When you look at my dad it is not obvious that he has had a spinal cord injury. You may notice a strange gait pattern and see that he is bent forward because he cannot shift his weight to the back of his feet without falling backward. What you cannot see is the persistent pain and the frustration with his limitations. I am constantly amazed at what he can do, and that this injury has not held him back. People experience life-altering events all the time, and this was his and mine in a way. I am Robert’s oldest daughter. I am a Physical Therapist in Jackson, Wyoming because of him, but we will get to that later. I was living in Denver with my sister. She was preparing for the Medical School entrance exam, and I was working in marketing. My parents had just been in Denver for a visit and left for home that morning. They stopped in Laramie, Wyoming to have lunch with my brother at UW. The plane was fueled up and they took off for home, Jackson, Wyoming. I received a call from my mother that afternoon and all I remember her saying was, “we crashed, and your dad is in the hospital in Fort Collins.” She was ok and in Laramie, Wyoming. I needed to get her. My sister and I left immediately. Mobile phones were not a thing and as I drove all I could think was that I knew nothing about dad’s condition. So, of course, we stopped at Poudre Valley Hospital for an update. “He was conscious going into surgery” was all I really heard and that was what I wanted to know. I remember praying, “please let him be the same mentally, the same person.” When he woke up from surgery, the relief I felt when I realized he had no brain damage is unexplainable. He was still the same old suborn, loving father I needed. He could not feel his legs and we had no idea what was to come. He was required to stay at the rehab facility for at least 2 months. My mother had to return home to run their business. I really did not like my job, I quit so that I could stay with him in Fort Collins. This is where I learned what Physical, Occupational and Speech therapists really do! I met some of the most compassionate, encouraging, intelligent and amazing people. I accompanied him to many, and when I say many, I mean many therapy sessions. It was nonstop. He worked so hard, and the therapists worked just as hard helping him learn how to use a wheelchair and maneuver without his legs. He had to wear an uncomfortable plastic torso shell whenever he was not in bed to immobilize his spine. It was exhausting for him, but he never stopped and that is exactly what I expected from him. After the first month, he wanted to return home. Following some discussion, convincing and arrangement we headed home. An orthopedic surgeon in Jackson agreed to take him on as a patient. He had an incredibly talented Physical Therapist working for him and felt confident it would be the perfect fit and indeed it was. At his discharge appointment with his surgeon, Dr. Coaster, he said he would be back and would walk into his office. A friend created and installed a platform stair lift and widened doors at their home so he could get around in a wheelchair. He had physical therapy twice a day and I worked with him on the weekends. He had started standing with straight leg braces before he left Poudre Valley Hospital. This slowly progressed to walking after a grueling month. His determination and hard work paid off. He did, in fact, walk into Dr. Coaster’s office a month later. The doctor was so shocked he rounded up his staff to share the great news. We are still unsure how he is walking; I believe in miracles, and that he has much more to do in this life. We are truly blessed that both he and my mother survived that plane crash. As I mentioned, I am a Physical Therapist and own an outpatient clinic in Jackson, Wyoming. I went back to school at age 25 to answer my call and am blessed to have found my passion.
This is Robert’s Story. What is your story?