Spinal Cord Injury Research

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!

NeuroHope Receives $75,000 State Grant

October 26, 2023/in General Blog Posts, Homepage/by Jacqueline Goldstein

We are thrilled to announce a two-year grant from the Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Fund that will track the health and hospital re-admittance rates of NeuroHope patients.

People living with paralysis must overcome much more than the ability to move. Pressure sores, urinary tract infections, muscle contractures, and other complications from inactivity send 30% of patients to the hospital at least once per year, and cost the healthcare system thousands of dollars every time.

On November 1, we begin work with the University of Indianapolis to monitor how often NeuroHope patients are afflicted with or hospitalized with these conditions, compared to the national average of people with neurologic injury.

Providing an atmosphere of access for the programs patients need to stay healthy remains a core principle of what we do. This grant will help tell the story of the lives we change, and will strengthen our mission to revamp the standard of care in Indiana and beyond!

Tag Archive for: Spinal Cord Injury Research