Let me just say, in reference to the permanence of these effects we will eventually suffer, if we dont already: I was born with a congenital neural tube defect of my spinal cord. After multiple surgeries throughout my childhood, they finally got the tether under control, but most of my lwer body muscles were severaly affected, and for most of 2nd and 3rd grade, I was wheelchair bound. I was told I would be in that chair indefiitely, that my condition would deterioate until i could no longer walk and became a paraplegic. Well, fast forward over 10 years later, and I'm not only walking, I'm actively pursuing PT to further improve my muscular fucntion. In a part of my leg that had long been assumed totally nerve-dead, we recently discovered a tendon that can still be moved voluntarily. There is no limit for me in this. It will take lots of time and work, but as time goes on, medical science improves, and more hopes appear. The point of this is: In medicine, look at nothing as permanent except death. The human spirit is an incredible force, and we are proving doctors wrong about what we "cant ever do again", and what "can never heal or be fixed". Dont give up hope! There is ALWAYS a chance. We can prove doctors wrong and do amazing things we never thought we'd be able to. I'm living proof.
