Success Story – NeuroHope

Client Spotlight: Evan Brandstatter

November 20, 2024/in Success Story/by Chris Leeuw

In August of 2024, 15 year-old Evan Brandstastter sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury due to complications from a surgery.
In the video below, Occupational Therapist Elizabeth Parr and OT student Sally use a unique form of Trancutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TSS) to work on core strength, balance and functional recovery, then Physical Therapist Will Roark takes him into the Hydroworx pool to work on gait and jumping.

Unlike traditional electrical stimulation that places electrodes on and stimulates the muscles, TSS places electrodes directly on the spine, and on the abdomen to stimulate the central nervous system system. With the stimulation turned on Evan reports increased control in his steps and movements, and carry over after the stimulation is off!

His Goal: Navigating the halls at school easier, and returning to the golf course. LETS GO EVAN!!

Client Spotlight: Gabe Magee

February 7, 2024/in Success Story/by Jacqueline Goldstein

Against all odds, Gabe Magee survived a horrific car accident on November 17, 2022. While driving his truck, Gabe hit a patch of black ice, causing his truck to roll several times, throwing him to the back floorboard of his truck. Thankfully, his friend was on the scene and was able to contact 9-1-1 and keep him calm until paramedics arrived. Miraculously, Gabe was conscious when the emergency crew pulled him from the twisted metal and shattered glass. They transported Gabe to Methodist Hospital, where it was discovered that he sustained a spinal cord injury. Gabe had surgery on his neck and the surgeon removed a herniated disc from Gabe’s spine and installed a spacer, plate, and screws.

Gabe was no stranger to the nuances of neurologic conditions and disorders. Gabe was born with a Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of his vertebrae) in his neck around his C3/C4 vertebrae which happened to be where he sustained the injury from his car accident.

After a week at Methodist Hospital, Gabe began his recovery journey at Community North Rehab and was there for six weeks. His therapist at Community North Rehab highly recommended that Gabe plan to continue his therapy at NeuroHope after being released to go home. After a short waitlist, Gabe continued his rehab at NeuroHope and has been progressing wonderfully in his recovery since.

Gabe’s experience with the team at NeuroHope has been very positive. He is grateful for the support he receives and he’s thankful for the assistance NeuroHope has provided with his rehab, even after his insurance coverage ran out. Gabe loves the welcoming and encouraging environment at NeuroHope.

Client Spotlight: Greg Schmoll

February 7, 2024/in Success Story/by Jacqueline Goldstein

On July 7, 2023, in a surreal sequence of unfortunate events, Greg Schmoll, dropped his phone and he believes that in the process of reaching around to pick up his phone, he had a bout of AFib. This resulted in Greg losing consciousness, falling forward, hitting his head, and breaking the C2 and C3 vertebra in his neck. Greg was completely paralyzed from his shoulders down. He could move his shoulders and head but had no feeling from his armpits down. He went to the IU Critical Care Spine Unit and had surgery to fuse vertebras C-2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in his spine. A few days later, Greg slowly regained some feeling back in his body post-surgery. After a week on the spinal unit, Greg was transferred to RHI (Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana) for rehabilitation.

Greg’s daughter began searching for a new rehab center for the next phase of Greg’s recovery journey. They learned more about NeuroHope through their search and determined that it was the right place for Greg. Greg began physical therapy at NeuroHope and he has been very happy with his therapy team. Greg has gained knowledge from his team and made physical improvements since beginning his rehab at NeuroHope. Greg’s goal is ultimately to get back to where he was before he was injured, but he is realistic about his journey and realizes that progress and recovery takes time. He is grateful for the improvement in his mobility, and he is committed to continue making progress every day.

Greg describes the environment at NeuroHope as a “club” and he feels it is both mentally and physically uplifting. Greg believes that NeuroHope is probably the best facility in Indianapolis.

Client Spotlight: Patrick Sanders

February 7, 2024/in Success Story/by Jacqueline Goldstein

A summer bike ride with his wife quickly turned into a tragic accident last June, when Patrick Sanders’s wheel detached from his bicycle. Patrick lost control of his bicycle, crashing face-first into the ground. Patrick was Life Lined to St. Vincent hospital and underwent surgery for his spinal cord injury. He was at St. Vincent for approximately five weeks, then transferred to RHI (Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana) for rehabilitation for additional five weeks before being released to go home. Patrick started outpatient therapy at RHI and then started NeuroHope for occupational therapy in August/September 2023.

Patrick’s goal is to be as functional as he can be with the spinal cord injury he sustained. Ultimately, Patrick would like to get everything he had before back. He realizes this may not be realistic, but that is what he is shooting for. He is working on regaining his independence.

Patrick advises that anybody starting this “odyssey” needs to be prepared and you must be mentally strong. He describes this as both a mentally and physically challenging injury and recovery process. He explains that everything changes day to day, and you can’t get down, you must constantly be positive about your outcome. Patrick tries to look to where he wants to be and every step he takes, he knows he is going to get there. He realizes it is difficult to stay positive every day, but that is the attitude he believes you must possess.

Client Spotlight: Laura Burdick

January 23, 2024/in General Blog Posts, Success Story/by Jacqueline Goldstein

In the height of the Covid pandemic, yoga instructor and The Hot Room manager Laura Burdick, was traveling to Chicago to open a new yoga studio. She was thrilled to open a new Hot Room location and get people back into yoga studios, after months of quarantine. Laura’s journey to Chicago quickly turned her life upside down when her car was struck by a drunk driver. Laura sustained a spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury from this tragic accident.

After two months of healing in the ICU, Laura began her recovery at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago. As in many recovery stories, Laura’s journey did not stop there. After a couple of months of recovery at Shirley Ryan, she left to continue her recovery in Omaha, Nebraska at QLI to participate in their in-patient brain injury rehabilitation program. She spent nine months at QLI before moving back to Indianapolis.

When Laura returned to Indianapolis, she was motivated and encouraged to relentlessly push to achieve new goals. She engaged in rehab at RHI briefly before transitioning to NeuroHope. At NeuroHope, Laura has been working with Neuro Exercise Specialist Steven Boswer for approximately a year and a half. She has been working with Steven on her tricep strength, core strength, mobility, and stability. Laura appreciates Steven’s creativity and commitment to helping her achieve her goals. Laura recently had a nerve transfer surgery on her left arm to gain more mobility and she is excited to begin OT with NeuroHope’s Occupational Therapy team soon!

Laura has become an important part of NeuroHope’s peer mentor team, and she offers health coaching services to the NeuroHope community! Laura’s advice to everyone is to take really good care of yourself, some challenge will always pop up in your life and you will wish you had been taking care of yourself. Take care of yourself because you deserve it!

Client Spotlight: Michael “Mike” Whiteside

October 12, 2023/in Success Story/by Jacqueline Goldstein

Client Spotlight Video! Today we’re shining the spotlight on NeuroHope client Michael “Mike” Whiteside!

In this video Mike discusses his spinal cord injury that occurred in 2021 and his road to recovery at NeuroHope. He explains how the staff at NeuroHope met him where he was at mentally and wanted to know how he was doing emotionally.

He touches on how his military background has shaped him to be a very structured person and how the NeuroHope team helped him create a structured plan of action for his paralysis recovery. Mike shares that there is hope and NeuroHope has given him confirmation that he has a future and it does not stop here. Check out Mike’s inspiring video here…

Client Spotlight: Sam Schultz

July 19, 2023/in Success Story/by Jacqueline Goldstein

NeuroHope client Sam Schultz sustained a brain injury from a 2016 mountain biking accident in Colorado. After 3 1/2 months of rehabilitation at Craig Hospital, Sam came home to Indiana in need of continued care. She first came to NeuroHope in 2018 and has been a regular in our gym ever since progressing from physical therapy, to personal training sessions and is now a workout warrior in our wellness program.

Sam inspires us all with her words: “Continue to grow. Do not give up. You can do it – You’ve just got to do it.” Sam has set big goals for herself and she shares how NeuroHope has helped better herself. Watch her story here:

Caregiver Spotlight: The Green’s Story

July 17, 2023/in Success Story/by Jacqueline Goldstein

Michele Green is the wife of NeuroHope client Steve Green. In this video, she shares her unique perspective as a family member and caregiver of someone who has suffered from a stroke that resulted in paralysis.

Caregivers and support systems play a crucial role in recovery. Michele discusses how the NeuroHope team has supported and given her family hope during her husband’s recovery and rehabilitation. Listen to Michele’s insightful words here…

Client Spotlight: Chuck Knox

March 28, 2023/in Success Story/by Chris Leeuw

By Barry Moore, Neuro Exercise Specialist

On a summer afternoon in 2019, Chuck Knox was at home when he fell down the stairs. Chuck was unable to move his arms or legs. Initially, he thought it was the shock of the fall but soon came to realize it was more serious. His wife, Shari, called an ambulance and he was transported to the hospital. An MRI showed that Chuck had Central Cord Syndrome, an incomplete, cervical spinal cord injury. Chuck underwent surgery receiving several rods and screws to stabilize the vertebrae in his neck, as well as getting a C3-C6 fusion. After about 5 days of post-operative care, Chuck was discharged from the acute care hospital and sent to a rehabilitation hospital.

As an inpatient, Chuck received three hours of therapy several days a week focusing on improving his range of motion and learning how to transfer from his power wheelchair to a bed. After just 22 days, Chuck was discharged, when he ran out of insurance coverage.

Chuck’s home was not accessible enough for his needs, so it was recommended to him that he go to a skilled nursing facility. After just eight days at the facility, Chuck and Sherri decided to relocate to a different facility that could better meet his needs. At his second skilled nursing facility, Chuck engaged in physical therapy to work on improving his range of motion and received electrical stimulation on his arms. Chuck developed a urinary tract infection (UTI) while inpatient at his second facility, which led to a ten-day hospital stay after he developed sepsis. Chuck and his wife made the choice to relocate to a third facility. Third time was a charm. At his third skilled nursing facility, Chuck received PT and exercise. Sadly, after just 4 weeks, Medicare was no longer able to cover his stay as he “plateaued in his recovery”.

Chuck and Shari modified their home to make it more accessible for Chuck’s mobility and self-care needs. He moved back home in October 2019, just 4 months after his accident. At the start of the year in 2020, Chuck’s Medicare benefits were restored, and he started back with outpatient Occupation Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT), and took part in some research and self-pay programs. In the spring of 2020, COVID struck and Chuck’s rehab came to a halt once again. Thankfully, at the end of 2020, Chuck resumed outpatient therapy and was referred to NeuroHope by one of his providers.

In January of 2021, Chuck started attending NeuroHope for PT and has since transitioned into guided exercise to work on his strength, endurance, overall mobility, and recently started with OT, as well. Chuck looks forward to coming to his sessions at NeuroHope and hopes to take part in future research studies. He is very social and loves the personal interactions with the staff and other NeuroHope community members. Chuck plans on rejoining his local gym to continue improving his fitness more independently. He believes he has the skills and confidence now to use their equipment and facilities with little help.

Having been told that 3 months after his accident, he had plateaued in his recovery, Chuck and Shari didn’t give up hope. Today, Chuck walks in and out of NeuroHope using his rollator and has made huge strides in improving his quality of life at home and in the community. He walks daily and catches up with his friends on the golf course; for now, as a ride-along coach, but hopes to be soon swinging a club himself. He is also an active member of several non-profit organizations in the Indianapolis area and enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter and grandkids!

We are honored to be part of Chuck’s recovery and proud of the resiliency Chuck has shown. We are excited to see his continued progress both in and out of our clinic.

Client Spotlight: Olivia Garrison

March 2, 2023/in Success Story/by Chris Leeuw

By Lydia Miner, PTA

Olivia Garrison’s life changed forever on April 16th 2022. Less than two months away from her high school graduation, Olivia and her friends were involved in a devasting car crash. She was airlifted to the hospital with severe injuries: a lacerated liver and spleen, torn aorta, broken sternum, broken vertebrae (T1-T9), and a damaged spinal cord that left her paralyzed from the chest down.

The next day, Olivia underwent a 6-hour surgery to repair her broken back. Three days later, she woke up in need of a ventilator to breathe. It would be another five days before her lungs were strong enough to remove the ventilator so she could communicate with her family. She remained in the ICU for 24 days before transferring to a unit of the hospital where she could begin her road to recovery and gain strength to transfer to a rehabilitation hospital.

One month after the accident, Olivia was stable enough to transfer to Community North Rehabilitation Hospital in Indianapolis, where her daily regimen of physical and occupational therapy could begin. For 28 days, she worked with the therapy team at Community to regain her strength and learn how to best navigate her new physical situation. The highlight of her stay was on May 27th when she was able to briefly leave the hospital and attend her high school graduation with the rest of her class.

In June, after nearly a month at the rehabilitation hospital, she was discharged home. Even though she was happy to be home, she knew she needed more therapy and more assistance to continue her recovery. She had made great strides, but was still weak and could only remain upright for a few moments at a time. She was still in a great deal of pain from her injuries, and was in a constant battle with pressure sores. Since she’s been home many of the complications relating to a neurologic injury have continued, including a bone infection, a blood clot, and multiple urinary tract infections.

In June of 2022 Olivia heard about NeuroHope from a therapist, as a unique place to continue the specialized therapy she needed after hospital discharge. She soon enrolled in our therapy and exercise programs – and in the months since, her hard work and smiling face has been a constant in our gym!

It takes months, and sometimes years to maximize recovery from neurologic injury – far more than insurance and traditional healthcare allows, and Olivia’s continued progress inspires us all. She has improved tremendously during her time at NeuroHope, conquering seated balance, floor transfers and standing tolerance.

She’s not done yet! She continues to gain strength as she approaches the one-year mark of her injury, and she works tirelessly with our physical therapy, occupational therapy, and exercise teams. She is an inspiration to all whose lives have changed following a neurological injury, sharing her light with support and encouragement.

Keep it up Liv!