Patient Success Stories

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

Kevin Barnes displays breakfast he made in the therapy kitchen during a session with his occupational therapist, Deana Miller. 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’s vision started to deteriorate, so much so, that he needed a new 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.

Kevin works on his stride and balance as he walks down a hallway in the Vector body-weight support system. He is being guided by his physical therapist, Jeffrey Trexler and physical therapy intern, Amber Stratz.

The diagnosis allowed doctors to get Kevin’s health stabilized and then formulate a treatment plan.

Kevin transferred to Magee on September 17, 2021 because of its specialized program to treat traumatic brain injury and illness. There, he worked hard receiving three hours of physical, occupational and speech therapies daily to address the symptoms that had plagued him for so long.

“Our first goal was to decrease his risk of falling,” explained Jeffrey Trexler, PT, DPT, Magee senior physical therapist. “Neurosarcoidosis had impacted his right leg more than the left. In order to get him back on his feet and walking safely, we trialed different leg braces and walkers. Eventually we found one that worked best for Kevin and helped him achieve more independence.”

When Kevin was cleared by his medical team for the next phase in his PT, they used the Vector body-weight support system that allowed Kevin to work on his balance, gait and walking pattern.

Magee’s Vision Clinic provided Kevin with proper glasses to correct the double vision caused by neurosarcoidosis. Speech therapy sessions with Lauren Monti, MS, CCC-SLP/L, a Magee Speech Language Pathologist, helped Kevin overcome the slurred speech and related issues, while occupational therapy helped Kevin regain the ability to care for himself with ease. “He exceeded our expectations with how quickly he responded to treatment,” said Deana Miller, MS, OTR/L, Magee occupational therapist.

A Life Back on Track

Kevin was tearful when he thought about how far he had come in a matter of six weeks from the time he was diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis to being discharged from Magee. He said his biggest motivation was returning home to his kids and making them proud. Kevin credits his experienced and supportive care team with helping him get his life back on track.

“He’s the one who put in all the work,” Deana said. “We just helped him along the way.”

Meet Crystal Safford

New Start at Life Following Double Transplant

There were only two more days until Crystal Safford was going home and she couldn’t contain her excitement. As she made her way to the therapy gym with the assistance of a rollator walker, she turned to her physical therapist, Sarah McMahon, PT, DPT, and smiled. “I feel really good today,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else for rehab.”

Waiting and Praying

Crystal experienced three episodes of ventricular tachycardia (also known as v-tach) on April 27, 2021. V-tach is a type of arrhythmia that occurs when the lower chamber of the heart beats too fast. Doctors at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital informed Crystal that her health was failing. She couldn’t go home until she got a new heart and a new kidney, but even that didn’t look promising. Due to a number of criteria, there was only a two percent chance of finding a donor match.

The odds were stacked against the 58 year-old Philadelphia woman, but she clung to her faith and remained optimistic. Crystal was bedridden at the hospital for 69 days just waiting and praying. Then, in late August 2021, there was a match. Miraculously it was a new heart and a new kidney from the same donor. When Crystal’s health stabilized following the transplant surgery, she transferred to Magee for the next stage in her healing journey.

“I Hadn’t Stood Up in Months.”

“Crystal didn’t have the energy to perform even the most basic tasks,” explained Natalie Collins, MS, OTR/L, Magee occupational therapist. “She couldn’t even sit up on her own.”

Crystal’s body had been through a lot. She was extremely weak from the progressive heart disease and then further weakened by lying in bed for more than two months. Her immune system was also very fragile. It required a lot of medication and monitoring in order for her body to have the best chance at accepting the donor organs. Crystal’s care team at Magee developed an individualized rehabilitation plan to help her get back to living her best life.

“I hadn’t stood up for months and my legs were like cooked spaghetti,” Crystal said jokingly. “I wondered how I was going to manage three hours of therapy a day.”

And she did—always with a smile and sense of humor. During daily occupational therapy sessions, Natalie helped Crystal get strong enough so she could do things such as getting in and out of bed unassisted, brush her teeth, shower and dress herself. Over time, with Natalie’s support, Crystal was able to do laundry and even cook in the kitchen. Meanwhile, she worked with her two physical therapists, Sarah McMahon, PT, DPT, and Caitlin Corbin, PT, DPT, NCS, to build her overall strength and mobility. Their sessions focused on the mechanics of sitting to standing, walking, and going up and down stairs. Crystal also enjoyed recreational, art and dance/movement therapies, which are part of Magee’s holistic approach to rehabilitation.

“It’s a humbling experience when you have to depend on others to take care of you in that state,” Crystal shared. “I knew this was part of the process to becoming healthy and independent.”

Crystal Safford practices walking up and down the stairs under the guidance of her PT, Sarah McMahon. Positivity and Progress

The last few days of physical and occupational therapy were aimed at measuring Crystal’s progress. She was tasked with several simple movements, balance and walking exercises that she had performed at the very beginning of her stay. The evidence of her recovery was in the numbers. Crystal completed each exercise much faster and with more repetitions and strength.

“Crystal had a positive attitude since day one,” said Sarah. “Even if she was having a tough physical therapy session, she always looked for a silver lining.”

Six months after she was rushed to the hospital for a heart attack, Crystal headed home with a new heart, new kidney and a new thirst for life. She

couldn’t wait to once again enjoy the comforts of her own home and spend quality time with her mother, and adult son and daughter, whose weekly visits helped keep her spirits high. Although faith always played an important role in her life, this experience reminded her to live each day with gratitude.

“This is a special place,” said Crystal, as she looked at the city skyline from Magee’s sixth floor rooftop. “The people are so kind, my therapists have been wonderful and I feel great.”

Meet Adam Taliaferro

A Life Devoted to Helping Others Overcome Adversity

When people hear the name “Adam Taliaferro,” they still think back to an ill-fated football game more than two decades ago, in which the Penn State cornerback was paralyzed while making a tackle. More importantly, many remember his miraculous recovery. approached his recovery with laser focus and relentless dedication. Nearly one year later, he stunned 110,000 Penn State football fans when he donned his football jersey and led the team out onto the field at Beaver Stadium for the season opener.

Adam was taken off the field in a stretcher. Doctors didn’t think he would walk again. Adam underwent intensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation at Magee. Always a fierce athlete, Adam That feat paved the way for a life dedicated to helping others to overcome adversity. We caught up with Adam to talk about his 20+ year journey following his spinal cord injury.

Adam Taliaferro surprises a packed Beaver Stadium when he walked on to the field one year after he was paralyzed in a football game. Q: Why do you think leading the football team back on to the field one year later is still impactful for people?

That moment was what I call a “culmination of positivity.” A lot of people saw me get injured with their own eyes as they were sitting in the stands or watching TV. The prognosis was very bleak. In the days and months that followed, a lot of people prayed for me. They sent me cards and messages. When I came back a year later, it was important for me to show everyone I was going to be okay and to thank them for all of the support. It also provided me with some closure on that chapter of my life.

Q: What was the point that you realized your life was going to be different than what you had imagined?

When I first got to Magee and I looked around, I saw all of the patients fighting to recover from their injuries and illnesses. That’s when I started to accept the impact this was going to have on my life. My dream was to play professional football and that was no longer a reality. My biggest goal during my recovery at Magee was being able to walk out of that tunnel at Beaver Stadium. After that day, it was time to focus on what to do next. I sat down with an academic advisor to help me focus my interests and options. After hours of conversations with my parents, I decided I wanted to go into law. The next three to four years were all about academics and preparing for law school.

Q: Over the years you have mentored many individuals with spinal cord injuries. What kind of advice do you give others facing that same realization?

Everybody responds differently. Some people it may take a month. It may take two months. It may take a year for someone to realize how different their life is going to be. I always say we’re part of a special fraternity. None of us want to be in it, but we’re all here to support one another. Everyone recovers physically and mentally within their own timeframe.

I tell people the definition of success is not walking. The definition of success is getting better than where you were when you first got the injury. That’s the most important thing.

Q: What is life like for you today?

I’m just so thankful. I have two kids now. I’m married and I have a job I truly enjoy where I serve as the Director of Strategic Alliances for Bristol Myers Squibb. I look at my kids running around, one of things I can’t do, and it brings a smile to my face. They’re our legacy. Making sure they’re happy and taken care of is my most important job these days.

We have a nonprofit foundation where we partner with Magee to help newly injured patients and provide them with hope and assistance with their lives, both emotionally and financially. My high school football coach originally started The Adam Taliaferro Foundation 21 years ago to help with financial support because initially it was believed I would be in a wheelchair the rest of my life. Thankfully I didn’t need all those funds that were raised. I realized a lot of people aren’t as fortunate.

Our foundation provides funding to individuals who have spinal cord or any other catastrophic injury to help them with their needs that insurance may not cover. A main objective of the foundation is to provide resources and support to help patients get back to living their lives. Financial is a huge component, but there is also the emotional side. My biggest role is to be there to talk to the patients and their families, sharing my story and helping them come up with ways to get through this challenging time. My parents talk to their parents. It’s a way to give back, because I was given so much.

Adam Taliaferro visits Magee often to provide support and mentor patients who are newly-injured and recovering from a spinal cord injury. Adam Taliaferro during a visit with his mom and brother while undergoing inpatient rehab at Magee.

Q: What do you hope your children learn from what you’ve gone through?

The ability to overcome adversity, but you can’t do it all on your own sometimes. It’s okay to ask Mom and Dad and other people for help. That’s what we are all here for. If you’re able to do that you can get through tough times in life. It wasn’t until after my injury that I realized that you may need to lean on people to get through life. I have two great parents and a brother who were always there to help me.

Q: How has your recovery experience helped you conquer other challenges in your life?

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think back to my injury and the lessons that I learned through it. It’s helped me be the person that I am today. It helps us realize that inner drive that none of us knew that we had prior to going through this. Life’s adversities are not meant to paralyze you; they’re there to help you understand who you are. In my case, it literally paralyzed me, but it helped me better understand who I was and prepared me for life.