About the Author: Kevin Cleary

Hi there, my name is Kevin Cleary. I was born in Westchester County in 1966 on December 3. I lived there until 1973 when my family moved. I graduated from high school in 1984 and then attended college in New Jersey, where I graduated with a marketing degree in 1988. Upon graduating, I worked with Enterprise Rent a Car doing sales for two years after which I joined the New York Telephone Company as a field technician. Growing up and through adulthood I was very active in many different sports including football, soccer, softball, and ice hockey amongst others. In 1995 I married my long time girlfriend Robin and in 1996 we moved to Connecticut. In 2000 we welcomed a son into the world. He has grown up to be a great kid!! In April 2006 I was injured jumping on a trampoline with my son and injured my neck to the point where I am a quadriplegic. Things changed rather rapidly after that and I was forced to learn things about the medical product field that I would otherwise not have known. After several years of therapy I have been able to determine which medical accessories are effective for my condition such as wheelchairs, standing frames, neuromuscular stimulators, as well as other rehab/therapy items. I have worked with doctors, therapists, and other patients to determine what will be right for me. While working with my therapists, we sometimes would design something while thinking outside of the box to make something work. Some of this work that I have done have been utilized for patients other than me. This hands-on insight has helped me with research that I have done for HPFY. Although my condition limits me, I try to get out as often as I can. I enjoy sampling cuisines from different countries not to mention a good glass of single malt scotch!! I try to keep up with the sports that I used to follow even though I can’t participate in them. I still enjoy listening to music from around the world and a good comedy always makes me laugh. I like to think that I am technologically competent, since my job with the phone company was technically based (working with multiplexers, digital systems, and computers).