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Van Dyken-Rouen heading home ‘1,000 times better’

By WTOP Staff

PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken-Rouen rolled through the hospital doors in her sleek-looking purple wheelchair, her familiar smile on her face and her bubbly personality ready to be unleashed.

Just two months ago, she was guided through those same doors on a stretcher after being brought in by an ambulance– not knowing what to expect or how much progress she would make after a spinal cord injury.

The self-described “wheelie queen” has come a long way since then, feeling “1,000 times better” after her rehabilitation time at Craig Hospital.

“I feel so much more empowered,” Van Dyken-Rouen said Thursday as she left the hospital.

While at the facility, the six-time Olympic gold medalist learned how to drive with hand controls, dress herself and pick up things off the floor. She also went boating, climbed into a kayak and visited the zoo.

All part of the recovery for Van Dyken-Rouen, who was left paralyzed below the waist in an all-terrain vehicle crash on June 6 in Arizona. She’s ready to return home to Arizona, but will remain in Colorado until September.

Her immediate plans include visits with friends, some sailing and more rehab.

Oh, and a word of caution for anyone who’s thinking about knocking on her door — don’t.

“I’m going to relax,” she said. “I’m going to go somewhere where I don’t hear, ‘How are your vitals?’ ‘How’s your pain?’ ‘Are you sleeping?’

“I’m going to go somewhere where if someone knocks on my door I’m going to scream.”

The toughest thing about her therapy actually should’ve been the easiest — the swimming pool. Being in the pool for therapy sessions brought back many memories for Van Dyken-Rouen.

“I went in there as a spinal cord-injured individual. Supposed to be doing therapy,” Van Dyken-Rouen said. “But I’m not doing therapy. I’m swimming laps. They looked at me like, ‘This is not what we’re doing.’

“It was the pool. I’m there to do my work. I’m there to win another gold medal. But there’s other things I need to take care of first — I just had a traumatic injury.”

Throughout her ordeal, Van Dyken-Rouen has remained upbeat, even letting the world peek into her experiences via social media. She posted all the time, too, things like:

— “What a day.. Went swimming, then rode the hand bike for a while. I’ve done a duathalon today. Is that a Paralympic sport? Lol #Imkidding.”

— “Did a “high kneel” with a Swiss ball. So hard, but I’m so proud of myself! #bigStep.”

— “Who has two thumbs and gets to learn how to drive today?! Yup.. THIS GIRL! I feel like I’m 15 again. #cantWait #zoomzoom.”

— “Swimmin’. Felt good to be “normal” for a while. #fish #swimChick.”

“There have been a lot of tears shed, for sure. This is not easy,” Van Dyken-Rouen said. “I don’t want to portray the fact that because I had a smile on my face that it really is easy. It’s really not. It’s life changing.”

She said the most difficult part about Thursday was saying farewell to the staff and her fellow patients. She’s now one of 30,000 graduates of Craig Hospital.

“I’ve had some amazing people here,” Van Dyken-Rouen said. “They’ve really taught me a lot about the world.”

Once she returns to Arizona, her first stop is to get her driver’s license.

“I have been driving on the streets of Denver — safely,” she said. “So, you’re all OK. I’m going to feel like a free bird.”

Her husband, former Denver Broncos punter Tom Rouen, has been constantly by her side and said she’s “never let down through this whole thing.”

“It’s been amazing to watch her,” Tom Rouen said. “I’m excited for everything she’s going to do in the future.”

For now, that’s raising awareness of spinal cord injuries.

And wheelies. Lots and lots of wheelies in her wheelchair.

“I can wheelie everywhere,” Van Dyken-Rouen said. “It’s my favorite thing to do.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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