Jeniffer Mathews: With the push of a button, something amazing happens. Les Kirk is beating all odds and a spinal cord injury.
Les Kirk Paraplegic: Before I even talked to the doctors, I couldn't move my legs.
Jeniffer Mathews: He may not be riding motor cross anymore, but walking these stairs is a different type of excitement for Les, and for Doctor Randall Betz.
Randal Betz: It makes all the years of research work and then all the dollars that the Shriners so generously put forth, really worth it.
Jeniffer Mathews: Les has an implanted receiver with an external antenna. Wires connect the electrodes located on his muscles. When activated, electrical stimulation forces his muscles to contract or relax in a specific pattern.
Randal Betz: Just as you and I would do except that instead of us doing it by our brain, it's being done by a computer.
Jeniffer Mathews: And unlike a typical person, Les' muscles stay stimulated until the device is deactivated, limiting how far he can go.
Randal Betz: What stops them from going 200 feet or 500 feet is they're exhausted. It's like you or I running a hundred yard dash.
Jeniffer Mathews: Les had to work hard to strengthen his muscles so he can do more, but it's safe to say he's mastered the technology enough to do daily activities. As well as some activities he thought he'd be forced to give up.
Les Kirk: I ride my four wheeler standing up and stuff. That's pretty neat.
Jeniffer Mathews: Neat and incredible. This is Jeniffer Mathews reporting.
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