straw in it for me
water bottle put a straw in it for me
water bottle put a straw in it for me but really if the day goes well I don’t
but really if the day goes well I don’t
but really if the day goes well I don’t have to ask her to do anything in fact I
have to ask her to do anything in fact I
have to ask her to do anything in fact I just want her to be the happiest
just want her to be the happiest
just want her to be the happiest healthiest monkey that she could be but
healthiest monkey that she could be but
healthiest monkey that she could be but a year after I had her out I ran into a
a year after I had her out I ran into a
a year after I had her out I ran into a very precarious situation in fact that’s
very precarious situation in fact that’s
very precarious situation in fact that’s when she really earned her keep see I
when she really earned her keep see I
when she really earned her keep see I had developed a pressure sore on my butt
had developed a pressure sore on my butt
had developed a pressure sore on my butt while I was in the hospital and because
while I was in the hospital and because
while I was in the hospital and because of that I ended up having to be in bed
of that I ended up having to be in bed
of that I ended up having to be in bed quite some time when I finally got out
quite some time when I finally got out
quite some time when I finally got out of bed I was able to go in and hang out
of bed I was able to go in and hang out
of bed I was able to go in and hang out with the Stig muffin she or I I was
with the Stig muffin she or I I was
with the Stig muffin she or I I was leaning back to do a pressure relief and
leaning back to do a pressure relief and
leaning back to do a pressure relief and my chair malfunctioned and because it
my chair malfunctioned and because it
my chair malfunctioned and because it malfunctioned
malfunctioned
malfunctioned I couldn’t lean back or move it written
I couldn’t lean back or move it written
I couldn’t lean back or move it written in me completely immobile
in me completely immobile
in me completely immobile and and so obviously I added try and get
and and so obviously I added try and get
and and so obviously I added try and get help so I tried to use my phone and call
help so I tried to use my phone and call
help so I tried to use my phone and call my sister but when I hit my phone it
my sister but when I hit my phone it
my sister but when I hit my phone it felled the ground fell in pieces my
felled the ground fell in pieces my
felled the ground fell in pieces my battery went one way the phone one
battery went one way the phone one
battery went one way the phone one another and that’s when I was really in
another and that’s when I was really in
another and that’s when I was really in trouble because as I tried to yell for
trouble because as I tried to yell for
trouble because as I tried to yell for help my sister wasn’t answered there’s
help my sister wasn’t answered there’s
help my sister wasn’t answered there’s no way she could hear me and I knew that
no way she could hear me and I knew that
no way she could hear me and I knew that I also knew that she wouldn’t come
I also knew that she wouldn’t come
I also knew that she wouldn’t come looking through me for another five or
looking through me for another five or
looking through me for another five or six hours because after all they’d just
six hours because after all they’d just
six hours because after all they’d just gotten in there to hang out my little
gotten in there to hang out my little
gotten in there to hang out my little little buddy and so that’s when she he
little buddy and so that’s when she he
little buddy and so that’s when she he just jumped in the action she jumped
just jumped in the action she jumped
just jumped in the action she jumped down she’d grabbed my phone she brought
down she’d grabbed my phone she brought
down she’d grabbed my phone she brought it up she put it on my lap I said
it up she put it on my lap I said
it up she put it on my lap I said alright girl let’s get the battery now
alright girl let’s get the battery now
alright girl let’s get the battery now fetch she jumped on down she got the
fetch she jumped on down she got the
fetch she jumped on down she got the battery she came back up and she’s
battery she came back up and she’s
battery she came back up and she’s trying to put it in my hand I moved my
trying to put it in my hand I moved my
trying to put it in my hand I moved my hand out of the way she slipped it in
hand out of the way she slipped it in
hand out of the way she slipped it in the phone and I was able to turn it on
the phone and I was able to turn it on
the phone and I was able to turn it on and give a call out to my friend come
and give a call out to my friend come
and give a call out to my friend come down and tell my sister I needed help
down and tell my sister I needed help
down and tell my sister I needed help [Applause]
and right then there I knew that all the
and right then there I knew that all the hard work that all the people I helping
hard work that all the people I helping
hard work that all the people I helping hand really paid off and now helping
hand really paid off and now helping
hand really paid off and now helping hands they started in 1979 their mission
hands they started in 1979 their mission
hands they started in 1979 their mission was raised and trained capuchin monkeys
was raised and trained capuchin monkeys
was raised and trained capuchin monkeys to assist with people like me with
to assist with people like me with
to assist with people like me with spinal cords another mobility
spinal cords another mobility
spinal cords another mobility impairments and the the the goals of the
impairments and the the the goals of the
impairments and the the the goals of the program would provide gifts of
program would provide gifts of
program would provide gifts of companionship dignity and most
companionship dignity and most
companionship dignity and most importantly hope and when I needed that
importantly hope and when I needed that
importantly hope and when I needed that when I when I needed a boost most I
when I when I needed a boost most I
when I when I needed a boost most I remember that day came when I found out
remember that day came when I found out
remember that day came when I found out that my girlfriend wasn’t coming out I
that my girlfriend wasn’t coming out I
that my girlfriend wasn’t coming out I thought about the ultimate escape life
thought about the ultimate escape life
thought about the ultimate escape life and I at the time I had no use of my
and I at the time I had no use of my
and I at the time I had no use of my upper arms at all I drove around the
upper arms at all I drove around the
upper arms at all I drove around the chin joystick I remember driving up to
chin joystick I remember driving up to
chin joystick I remember driving up to the Cal where I’d spent many days as a
the Cal where I’d spent many days as a
the Cal where I’d spent many days as a child running around swinging fishing
child running around swinging fishing
child running around swinging fishing for product and a thought what stopped
for product and a thought what stopped
for product and a thought what stopped me why don’t I just drive off in here
me why don’t I just drive off in here
me why don’t I just drive off in here and just and at all what’s the point and
and just and at all what’s the point and
and just and at all what’s the point and that’s when I remembered about that seed
that’s when I remembered about that seed
that’s when I remembered about that seed that was planted in my head way back
that was planted in my head way back
that was planted in my head way back when I was in the hospital the idea that
when I was in the hospital the idea that
when I was in the hospital the idea that there there’s things like ciggy out
there there’s things like ciggy out
there there’s things like ciggy out there that you know life may be worth
there that you know life may be worth
there that you know life may be worth living for and it and obviously I
living for and it and obviously I
living for and it and obviously I considered all the love and support that
considered all the love and support that
considered all the love and support that all the people had shown you when when
all the people had shown you when when
all the people had shown you when when my accident happened but that wasn’t
my accident happened but that wasn’t
my accident happened but that wasn’t enough and the thought of singie in
enough and the thought of singie in
enough and the thought of singie in those darkest times illuminated
those darkest times illuminated
those darkest times illuminated okay a pathway to a more fulfilling life
okay a pathway to a more fulfilling life
okay a pathway to a more fulfilling life and without that that thought was what
and without that that thought was what
and without that that thought was what made me back away from the edge and it
made me back away from the edge and it
made me back away from the edge and it gave me a strength to work through my
gave me a strength to work through my
gave me a strength to work through my issues and face my challenges and over
issues and face my challenges and over
issues and face my challenges and over time I had it took me another four years
time I had it took me another four years
time I had it took me another four years to make that happen in order to make
to make that happen in order to make
to make that happen in order to make that happen I had to get XY and Z
that happen I had to get XY and Z
that happen I had to get XY and Z together I had to get my life back in
together I had to get my life back in
together I had to get my life back in order I had to have their environment
order I had to have their environment
order I had to have their environment that’s conducive to having a monkey
that’s conducive to having a monkey
that’s conducive to having a monkey helper and fortunately after four years
helper and fortunately after four years
helper and fortunately after four years I saw my opportunity they jumped at it
I saw my opportunity they jumped at it
I saw my opportunity they jumped at it and sure enough I got the house I moved
and sure enough I got the house I moved
and sure enough I got the house I moved out of my parents house and now support
out of my parents house and now support
out of my parents house and now support myself with the help of my wonderful
myself with the help of my wonderful
myself with the help of my wonderful sister Stacy and um it’s it’s changed my
sister Stacy and um it’s it’s changed my
sister Stacy and um it’s it’s changed my life I’m a very happy person and over
life I’m a very happy person and over
life I’m a very happy person and over time I found that happiest people in the
time I found that happiest people in the
time I found that happiest people in the world don’t have the best of everything
world don’t have the best of everything
world don’t have the best of everything happiest people in the world make the
happiest people in the world make the
happiest people in the world make the best of everything
best of everything
best of everything [Applause]
and now people often people would often
and now people often people would often say in the beginning they would say
say in the beginning they would say
say in the beginning they would say don’t let the wheelchair define you and
don’t let the wheelchair define you and
don’t let the wheelchair define you and sounding good at all but you know if I
sounding good at all but you know if I
sounding good at all but you know if I were to rob a bank tomorrow and the cops
were to rob a bank tomorrow and the cops
were to rob a bank tomorrow and the cops came over and talked to the witnesses
came over and talked to the witnesses
came over and talked to the witnesses and asked why hit what does he look like
and asked why hit what does he look like
and asked why hit what does he look like well you’d probably say well he was in a
well you’d probably say well he was in a
well you’d probably say well he was in a wheelchair and so you know but that
wheelchair and so you know but that
wheelchair and so you know but that being said i think george RR martin said
being said i think george RR martin said
being said i think george RR martin said it best you said never forget what you
it best you said never forget what you
it best you said never forget what you are for the world will surely not make
are for the world will surely not make
are for the world will surely not make it your strength then it can never be
it your strength then it can never be
it your strength then it can never be your weakness arming yourself in it and
your weakness arming yourself in it and
your weakness arming yourself in it and it can never be used to hurt you so here
it can never be used to hurt you so here
it can never be used to hurt you so here i am sharing my story i did forget to
i am sharing my story i did forget to
i am sharing my story i did forget to tell you how it happened but i’ll share
tell you how it happened but i’ll share
tell you how it happened but i’ll share that with you now um actually I was out
that with you now um actually I was out
that with you now um actually I was out drinking with some buddies I had walked
drinking with some buddies I had walked
drinking with some buddies I had walked excuse me um I was trying to be a
excuse me um I was trying to be a
excuse me um I was trying to be a responsible adult left my truck at home
responsible adult left my truck at home
responsible adult left my truck at home and on the way back home a guy that mean
and on the way back home a guy that mean
and on the way back home a guy that mean to beef Jerky’s that I couldn’t climb
to beef Jerky’s that I couldn’t climb
to beef Jerky’s that I couldn’t climb this building myself take that bet why
this building myself take that bet why
this building myself take that bet why not well a drunken munchies why not
not well a drunken munchies why not
not well a drunken munchies why not and sure enough I climbed to the top of
and sure enough I climbed to the top of
and sure enough I climbed to the top of that building but once I got there I
that building but once I got there I
that building but once I got there I said if I’m not back in five minutes
said if I’m not back in five minutes
said if I’m not back in five minutes wait some more and so on the way back
wait some more and so on the way back
wait some more and so on the way back down I slipped fell straight onto my
down I slipped fell straight onto my
down I slipped fell straight onto my neck and in that moment my reality and
neck and in that moment my reality and
neck and in that moment my reality and all those around me changed forever you
all those around me changed forever you
all those around me changed forever you imagine the call my parents got at 1:00
imagine the call my parents got at 1:00
imagine the call my parents got at 1:00 in the morning
in the morning
in the morning this is a mich sorry to inform you but
this is a mich sorry to inform you but
this is a mich sorry to inform you but your son’s been an internal accident and
your son’s been an internal accident and
your son’s been an internal accident and to my parents credit they’re incredibly
to my parents credit they’re incredibly
to my parents credit they’re incredibly human being
human being
human being on many levels my father Phil what they
on many levels my father Phil what they
on many levels my father Phil what they make and my mother daily a rage my dad
make and my mother daily a rage my dad
make and my mother daily a rage my dad quit his job my mom she worked she
quit his job my mom she worked she
quit his job my mom she worked she started picking up overtime shifts in
started picking up overtime shifts in
started picking up overtime shifts in fact there’d be times where she would
fact there’d be times where she would
fact there’d be times where she would work five 16-hour shifts in a row all to
work five 16-hour shifts in a row all to
work five 16-hour shifts in a row all to take care of me
take care of me
take care of me and I felt guilty about it but at the
and I felt guilty about it but at the
and I felt guilty about it but at the end of the day all that love and support
end of the day all that love and support
end of the day all that love and support showed me that at numerous valued of my
showed me that at numerous valued of my
showed me that at numerous valued of my life and I can’t make them all enough
life and I can’t make them all enough
life and I can’t make them all enough but now that I have seen you I realized
but now that I have seen you I realized
but now that I have seen you I realized that dream and I can’t can’t be happier
that dream and I can’t can’t be happier
that dream and I can’t can’t be happier fun happy yeah I mean I get to hang out
fun happy yeah I mean I get to hang out
fun happy yeah I mean I get to hang out the monkey all day a walk right how cool
the monkey all day a walk right how cool
the monkey all day a walk right how cool is that and so with that being said I
is that and so with that being said I
is that and so with that being said I already used up two good quotes and got
already used up two good quotes and got
already used up two good quotes and got nothing to close with now well hey I
nothing to close with now well hey I
nothing to close with now well hey I appreciate you guys inviting me out here
appreciate you guys inviting me out here
appreciate you guys inviting me out here and sharing my story and I hope that you
and sharing my story and I hope that you
and sharing my story and I hope that you guys will go check check out the video
guys will go check check out the video
guys will go check check out the video online that they made of us and helping
online that they made of us and helping
online that they made of us and helping hands dot-org dude check it out
hands dot-org dude check it out
hands dot-org dude check it out [Applause]
that was amazing
that was amazing oh we actually have a special surprise
oh we actually have a special surprise
oh we actually have a special surprise for you guys
for you guys
for you guys we brought out all the way from Boston
we brought out all the way from Boston
we brought out all the way from Boston the trainer and program director of
the trainer and program director of
the trainer and program director of helping hands
helping hands
helping hands so come on Ave again so we just want to
so come on Ave again so we just want to
so come on Ave again so we just want to ask like two quick questions about this
ask like two quick questions about this
ask like two quick questions about this cuz super cool so how long does it take
cuz super cool so how long does it take
cuz super cool so how long does it take to train one of these helping hands
to train one of these helping hands
to train one of these helping hands monkeys typically once the monkeys come
monkeys typically once the monkeys come
monkeys typically once the monkeys come to training in Boston it takes about
to training in Boston it takes about
to training in Boston it takes about three to five years to train each monkey
three to five years to train each monkey
three to five years to train each monkey and all monkeys are different just like
and all monkeys are different just like
and all monkeys are different just like everybody in this room so we really
everybody in this room so we really
everybody in this room so we really tailor the monkeys training to their own
tailor the monkeys training to their own
tailor the monkeys training to their own individual learning styles
individual learning styles
individual learning styles siggi is particularly bright and
siggi is particularly bright and
siggi is particularly bright and motivated like trav I heard there is
motivated like trav I heard there is
motivated like trav I heard there is like that C was special in one way do
like that C was special in one way do
like that C was special in one way do you want to explain that yeah Ziggy
you want to explain that yeah Ziggy
you want to explain that yeah Ziggy isn’t special in a number of different
isn’t special in a number of different
isn’t special in a number of different ways we’re not supposed to have favorite
ways we’re not supposed to have favorite
ways we’re not supposed to have favorite monkeys around helping hands but some of
monkeys around helping hands but some of
monkeys around helping hands but some of us think stick he’s pretty awesome but
us think stick he’s pretty awesome but
us think stick he’s pretty awesome but she’s a she’s a survivor just like trav
she’s a she’s a survivor just like trav
she’s a she’s a survivor just like trav she actually had a bout with breast
she actually had a bout with breast
she actually had a bout with breast cancer had a tumor that we removed with
cancer had a tumor that we removed with
cancer had a tumor that we removed with our awesome veterinarians and she’s been
our awesome veterinarians and she’s been
our awesome veterinarians and she’s been cancer free now for over ten years so
cancer free now for over ten years so
cancer free now for over ten years so she’s she’s doing great that’s super
she’s she’s doing great that’s super
she’s she’s doing great that’s super awesome
awesome
awesome well everyone give her a round of
well everyone give her a round of
well everyone give her a round of applause once again for Travis and Megan
applause once again for Travis and Megan
applause once again for Travis and Megan thank you guys
thank you guys
thank you guys [Applause]
”
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