The Cord - Fall 2022

M A G E E R E H A B I L I T A T I O N

Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley

Fall | 2022

Mia’s Fight to Regain Mobility and Independence After Mysterious Spinal Stroke While most 19 year-olds are in college or working full-time, Mia Andrilla’s life revolves around doing everything she can to regain movement and mobility following a spinal stoke in August 2021. The illness upended her life, but her determination has not wavered.

“Never for one second did I think, ‘This is it.’ That state of mind isn’t going to help me recover,” said Mia.

Waking Up With Neck Pain and Paralysis Two weeks before the start of her sophomore year of college, Mia woke up one morning and as she lay in bed she felt neck pain and tingling sensations in her arm.

She was able to get up, brush her teeth, and put on her shoes, but her condition rapidly worsened. By the time she left her family’s home in South Philadelphia, her legs became wobbly. When she reached the Emergency Department at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, she was unable to move and passed out as medical staff got her into a wheelchair.

“It was the scariest day of my life,” Mia recalled. “At the same time, I never imagined I would end up like this.” continued on next page

Inside the CORD 1 Patient Success Stories 9 Clinical Programs & Services News 13 Community Programs 14 Publications/Presentations 15 Support Groups 16 Events & Activities 18 Graduations 18 Medical Staff Announcements

Mia Andrilla and her mom following a physical therapy session at Magee’s Riverfront outpatient facility.

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Patient Success Stories

Never for one second did I think, ‘This is it.’ That state of mind isn’t going to help me recover.

Spinal strokes are generally caused by blood clots or hemorrhages. When the blood supply to a section of the spinal cord is cut off, it is unable to receive oxygen and nutrients. This can damage the tissue and, as a result, the nerves in that area are unable to communicate with the rest of the body, resulting in paralysis. In Mia’s case, tests were unable to determine what caused the stroke.

The spinal cord injury at the C3 level meant Mia was paralyzed from the neck down. She spent two and a half weeks in the hospital, most of that time in the neuro ICU. When she transferred to Magee, her care team focused treatment on waking up the nerves in her body using various tactics and technologies.

“My therapy sessions involved a lot of stretching and electric stimulation,” Mia shared. “I could shrug my shoulders just a little, but that’s it.”

Small Movements Are Big Victories Recovering from a spinal stroke is possible in many cases, but the level of recovery depends on the cause, location of the stroke, the extent of the damage to the spinal cord and the patient’s overall health. Mia’s prognosis was unknown.

Two weeks after she started treatment at Magee, Mia looked down and saw her big toe wiggle. Over the days and weeks ahead, other parts of her body began to move too. The progress further ignited her motivation and gave her hope that she could reach new levels of independence.

“Just the thought of getting back to my old self was really what drove me,” Mia recalled.

Mia participated in Magee’s intensive outpatient Day Rehab program and

Mia’s spinal cord injury occurred at the C3 level, leaving her paralyzed her from the neck down.

then transitioned to twice weekly physical and occupational therapy sessions at Magee Riverfront. Although she relies on a power wheelchair for ease of transportation, Mia is now able to walk short distances using a rolling walker. Outpatient physical therapy focuses on her ability to sit, stand and walk. Often that includes locomotor training in which Mia wears a harness and walks on a treadmill to improve and recover walking movement, core strength, balance and lower extremity weight bearing.

“We are trying to stimulate the nerves as much as possible,” said Magee physical therapist, Holly Thiedeman, PT, DPT, NCS. “We are trying to improve how the nerve signals travel up the spinal cord to her brain and send those signals back through the spinal cord to the muscles.”

Since tests could not conclusively determine the cause of the spinal stroke, it was unclear how much movement Mia would regain in her body. Initially, she was bedridden from the paralysis. More than a year later, Mia’s progressed to walking using a walker.

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Occupational therapy has helped improve Mia’s functional stability and her ability to use her arms. Spasticity in her hands and fingers make it difficult for Mia to grasp. Magee occupational therapist Brian Comly, MS, OTR/L, made modified hand grips for her rolling walker, which helped her to walk with more ease.

“She is a resilient and strong young woman,” commented Brian.

The Road Ahead Over time Mia has regained movement and strength in her arms, shoulders and trunk that’s allowed her to hold a pen and write, brush her own hair and teeth, and hold utensils to feed herself – daily personal care that’s often taken for granted by able-bodied individuals.

“I’m very optimistic that I’ll make more progress,” Mia shared. “My next goal is to be able to use the walker on my own.”

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When she’s not undergoing rehab, Mia works on her mobility at home. Her parents installed an elevator in their South Philadelphia row home so she has full access to the house. At the beginning of her healing journey, Mia required a lift at home, now she is able to walk from the elevator to her bed.

She uses various textured items to stimulate the neurons in her feet which has helped bring back sensation. Mia doesn’t let her condition hinder her social life either, often having dinner with friends, going to the movies and attending birthday parties.

“My life looks different now than I had imagined,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy life and do the things I want to do.”

Patient Success Stories Rehab and Resilience Lead College Student to Living His Best Life When Sean Sears and his parents walked into Magee Rehabilitation Hospital on June 3, 2022, he was beaming from ear to ear. Sean’s life had changed so much since he was an inpatient. He couldn’t wait to share the good news with his former care team.

“I have been working to rebuild my life and myself for the last year and a half,” said Sean.

In the fall of 2020 Sean had just started his senior year at Bloomsburg University, where he was majoring in digital forensics. He doesn’t really remember much about that semester because of what happened on October 17, 2020. It is a night his mother will never forget.

“A hospital chaplain called to tell me, ‘Your son has been in a serious accident,’” Theresa Sears recalled.

Multiple Traumatic Injuries

sense. Eventually we would figure out what he was trying to say, but it was very difficult,” she added.

Determined to Defy Expectations The 21 year-old college student was very weak and confused when he arrived at Magee for inpatient physical and cognitive rehabilitation in November 2020. Sean had lost considerable muscle tone. He was healing from skull fractures, broken bones, and internal injuries.

There was a rod implanted in one leg.

Sean also experienced hearing and vision damage.

“During intake, I remember being asked questions about letters and numbers.

Very quickly my mind just blanked,” Sean said. “That day I saw myself in the mirror and I was shocked to see I had a beard.

I had always been clean-shaven. My hair was shaved and I had lost 60 pounds.

I looked like a completely different person.”

A multidisciplinary team developed an individualized treatment plan to help Sean strengthen his body and cognition.

He needed to relearn how to eat, talk, walk, and care for himself.

“The initial evaluation helps determine what type of speech therapy activities would be most appropriate,” said Sean’s speech therapist, Melissa Katz, MS, CCC-SLP. “It is also based on other factors such as age and the person’s interests and personal goals. For example, Sean’s sessions were tailored to get him back to school vversus work.”

Aphasia can affect people in different ways. For weeks they worked on tasks and exercises to help Sean’s brain make the connections needed to overcome the cognitive deficits.

Left photo: Wearing a graduation cap and gown, Sean poses for a photo with members of his care team during his return visit to Magee on June 3, 2022.

Right photo: Magee physiatrist, Brian T. Kucer, MD, (pictured left) was part of the multidisciplinary team that led Sean’s care during his inpatient stay.

“There’s no other way to put it besides frustrating,” Sean said regarding aphasia.

“For example in speech therapy she showed me a picture and asked “what is this?’ In your head you think ‘apple.’

You want to say ‘apple’ and you can’t.

Something isn’t translating and it’s frustrating, because you can hear yourself saying it in your head, but then your mouth does not follow the same dictation,” he added.

An hour and 45 minutes later, Theresa arrived at the central Pennsylvania hospital. She learned that a motorcycle had struck Sean while he and his friends were crossing the street near campus.

He was in a coma in the ICU. Sean had suffered a brain injury, multiple broken bones in his face and body, and damage to his internal organs. Looking back, Sean wondered how he survived.

“They later told me my heart stopped and I coded,” Sean shared.

Physical therapy focused on strength and agility exercises. Then he advanced to using the Vector, a body-weight support system that allows patients to practice over-the-ground walking.

Sean spent four weeks recovering in the ICU. Once he emerged from the coma, he was diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder often seen after brain injury. Aphasia can affect a person’s ability to speak, comprehend, read, and write, but it doesn’t impact intelligence.

“His mobility and balance issues were due to the physical injuries, the pain and overall weakened body,” said physical therapist, Erin Trudell, PT, DPT, NCS. “Fortunately the location of his brain injury did not impact his motor skills.”

“When he would try to write, it would be a scribble,” his mom explained. “He tried to talk and the words wouldn’t make

“Learning to walk again was such a strange experience,” Sean recalled.

“It’s something you used to do without thinking.”

When Sean Sears arrived at Magee for intensive inpatient rehabilitation, he barely recognized himself in the mirror. He had facial hair, a shaved head and lost 60 pounds since the accident.

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Sean made remarkable progress in every aspect of his healing journey. His care team had estimated a six- to eightweek inpatient stay. Sean was ready to go home in just four weeks. A patient’s age, motivation and strong family support system all play a big role in recovery.

The staff at Magee were amazing from day one. You could tell they loved their jobs,” said Theresa.

“They were very perceptive to his needs and that was demonstrated in his progress.

Back to Living His Best Life Inpatient rehab helps patients gain as much independence as possible and prepares them for getting back to their lives at home. Sean’s journey was far from over when he walked out of the hospital on December 12, 2021. In the 18 months that followed, he continued to make tremendous strides.

“The connections Magee team members make with their patients were evident when we came back and they hadn’t seen Sean for a long time,” Theresa shared.

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After Sean was discharged, he continued with outpatient rehab closer to home.

He underwent vision therapy to correct eye damage. He started weightlifting at the gym. Then he re-enrolled at Bloomsburg University in the fall of 2021 – one year after the accident that almost took his life. That year he got a 4.0 GPA. He earned a bachelor’s degree in digital forensics and graduated in May 2022. A few weeks after graduation, with cap and gown in tow, he came back to Magee to thank his care team for their role in his recovery. Staff members gathered on the sixth floor to welcome and congratulate Sean when he and his parents arrived.

“It’s just really heartwarming to see a patient like Sean go on to achieve so much success,” Erin said. “As a physical therapist, it’s a reminder of the impact you can have on a person’s life.”

“I graduated college against all odds,” said Sean. “I have come a long way since the accident and after all this time everyone here still cares so much about me.”

Patient Success Stories Specialized Treatment and Continuity of Care Put Firefighter on Path to Recovery On a cold, dark night in late January 2022, Shawn Menear found himself in a firefighter’s worst nightmare. The 39 year-old volunteer firefighter was on the first floor of a burning home in rural central Pennsylvania, when he heard voices call out a mayday. Three of his fellow firefighters were on the second floor above him and it was starting to collapse. Before he had a chance to react, a chimney fell on top of him, pinning him to the floor.

“It took 40 minutes to get me out of that house,” Shawn recalled. “Looking at my legs that night, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.”

Complex Injuries Three months later, as Shawn lay in a hospital bed at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital awaiting discharge, he thought about all that he had been through since that ill-fated night. His right leg was propped up in a sling and bandaged from his foot to his hips. He was wearing athletic shorts and the exposed skin on his left leg was marked with what looked

like red brush strokes. That’s where healthy skin had been removed and grafted to the more severely burned right leg.

“I suffered second and third degree burns,” Shawn explained. “All of the nerves are pretty much damaged in my right leg.”

the more badly burned right leg from amputation. As a result of their care, he made remarkable progress.

Wound Care and Physical Rehabilitation

Shawn was flown by helicopter to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on that January night. William B. Hughes, MD, Director of Jefferson’s Burn Center, led the team that treated Shawn for severe burns on his legs and lower torso.

Shawn spent almost nine weeks recuperating at Jefferson’s Burn Center, then transferred to Magee where a multidisciplinary team of doctors, therapists, nurses, and wound care specialists created an individualized rehab plan to help him regain as much function as possible.

“These were deep contact burns that went through the muscle and even into the bone in some places,” explained Dr. Hughes. “Treating the wounds was very complex and quite a lot of work, not only for myself, but my entire team.”

Recovering from burns of that nature is painful, but Shawn was dedicated to putting in the work during rehab so he could get back to living his life.

That involved a meticulous process of removing the dead tissue, then applying grafts of healthy skin from his left leg, while preventing infection and controlling the pain. Dr. Hughes assured Shawn he would do everything he could to save

—Guy Fried, MD, Magee’s Chief Medical Officer

During inpatient rehab, the goal of wound care is to support healing, promote nutrition, and educate patients and their families about wound treatment and prevention. Therapy sessions were

Left photo: Shawn Menear sustained severe burns to his legs while fighting a fire in Royalton, PA in January 2022. Right photo: The red marks on Shawn’s left leg show where healthy skin was removed and grafted to the more severely burned right leg.

designed to improve Shawn’s strength and mobility in a way that didn’t make the wounds worse and prevented new wounds from occurring.

“Magee has been amazing. They taught me how to walk again. We did strength exercises, because I am using a lot of my upper body,” Shawn said. “They got me prepared for everything. We did extensive work in physical and occupational therapy sessions and I will continue that as I go home,” he added.

A Hero’s Send-Off Three months is a long time to be hospitalized. Shawn said he never imagined the overwhelming amount of cards, letters, gifts and phone calls with messages of encouragement and support, many from people he had never met. Those tokens of kindness helped him stay positive and hopeful.

decades later, on the day of his inpatient discharge, firefighters, family and neighbors gathered on the sidewalk outside Magee. Fire trucks lined up along Philadelphia’s Race Street. They were all there in solidarity to show Shawn how much his volunteer service has meant to them. When he exited the building in a wheelchair, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. There were also tears of happiness.

As Shawn said goodbye to members of his Magee care team, a group of firefighters loaded up a car with his belongings and supplies needed to

“You really get to know people when you go through something like this,” Shawn recalls. “The community has been behind me 100 percent.”

Left photo: Shawn Menear departs Magee in wheelchair on April 6, 2022 with a hero’s send-off courtesy of the Middletown Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Right photo: A fellow firefighter visits Shawn while he recovers at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

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Shawn’s uncle introduced him to the volunteer fire company as a teenager.

As soon as he was of age, he signed up to join that brotherhood of firefighters serving his hometown. More than two

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continue his care closer to home. Then the long line of fire trucks fired up their engines to escort Shawn and his family on the 90-minute drive back to central Pennsylvania.

Life at Home Four months following his discharge, Shawn continues to make progress with his recovery. He undergoes physical rehab three times a week locally and he is able to walk with a cane without assistance.

“Every week I am feeling better and getting stronger,” he shared.

Patient Success Stories

Clinical Programs & Services News

Yoga Plays a Key Role in Recovery Following Brain Injury

The Buddy Marshall Assistive Technology Center Helps Magee Patients Regain Independence

Justin scoffed at the idea of incorporating yoga into his physical therapy. “I’m not that kind of guy,” he said to Chris Carroll, senior physical therapist at Magee’s Riverfront outpatient facility.

Chris wasn’t fazed by Justin’s resistance.

“I know this is different, but I am confident this will help you,” he told his patient. “Try it and if you don’t like it, we don’t have to do it again.”

The Impact of a Drug Overdose A few months earlier, Justin almost died when he overdosed on drugs. The 28 year-old man had ingested cocaine laced with fentanyl and heroin, passed out and stopped breathing. Emergency responders were able to revive him, but lack of oxygen to his brain resulted in an anoxic brain injury. Brain cells begin to die when they are without oxygen for too long. This can quickly lead to diminished brain function and can be fatal.

“It’s a miracle that I’m alive,” he said.

He woke up in the hospital from a medically induced coma six weeks later.

The brain injury had affected Justin’s ability to walk, talk and care for himself.

It also caused memory loss, confusion and anxiety. Recovering from a brain injury is a complex and lengthy process.

When he started outpatient physical therapy with Chris in September 2021, he was at a crucial point in his recovery.

“Justin made a lot of progress when you consider the significance of his brain injury,” Chris explained. “But he was still experiencing balance and motor control issues, meaning his muscles and nerves weren’t coordinating properly.”

Combining Physical Therapy and Yoga Adapting to life at home following a traumatic injury can be a physical and emotional challenge for patients for many different reasons. Justin felt overwhelmed trying to navigate the busy outside world with his physical limitations.

“If my body gave out, I couldn’t get up from the floor without help,” Justin recalled. “I had anxiety about crossing the street. My entire body would shake and then stiffen up and I couldn’t control it.”

Magee Senior Physical Therapist, Chris Carroll, incorporated elements of yoga into Justin’s PT sessions to aid in his recovery from an anoxic brain injury. Over time, Justin’s body got stronger, his balance and coordination improved, and his anxiety lessened.

Chris believed the principles of yoga could help Justin reach new levels of independence. He created an individualized treatment plan, drawing upon this depth of experience and training, which includes certifications in both neurologic and orthopedic physical therapies. As a certified yoga instructor, he had gone through Love Your Brain yoga training, designed to make yoga more accessible to individuals with brain injuries. At that time, he was also completing his orthopedic manual physical therapy fellowship training.

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“I became more aware of the psychological component of how you approach a task,” Chris explained.

“How someone feels approaching a task can influence their performance.”

“It has completely changed me”

The Buddy Marshall Assistive Technology (AT) Center opened at Magee in the spring of 2021 when the renovations of the hospital’s fifth floor were completed.

The former AT Center had been redesigned, expanded and renamed, with a mission to introduce, educate and inspire patients through assistive technology.

Justin poured his energy into his physical therapy sessions with Chris.

They progressed slowly by starting out with the basics: slow stretches, deep breathing techniques and mindfulness exercises. This helped build Justin’s confidence. Over time, his body got stronger, his balance and coordination improved, and his anxiety continued to lessen.

“Assistive technology can be as simple as voice recognition software and as complex as alternative mouse control systems for computers,” said Natalie Pondok, lead therapist for the Assistive Technology Center. Ultimately, assistive technology allows patients to accomplish everyday tasks that most people take for granted, such as turning on the lights or using a computer.

It’s been a lot of hard work. It has completely changed me. I am doing things I never thought I would be able to do again.

The new AT Center is a result of a fundraising campaign spearheaded by a former patient, Buddy Marshall.

Buddy is a former fighter pilot and TOPGUN instructor who was paralyzed in a car crash. He uses about 20 pieces of assistive technology to function each day.

Justin, determined to get his life back, agreed to give yoga a shot, “I told Chris that I just want to be normal again.”

Three months after they first started working together, Justin walked with the rolling walker with much more ease.

He was back at the gym lifting weights.

He also resumed work part-time at the farm he helped manage before his injury.

“Through yoga, breath training, and movement therapy, Justin’s confidence grew and he became more comfortable trying new things,” said Chris. “Meditation also helped him cope when faced with stressful situations.”

Yoga also has had a profound impact on Chris’ personal and professional life. He says changing his approach to physical therapy provides a more robust experience for his patients and strengthens their confidence to try new things.

“From the moment I wake up in the morning until I fall asleep at night, I

rely on assistive technology to live an independent and productive life,” said Buddy.

How Does the Assistive Technology Center Work?

The AT Center houses a variety of technologies including smart TVs and speakers, environmental control devices, gaming devices and virtual reality equipment, alternative mouse control systems—such as Glassouse, a glassesguided mouse system, and QuadJoy, a mouthpiece that allows users to navigate using their mouth—as well as iPads and tablets. The center also has a variety of desk heights to accommodate different wheelchair sizes.

Occupational and recreational therapists introduce patients to the center, starting with a conversation about their goals, to figure out what kind of technology might work best for their needs. “We also let patients take devices back to their room so they can have time to practice using them,” said Natalie, who was Buddy’s occupational therapist during his inpatient stay at Magee. continued on next page

Occupational and recreational therapists introduce patients to the Buddy Marshall Assistive Technology Center, starting with a conversation about their goals to figure out what kind of technology might work best for their needs.

Magee’s Assistive Technology Program Gets a Boost from Amazon Amazon generously donated more than 900 assistive technology devices to benefit Magee patients as they recover from serious illnesses or injuries. A team from Amazon made the special delivery to the main hospital on July 29, 2022. Boxes contained items such as Echo dots, Echo plugs and speakers, Ring doorbells, Fire tablets, Fire Sticks and Fire TV Cubes worth a total of $70,000. The devices are available for use to patients through the Buddy Marshall Assistive Technology Center and at Magee’s Riverfront Outpatient Facility.

Magee integrated smart room technology into all 83 inpatient rooms using the Aiva Health voice platform in early November 2021.

This provides a better, more self-directed experience for patients, who can use Amazon’s Echo devices to control their rooms just by speaking. Patients can ask “Alexa” to open and close the blinds, change the room temperature and control the lights. These automation experiences are part of Magee’s ongoing commitment to helping patients achieve their highest levels of independence.

Clinical Programs & Services News

Keeping Kevin’s Memory Alive continued from previous page

The journey that led Allison McCrea to her role as a music therapist at Magee is deeply personal. One might even consider it fate. It is a story about the way music connects love, tragedy, healing and hope for the future.

The AT Center allows patients to explore their options for assistive technology without spending money on devices that may not work for them. In addition, donor funding has allowed the AT Center to help patients get funding for devices they would benefit from but wouldn’t be able to afford on their own.

“Magee has impacted my life in several ways,” Allison shared. “I learned about the benefits of music therapy in the rehab process when my dad, Kevin, was a patient at Magee and when he passed a year later I was interning at Magee.

Being a music therapist there is the best way for me to convey my love for him,” she added.

How Has the Center Helped Patients Adapt to Life with Physical Limitations?

For patients whose lives have been turned upside down, the AT Center helps patients realize what’s possible after a traumatic injury.

A Devoted Father

“After a traumatic life-changing injury, many of the day-to-day tasks we all take for granted can suddenly seem like impossible challenges to overcome,” said Magee Occupational Therapist, Cassidy Damiani MS, OTR/L. “Empowering patients with technology can help these tasks become not only possible but quite achievable.”

“We recently helped a patient with tetraplegia with devices that would help her complete school, including a laptop system with voice dictation and a specialized mouse,” added Natalie.

“Assistive technology and support from Magee enabled her to complete her GED, and she’s now planning to attend community college—her outlook on life has changed for the better.”

Assistive technology also helps people with physical disabilities stay safe and keep control of their environment at home, whether it’s through the use of video doorbells and wifi-enabled locks or voice-activated lightbulbs and plugs.

Buddy wanted the AT Center to empower patients with similar lifealtering injuries to use technology to reclaim their independence. “We’re doing our best to bring Buddy’s vision to life,” said Natalie.

Dance/Movement Therapy Expands Magee’s Creative Arts Therapies Program Dance/movement therapy is a therapeutic model that lives at the intersection of physical and emotional healing. It is the newest addition to the creative arts therapies program.

Lynn Falk, MA, R-DMT, is the first dance/movement therapist on staff at Magee. The creative arts therapies program is funded entirely by generous philanthropic support.

Lynn works with patients to use their bodies as a canvas to express emotions while simultaneously working on their rehab goals. During the session in these photos, Lynn worked with an 85 year-old patient

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recovering from a stroke to improve lateral weight shifting, increase focus and attention, and strengthen the use of his right arm, hand, and leg. Lynn says after several sessions together the patient became stronger, more confident in his ability to move, and more willing to try new things.

“I am constantly inspired by the healing and expressive qualities of movement,” Lynn shared. “It’s immensely rewarding to help patients become more connected to their bodies, use movement to communicate and connect with others, and ultimately feel more like themselves.”

Kevin McCrea’s spinal cord injury dated back to his 20’s when he was a paratrooper in the military. He jumped out of a plane with a parachute that had a hole in it. He fell about a thousand feet with trees breaking his fall. Kevin underwent surgery, recovered and was medically discharged from the military.

He went on to graduate college and law school. One day at his law office Kevin lifted a box and immediately went numb from his hips to his toes. Tests showed a bulging disc which was attributed to the parachute injury years earlier.

Complications from surgery on the bulging disc resulted in a massive infection which permanently damaged his spinal cord.

“My dad lived a full life with a disability,” Allison recalled. “Over the years there were hospitalizations for infections and such, but he always got through it. He had three children. He was able to walk short distances and navigate the house independently.”

Music was integral to life in the McCrea family home. It was always playing on the radio. Allison and her siblings played instruments. She also loved to sing.

Kevin was in the front row of every one of Allison’s performances. He was her biggest fan. She always knew a career in music was in her future, but she never imagined the direction it would take her.

“Music is so powerful and has always been a way that I can express myself, especially when I can’t find the words to explain what I am feeling,” she said.

Music’s Role in Rehab and Recovery In the summer of 2018 Kevin was admitted to Magee following a spinal reconstruction surgery. It was just as Allison had started grad school. She was pursuing a master’s degree in music therapy with hopes of working with children with developmental disabilities.

“I left class and I got a text from my mom,” she recalled. “She told me they

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have a music therapy program at Magee and that I should come right over and sit in on my dad’s session.”

When she got to Kevin’s room, Magee’s music therapist, John Glaubitz welcomed her participation. He offered her an instrument to play and the three of them sang together. Over the course of her Dad’s two month stay at Magee, Allison learned as much as she could about the work John was doing with patients like her dad and how music played an important role in rehabilitation. continued on next page

Community Programs Wheelchair Rugby Offers Athleticism, Independence and Community As a sport, wheelchair rugby is vastly different from its able-bodied counterpart – its rules are a hybrid of rugby, basketball and hockey – but it has an important role in wheelchair sports.

“Without wheelchair rugby, there wouldn’t be a team sport for people with both upper and lower limb impairments,” said Keith Newerla, Magee’s community program coordinator. “Each team is made up of people with various disabilities and levels of functioning from conditions including spinal cord injuries, polio, amputation, Guillain-Barré syndrome, cerebral palsy and transverse myelitis.”

and you have to make the most out of whatever it is that you’re given,” she said.

The wheelchair rugby program at Magee started in 1989. This past March, Magee’s wheelchair rugby team hosted the national semifinal for the United States Wheelchair Rugby Association (USWRA). Eight teams traveled from around the country, as far away as Minnesota, and four of those teams moved on to the national championship – including the Magee Eagles.

Following Through on Her Promise

The Magee Eagles performed well this year, which marked the first USWRA

Left photo: Kevin McCrea, with assistance from a physical therapist, plays along during a music therapy session with his daughter, Allison, (on the bongo drum) and Magee music therapist, John Glaubitz (playing guitar). Right photo: Allison McCrea wore head-to-toe personal protective equipment (PPE) during her graduate music therapy internship at Magee which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I saw firsthand how music therapy brought so much joy to my dad’s life during his time at Magee,” Allison recalled.

One year later, Allison learned of an opening for a music therapy intern at Magee. She decided to follow her heart by shifting her focus to music therapy in a medical setting.

There’s an element to the healing journey that needs to feed your soul and that’s where I feel music therapy comes in.

—Allison McCrea

Music Therapist in the Making During the summer of 2019, Kevin’s health then took a turn for the worse.

He suffered two severe heart attacks following another spinal reconstruction surgery. His condition would improve and then there were more serious complications. Kevin didn’t leave the hospital for the last 14 months of his life. Allison visited him every day.

Although she wasn’t officially a music therapist yet, she used what she knew to help him though that time. She sang to him and played music. She made sure he had a device so he could listen to music independently. Bonding through music was as therapeutic for Allison as it was for her father.

“He always told me the best part of his day was when I came in to visit,” she said.

“It gives me peace knowing I gave him everything I could possibly give him. One of the last things my dad said to me is ‘Don’t give this up and help other people the way you’ve helped me,’” she shared.

Kevin passed away on June 16, 2020.

When Allison returned to her Magee internship, she brought with her a deeper understanding of the healing power of music. It had provided her with solace as she helped her dad navigate the end of his life and as she grieved his loss.

“My dad had a philosophy: pursue your passions, because you only get one life

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season since the pandemic started in 2020. “It has been really impactful for the players to get back to interacting with their teammates after such a long period of isolation for many people,” Keith said. “This was the first time we’ve hosted a national semifinal, and it was a great opportunity for players’ families and friends to be able to come out and support us at a high level,” he added.

Wheelchair sports help players gain independence and gives them access to a community of support with others who have a common understanding of living life with a disability.

“We have a goal of healing our patients’ bodies as well as their mind and spirit,” Keith explained. “Some people coming into our program don’t believe they will ever live a normal life again, but seeing their teammates accomplish goals helps them believe they can too.”

Keith oversees Magee’s robust sports program, which started in the late 1970s and includes wheelchair rugby, basketball, tennis, racing and single-day events in curling, water skiing and snow skiing. As a former Paralympian and wheelchair rugby player, Newerla has

firsthand experience with the impact that sports can have on the life of someone with a physical disability.

“Participation in sports has allowed me to temporarily forget the challenges I face during my day-to-day life as a wheelchair user,” he said. “Working at Magee is a way for me to pay it forward and get other people involved in sports with the hope that it will impact them in a positive way.”

Keith shared that people shouldn’t underestimate wheelchair sports. “If you have the opportunity to watch a wheelchair rugby match, I highly recommend it,” he said “People often think about sports for people with disabilities as less serious than those for able-bodied people, but wheelchair sports can be just as competitive as their stand-up counterparts.”

The wheelchair rugby program is community-based; anyone with a qualifying disability is welcome to participate. If you’re interested in learning more about the wheelchair rugby program and how to get involved, please contact Keith Newerla at Keith.Newerla@jefferson.edu.

That passion steered her back to Magee in January 2022 when Allison was hired as a music therapist working with patients at Magee’s Riverfront outpatient facility.

Music therapy takes on many forms depending on the patient’s needs, interests and rehab goals. Allison has helped patients write songs. She hosts group sessions playing the piano while patients beat on the bongo drum and strum on a guitar. She recently helped a patient compile a playlist of songs to provide some comfort on the road to recovery.

“It is a blessing to be a part of these patients’ journeys,” Allison shared. “I see pieces of my dad in every person I work with. I feel he is always here with me physically and spiritually, especially because of his history as a Magee patient.”

The Magee Eagles wheelchair rugby program started in 1989. The team hosted its first national semifinal game in 2022.

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Research We Investigate, Collaborate and Share Knowledge The Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley is committed to sharing knowledge of spinal cord injury care, treatment, and cure. Here are publications and presentations by our staff since the last issue of The Cord.

Field-Fote EC, Furbish CL, Tripp NE, Zanca J, Dyson-Hudson T, Kirshblum S, Heinemann A, Chen D, Felix E, Worobey L, Schmidt-Read M, Marino R, Hayat MJ. Characterizing the Experience of Spasticity after Spinal Cord Injury: A National Survey Project of the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. MID 34015348 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.03.040 Solinsky R, Betancourt L, Schmidt Read M, et al. Acute Spinal Cord Injury is Associated with Prevalent Cardiometabolic Risk Factors; Arch Phys Med & Rehab. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2022 Apr;103(4):696-701. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.04.022. Epub 2021 May 29.

Kirshblum S, Schmidt Read M, Rupp R. Classification challenges of the 2019 revised International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI). Spinal Cord; 60, 11–17 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/ s41393-021-00648-y Tefertiller C, Rozwod M, Wojciehowski S, Sevigny M, Charlifue S, Ketchum J, Berliner J, Taylor H, Behrman A, Harkema S, Forrest G, Schmidt Read M, Basso M. A comparison of one year outcomes between standardized locomotor training and usual care after motor incomplete spinal cord injury: Community participation, quality of life and re-hospitalization.

J Spinal Cord Med . 2021 Oct 6;1-10. doi: 80/10790268.2021.1977060.

Kirshblum S, Botticello A, Benedetto J, Eren F, Donovan J, Marino R. Characterizing natural recovery of people with initial motor complete

tetraplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2022;103(4):649-656. doi.org/10.1016/j. apmr.2021.09.018. PMID: 34800476 Bone Health and Osteoporosis Management in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Practice Guideline for Health Care Providers. Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine, PVA. 2022.

Therese Johnston, PT, PhD, MBA contributing panel member Quinn Lori, Riley Nora, Tyrell Christine, Judd Dana, Gill-Body Kathleen, Hedman Lois, Packel Andrew, Brown David, Nabar Nikita, Scheets Patricia.

A Framework for Movement Analysis of Tasks: Recommendations From the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy’s Movement System Task Force. PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal 2021; 101:1–8

Presentations

Current or Upcoming Research Volunteers Needed for Research Study Entitled: Noninvasive Skin Surface Stimulation Study to Activate the Spinal Cord (RISES-T) • Adults, ages 18 and older • Have lived with a spinal cord injury more than one year • Able to attend up to 36 in-person visits, three times a week over four months. (Most visits involve two hours of occupational or physical therapy including electrical stimulation on the back. Three visits will be longer than two hours for comprehensive assessments.)

• Have transportation to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City or Magee’s Riverfront Outpatient Facility on Columbus Blvd in South Philadelphia.

2021 Eastern Pain Association Conference, New York City, NY Daniel Haber, MD; Robert Selko, DO; Joshua Levin, DO; and Guy Fried, MD. Poster presentation Spinal Cord Injury Resulting from Spinal Cord Stimulator Anterior Lead Tracking Due to Dural Adhesion: A Case Report and Literature Review (1st place award)

For more information, contact Erica Jones at CenterNR@jefferson.edu or 215-955-8922.

Sexuality after SCI. Presented to United Spinal Association-Philadelphia Chapter, virtual event. Trisha Hicks, LSW, MSW, MEd (2022).

•W ho uses a manual wheelchair for at least 50% of their mobility

Neuromodulation: Moving Beyond Isolated Systems: Stakeholder Panel Discussion on translation of research into clinical practice, Louisville, KY, Mary Schmidt Read, PT, DPT, MS, FASIA, July 2022 Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trials: Instruction on performance of the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of SCI; Primary trainer for ASIA (Amer Spinal Injury Assoc) Clinical Trial Trainings, Mary Schmidt Read, PT, DPT, MS, FASIA

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Volunteers Needed for Research Study Entitled: Biomechanics of Adaptive Rowing in Active and Inactive Manual Wheelchair Users •A ges 18 to 70

•A ble to read and understand English •A ble to transfer independently (with or without the use of adaptive equipment) •A ble to raise both arms up to your shoulder height • Cleared by medical professional for exercise participation For more information, contact: Liz Euiler at 603-520-6975 or ede29@drexel.edu.

Volunteers Needed for Research Study Entitled: Online Group Exercise for Individuals with a Spinal Cord Injuries

Purpose: To determine if the virtual, integrated health and wellness program for individuals with spinal cord injuries improves physical activity levels, beliefs about exercise, quality of life, pain, sleep, and/or wellbeing.

• Adults, ages 18 years and older • Have lived with a spinal cord injury for more than 12 months • Have some arm movement • With access to the internet to participate in classes • Not currently in rehab • Who are cleared to exercise, determined by taking a brief survey For more information, contact: Margaret Finley at 410-746-2112 or maf378@drexel.edu or Laura Baehr at 215-873-4471 or lab397@drexel.edu Volunteers Needed for Research Study Entitled: Outdoor Recumbent Cycling with Electrical Stimulation for Adults with Leg Paralysis or Weakness • Adults aged 18 and older • Medically stable and living at home in the community.

• One or both leg weakness due to a neurological disease or injury (such as stroke or spinal cord injury) that occurred 6 or more months ago

Get Support at Magee!

All support groups are currently meeting virtually, via Zoom.

For dates and details, contact the individuals listed or visit JeffersonHealth.org/MageeSupportGroups.

• Amputee Peer Mentoring: Rebecca.Levenberg@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3411

• SCI Resource & Support Group: Marie.Protesto@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3174

• Amputation Support Group: Rebecca.Levenberg@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3411

• Stroke Family Care Group: Sonya.Dibeler@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3411

• Aphasia Support Group: Svjetlana.vitor@jefferson.edu or 215-218-3909 Sarah.Lantz@jefferson.edu Sarah.Troy@jefferson.edu

• Stroke Peer Mentoring: Sonya.Dibeler@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3411 Rebecca.Levenberg@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3411

• Brain Injury Family Care Group: Sonya.Dibeler@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3411

• Wendekos Stroke Club: Currently suspended

• Brain Injury Peer Mentoring: Sonya.Dibeler@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3411 Rebecca.Levenberg@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3411

• Young Adult SCI Social Group: The group meets virtually every other week and in-person for a community outing six times a year.

Joann.Rudi@jefferson.edu or 215-518-3912

• MS Healthy Living: Colleen.McAllister@jefferson.edu or 215-218-3903

• Young Adult Brain Injury Social Group: Keith.Newerla@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3412

• SCI Family Peer Support Group: Ruth.Black@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3030 • SCI Peer Mentoring: Marie.Protesto@jefferson.edu or 215-587-3174

• Sufficient sitting balance to ride a recumbent bicycle or tricycle.

•C an attend 2 in-person visits over a few weeks: first one in a lab for approximately two hours to set up the stimulation system, and the second session riding the cycle on an outdoor public bicycle trail, up to 4 hours an get to at least one of the following •C locations: Jefferson Center City or Magee Riverfront • You will be compensated for parking or transportation costs.

For more information, contact Erica Jones at CenterNR@jefferson.edu or 215-955-8922.

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Events & Activities Day Rehab Outings As part of Magee’s intensive outpatient Day Rehab program, staff members lead groups of patients on excursions into the community to help them achieve rehab goals and ease the transition to life at home. Rehab goals include time management, consumer skills, communication, etc.

Andrew Williams, Charles Wapner and Gloria Davis explore Philadelphia’s Mutter Museum.

Another component to the Day Rehab is honing daily living skills such as personal care and managing the upkeep of a home. On this day a group of Day Rehab patients had fun making pizza. Pictured here: Alexandria Sheridan.

Physical therapist Andrew Stamatelos and Day Rehab patient, Lars Kerstein, tour the Simeone Auto Museum.

Eagles Training Camp The Philadelphia Eagles invited Magee’s wheelchair sports athletes and former patients as special guests to the Eagles Training Camp on August 9, 2022. They watched practice for more than two hours on the sidelines. Then several of the Eagles came over to meet the group from Magee, autograph memorabilia and take photos.

The Philadelphia Eagles have supported Magee and the wheelchair sports teams for many years through generous financial donations and items for fundraising event auctions.

They Will Surf Again On Sunday, August 7, 2022, volunteers from Magee Rehabilitation and MossRehab came together along with hundreds of others, to help 70 individuals with disabilities ride the waves at They Will Surf Again. The event is the flagship program of Life Rolls On, a nonprofit for people who have been affected by spinal cord injury and other disabilities. After a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event brought together these highly regarded rehabilitation hospitals – now under the same umbrella – Jefferson Health – to celebrate and assist our community. Thanks to all of the therapists, doctors, nurses and supporters for volunteering their time and talents.

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Photos credit: Philadelphia Eagles

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Medical Staff Announcements

Congratulations on your graduations!

These former patients achieved their high school or college degrees following inpatient discharge.

Matt Adams

Siera Hall

Erica Moran

Bridgette Wise

High school diploma Southern Regional High School June 2022.

BS, Animal Science and Equine Science, Penn State University December 2021

High school diploma The Helms Academy July 2022

BA, Advertising University of Texas, Arlington December 2021

Magee patient: 2008

Magee patient: 2019

Magee patient in 2021

Retirement Ralph Marino, MD, MS Ralph J. Marino, MD, MS, Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine in the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, retired on October 5, 2022. Dr. Marino completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 1987 and joined the Department at Jefferson. He has been on the faculty since then, except for the period between 1998 and 2002 when he moved to Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Since 2006, Dr. Marino has been the Director of the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley. He has been extensively involved in clinical research focusing on neurological and functional recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury and improving measures of function. He as over 80 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts.

Changing Role Christopher Formal, MD In September 2022, Dr. Christopher Formal retired as an inpatient attending physician at Magee and transitioned to treating outpatients at Magee’s Outpatient Physician Practice/Lifetime Follow-up Clinic. Dr. Formal was an attending physician at Magee for 40 years. He received the Earl Elkins award for his outstanding score on the written medical boards, a testimony to his academic skills and knowledge.

Dr. Formal is a tenured professor at Thomas Jefferson University. He

has written numerous chapters related to the field of spinal cord injury and rehab medicine along with serving as publisher of a significant research.

Dr. Formal has lectured about the field extensively to physicians, surgeons, fellows, residents and students. He is regarded as a pillar in the field of spinal cord injury and rehabilitation medicine.

His clinical and academic acumen has served as a guiding force to many who have had the pleasure and privilege to work alongside Dr. Formal.

Magee patient: 2020

New Attending Physician Roger Liu, DO

Jermere Clark

Nick Lowry

Mary Salisbury

Hunter Zondor

High school diploma Chester High School June 2022

BA, Mechanical Engineering Clarkson University May 2022

MS, Communication Management Temple University May 2022

BS, Biology Messiah College May 2022

Magee patient: 2022

Magee patient: 2020

Magee patient: 2017

Magee patient: 2016

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Dr. Roger Liu has joined the medical staff at Magee in the role of attending physician. He completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Dr. Liu has been actively involved in all patient care at both Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Magee Rehabilitation, and prior to that,

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he worked with patients at Mercy Catholic Medical Center. Dr. Liu holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University and a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Rowan University. Dr Liu will be working on the spinal cord injury service.

Magee Rehabilitation Address Service Requested

1513 Race Street Philadelphia, PA 19102-1177 1-800-96-MAGEE JeffersonHealth.org/Magee

Gaining Ground Helps Clients Build Strength Gaining Ground is a “boot camp” that provides an intensive, personalized approach to neurological recovery. Magee trainers and therapists create an individualized exercise program to help each participant increase function. Clients meet three times a week, five hours per day, for one-on-one training and education.

Upcoming sessions for 2023: February 27–March 23 | April 17–May 11 | June 5–June 29 July 10–August 4 | September 11–October 5 October 16–November 9

Interested? Questions?

Contact Liz Watson at Elizabeth.Watson3@Jefferson.edu or 215-218-3913.

CS 23-0085

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