After a motorcycle accident, Richard was left with a traumatic brain injury and multiple pelvic fractures that required an external fixator. When he arrived at Village of the Falls Skilled Nursing Facility, he was unable to bear weight on either of his legs. Severe pain and significant physical limitations also made it difficult for him to complete even basic daily activities.
Richard required total assistance from his care team when he first arrived at Village of the Falls. He was unable to walk and required two team members for transfers. Despite these challenges, he remained motivated to regain his independence.
A Turning Point
Two of the greatest barriers Richard faced were pain and weight-bearing restrictions during his rehabilitation. When his external fixator was removed and his pain started decreasing, he began making meaningful progress. His ability to transfer improved, which was followed by significant gains in mobility and daily activities. Richard continued working towards his goal of returning to his usual routine with his wife. All of this was achievable with the support of his rehabilitation team and his own determination.
Regaining His Independence
Today, Richard is able to walk with a walker, and he needs minimal assistance when getting ready for the day. The pain that once affected every part of his life has now decreased to almost none.
“I can’t thank everyone here enough for everything they’ve done,” Richard shared. “I’m so happy to be able to do my normal things again. Everyone here works so hard to help. I’m so proud of myself for how far I’ve come.”
His therapist also recognized the effort behind his recovery.
His therapist Taylor said “Rick has shown so much growth and motivation throughout his rehabilitation journey with us. Even though he experienced pain and difficulty initially, he continued pushing forward. He is now able to safely return to his normal day-to-day life with his wife. We could not be prouder of him!”
Richard’s progress reflects his determination, the encouragement of his loved ones and the dedicated support of the Village of the Falls rehabilitation team.
To protect privacy, patient details have been limited in accordance with HIPAA guidelines. This is written with patient permission.
Austin’s Road to WalkingLife can change in a moment’s time. For Austin, that moment led to a life-changing accident. Only being in his 30s, Austin had a tree fall on him after it fell the wrong way while cutting it down. Against all odds, Austin survived, but this accident left him with multiple serious injuries and a long hospital stay. After several surgeries, Austin was stable enough to begin rehabilitation. Austin’s condition was severe when he arrived at Rose Lane. He was unable to walk, reposition, or complete simple movements on his own. Reflecting on the early days of recovery, Austin shared “I wasn’t able to walk at all, move. I couldn’t turn over, nothing.” Being a younger adult, Austin had a pretty hard time with this condition.
From the Ground Up
When Austin first started, he required total assistance for mobility and relied on specialized equipment just to be able to safely transfer. He needed full support from his care team to transfer into his wheelchair. Austin’s goal was very clear from the moment he arrived: he wanted to walk again and return home. He shared that there were moments when he was convinced; he may never be able to leave. His determination to walk was his driving force to keep pushing him through even his toughest moments.
The Team Makes a Difference
Leaning on the support team helped Austin throughout his recovery substantially. He shared that his therapy team was always there to help, encourage, and talk to him. They supported not only him, but also his family. “There was a lot of help. They did everything. Absolutely love them,” Austin shared. The constant encouragement from the team is what helped push him through the most difficult parts of therapy. It was especially helpful as he was learning to stand again, which Austin described as his biggest challenge.
Steady Steps
Regaining strength and control happened slowly for Austin. Slowly, he transitioned to being able to move around on his own from total dependence. He started with a mechanical lift, then worked to being transferred with assistance. Eventually he progressed to parallel bars and then to taking steps. To this day Austin still remembers the mindset he had when he first stood on his own: he was going to see how much further he could go. He was able to advance from being wheelchair bound to walking with support. Using assistive devices allowed him to set new goals for himself. Overtime he was able to manage everyday tasks on his own, and even navigating the stairs became easier.
Looking to the Future
Motivation came from the thought of life beyond rehabilitation. Austin saw his physical progress as a sign of regaining independence. Regaining independence meant getting back to the moments that mattered most. He shared that he looks forward to spending time with his family, being active, and one day walking without assistance. That vision is what is still pushing Austin forward today.
Knowing how others may feel in recovery and how overwhelming it can be, he shared a message that is rooted in persistence:
You can’t give up. Keep trying, even when it’s hard. If you fall, get back up and keep going.
To protect privacy, patient details have been limited in accordance with HIPAA guidelines. This is written with patient permission.