On a balmy mid-July morning, Jamie McAnsh found himself pausing on a log bench alongside Vancouver’s Grouse Grind trail. Having already ascended about halfway up the 2.5-kilometre route, which boasts a staggering 2,830 stairs, McAnsh took a moment to reflect on his journey. “Stairs have always been something I shy away from because they’ve always been hard,” he admitted, gesturing to the knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) strapped to his legs. “This doesn’t make it necessarily easy, but it does make it possible.” For McAnsh, the essence of possibility is the driving force behind his remarkable story of resilience and ambition.
A Life Transformed by Adversity
In his early thirties, McAnsh was thriving as a sales executive for a motorcycle company in Wales and enjoyed an active lifestyle filled with running and outdoor adventures. However, his life took a devastating turn on January 6, 2014. In the dead of night, he experienced a neurological spasm that resulted in significant nerve damage to his spine, leaving him partly paralysed from the waist down.
Diagnosed with bilateral lower-limb complex regional pain syndrome, McAnsh faced unimaginable challenges, including reliance on a cocktail of pain medications that once reached 16,000 milligrams daily. The pain was so crippling that it often hindered his mobility entirely. Initially using a wheelchair, he later transitioned to forearm crutches, all while holding onto the hope that he could reclaim his life.
Conquering New Heights
In 2022, setting an audacious goal, McAnsh completed an 11-day trek to Everest Base Camp using crutches. Soon after, he targeted a new challenge: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. To prepare for the physical demands of such an ascent, he sought an innovative mobility solution, ultimately discovering the KAFO developed by French company Thuasne.
With its unique design, this device allowed him to regain a sense of independence that crutches and wheelchairs could not provide. “I basically just said, ‘Look, I’m climbing Kilimanjaro, and I want to do it in those structures, and I want to work with you,’” he recounted. Just eight weeks later, McAnsh was scaling Kilimanjaro, defying expectations and demonstrating the extraordinary potential of assistive technology.
The Everest Challenge Ahead
Fast forward to today, McAnsh is now preparing for his ultimate goal: summiting Mount Everest in 2028. His recent training included tackling the Grouse Grind, where he is testing a new version of the KAFO, the SpryStep Agilik, developed in collaboration with Vancouver-based Bionic Power. This advanced device incorporates cutting-edge technology, including sensors and motors that adapt to the user’s movements, providing tailored support and enhancing mobility for those with leg impairments.
The Agilik is a breakthrough in orthotic design, offering a lightweight alternative to traditional, cumbersome exoskeletons. It is equipped with a battery pack and an app to monitor gait and performance, making it suitable for various conditions, including cerebral palsy and recovery from strokes. However, while the device can be reimbursed in countries like the United States and Germany, McAnsh faces challenges in Canada, where a streamlined reimbursement process is lacking. Fortunately, he has secured a sponsorship deal with Bionic Power and Thuasne, making the Agilik accessible for his training.
As he prepares for Everest, McAnsh’s journey is not just about personal achievement; it’s also about raising awareness. “My story is not unique. There are people who feel imprisoned by their conditions,” he stated, emphasising the importance of showcasing what is possible with the right technology. “Getting them to know that this kit exists gives them hope.”
Why it Matters
McAnsh’s determination and the innovative technology that supports him shed light on the potential for individuals with disabilities to achieve extraordinary feats. His journey underscores the importance of accessibility in assistive devices and the need for a supportive infrastructure that empowers individuals to pursue their dreams. With every ascent, McAnsh not only pushes his own limits but also paves the way for others, demonstrating that with resilience and the right tools, the impossible can become possible.