About Us

ERIC’S STORY:

My name is Eric Boyer, proud father of three kids, an almost perfect husband, a fabulous son and a trusted and loyal friend to many.

On January 3rd, 2019, the script of my somewhat normal life got instantly flipped due to a terrible alpine ski accident that broke my back, several ribs which pierced my lungs, crushed my aorta and put me in a coma for over a week…

I survived but my new reality was quite different.

– However, I was alive!

Today I am paralyzed T7/8 with an incomplete spinal cord injury.

In the past couple of years, I have regained a notable amount of sensation and mobility and have even started walking with the assistance of my
therapists and mobility tools and devices. I started experiencing all of these blessings shortly after I made the conscious decision to make it happen for myself. Hence my new life motto and our foundations tag line:

– If it’s going to be, it’s up to me!

Thank you for your support,
Love Eric, family & friends

DAVID’S STORY:

My name is David Garfinkle and I have been quadriplegic for almost 10 years.

Before my injury, I was a hard-working divorced father of three children and a renowned early bird. I would wake up early, sneak out to the gym before my kids would wake up, go back home, take my kids to school and then I would spend the rest of my day helping to run the family business. I was living my life as normally as anyone else.

My family’s business was thriving and, as a result, we offered yearly incentivized trips to our top-ranking employees to show our appreciation for their efforts. In 2014, we took 60 couples to Hawaii to enjoy some well-earned relaxation and the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the island. On the program, was also, of course, the chance to surf.

On the 1 st morning of the trip, my partner and I chose the surfing option rather than a couples massage, and after a 30-minute lesson, I, alongside some others, was led to catch my very first waves ever. Tragically, the area chosen was too shallow and shortly upon climbing my board, I had an unforgiving fall and broke my back in 5 places…

– My fate, it seemed, was decided for me in an instance of sheer bad luck.

The ensuing 11 months were spent in 4 different hospitals feeling angry and trapped in my own body and repeatedly asking ‘WHY ME?’. The first 10 days, I was in-and-out of a coma during which I was flown from Maui to Montreal; a 12-hour flight that, to this day, I still have no recollection of.

I painstakingly watched how my injury caused worry and concern to those around me. However, it was my children who inspired me to stop asking ‘why me?’ and to start living again. I told them, letter by letter, while relearning to communicate:

– I’m going to die with this, but not FROM this!

It is also at this time that I took it upon myself to politely but incessantly ask to be exposed to everyday life by my recovery staff at the hospital; whether it was to go outside on a warm and sunny day or when it was below freezing and snowing. Slowly but steadily, I adopted and accepted my new normal.

However, this did not mean I was without goals or objectives!

Prior to last year, I was still just simply getting by with the limited resources available. I only learned how to manually drive my wheelchair, a goal which was no small feat, because I was lucky enough to afford non-stop physiotherapy. Then I met Eric and discovered the Neuro-Efficiency Foundation. Meeting Eric and being part of NEFF is the reason why I can now help others, including those who may be less fortunate than
myself!

My injury, as well as my journey before and since NEFF, have softened me up and made me a more compassionate person. It is my desire that we can help as many individuals with neurological injuries as possible regain a sense of hope, of love and of dignity with the support and services offered at NEFF.

Thank you for all of your support,
With warm regards, David and family!

Our Mission

At Neuro-Efficiency Foundation or NEFF, our not-for-profit mission is to make athletic and recreational services, as well as support and educational programs, accessible and affordable to any individual with a spinal cord injury, also known as a SCI injury. Our doors are also open to those who are living with a tetraplegia injury or quadriplegia injury or any other neurological injury and to their families. Our hope is that they can all experience a sense of mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, no matter their current circumstances.

NEFF recognizes the importance and value of YOUR time, agency and autonomy.

In the spinal injury rehabilitation journey, time is of the essence. Your time will never be wasted at our wellness center because we will make sure to capitalize every moment to reach your goals together.

Your life and your body remain under your control, even after a life-changing event and throughout your spinal injury rehabilitation journey. YOU have the agency, the power and the will to work towards your goals and we will be there, alongside you, to help you achieve them.

As a team, we will strive to ensure that you regain maximum autonomy and independence in your day-to-day activities.

At NEFF we pledge to educate, assist, and accompany you and your loved ones throughout the spinal injury rehabilitation journey, and in time, you may very well be standing by our foundations tag line: If it’s going to be, it’s up to me!