Patient Success Stories → continued from previous page
New Levels of Independence Recovering from a spinal cord injury is an arduous task. Nicole’s healing journey tested her physical strength, faith and emotional wellbeing, but she kept pushing day after day. Over time, she learned how to adapt to life using a wheelchair. Her persistence led to more progress and reaching new levels of independence. “I am very proud of getting my driver’s license. I got into my pool to practice swimming last summer,” Nicole said. “I am pushing myself to try new experiences. I traveled to California by myself last year and that was a big accomplishment.”
Nicole is part of the staff at Magee now, where she matches newlyinjured patients with mentors. She aspired to be a personal trainer before her spinal cord injury and she recently started to pursue that dream again. She regularly posts photos and video clips of her workouts on social media to show the world of the inclusivity and possibilities with fitness. “I got a second chance at life in surviving that accident,” Nicole said. “I’ve encountered a lot of physical and emotional challenges since then and some days are still difficult, but my goal each day is to get stronger than the day before. I am going to keep fighting no matter what.”
Nicole Walsh on the electric stim bike during a physical therapy session while she underwent inpatient care.
Meet Kevin Barnes
Man Finds Hope and Gratitude while Recovering from Rare Autoimmune Condition Neurosarcoidosis is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the nervous system. It can appear in an acute and sudden manner or as a slow chronic illness, so often a diagnosis can be difficult. Kevin Barnes knows that all too well now. He battled a number of mysterious and debilitating symptoms for about a year before he finally got some answers and a plan for recovery.
“I Didn’t Think Anyone Could Help Me.” Kevin was on the job laying concrete in Scranton, PA in the fall of 2020 when he started to notice his balance was off. The nature of the job required intense manual labor and the ability to maneuver construction materials and equipment. It got to the point where he was unable to continue working. “I couldn’t walk a straight line,” recalled Kevin. “I couldn’t stand still for a few seconds without falling over.” Kevin Barnes displays breakfast he made in the therapy kitchen during a session with his occupational therapist, Deana Miller.
Kevin’s vision started to deteriorate, so much so, that he needed a new
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prescription for glasses two months after his annual eye exam. Kevin’s family started to notice his speech was slurred. He was also extremely thirsty, drinking gallons of water a day. His health continued to decline and he sank into a depression. “I was losing hope. I had seen so many doctors and specialists who could not find anything wrong with me. I isolated myself. I didn’t think anyone could help me,” he shared. “My 10 year-old son told his mother ‘there is something wrong with dad’ and that’s what ultimately lit a fire within me,” he added.
Finally a Diagnosis and Path to Recovery Desperate for answers and effective treatment, Kevin’s brother drove him from Scranton to the emergency department at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Doctors ran countless tests for more than two weeks until they finally pinpointed the cause: neurosarcoidosis.
