Movin’ On THE LATEST FROM CRAIG HOSPITAL
Vol. 32, No. 1 • 2016
Taking life head-on: one family’s story 6
Operation TBI Freedom comes to Craig 4 Expanded services for outpatients 10 Craig Hospital PUSH sets record Alumni stories + more
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Letter from the president Movin’ On is published two times a year by Craig Hospital in an effort to share the stories of the patients and families who pass through our doors. Craig Hospital sees patients from nearly every state each year. It is our hope to inspire and educate people about catastrophic injury, prevention and care. Craig Hospital is licensed by the state of Colorado and accredited by The Joint Commission. Craig Hospital is located in Englewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. It is world-renowned for specialty rehabilitation and research for patients with spinal cord injury and brain injury. PRESIDENT Michael L. Fordyce MEDICAL DIRECTOR Thomas E. Balazy, MD EDITOR Lisa Stites CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jordan Ames Spencer Fortier Alannah Smith PHOTOGRAPHER Kayla Lawson DESIGN The Write Design
Dear Friends, What a difference a few years make. If you haven’t been back to Craig in a while, I hope you can make a trip back to see how much has changed. We’ve talked a lot about Craig’s dramatic revitalization and expansion project in the past few issues of Movin’ On, because we are extremely proud that our new clinical spaces, therapy gyms and patient rooms now better reflect Craig’s innovative spirit and world-class patient care. When the construction project is completed in September, Craig will have added approximately 85,000 square feet of new space, renovated approximately 135,000 square feet of existing space in its West Building, and connected the West and East buildings to create a unified campus with a cul-de-sac main entrance and an accessible garden plaza area. Our staff and patients have taken in stride the ever-changing logistics that come with a construction project. We’re almost there. This September, we will showcase and celebrate the success of the project with a ribbon cutting, and acknowledge the thoughtful donors who made it possible. The campaign, which was launched quietly in the fall of 2010 and announced publicly in May 2013, was the largest fundraising effort in Craig’s 109-year history. Donors gave $50 million to bring the quality of our physical facilities in line with the world-class staff, patient outcomes and level of care Craig provides to its patients and their families. As we open the doors to this new building, we will also launch a new brand identity that better conveys Craig’s story to the world. We are looking forward to this next chapter in Craig’s history and what it means for the Craig family. I want to assure you that while our building has changed, we are still Craig at heart. The changes at Craig are thoughtful and reflective of our passion for the people we serve. We are looking to the future with you in mind, and we are committed to finding ways to improve the lives of people living with spinal cord and brain injury. Sincerely,
On the cover: Craig Hospital grad Jordan Ostlund and his wife, Lexi, take some time to share their story. © 2016, Craig Hospital 3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113-2811 303.789.8000 www.craighospital.org
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Mike Fordyce President and CEO Linda and Don Childears, chairs of the 2016 Craig Hospital PUSH, are flanked by Mary Feller, executive director of the Craig Hospital Foundation, and Craig CEO Mike Fordyce. See page 20.
Contents
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Taking life head-on Craig news
Craig is a national center of excellence that provides specialized and comprehensive rehabilitation and research for individuals and their families who are affected by spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Craig is a federally designated SCI and TBI Model System by NIDRR and a Magnet® Recognized Hospital, 2005–2010, 2010– 2015 and 2015–2020. Craig treats patients from nearly every state each year. Craig is a nonprofit, freestanding hospital committed to providing the highest-quality treatment available. Our staff commitment and expertise, clinical excellence, state-of-the-art facilities and programs, and personal caring make us uniquely qualified to meet this commitment.
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Returning as a staff member
Operation TBI Freedom comes to Craig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Welcome Craig’s new medical director of research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Best place to work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staff honored with world premiere of High Fives Foundation film . . . . . . . . . . . Celebrating Bike Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Advancements
Expanding Outpatient Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Restaurant Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Foundation
Funds in focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Craig Hospital PUSH raises record $1.8 million . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Alumni
Profile: Bryan D’Albey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Alumni updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Coming up
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation • Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Programs • Inpatient Ventilator Dependent and Weaning Programs • Outpatient Re-evaluation Programs • Outpatient Therapy and Follow-up Clinic Services • Medical and Surgical Programs • Rehabilitative Neurosurgical Programs Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Rehabilitation • Inpatient Brain Injury Rehabilitation • Outpatient Brain Injury Programs PEAK Center at Craig Hospital • Wellness and Fitness Center SCI and TBI Research • Federally designated Model System for SCI and TBI by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research (NIDRR) • TBI Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center Craig Hospital Foundation • Supporting Craig Hospital’s patients, programs and facilities If you are interested in making a patient referral to Craig, please contact Laura Brown, admissions director, at 303-789-8344 or admissions@ craighospital.org. If you would like to make a donation or would like information about planned giving, please contact the Craig Hospital Foundation office at 303-789-8650.
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CRAIG NEWS
New program for veterans and service members with traumatic brain injury Craig Hospital welcomes new medical director of research On April 1, 2016, Leslie Morse, DO, joined Craig Hospital as the medical director of research. Dr. Morse relocated from Boston, where she was the project director for the Spaulding Harvard Spinal Cord Injury Model System and the associate director of research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Morse is a physiatrist by training, and her clinical and research focus has been on the care of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Her major Dr. Morse research interests are in bone health after SCI. She has authored more than 40 publications, and has an extensive teaching and presentation history, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Morse has developed a successful and fully funded research program and excels as an independent research investigator. Craig Hospital is excited to have Dr. Morse enhance its research portfolio with new opportunities toward the mission of improving the outcomes of individuals with SCI.
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Operation TBI Freedom (OTF), formerly a program of Rocky Mountain Human Services, became a program of Craig Hospital on April 4, 2016. OTF is located in Colorado Springs and provides support for veterans and active duty military personnel with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The program offers non-clinical case management services including crisis management, mental health referrals, classes, and emergency assistance for food and housing needs for veterans with traumatic brain injury. OTF supports many service members from Fort Carson. In the past eight years, the nonprofit has assisted more than 1,300 service members.
Services • Crisis management • Mentoring • Emergency financial assistance for food and housing needs • Employment training • Parenting classes • Mental health referrals • Assistance navigating complicated benefit processes • Medical care • Assistive technology devices
To learn more about Operation TBI Freedom, visit craighospital.org/otf
Watch the video
Staff honored with world premiere of High Fives Foundation film Best place to work Craig Hospital once again was named on The Denver Post’s Best Place to Work list. The Denver Post annually recognizes companies and organizations as Top Workplaces based solely on surveys about the workplace completed by their employees. The Denver Post says its Top Workplaces are not only better places to work but more likely to be successful than peer organizations.
On April 18, 2016, Roy Tuscany, executive director and co-founder of High Fives Foundation, visited Craig with his team to speak about the amazing partnership between High Fives and Craig Hospital and to provide Craig staff the opportunity to be the first in the world to see their short film about Craig grad Jim Harris. Immediately following the event at Craig, High Fives released the film publicly.
Watch the film
Bike Week Craig celebrated Bike Week May 2–7, 2016, with a number of activities, including a handcycling fitting and ride session for inpatients and grads, with help from Top End Handcycle, and a trike race for staff.
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Taking life head-on One family’s story of life after SCI
Watch the video
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Nestled in the rolling prairie hills of rural Wyoming — where oil, coal and antelope reign — is the city of Gillette. It’s a small, tough town, where pickup trucks are the vehicle of choice. It’s the kind of place where kids walk to school unencumbered with parents and worry. As you walk Main Street, you’ll notice a “Stay Strong Gillette” sign on the door of every business — a quiet show of solidarity for the jobs and businesses lost to the recent downturn in the oil and coal business. Jordan and Lexi Ostlund have deep roots in this community. Their families moved to the Gillette area many generations ago. The couple grew up here, and today they own a real estate business. They pride themselves on helping others become homeowners. They are living the American dream — one that was hard-fought. Chapter One The Ostlunds met in middle school, struck up a friendship in high school, and continued an up-and-down, long-distance relationship. Jordan was 21 years old when he and Lexi decided to make their relationship a forever type of thing. After three years of long distance, they settled in Bismarck, North Dakota, where Jordan planned to finish his last year of school and a college career in pole vaulting. Their lives had finally come together in one place. Until everything fell apart. Three weeks after they had finally started living in the same town, Lexi got the call. Jordan had been hurt, and it was really bad. She couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening until she heard the sirens. She lived only a few miles from the gym. Jordan Ostlund and his wife, Lexi, work together in their real estate business in Gillette, WY. Jordan plays with son Crew in their home.
You have a choice of lying down and letting the challenge run you over or taking it head-on. —Lexi Ostlund “I obviously knew at that point that life changed pretty quickly right then,” she says. Even today, more than 10 years later, it’s still emotional for her to think back to that particular day. Jordan was doing gymnastics training, a common conditioning for pole vaulting. While jumping on a trampoline, Jordan lost his orientation in the air and landed on his head and neck. He heard a loud pop, and when he bounced up again and tried to position his arms for a land, he couldn’t move. He had sustained a C5-level spinal cord injury.
Chapter Two Two weeks after his injury, Jordan came to Craig Hospital. “I don’t think it hit right away that things were going to be that drastically different, because it’s all so new. I don’t remember thinking this is it, this is going to be my reality, because I felt like, ‘oh, I’m going to make a full recovery,’” says Jordan. For Lexi, coming to Craig was a quick reality check. She says, “I had never seen him in a wheelchair, and I didn’t ever envision it until I got to Craig and it
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hit me as soon as I walked into the doors and saw everyone in chairs at this point. That’s when it hit me, okay, we’re on a new journey.” Jordan says there were times when he was angry. “In the beginning I had a tough attitude, and I would look at my chair, and I would see my powerchair across from my bedroom and I would think, that thing is like a prison. It’s hard to think about even getting in that thing again. As things began to get better I started to look at the chair as a vehicle. That was my mobility. Instead of my prison, it was my freedom. It was a way to get out to be independent.” Over the next few months at Craig Hospital, the couple formed lasting relationships with fellow inpatients and staff. And the bond between the two of them continued to grow.
“There were times when I struggled and I tried not to show it to anybody, but Lexi obviously did see those times and she knew when I needed to be held onto and talked to, and she knew when I needed to have a reality check of how fortunate I was to be in the position I was. It could always be a lot worse,” says Jordan.
Facing new challenges Going home to Gillette, one of the many roadblocks the Ostlunds faced was getting Jordan back to work after his injury.
Lexi and Jordan acquired tools for living a new life outside of Craig.
“I felt like I wasn’t going to have any problem getting a job,” he says.
“I can’t think of what it would be like not to have gone to Craig, where you are so well prepared for what there is to face outside when you leave,” says Jordan. “They’re just second to none as far as the preparation they give you. So we had that team going for us.”
But he did.
After leaving Craig, Jordan pursued his MBA.
After three discouraging interviews, the Ostlunds regrouped. They considered their options and decided to go into business together. Lexi’s real estate business was booming, and she needed help. As it turned out, Jordan was just the man for the job. “Looking back, I don’t think I would have been happy in any of those positions,” says Jordan. “I absolutely enjoy coming to work every day. Not only do I get to sit next to my best friend, but we also get to serve people in a capacity that’s very large in their lives,” he says.
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Lexi echoes Jordan’s sentiment. “To have Jordan come in a few years later and to grow to where we are now has been amazing. There are always challenges when you have your own business. Having him there, it’s another person to bounce ideas off of or to share things that we are going through, and it’s been so rewarding.” When it felt like things were finally coming together, the Ostlunds hit another road bump. After figuring out their careers, the couple faced yet another hurdle — starting the family they had always dreamed about. Spinal cord injury affects male fertility, and in order to get pregnant the couple had to go through IVF treatment. For Lexi, the difficulty getting pregnant presented a whole new wave of pain and emotion. “That’s a huge emotional roller coaster. I think that was even more of a challenge than going through his injury to a certain degree. Obviously the injury is life changing, but when you want a child so badly, and knowing the struggles it takes to get there, that’s hard.” The couple is open and honest about their rocky road to pregnancy. The first attempt didn’t work out, but then came Anderson. “It’s that moment when you first see them, you first hold them, that you realize how much bigger everything is. You realize there is this whole world you never could even fathom. It’s just a love that comes that is just unworldly,” says Jordan. From left: Jordan at his desk at Ostlund Real Estate–RE/MAX Professionals; Jordan and Lexi at home with their boys Anderson, Crew and Creed. Above right: Jordan helps twins Creed and Crew out of their beds.
As things began to get better I started to look at the chair as my mobility. Instead of my prison, it was my freedom. —Jordan Ostlund, ‘04, Gillette, Wyoming
Jordan says he was excited about being a dad, but had fears of how his injury might affect his son. He wondered if his son would feel like he was missing out on doing father-son things like playing catch, but Anderson quickly put his fears to rest. Two years after Anderson was born, Lexi and Jordan tried for No.2, which ended up being Nos. 2 and 3. Creed and Crew were born two years ago. “Second to marriage, children are the blessing in the world. And everything that we do at work, we love what we do, we’re passionate about helping people and serving people, but everything we do is because of them,” Jordan says.
The Ostlunds know they have it good. They are employed, and they have a beautiful family and a beautiful home. They have made a beautiful life after a life-altering injury. “Leaning into one another, faith in each other and faith in God have just brought us to a point where I don’t feel like there is anything we can’t take on. It’s having someone just to rely on through anything, and you know they are going to be there. It’s never a question that you are going to have to face this on your own. You just know that no matter what, we’ll be there,” says Jordan. Lexi adds, “Every day we have a choice, what attitude we choose; every challenge, you have a choice of lying down and letting the challenge run you over or taking it head-on.”
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Each day an average of 75 new and former patients with spinal cord or brain injury come to Craig for outpatient services. The increasing need for specialized care and follow-up services spurred the renovation and expansion of Craig’s Outpatient Clinic.
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ADVANCEMENTS
Expanding outpatient services Over the past few years, Craig has seen a 40% growth in outpatient services. Each day an average of 75 new and former patients with spinal cord or brain injury come to Craig for outpatient services including outpatient therapy, interdisciplinary outpatient evaluations (IOE) and clinic visits. “Medical issues that are not properly managed can lead to serious health complications and hospitalizations,” says Cindy Lawson, director of outpatient services. “Our outpatient programs give individuals living with disabilities the care and support needed for managing their health and functional challenges.” The increasing need for specialized care and follow-up services for people with spinal cord and brain injury spurred the renovation and expansion of Craig’s Outpatient Clinic. The new Outpatient Clinic has doubled in size and includes eight exam rooms, three consultation rooms, one conference room, updated equipment and integrated patient lifts. The Outpatient Therapy Department now has two therapy gyms, a combined outpatient office for all therapists serving both the spinal cord and brain injury programs, and expanded therapy support services, which will enable outpatients to be served more effectively. This spring, Craig began seeing patients in the new space.
Craig’s new Outpatient Clinic has doubled in size.
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Outpatient services at Craig: facts and figures
DIRECT CLINIC THERAPY CARE
In a typical week, Outpatient Services provides 560 hours of direct therapy and 500 hours of clinic care.
About 63% of our patients have sustained a spinal cord injury; 35% have sustained a brain injury; and 3% have both injuries.
Our patients come from all over the country, and some come from other countries as well. New-to-Craig patients or previous Craig patients who have not been here for several years are all vetted through an admissions process to ensure that we are an appropriate option for their care or to direct them to a more appropriate resource as needed.
Each year, staff at Craig Hospital see 1,400 to 1,600 individual outpatients.
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Outpatient services offered Interdisciplinary Outpatient Evaluation (IOE) The IOEs at Craig are managed by a nurse practitioner or physician with years of experience working with patients with spinal cord and/or brain injury, and the interdisciplinary team includes nurses, therapists and clinical care managers. The evaluations are generally one week long and are scheduled to meet the individual needs of each patient, whether the patient is someone new to Craig or someone previously seen. These appointment times fill up fast, so make sure to schedule an IOE well in advance. Outpatient Therapy Craig offers outpatient therapy services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology and therapeutic recreation for individuals following traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Additional specialty services may include the ENT Clinic, Neuro-optometry Vision Clinic, Transportation Clinic/Adaptive Driving Program, Adaptive Technology Lab, Wheelchair Seating Clinic, Rehabilitation Engineering, Gait Clinic, Spasticity Clinic, Hand Clinic, and Community Reintegration. Clinic Visits If Craig grads have a neuro-rehab medical issue, they can be seen by a nurse practitioner or a Craig (CNS) physician in our clinic. We require that all of our outpatients have a primary care physician in their community. We do not provide primary care services.
Tips for outpatients Plan ahead Many of our outpatient services fill up fast, so call to schedule early. Where to go If you have an appointment, come to Craig’s newly renovated West Building and check in at the Outpatient Admissions desks in the first-floor lobby. Where to park Craig provides two parking lots for outpatients and visitors. The main parking lot is at the corner of South Clarkson Street and East Girard Avenue, just to the north and east of the West Building entrance. An additional lot is located at the corner of Old East Hampden Avenue and South Emerson Street, just south and east of the hospital.
Where to stay Priority for Craig’s onsite family housing goes to those living more than 60 miles from Denver. You must coordinate your stay with Guest Services prior to your arrival. We recommend calling at least six weeks before your visit. For reservations, please contact Guest Services at 1-800-835-7052 or 303-789-8365, or email guestservicesmg@craighospital. org. Craig also has a partnership with many local hotels for discounted lodging rates for our patients and families. Learn more: craighospital.org/resources/local Stay healthy People with open wounds are asked not to come for their Interdisciplinary Outpatient Evaluations because it can be detrimental to their health to be sitting on a wound. If you have an open wound, please seek help at a wound care center.
The PEAK Wellness Center The PEAK Wellness Center at Craig Hospital is an adaptive health and wellness center serving individuals from across the country with neurologic disabilities in order to optimize their recovery and create a lifelong plan for their health and wellness. For membership please call 303-789-8325.
Outpatients check in at the new Outpatient Admissions desk on the first-floor lobby.
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Restaurant Night brings TBI patients and their families together once a week.
Restaurant Night Bridging the gap for TBI patients
Tiffany Newton, an occupational therapist at Craig Hospital, noticed there was something missing on the Traumatic Brain Injury floor amid the construction project. A place that once bustled during mealtimes was now quiet — and patients were missing out on the opportunity to socialize with one another over a meal. Prior to construction, patients all gathered in the gym at mealtimes. Now, there are bistros on each floor where patients can eat, but the period of time between the closing of the gym for food services and the opening of the bistro was eye-opening for Tiffany. “Mealtime was something that was so routine before the construction project. I didn’t really think about it as a form of therapy — but when we had a period of time where meals weren’t as a group,
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Gathering as a group for mealtime helps our patients work on the skills of daily living that will be essential to their success when they leave Craig. —Tiffany Newton, occupational therapist
I really noticed how important group meals are to the success of our patients,” says Tiffany. “Gathering as a group for mealtime helps our patients work on the skills of daily living that will be essential to their success when they leave Craig.” Tiffany noticed that by not having group mealtime, patients were missing out on key opportunities and families were missing the opportunity to meet and socialize with other families. As a way to bridge the gap, Tiffany came up with “Restaurant Night” — a weekly group meal where patients, families and staff from across the hospital meet at the bistro and have a group meal together. “I like to tell my patients to think of it as going to a restaurant with your friends,” says Tiffany. “We all sit down together, and patients have the opportunity to practice ordering food, serving food, self-feeding and socializing with one another, and it gives staff an opportunity to work together as an interdisciplinary team to ensure patients are getting to work on key areas for their success.” Restaurant Night is now a weekly tradition at Craig and is an essential activity for patients. For most people, going to a restaurant is fun and relaxing — but for people with traumatic brain injury, it can be daunting. Just as with grocery shopping, cooking and other activities of daily living, occupational therapists like Tiffany are always looking for innovative and creative ways to help patients overcome barriers and learn how to enjoy life to the fullest.
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Profile: Bryan D’Albey Patient returns to Craig as staff member On August 11, 2005, everything changed for Bryan D’Albey. After breaking his C5 vertebrae, Bryan was quickly introduced to a world that was previously foreign to him — the world of a patient. “I had never really been to the hospital before, and my family had never experienced a traumatic injury like this before,” says Bryan. “While I was an acute care inpatient in the state where my injury occurred, I wasn’t really getting a lot of help, but being an inexperienced patient, I didn’t really know better. Then one of my nurses told me about Craig — and once Craig got involved, everything changed.” When Bryan arrived at Craig in the fall of 2005, he was happy to be home in Colorado, and he knew he would get the best care available. “After a few weeks of being at Craig, they told me I would walk out of here, and I didn’t believe them … but I did walk out of Craig, and I owe it all to the rock stars who work here and who pushed me every day to do what I thought I couldn’t,” says Bryan. The time Bryan spent at Craig was transformational physically and emotionally. It challenged him to accomplish goals he thought would never be possible — and today he is a proud member of the Craig family, working with spinal cord injury (SCI) patients on 4W as a rehab tech. “I remember being sad the day I left Craig as a patient … I was looking back at the bridge and thinking I needed to do something to get involved. I knew I would be back, and here I am today, working at Craig and giving back to people who are in the same spot I was over 10 years ago,” Bryan says. Bryan recently completed CNA certification, and he began his career as a Rehab Tech at Craig in April of 2016 after teaching in South Korea for eight years. He is thrilled to be able to return to Craig as a staff member and join the team that helped him rehabilitate after his SCI. “I am so thankful to have this opportunity to really give back and help people rebuild their lives. To be here and to be alongside many of the same people who helped me rebuild my life is an honor for me,” says Bryan. “My whole care team is still here, and that goes to show you that people just don’t quit Craig — and that speaks louder than any words ever could.”
Bryan D’Albey, in green, talks with a Craig Hospital patient and family member.
I owe it all to the rock stars who work here and who pushed me every day to do what I thought I couldn’t. —Bryan D’Albey
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Funds in focus Nurse Advice Line Fiscal Year 2016 Fundraising Goal: $50,000 Craig Hospital established the Nurse Advice Line in 2008 to provide free phone-based care and education to spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients nationwide.
Did you know that in addition to general Craig support, the Craig Hospital Foundation actively raises money for more than 25 different programs each year? These funds provide financial support for innovative Craig programs not reimbursed by insurance, SCI and TBI research activities, and patient financial assistance. The money raised from generous donors provides operational support for staff salaries, purchases equipment and supplies, and funds special projects and programs to better the lives of Craig patients. Three of the featured funds are highlighted here.
To donate to these programs or learn more about the Craig Hospital Foundation’s giving options, visit craighospital.org/foundation
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Craig’s Nurse Advice Line is the only nurse advice line across the country providing this specialized health care information to people living with SCI and TBI, family members trying to help, and health care providers who value expert advice from Craig’s specialized staff. Nurses are available to answer non-emergency calls Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. MT. In addition to answering callers’ health-related questions, nurses offer educational resources for healthy living. Last year, advice line nurses handled about 6,845 inbound and outbound calls. About 60% of callers were from outside Colorado, and 21% had no prior association with Craig Hospital. The most common call topics concerned neurogenic bowel or bladder problems and skin issues, which can cause major health problems for people living with SCI if not caught early.
FOUNDATION
Alumni Scholarship Program Fiscal Year 2016 Fundraising Goal: $45,000 The opportunities higher education can bring for anyone are profound, and this is especially true for someone who has survived a catastrophic spinal cord or brain injury. Dr. Harry Hahn, former Craig Hospital medical director (1979–1985), recognized that education was one of the factors determining a graduate’s future success and quality of life. To encourage Craig graduates to pursue formal education, he established the Craig Hospital Alumni Scholarship Fund. Since its inception, the Craig Alumni Scholarship Fund has provided over $920,000 in financial assistance for education to more than 1,000 individuals.
In 2014, the Craig Hospital Alumni Scholarship Fund provided support to 28 alumni (15 with spinal cord injuries and 13 with traumatic brain injuries) from 12 states enrolled at 23 different
colleges and universities. The average age of scholarship recipients was 23, and recipients included 23 men and five women.
Project EQL (Equipment for Quality of Life) Fiscal Year 2016 Fundraising Goal: $175,000
the injury. The majority of private insurance companies and other third-party payers do not cover these expenses fully.
From the time of a patient’s admission, Craig patient care teams are thinking ahead to the adaptive equipment patients will need at discharge. Project EQL, part of Craig’s Patient Assistance fund family, exists to ensure that every patient at Craig returns home with the basic adaptive equipment, like wheelchairs, lifts and shower chairs that will maximize overall function, health and life quality, regardless of the patient’s financial or insurance status.
Last year, with the support of generous donors, Project EQL distributed $281,642 to help 157 recently injured patients whose income or insurance benefits would otherwise have been insufficient to pay for needed basic adaptive equipment. Project EQL assistance to individual patients averaged $1,794 and ranged from $65 to $9,053.
In recent years, the cost of durable medical equipment has increased at the same time insurance coverage for these items has often contracted. For those
with catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord or brain injury, the consequences are profound. A person with a C2 SCI injury, for example, requires basic adaptive equipment that ranges in cost from $86,150 to $118,600, depending on
By ensuring access to essential adaptive equipment, supporters of Project EQL make it possible for all Craig graduates to resume their lives with greater ease, independence, safety and dignity.
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Craig Hospital PUSH dinner raises record-breaking $1.8 million Craig Hospital’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the annual PUSH dinner, was held on Saturday, April 30. More than 1,300 people attended the event, with Presenting Sponsor Empower Retirement/Great West Financial. The gala event chaired by Linda and Dan Childears raised a record-breaking $1.8 million to support Craig Hospital’s programs, research and patients. PUSH supports Craig’s Programs of Excellence, including Therapeutic Recreation, Adaptive Technology, Music Therapy, Community Reintegration, and education and tutoring programs — which are generally not covered by insurance. PUSH funds also support research, including ongoing studies and clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes, reducing long-term complications and enhancing quality of life for those affected by spinal cord and traumatic brain injury. The PUSH paddle auction raised funds for the Craig Hospital Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund, which helps patients with minimal income or inadequate insurance travel to and from Craig, purchase equipment like wheelchairs and shower chairs, remodel homes for accessibility, train caregivers, pay mortgages and utility bills, and meet other urgent needs. Craig graduate and benefactor Don Digby and his wife, Lydia, made a $300,000 challenge gift to encourage others to give. PUSH attendees met the challenge, donating $365,875 during the paddle auction. At the 2016 PUSH, the Inspiration Award was given to Mike Utley. On November 17, 1991, the Detroit Lions’ offensive guard was paralyzed during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan. Mike’s courageous “Thumbs Up” gesture as he was carried from the field has come to symbolize his fighting spirit. Following his rehabilitation at Craig Hospital, Mike founded the Mike Utley Foundation to support select research, rehabilitation and education for spinal cord injuries. Also at the dinner, South Metro Fire Fleet Services Bureau Chief Brian Brown and his wife, Alice, accepted the Dave and Gail Liniger Spirit of Craig Award. This award recognizes a Craig graduate and/ or family member who, through his or her community service, professional achievement and personal support of
Craig’s patients, graduates and mission, significantly brings the spirit of Craig Hospital to others in the community. In 2006, Brian sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in a cycling accident on Mt. Evans. His rehabilitation
at Craig made it possible for him to return to work 11 months post-injury. Brian and Alice are passionate Craig supporters and volunteers. They founded the Racing for Hope Cycling Classic, a competitive race to raise money for Craig.
Clockwise from top: Danielle and Mike Utley with Craig CEO Mike Fordyce; Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper; TBI outpatient Terre Engdahl sings the national anthem with Sarah Thompson, Craig’s music therapist. At left: Brian Brown with his granddaughter during the PUSH paddle auction.
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Southwest Airlines helps families come to Craig Gifts to Craig may be eligible for Colorado state tax credits Through the Enterprise Zone state program, certain gifts to the Craig Hospital Foundation may be eligible for a significant Colorado state tax credit. Gifts of $250 to $400,000 may receive a credit. Gifts of cash receive a 25% credit, while gifts of stock qualify for a credit of 12.5% of the value of the contribution. New gifts as well as pledge payments will qualify, and the credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Taxpayers must file their state income tax return electronically with the Colorado Department of Revenue and have a Colorado Account Number to receive the tax credit. For more information about the EZ program, contact the Foundation at 303-789-8650 or visit craighospital. org/foundation/enterprise-zone.
When patients come to Craig, their families come too. But for many, the cost of family transportation to and from Denver presents a significant financial difficulty. Craig has been able to alleviate some of this difficulty for numerous families through the Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program. For 2016, Southwest provided 150 one-way plane tickets for Craig families and patients, a $30,000 value. Tickets are used to fly in caregivers and emotional support people, as well as for patient and family discharge to home. “Before Southwest started this program, Craig Hospital bought many tickets for our patients and families,” says Stephanie Percival, director of Clinical Care Management. “This program allows us to allocate those funds elsewhere and assist more patients in different ways.” Craig is one of two hospitals in Colorado who were awarded the grant in 2016. Since its inception in 2007, Southwest has donated more than $19.6 million to organizations in 26 states. “We’re honored to be able to serve our communities during a time of great need,” says Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines vice president and chief communications officer. “The opportunity to connect someone to the things that are most important in their life drives us to find a network of hospitals and organizations that support this mission and provide the best possible treatment to their patients.” Counselors in the Clinical Care Management department use Craig’s Charity Care Policy Guidelines to determine how the tickets are distributed. “This is a wonderful program,” Stephanie says. “It allows family members to be here, see their loved one’s progress, and provide emotional and practical support for the patient.”
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ALUMNI
Georgiana Burnside, ’16, Little Rock, AR, was on a spring break trip in Snowmass, CO, in March 2015. During a ski run, she hit a rough patch that sent her airborne, resulting in an L1 vertebrae burst on impact. Connor Walsh, ’15, Fort Collins, CO, pictured above, left, was struck by a vehicle while walking to school on March 10, 2015. The hit-and-run incident left him with a serious SCI, a T-12 paraplegic. Connor continues to try to balance his physical recovery with the mental and emotional challenges of the life-changing experience. His family has been there for every step, setback, frustration and victory.
Georgiana is now back in Little Rock finishing high school and continuing to progress with her rehab through physical therapy. She is working with a trainer at a local athletic club.
“This spring, Connor made the first small steps toward a new version of walking: utilizing leg braces and a walker to get upright and seeing the world from a different angle than the wheelchair has offered these past 16 months,” says his mother Heather.
“I am so proud of Georgiana’s determination to remain active in school and the community. She took a challenging AP course load and participated with the volleyball team and cross-country team from the sidelines. She joined an Arkansas spinal cord association and has learned the role it plays in the lives of Arkansans with spinal cord injuries. She also volunteered once a week at our local Easter Seals in their rehab department,” says her mom Ann.
Connor is having an active summer. He recently purchased his first vehicle, a 1995 Toyota truck, with the help of Houska Automotive and the Fort Collins community, and will soon start driving lessons. He is participating in the No Barriers Summit at Copper Mountain, CO, in June and Pedal 4 Possible bike ride for Craig Hospital. Connor hopes to inspire people by sharing with them that there is life after injury, and that sometimes you find more meaning in life than you did before.
This summer Georgiana is returning to Craig for six weeks of therapy in the PEAK Center. Her goal is to progress to walking without the hiking poles, and maybe even without her right leg brace.
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Alysia Kezerian, ’15, Danville, CA, was injured in a hiking accident at Smith Rock State Park in Oregon. While hiking Misery Ridge Trail, Alysia attempted to climb a boulder near the trail. After losing her grip and falling eight to 10 feet, she continued to tumble an additional 20-30 feet down the steep terrain. The fall left her paralyzed from the waist down. “As I began my descent, I spotted a rock I had grabbed onto on my way up and reached to use it again. And then it broke. And I fell. I hit the ground hard, then bounced from there off the trail and down the side of the mountain,” says Alysia. Alysia has not let her injury alter her lifestyle. She returned to the University of Oregon to complete her schooling and continues to work for the university as a tour guide for potential incoming freshmen. Alysia also continues her “explOregon” adventures and is studying abroad in Europe this summer. “So here I am, back at school and moving forward with my life. It still gets tough sometimes, especially when I see something that reminds me of who I was before. But I don’t have a choice — this is who I am now, and I know someday someone will ask me, ‘If you had the choice, would you take it all back?’ and I’ll say no because of all the good that has come from this. I’ll be happy, and everything I ever wanted for myself will happen regardless of my paralysis.”
I’ll be happy, and everything I ever wanted for myself will happen regardless of my paralysis. —Alysia Kezerlan, ’15, Danville, CA
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Stewart Tucker Lundy, outpatient, Denver, CO, has spent most of his life living with quadriplegia. He was only 14 when he was injured in a diving accident in New Orleans. He hasn’t let using a wheelchair shape the way he lives his life. “Take one day at a time. Always find the positive and learn how to laugh at everything,” says Stewart. Stewart works to change people’s attitudes toward people living with
disabilities through the Denver Mayor’s Commission for People with Disabilities, which he has served on for the past four years. Stewart also was recently appointed by the mayor to be on the Blueprint Denver Task Force, which works to shape the future of Denver’s land use mobility parks and recreation. “It’s very exciting knowing that I have a hand in building a city that will be better and more accommodating toward people with disabilities,” he says.
There’s no way to get through something like this without being motivated. —Tyler Rollins, ’15, Russellville, AR Tyler Rollins, ’15, Russellville, AR, was injured while participating in the Oklahoma Tough Mudder. During the course’s “Swamp Stomp,” Tyler came in contact with a cement block that caused him to shatter his C6 vertebrae. “My approach to recovery is motivation,” he says. “There’s no way to get through something like this without being motivated, and I try to find anything to get me motivated!” Since being discharged from Craig Hospital, Tyler has finished a year of college while working as the director of men’s ministry at the Wesley Foundation. Tyler is determined to give more back to the SCI community. He has started an SCI nonprofit and is working with his university to design an accessible ramp for the intramural sports fields to make recreational activities more accessible.
Grace Fisher, ’15, Santa Barbara, CA, pictured above with friends at Disneyland, was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, a rare polio-like, paralyzing syndrome that affects the spinal cord. Doctors don’t know why or how she was afflicted. Since Grace’s discharge, she has gotten more into art and back to her primary love, music.
Grace was also referred to the Make-aWish Foundation, a nonprofit that fulfills “wish” experiences for children with life-threatening medical conditions. “When they came to visit, her wish was to start her own foundation. She has found joy through art and music despite her limitations and would like to help others find the same thing,” says Deb.
“She gets together with a few friends and plays the keyboard with a mouth-stick, and also started to compose music. Over the past week, she has spent hours using a QuadJoy and software program to compose,” says her mom Deb.
Grace has started a blog to share her adventures, including her most recent trip to Disneyland. If you’d like to view more of how Grace is doing, visit savinggracesb.blogspot.com.
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Send us your updates! Please send your ordinary and extraordinary news (with your complete address,
phone number and year you graduated from Craig) to: Alumni Update, c/o Craig Hospital Administration, 3425 S. Clarkson Street, Englewood, CO 80113, fax: 303-789-8219, e-mail: lstites@craighospital.org.
Bill Winchester, ’14, Reno, NV, was training for a century bike ride in September 2014 when he struck an illegally parked trailer in a bike lane that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Bill spent eight days in ICU at Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, before being transported to Craig Hospital for two months of rehabilitation. “Since my return to Reno in November 2014, I have been able to accomplish a great deal. With the help of my family, friends, my firefighter family, the local community and community leaders, I continue to grow and get stronger,” says Bill, pictured here in the white jersey. With the help of his county commission, fellow firefighters, and the fire department, Bill found a job that meets his needs. He continues the activities that he loves, including snowmobiling, skiing, scuba diving, helping coach his sons’ football teams, and handcycling. In the next year he plans to work on becoming a motivational speaker to help others who have gone or are going through similar situations as he has experienced. “Through challenges come new opportunities. Seize them, live them, be them. It’s an attitude that separates you from everyone else. What type of attitude do you have today?”
It’s an attitude that separates you from everyone else. What type of attitude do you have today? —Bill Winchester, ’14, Reno, NV
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COMING UP
Calendar Craig Hospital hosts a number of outings for Craig grads throughout the year. Learn more about all of our events at craighospital.org/events.
June 27
Discover Community Sailing of Colorado: Craig Hospital Adventure Program Cherry Creek Reservoir, Aurora, CO
July 17–19 Discover Rafting and Camping: Craig Hospital Adventure Program Caùon City, CO
August 5 17 20
Discover Hobie Day: Craig Hospital Adventure Program 9:30 a.m. Cherry Creek Reservoir, Aurora, CO 2016 Craig Hospital/RE/MAX, LLC Golf Tournament 9:30 a.m. Sanctuary, 7549 Daniels Park Road, Sedalia, CO Discover Jeppesen Flying: Craig Hospital Adventure Program 8 a.m. Centennial Airport, Centennial, CO
September 10 Discover Fly Fishing: Craig Hospital Adventure Program Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Club, Black Hawk, CO Ron Don Ho Golf Classic 19 Omni Interlocken Golf Club, 800 Eldorado Boulevard, Broomfield, CO Pain Awareness Month Healthy Aging Month
October Disability Employment Awareness Month Domestic Violence Awareness Month Patient-centered Care Month Pharmacists Month Physical Therapy Month
Craig Hospital is working hard to Go Green. You can help us! Look for weekly tips on our Facebook page and join us in our #GoingGreen efforts. If you wish to have your name removed from the mailing list, please call 303-789-8019 or e-mail lstites@craighospital.org.
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3425 S. Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113-2811
Scenes from Bike Week 2016
Celebrations are big around here. See page 5.
www.craighospital.org
CRAIG MOMENT