Hello. My name is Jeff Dellovade and welcome to my blog.
I’m a husband, father, son, brother, friend, engineer, athlete, and I’m also a C7 quadriplegic. I’ve amassed 27 years of life experience dealing and living with this disability and I would be humbled to share with you the lessons I have learned and the issues that I fought to overcome in the hopes of enabling others to excel beyond their limitations.
I live in Canonsburg, PA (about 20 miles southwest of Pittsburgh) with my wife Beth, our daughter Abbey and our new puppy, Mr. Brownstone.
At the age of 24, just days after completing my master’s degree in mechanical engineering, I was in a motor vehicle accident leaving me a C7 quadriplegic. Not to be deterred, I completed my rehabilitation, returned to work as a structural engineer and began participating in various adaptive sports.
The first ten years of post-injury life were successful by anyone’s definition. I was married, with a child, held a full-time job, was accomplished in my marathoning and generally healthy. The next 17 years are comprised of approximately 13 surgeries ranging from muscle flaps to amputations, prolonged recoveries and rehabilitations and all the physical and mental anguish that goes along with it. I would like to share some of the events from this journey, what I have learned from all of this, what I am trying to do to keep others from having to endure the same hardships and how we can still live a life fulfilled.
Want more? You can find me on Facebook and Twitter. You can also reach me directly here.
Most importantly, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit this site and read my ramblings. It means the world to me and I wouldn’t be here without you.
What I Do
Athlete
In my younger days I was an avid wheelchair marathoner. These days I can still be found out on the local trails putting in the miles on my handcycle with my family and friends.
Professional
I am a structural engineer by trade who owns and runs my own consulting business that provides detailing, drafting, design and analysis services specializing in building envelope enclosure systems.
Dreamer
I can also be found nurturing my inner rock star by trying to play the guitar. The effort is noble while the outcome is satisfying, if not acoustically pleasing to the listener.