SpinalColumn - Shepherd Center
Transcription
SpinalColumn - Shepherd Center
Understanding SCI and ABI SpinalColumn Shepherd launches DVDs for the newly injured. See Page 3 ® The Magazine of Shepherd Center: Providing Medical Treatment, Research and Rehabilitation | spinalcolumn.org Accelerated Cure for MS Shepherd Center is one of 10 sites nationwide collecting data and searching for answers that might point to a cure. Coming Back Football players’ collision leads to an inspirational friendship. Life on Wheels Shepherd helps people find the right wheelchairs for their active lives. Rebuilding Lives After Stroke Injures the Brain Shepherd Center’s Young Stroke Program provides specialized rehabilitation to help rebuild lives. Patient Profile Former spinal cord injury and MS patient shows a strong spirit through a series of difficult times. Secondary Complications Shepherd Center teams with two other institutions to shed new light on a preventable threat. Spring 2011 Spring 2011 Photo by Evan Hampton Letter from James Shepherd SpinalColumn® The Magazine of Shepherd Center Dear Friends, Shepherd Center’s Acquired Brain Injury and Neurospecialty Units recently expanded to the newly renovated second floor of the Shepherd Building – allowing all brain injury services to be conducted on one contiguous floor between the Shepherd and Marcus-Woodruff buildings. This move improves our staff ’s efficiency and enhances patient care. Now, we’ve shifted our attention to a $3.5 million comprehensive renovation of the third floor of the Shepherd Building. We hope to start that project later this year and finish it by January 2012. Both of these renovation projects are made possible by gifts from Shepherd Center’s generous and faithful donors, and we are truly grateful for their continued support that allows us to continue to improve our facilities and services to patients. The need for these projects is directly tied to increased demand for Shepherd Center’s services from across the nation and the globe. More than half of our patient referrals now come from outside Georgia. They are drawn here by evidence of our outstanding patient outcomes, which are attributable in part to the spinal cord and brain injury research, as well as multiple sclerosis studies, we conduct and the technology we offer patients. For example, last year Shepherd Center enrolled the first participant in the world’s first human embryonic stem cell clinical trial for newly injured spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Researchers developing regenerative therapies, such as stem cell treatments, face complex challenges, but the future is bright. While there probably won’t be a silver bullet because of the complexity of SCI, scientists say it’s no longer a question of if, but when a cure for paralysis will be realized. Meanwhile, assistive technologies continue to advance. Later this year, eligible people with paraplegia at Shepherd can enroll in a medically supervised gaittraining program with a new technology called eLEGS. It is a wearable, artificially intelligent, bionic device that assists users with standing and walking. Also, Shepherd Center is collaborating with mechanical engineers at Vanderbilt University to study a new wearable, powered orthosis that may improve mobility for some paraplegics. Not only does research draw patients to Shepherd Center, people also come here for our broad continuum of care, which spans from our ICU to Beyond Therapy®, our activities-based outpatient therapy. With this breadth of services and the expertise of our staff, it’s no surprise that the hospital’s outcomes far exceed national averages. More than 96 percent of our patients discharge to their homes, rather than an institutional setting. And 45 percent of our SCI patients return to work compared to 21 percent nationally, while 33 percent return to school compared to 17 percent nationally. We are thankful for the many dedicated donors and staff members who continue to make these efforts possible to improve the lives of Shepherd Center patients. Warm regards, Shepherd Center 2020 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30309 404-352-2020 [email protected] www.spinalcolumn.org Editor Jane M. Sanders Design Soloflight Design Contributing Writers Lauren Angelo, Sara Baxter, John Christensen, Amanda Crowe, Rachel Franco, Dean Melcher, Anne Pearce, Bill Sanders, Scott Sikes, Brittany Wilson Contributing Photographers Neil Dent, Steven Dinberg, Louie Favorite, Jim Fitts, Eric Kayne, Gary Meek Board of Directors James H. Shepherd, Jr., Chairman Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., President and CEO Emory A. Schwall, Vice President William C. Fowler, Treasurer Stephen B. Goot, Corporate Secretary Alana Shepherd, Recording Secretary Members Fred V. Alias, Gregory P. Anderson, David F. Apple, Jr., M.D., C. Duncan Beard†, Brock Bowman, M.D.*, Wilma Bunch*, James M. Caswell, Jr., Sara S. Chapman, Clark Dean, John S. Dryman, Mitchell J. Fillhaber*, David H. Flint, Stephen B. Holleman*, Michael L. Jones, Ph.D.*, Tammy King*, Donald Peck Leslie, M.D., Douglas Lindauer, Bernie Marcus, Julian B. Mohr, Charles T. Nunnally III, Sally D. Nunnally, Clyde Shepherd III, J. Harold Shepherd, Scott H. Sikes*, James E. Stephenson, James D. Thompson, Goodloe H. Yancey III† * † James H. Shepherd, Jr. Chairman of the Board About the Cover: Football player Jake Nicolopulos experienced a stroke when he was 18. With his family by his side, he underwent rehabilitation at Shepherd Center and will enroll at Clemson University this fall. Photo by Gary Meek Ex Officio Emeritus Spinal Column is published quarterly by Shepherd Center, a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in the treatment of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular disorders, and urological problems. E-mail change of address information or request to be removed from our mailing list to [email protected], or by mail to Shepherd Center, Attn: Spinal Column Mailing List, 2020 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30309. Please include mailing label. Spinal Column accepts no advertising. Spinal Column is a registered trademark of Shepherd Center. w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Spring2011Contents SpinalColumn ® The Magazine of Shepherd Center: Providing Medical Treatment, Research and Rehabilitation Features 10 12 Photo by Eric Kayne Unraveling Multiple Sclerosis: Shepherd Center is one of 10 sites nationwide collecting data and searching for answers that might point to a cure. 14 Life on Wheels: hepherd Center helps people find the S right wheelchairs for their active lives. Cover Story Rebuilding Lives After Stroke Injures the Brain Shepherd Center’s Young Stroke Program provides specialized rehabilitation to help rebuild lives. Photo by Louie Favorite Coming Back from a Freak Accident: Football players’ collision causes a spinal cord injury, but leads to an inspirational friendship. 10 Departments 2 Short Takes 16 Research: Preventing Secondary Complications 17 Managed Care Corner 18 Patient Profile: Connie Kay, Ph.D. 20Ask the Doc 21Medical Staff Profile: J. Tobias Musser, M.D. 22Shepherd Alums 24Foundation Features 34Tributes If you would like to make a gift to support the work you have read about, please contact Scott H. Sikes at the Shepherd Center Foundation at 404-350-7305 or visit shepherd.org. Wearable Robotic Device for Gait Assistance Being Studied at Shepherd Shepherd Center is collaborating with engineers at Vanderbilt University to study a new wearable, powered orthosis that may improve mobility for people with paraplegia. Some paraplegics can walk using crutches and long leg braces, but these aids are typically cumbersome. Because the user’s knees are locked into place, the user is left to shuffle forward. “It’s awkward and takes a lot of energy,” says Michael Goldfarb, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt University. The new powered, lower-limb orthosis that he and his team are developing is fit with electric motors at the hips and knees, allowing users to swing through their gait rather than feeling restricted by stiff legs and locked knees. “It’s more representative of a healthy gait,” Dr. Goldfarb notes. He also points to the physiological benefits. Weight-bearing and movement of the lower limbs help improve circulation, bone density and digestion, and they lower the frequency and severity of muscle spasticity. By moving the legs more, clinicians can also guard against mineral loss and skin breakdown. “There are the psychological benefits (of being more mobile), and this technology can be used in places that aren’t that suitable for wheelchairs – when reaching for groceries on the top shelf and walking down the aisle of a plane,” he adds. Claire Hartigan, MPT, a Shepherd Center physical therapist, says: “We see a lot of people with paraplegia who could benefit Photo by Gary Meek ShortTakes Shepherd Snapshots: A Look at News and Other Notes A Vanderbilt University researcher tests a new wearable, powered orthosis with a Shepherd Center patient with paraplegia. The device, which is being tested, is intended to improve mobility. from this technology. The ultimate goal is to give these individuals a way to get up and walk with forearm crutches at a relatively functional speed in the community instead of being confined by long leg braces.” Shepherd plans to expand enrollment in the study once engineers make preliminary modifications to the design. For more information, see shepherd.org/research or call 404-350-7581. – Amanda Crowe, MA, MPH Adventure Skills Workshop Planned for Spring A former Shepherd Center patient scales a climbing wall at Adventure Skills Workshop 2010. 2 Spinal Column Plan now to attend the Shepherd Center Therapeutic Recreation Department’s annual Adventure Skills Workshop scheduled for May 20-22 at Lake Martin in Jackson’s Gap, Ala. Held for a full weekend every May, the workshop offers an array of outdoor activities for people age 15 and up with spinal cord injury or disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders. Adventure Skills Workshop (ASW) participants get to choose from a variety of sports and activities, including tubing, jet skiing, water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, fishing, riding all-terrain vehicles, wall climbing, canoeing/kayaking, riflery/ skeet shooting and water polo. ASW is an opportunity to explore new activities, learn new skills, meet new people and have fun, according to the staff in Shepherd’s Therapeutic Recreation Department. They believe participants leave with a new outlook on life – seeing every day as an adventure. The cost to participants is $165 (includes meals, lodging, activities, instruction and a T-shirt); family members or caregivers can attend for $150 (includes lodging, meals and a T-shirt). The registration deadline is April 22. Space is limited, and registration can close before the deadline date. For more information, call 404-350-7793 or 404-350-7375 or visit www.shepherd.org/TR. w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g What began as a bit of providence nearly a quarter-century ago has blossomed into a proud partnership between two non-profits. Flashback to 1986: A collection of worn-out wheelchairs is gathering dust in the basement at Shepherd Center. Their fate is uncertain; they’re no longer usable, but they seem too good to throw away. Shepherd learns of a new non-profit that collects and refurbishes medical equipment, and then donates it to adults and children with disabilities for little or no cost. Fast-forward to today. The metro Atlanta-based organization, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC), has grown into a major provider of recycled medical equipment – with as much as 40 percent of its inventory donated by Shepherd. “We keep a whole fleet of loaner chairs for our patients to use until their wheelchairs come in,” says James Shepherd, hospital co-founder and chairman of the Board of Directors. “Once those are worn out to the point we can’t use them, we donate them to FODAC. In most cases, they turn them into brand-new wheelchairs.” Since its founding, FODAC has found users for 20,000 Volunteers Needed to Help with Wheelchair Division of Peachtree Road Race Planning is under way for the 30th annual Wheelchair Division of the Peachtree Road Race, which will be held July 4 in Atlanta, and organizers are looking for volunteers to help make the event a success. The race has grown significantly through the years and continues to require more and more help from volunteers. Typically, 75 volunteers and 100 racers participate in the event. “The race would not be possible without the assistance and hard work of dedicated volunteers,” says organizer and Shepherd Center wellness program manager Becky Washburn. Volunteers are used in all aspects of the race, such as athlete check-in, airport assistance, pre-race social and post-race brunch. Volunteers also can serve in the pit crew, as nurses and finish-line timekeepers. Organizers place volunteers in job categories on a first-come, first-served basis. Requesting a volunteer application early will help ensure placement in your top preference area. For more information on volunteering for this year’s race, contact volunteer coordinator Drew Bogenschutz at 404-350-7685 or [email protected]. Photo by Dianne Ramsey Shepherd Center’s Partnership with Non-Profit Brings Medical Equipment to People in Need wheelchairs and 6,000 hospital beds, along with home healthcare equipment ranging from walkers and canes to shower chairs and toilet supports. Some of the recipients are former Shepherd patients. Since medical equipment can cost thousands of dollars, many people can’t afford new items – and FODAC fills that need. “The people we serve fall through the cracks in many ways,” Scott Strickland is a recipient of a wheelchair says Chris Brand, FODAC’s donated to FODAC and president and CEO. “Some are refurbished for his use. either uninsured or underinsured. Or they might have to wait months for Medicare or Medicaid to step in. They simply can’t afford this equipment.” “FODAC serves a role no other organization has stepped up to fill,” James says. “They focus on the disabled community in a positive way by providing equipment that helps improve their quality of life.” Besides helping those in need, FODAC services have another advantage: Brand estimates his program prevents 100 tons of equipment from ending up in a landfill each year. – Sara Baxter Shepherd Center Launches New Video Series A new video series created by Shepherd Center about understanding spinal cord and brain injury is now available online. Narrated by Judy Fortin, former CNN anchor and medical correspondent, the video features some of the nation’s top neuroscientists, physicians and spinal cord and brain injury experts to help people understand their new injury, the path to recovery and functional expectation. Viewers may search to find sections relevant to their injury – such as a complete or incomplete injury or a certain level of injury for spinal cord injuries, or traumatic or non-traumatic sections for brain injuries, and so on. Basic concepts are explained by experts from across the nation. In addition, Lee Woodruff, the wife of ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff, who was injured reporting on the Iraq war, also appears in the videos. The video series was produced in collaboration with the American Trauma Society, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, the Brain Injury Association of America and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. To view the series, visit www.spinalinjury101.org or www.braininjury101.org. Spring 2011 3 Photo by Louie Favorite e uie Favorit Photo by Lo 4 Spinal Column Photo by Gary Meek CoverStory w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Lives after Rebuilding StrokeInjures the Shepherd Center’s Young Brain By Bill Sanders Stroke Program provides specialized rehabilitation TO help rebuild lives. Jake Nicolopulos was eight weeks away from National Signing Day – the biggest day of his young life. For those who follow college football religiously, the event is the biggest day of the off-season. When the day came, Jake sent in his signed letter of intent to play football for Clemson University. But a lot happened in the eight weeks between Dec. 9, 2009 and Feb. 3, 2010 – enough that Clemson offered Jake a scholarship, not for what he might mean to the team, but because of what he already meant to the program. By Feb. 3, 2010, it was clear that Jake was never going to play football at Clemson or anywhere. At just 18 years old, he had a massive stroke on Dec. 9, 2009. A couple of weeks later, he was admitted for brain injury rehabilitation in Shepherd Center’s Young Stroke Program. Believing there was a vacuum in the care for people who experience a stroke at a relatively young age, Shepherd Center created a specialty care program. The hospital takes a multidisciplinary team approach to rehabilitation. Staff members understand that after a stroke, people are going through more than just recovery; they are learning a new way of life. Rehabilitation at Shepherd is designed to meet the physical, cognitive, medical and emotional needs of each individual, while working toward independence with activities such as school, work, driving, parenting and community involvement. The program, which treats about 90 patients a year, also provides education and training for the patient’s family. The goal for these patients is the same as the goal for all Shepherd patients: Rebuild their lives with hope, dignity and independence. Today, it’s happening for Jake, who lives in Anderson, S.C., not far from Clemson, where he will enroll later this year. It’s also happening for Anissa Mayhew, 37, of Newnan, Ga., who has sustained multiple Football player Jake Nicolopulos of Anderson, S.C., experienced a stroke at age 18. He underwent rehabilitation at Shepherd Center and will enroll at Clemson University this fall. Spring 2011 5 strokes and has returned to her roles as a On Dec. 8, 2009, Jake went to bed with a “I was surprised nationally known blogger and parent of three migraine headache that was a little worse than the when I was able young children. And it’s happening in the life of ones he’d had before. to go home six Toni Hickman, 36, of Houston, Texas, a mother When he woke up on Dec. 9, still feeling a little weeks later and and hip-hop music artist who sustained a stroke funny, he got dressed for school – a little dressier had gone from and returned to work and has become an than normal because a Clemson coach was coming Point A to Point X.” to see him that day. But before he left, standing just advocate for performing artists with disabilities. – Anissa Mayhew “Shepherd Center specializes in brain and down the hall from his parents, he had a stroke. spinal cord injury rehabilitation care for a “He came down the hall, turned the corner, population of patients who are typically younger than patients at and the look on his face was a look of fear, like a deer in the general rehabilitation facilities,” says Darryl Kaelin, M.D., medical headlights,” recalls Jake’s mother, Ann Louise Nicolopulos. “My director of Shepherd’s Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program. “And husband, Craig, and I jumped up and said, ‘Jake, Jake, what’s we develop programs specific to their needs. Most people who wrong?’ He couldn’t speak. His speech was the first thing that left have strokes are 65 and older and have had a loss of oxygen him. Craig got him on the floor so he could lift his knees above his to the brain. In our population, the strokes are usually bleeding head to get the blood flowing again. His right leg fell right back strokes, which carry a high risk of death, but also a greater down. We called 911, and Jake was fading in and out, and we potential for recovery if you survive. were begging him to stay with us. I thought I was losing my kid. I “As these patients go back to being moms and dads and was begging God, please let him be OK.” employees and students, they need to get their quality of life Jake spent a couple of weeks at AnMed Health, an Anderson, back,” he adds. “That’s what we focus on.” S.C., hospital. At first, doctors didn’t expect him to live. Even after the swelling in his brain began to subside, his condition was The Road to Recovery for Jake Nicolopulos “touch and go” for a while. Jake Nicolopulos, now 19, grew up a few miles from Clemson But Ann knew where she wanted Jake to be. And she’s University’s Memorial Stadium called “Death Valley.” He knew early convinced it was a messenger from God who told her Jake on that his dream was to run onto that field, wearing the orange needed to go to Shepherd Center. and purple, and play football in front of more than 80,000 people. The messenger was Chari Ridgeway, a nurse and the mother Turns out, Clemson had the same dream. of former Shepherd Center brain injury patient Shannon Ridgeway In 2009, Jake was ranked as one of the best middle linebackers of Calhoun Falls, S.C. (Today, Shannon, 25, works in her family’s in the country. He was bigger and stronger than most high school business and volunteers in her community.) linebackers and was as football-smart as anyone Clemson was “While we were in the hospital waiting room, Chari came in recruiting. The two were so fond of each other that Clemson and introduced herself and said she lived an hour away and had offered a scholarship and Jake unofficially accepted while he was heard about Jake on the news. She said she came to say one still a junior in high school. Other schools wanted Jake to consider thing: ‘You need to get him to Shepherd Center. God told us that their programs. He had no interest. we needed to tell you to get to Shepherd.’” Shepherd Center Young Stroke Program Highlights ❚ Shepherd Center’s Young Stroke Program specializes in caring for people ages 15 to 65 who have experienced a stroke. The program also provides education and training for their families. 6 Spinal Column ❚ P eople who have experienced a stroke may be admitted to Shepherd Center’s inpatient rehabilitation program, the Shepherd Pathways Day Program or Pathways Outpatient Program, depending on the severity of illness and medical needs. ❚ S ervices may include: medical management, rehabilitation nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language-cognitive therapy, swallowing therapy, nutritional counseling, respiratory therapy, recreational therapy, vision assessment and treatment, neuropsychological assessment and counseling, and vocational counseling. w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g The Shepherd Center Young Stroke Program experience, Ann says, was fantastic – from inpatient care to post-acute care at Shepherd Pathways. “I don’t want to single out any one staff member because they were all so very good and caring,” Ann says. “Jake had one 90-pound therapist at Pathways who just wore him out. She was like what he was used to in a football coach, and it was great for him.” Today, Jake walks with a slight limp and has little use of his right arm. His speech is still quite limited, but is improving little by little. He understands everything, is responsive, drives a truck and will be starting college this fall. “Jake will be recovering for the rest of his life,” Ann says. “But the good thing about speech is that it’s one thing that can keep improving, year after year.” rite The Road to Recovery for Anissa Mayhew Doctors were not sure that Anissa Mayhew, 37, would live, much less be able to communicate on a high-functioning level. Now, Anissa puts sentences together for a living in cyberspace. She is the founder of www.AimingLow.com, and FreeAnissa.com, a blog Anissa writes about her life, has more than 8,500 followers. In the “About” section of her blog is a fancy, beautiful photo of Anissa. The caption reads: “This was me before I got married, had three kids, had a stroke, had a toddler with cancer, started a blog, then had more strokes and became inspirational. You may not be able to tell from there, but I am totally rolling my eyes. I also used to work at Glamour Shots with WAY too much time on my hands! I just thought you’d enjoy seeing the photo I used to bait the hook that got me a husband.” Below it is, well, a somewhat more real-life picture. Its caption reads: “This is me every other day of my life. And now I have a handicapped-parking pass that makes me super popular at Walmart. Don’t be jealous. If you ask nice, I’ll take you with me.” Welcome to Anissa’s talented world, where irreverence is a gift that a series of strokes did not steal. On Nov. 17, 2009, Anissa was out to lunch when she had a stroke. She’d have another one at the hospital. “I was in a coma for 10 days,” she says. “They told my husband it didn’t look good. They brought my kids in to say goodbye. But after I saw my kids, my health started to turn around. I started to come out of the coma.” After discharging from the hospital, Anissa went to a nursing home until she was ready to come to Shepherd Center for rehabilitation in January 2010. She completed Shepherd’s inpatient Young Stroke Program and the post-acute program at Shepherd Pathways. “Going to Shepherd was incredible,” Anissa says. “I’m still in contact with my therapists in PT, OT and speech. I’ve had some over for dinner. I’m so close to them. Going to Shepherd was a big part Photos by Louie Favo Continued on Page 9 Anissa Mayhew of Newnan, Ga., sustained multiple strokes. After undergoing rehabiltiation at Shepherd, she has returned to her roles as a nationally known blogger and parent of three young children. ❚ S pecialized services include: assistive technology (computerized assistive devices), wheelchair seating clinic, adaptive driving, upper-extremity clinic, pain management, aquatic therapy, hippotherapy and a transitional living apartment. ❚ C lients have access to the newest technology, including: Vital Stim, sEMG biofeedback, Bioness, Lokomat, Saeboflex, Lite Gait, Balance Master, and functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike for arms and legs. ❚ M ore than 95 percent of people who complete Shepherd Center’s Young Stroke Program are discharged to their home, rather than a long-term care facility, compared to 58 percent nationally in 2009-2010. ❚ V isit shepherd.org/stroke for more information about Shepherd Center’s Young Stroke Program and clinical outcomes. Spring 2011 7 Specialized Stroke Care Shepherd Center focuses on both the patient and family. By Bill Sanders Speech-language pathologist Cindy DuBose, SLP, who joined the Shepherd Center Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program staff in January 2010, looks at the rehabilitation hospital’s facilities, staff, programs and outcomes with a sense of wonder that usually comes from newcomers. But even senior staff members at Shepherd, from time to time, step back and say, “Wow!” DuBose has worked as a speechlanguage pathologist for more than 12 years at some top-notch facilities. But the recoveries she’s seen at Shepherd – particularly with some of the young stroke patients – have left her amazed. “I had heard about how great Shepherd Center is before I joined the staff,” DuBose says. “But you can’t really understand how great it is until you get here. It is not just the advanced Photo by Steven Dinberg stroke has occurred when a patient is admitted to Shepherd’s intensive care unit, says Eugenia Herbst, OTR, postacute occupational therapy manager. The patient can then progress to inpatient therapy at Shepherd’s main campus and post-acute outpatient therapy at Shepherd Pathways in nearby Decatur, Ga. (See bulleted list of services.) The continuum of care – which consistently draws families to Shepherd for stroke care for their loved ones – also includes brain injury education, training and peer support for the patient and family, Herbst notes. In addition, Shepherd provides complimentary housing for family members so they can be near their loved ones during rehabilitation. “Family members say they are so moved with how Shepherd staff care about them so much, not just their loved one who was injured,” DuBose says. “The family receives a lot of education and resources to learn about strokes, and then we all work as a team. I’m using interdisciplinary therapy approaches in ways that I had never done in other facilities. Often, I work Speech-language pathologist Cindy Dubose, left, works with alongside an patient Sunday Taylor alongside physical therapist Janelle Kenny. occupational therapist (OT) therapy techniques, but the atmosphere or physical therapist (PT), helping of the entire center. Everyone is so the patient on his or her speech or focused on improving the lives of the swallowing while the PT helps the people injured and their families, and patient with walking, or the OT helps with that’s the No. 1 priority.” feeding or grooming.” At Shepherd, a multidisciplinary team Shepherd also offers the latest in focuses on rehabilitating the patient in therapeutic and assistive technologies a comprehensive continuum of care. that help make it a leader in treating Rehabilitation can begin soon after a young stroke patients, says Darryl 8 Spinal Column Kaelin, medical director of Shepherd’s ABI Program. “The technology contributes significantly to the great outcomes we’re getting,” he says. “The younger stroke population has more physical endurance so they can better utilize the technology that is available. Families often seek out Shepherd because they learn about the technologies we have and the promise they provide for greater hope for their loved one’s recovery.” Among the therapeutic technologies offered are: Bioness’ wireless functional electrical stimulation (FES) devices for upper and lower extremities; FES bikes for use in physical therapy; fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and VitalStim therapy for swallowing; and Saebo’s functional dynamic neurological orthoses to improve grasp-and-release activities in people with little residual arm and hand function. Dalise Robinson, SLP, speech therapy manager at Shepherd’s post-acute rehabilitation facility, Shepherd Pathways, sees patients at various stages of their recovery. But there are some commonalities among all young stroke patients, and those are a large focus of Pathways’ rehabilitation care. “Cognitive communication skill deficits are always present with strokes, and we address that in an intensive manner,” Robinson says. Therapists also work to help patients reacquire the social skills associated with speech and other forms of communication. “We’re addressing not only functional language but the social, pragmatic issues that occur with young strokes,” she explains. “How do you re-engage with those around you in a social manner? We offer group treatment where patients have the opportunity to develop social-communication skills in a therapeutic environment with peer support. This fosters patient confidence prior to transitioning their newly learned skills into the community setting.” w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g yne Photo by Eric Ka Toni Hickman of Houston, Texas, a mother and hip-hop music artist who sustained a stroke, returned to work and has become an advocate for performing artists with disabilities. of me being pushed toward recovery. They didn’t put limitations on how well I could get. As hard as I was willing to work, they’d push me.” Anissa didn’t realize just how much progress she was making until she got home. That made her all the more grateful, she says. “I was surprised when I was able to go home six weeks later and had gone from Point A to Point X,” Anissa explains. “Things had changed so much, and from then to now, the difference is huge.” Anissa improved during her stay in the inpatient program. But upon discharge, she still used a wheelchair full time, her right arm didn’t move, her right leg was weak and she had issues with balance, stamina and energy. “I was apprehensive about talking to people because of the cognitive issues,” she recalls. “I’d text or email, but not talk on the phone.” Soon, Anissa started outpatient therapy at Shepherd Pathways and made great improvements. “I’m still in a wheelchair, but have started to stand up, walk with a walker or a cane,” she notes. “When I graduated from Pathways, I was apprehensive at first, but they had given me instructions, exercises and things to work on. I’m determined and continue to see progress.” a couple of dances while I was there and did so many things that encouraged me. “After the second brain surgery, I couldn’t talk, and my brain was very slow,” she explains. “I couldn’t count money or do that kind of basic math. It gradually came back, but even then, my whole right side was basically paralyzed. I was in a wheelchair for months.” Since The Road to Recovery for Toni Hickman Toni had regained some function before she completing Toni Hickman was in New Orleans in 2007, working to came to Shepherd Center. “I was walking, but rehabilitation make her dream come true. A hip-hop music artist from with a cane when I got there,” she recalls. “They at Pathways, Atlanta, Toni had wanted this career since she was 10 helped me get rid of the cane and worked on my Toni has years old. gait. And they put me in speech therapy, which released She was negotiating a deal in the Big Easy when helped with retraining my brain. I was still forgetful her first CD, she started vomiting. Toni had a bit of a headache, too. and not organized.” But there was also this factor weighing heavily on her “Crippled Today, Toni has not let the aneurysms slow her mind: She’d had a brain aneurysm in 2004, and the down. Since completing rehabilitation at Pathways, Pretty.” She symptoms were similar. she has released her first CD, “Crippled Pretty,” is building That time, her mother took her to Emory University is building a career as a public speaker and has a career Hospital in Atlanta, where she was diagnosed. “They written a book titled “Chemical Suicide,” which as a public did surgery to clamp off the bleeding, and after a few focuses on the harmful ingredients in common speaker and months, I was pretty much back to normal,” Toni says. skin and hair products. has written But this time, her condition was much more severe. “The album did pretty good – really good a book titled “My mom came from Atlanta to New Orleans the day considering it was just me, independently “Chemical of the surgery. The doctors at Tulane University Hospital released,” Toni says. “I’m working on my next told her they didn’t know if or how I would come out Suicide.” project, but this one is with another artist.” of recovery, nor could they tell her if I would ever walk Toni’s doctors don’t know what caused the or talk again. She was also told that she might have to consider aneurysms, and that’s not uncommon as there often is no known putting me in nursing home,” Toni says. cause. “I think it might have been stress because those were But a therapist at Tulane had another suggestion. She very stressful times,” she adds. “Things are good now, though, recommended that Toni go to Shepherd Center, and soon, Toni and I’m pressing forward.” was admitted. She spent six months at Shepherd Pathways, relearning how to walk and talk, and regaining the self-confidence necessary for a To read this story and view more photographs career in entertainment. online, visit www.spinalcolumn.org “Coming to Shepherd was one of the best things that could have happened to me,” Toni says. “They were all so very encouraging. It wasn’t like a regular rehabilitation center. They held Spring 2011 9 ComingBackFeature Coming Back from a Freak Accident Football players’ collision causes a spinal cord injury, but leads to an inspirational friendship. Photo by Louie Favorite By Bill Sanders To read this story and view more photographs online, visit www.spinalcolumn.org 1 0 Spinal Column When football players Tyson Gentry and Kurt Coleman collided in a scrimmage game at Ohio State University five years ago, Tyson crumbled to the field, knowing right away that something was seriously wrong. Tyson’s head hit the ground and snapped his neck at the C-4 level on his spinal cord. While he didn’t know the specifics of the injury then, he knew the severity. Meanwhile, the hit Kurt took was to his heart, spirit and will. For months, Tyson couldn’t move from the neck down. But in November 2010, he began six months of rigorous, activity-based therapy in Shepherd Center’s Beyond Therapy® program. Tyson has made drastic improvements in his upper-body strength and his ability to assist his caregivers in their daily duties. Ultimately, Kurt made a comeback, as well, deciding he could go on playing football. He’s now a Philadelphia Eagle. But the tackle on that spring day in 2006 changed the teammates’ lives forever. Kurt knows he’s a better man today for having walked this journey with Tyson. And Tyson, too, appreciates life in a way he couldn’t before it was almost taken from him. “I’m thankful for the recovery I’ve made and the sensations and arm and leg movement that I have gotten back,” says Tyson, who uses a power wheelchair. “I can’t complain. I stay upbeat because I know that I really have a lot to be thankful for.” w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g More about Shepherd Center’s Beyond Therapy® Photo by Louie Favorite When Tyson says he believes one day he’ll wouldn’t wish it on anyone, walk again, but that’s he isn’t talking about his not an immediate goal. condition. He’s talking Instead, he focuses on about the grief that he getting stronger and knows Kurt felt for years. more independent “He was very torn up week by week. about it,” Tyson says. “It “He’s motivated and was a freak accident, and really happy with the I kept telling him that it progress he’s made,” wasn’t his fault in any way, says his Beyond but it’s got to be tough to Therapy® physical injure your teammate that therapist, Melissa way. I’d never wish that Pullia. “He had realon anyone.” istic goals and knew Former Ohio State University Tyson and Kurt were what he might be able football player Tyson Gentry is sophomores and barely undergoing rigorous, activity-based to accomplish. He knew each other when wants to help his caretherapy in Shepherd Center’s Beyond Therapy® program. Tyson was injured. That givers more so he’s not changed over the months so dependant. And he and years that followed. The two are now needed to start with basic strengthening close friends, they say. tasks. He has a C-4 to -5 level of injury, To this day, Kurt looks to Tyson for but his motor strength is at a C-5 level. inspiration. Still, he needed to get stronger before we “For me, it’s been both a hardship and could really challenge his balance. Before a blessing,” Kurt says. “I experienced real we started, he couldn’t sit on a therapy depression, and he’s gone through his mat and stay balanced. Now, he can.” with a smile on his face, not complaining. The biggest quality-of-life imI was eventually able to move on, as far as provement has been the significant playing football. But in terms of putting decrease in pain in his shoulders, it behind me, as a person, no I haven’t Pullia notes. “Now, he’s using muscles he and won’t. I’ve grown from it, and it has hasn’t been able to use since his injury,” made me who I am today.” she explains. “And we’ve gotten to where The teammates’ families have even his shoulders barely hurt him at all.” become close friends, which is one of the Tyson is grateful for the Beyond things that means the most to Kurt. Therapy® staff members who have “I was more afraid than Tyson was at worked with him. the hospital,” Kurt says. “I saw his par“At Shepherd, it’s been really great,” ents, and they hugged me and told me it Tyson says. “Everyone is really nice, and it’s was not my fault. I don’t know if I could been great getting here and getting right to have done it without that.” my workouts. They’re hard, but I can see Tyson is enrolled in graduate school at a difference. And the more, the better.” Ohio State, working on a master’s degree in speech and language pathology. He Beyond Therapy® is a rigorous, activitybased therapy program designed by Shepherd Center to help people with a variety of neurological disorders, including spinal cord injury and brain injury, improve their lifelong health, minimize secondary complications and get the most out of any new neural links to their muscles. Beyond Therapy® is available at Shepherd Center in Atlanta and at its satellite location in Franklin, Tenn. True to its name, Beyond Therapy® goes beyond the borders of traditional therapy programs, where the focus is on adapting to a new set of capabilities. Traditional therapy programs are designed to help patients become as independent as possible using compensatory strategies and training on how to care for themselves after discharge from the hospital. In contrast, Beyond Therapy® focuses on promoting lifelong wellness and maximizing muscle and neural return through a program of intensive strengthening and motor-patterned activity concentrating on weaker muscles and nerve connections that may have been ignored in the initial phases of recovery. Optimizing recovery, toning seldom-used muscles and decreasing secondary complications that typically occur among people with neurological disorders are central objectives of the program. Visit www.beyond-therapy.org. Or, for the Atlanta program, contact Becky Washburn at 404-352-2020 or [email protected]. For the Tennessee program, contact Scott Hawes at 615-656-4656 or [email protected]. Spring 2011 1 1 Photos by Louie Favorite AcceleratedCureFeature Unraveling Multiple Sclerosis A Family Determined to Do its Part Louis, 50, whose younger sister also has MS. Shepherd Center is one of 10 sites nationwide collecting data After nearly 20 years of living with and searching for answers that might point to a cure. the remitting and relapsing form of this progressive disease, Louis is determined By Amanda Crowe, MA, MPH to help find a cure. In fact, it’s become something of a family affair. It started with numbness in his hands, Louis, his mother, and six of his feet, face and abdomen. At the time, 11 siblings are all part of the national Louis Llop ignored the loss of sensation Accelerated Cure Project’s efforts to According to the as it washed over parts of his body – create a “Cure Map,” an organized, sysNational MS Society, chalking it up to having a cold or sleeptematic way of exposing all the different about 400,000 ing the wrong way. He even ventured factors that could trigger MS. Americans have outside to chop wood that day, hoping “We have to find answers,” says MS, and every week the physical exertion would set his body Elizabeth Gonzales, a coordinaabout 200 people right again. tor of the study at Shepherd Center. But these episodes only became more are diagnosed. “Understanding what causes MS is frequent, and at times, Louis felt as critical to finding more effective ways to Worldwide, MS though he was losing control of his body. treat it and ultimately, to cure it.” affects about 2.5 He would soon learn that he had the By collecting blood samples and million people. beginning stages of multiple sclerosis medical histories from people with MS (MS) – a disease that damages the myand their relatives, researchers at nearly elin sheath (the protective covering that a dozen medical centers, including surrounds nerve cells), ultimately leading Shepherd Center, are beginning to chart to impaired neurological and physical function. the biological and environmental triggers contributing to MS. “It’s a devastating disease, and it seems to come back when “We’re not only interested in epidemiological data that will you least expect it – many times worse than before,” explains help show patterns of disease in the population, we are also 1 2 Spinal Column w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Left: Family members Olivia Evans, Adele Llop, William Llop, Rita Llop, Louis Llop, Coco DiCristina and Georgia Tate are helping Louis and Coco, who have MS, by participating in the Accelerated Cure Project aimed at finding a cure. The project is gathering blood samples and medical histories from family members to build a “Cure Map,” an organized, systematic way of exposing all the different factors that could trigger MS. collecting blood samples to try to uncover genetic information and possible biomarkers for the disease,” explains Ben Thrower, M.D., medical director of Shepherd’s Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute. “Finding biomarkers – simple blood tests – might let us predict earlier who is going to get MS and guide therapies,” he adds. “Right now, there is a fair amount of guesswork in choosing an initial therapy. Research may allow us to tailor treatment to each patient based on these markers.” Exposing Possible Causes of MS The Accelerated Cure Project repository is the largest openly accessible collection of samples and data from people with MS and their families, and researchers and scientists around the world are tapping into and sharing this information. A number of theories exist about the factors that might lead to MS. Researchers are examining the possible role of: Genetic factors; Vitamin D deficiency, which researchers say might help explain why MS is more common away from the equator and sunlight; Certain bacteria and viruses; Exposure to environmental or industrial toxins; Nutrition; Stress/injuries A person would likely need to have a genetic predisposition to MS for these to cause it, Dr. Thrower says. For example, although 90 percent of us have been exposed to Epstein-Barr, it appears that at the right time with the right genetics, this may trigger MS. Still, it is unlikely that MS will be pinned on a single gene. “What we call MS isn’t one thing, so we will probably find several genes that contribute to it, and that’s our challenge. It’s a complex disease,” Dr. Thrower adds. Symptoms of MS are also highly unpredictable. They vary from person to person – and even within the same person. “For me, the plan is to get up and walk every day, but some attacks can be so severe that I start slurring my words and end up being bedridden for a time,” Louis says. Advancing Science and Giving Back Since 2006, Shepherd alone has enrolled more than 500 people in the Accelerated Cure Project. The goal is to register 10,000 people across the country, and 2,500 are already participating. By taking part in this study, Louis and his family believe they are part of the solution, helping to unlock answers. “If they are able to find something that will benefit someone with MS in the future, I am blessed to be part of these efforts,” says Louis, adding that he has already seen progress in the treatment of the disease. “When I was diagnosed, there was no medicine – just steroids. Today, there are numerous drugs to help.” Gonzales has also found that people with MS want to do their part to help others. Family members are also committed to making a difference and helping to move medicine toward a cure and reach many milestones in between. “I think this study provides hope for some people,” she says. “It’s empowering. Even though they have the disease, they can help to conquer it.” Those interested in participating in the study at Shepherd Center should contact Elizabeth Gonzales at [email protected] or 404-350-3116 or Erica Sutton at [email protected] or 404 -350-1305. For more information on the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, including how to participate if you are not located near Shepherd Center, visit www.acceleratedcure.org or contact Accelerated Cure Project’s repository director, Sara Loud, at 781-487-0032. Other participating sites include Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston), Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore), MS Research Center of New York (New York City), Ohio State University Medical Center (Columbus), Stanford University (Palo Alto), University of Colorado Denver, University of Massachusetts MS Center (Worcester), and the MS Clinical Center at the University of Texas Southwestern (Dallas). To read this story and view more photographs online, visit www.spinalcolumn.org Winter 2011 1 3 WheelchairFeature LIFE ON WHEELS Shepherd Center helps people find the right wheelchairs for their active lives. By John Christensen The photos on Duane Morrow’s office desk show off his treasures – his wife Kim, their five children and two of his wheelchairs. The rugged silver chair with large silver disks covering the spokes and son Flynt reclining on the red upholstery is Duane’s rugby chair. The sleek threewheeler with the red and black University of Georgia motif and daughter Rhys aboard is his racing chair. Duane also has a chair for hunting, a hand cycle and two everyday chairs. He plays golf, competes in wheelchair 1 4 Spinal Column races, and is the fastest quadriplegic wheelchair marathoner in the United States and second fastest in the world. “I’ve found a new normal,” Duane says, “and the wheelchair facilitates it.” Once a device for transporting people with disabilities from one place to another, the wheelchair has evolved into a workhorse with seemingly inexhaustible uses. Besides transport and standard chairs, there are lightweight chairs, ultra-lightweight chairs, sports chairs and pediatric chairs. There are chairs for pool and beach use, chairs for the shower, chairs that tilt, recline and lift, chairs with six wheels and chairs with four-wheel drive. And where the wheelchair was once dark, heavy and cumbersome, many are now colorful, flexible and maneuverable. In fact, at the heart of Duane’s “new normal” is that the wheelchair is not only the gateway to life-restoring activity, but also a source of pride and self-expression. “We’re not victims,” Duane says. “People in wheelchairs want you to see them, not some big bulky chair. That’s w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Photos by Gary Meek why chairs are getting smaller. People in wheelchairs check out other people’s wheelchairs.” When Shepherd Center’s Seating Clinic opened 25 years ago, clinic manager David Kreutz says, “We had a steel cage to store some cushions and seating components and held clinic in one of the conference rooms four hours a week.” Today, the clinic has five employees, a full schedule that accommodates 100 patients a week, and a wide selection of wheelchairs and accessories. Shepherd also has a fleet of several hundred wheelchairs for inpatient use. Shepherd has one of the largest groups of wheelchair athletes in the country, which underscores the hospital’s “People in commitment to returning people with wheelchairs disabilities to active, productive lives. But want you to not everyone chooses to play a sport. see them, “The Seating Clinic addresses a not some person’s mobility needs for activities of big bulky daily living (grocery shopping, getting chair. That’s to the bathroom),” Kreutz explains. “The why chairs clinic therapist evaluates a person’s are getting physical and functional abilities, as well smaller.” as their needs and lifestyle. – Duane “We also assess their ability to push Morrow a manual wheelchair or drive a power wheelchair,” he adds. “Factors that influence one’s decision include intended use, weight capacity, cost and durability. Where the person lives, the environment and transportation all factor into the selection of a particular manual or power wheelchair. Postural supports and seat cushion selection affect the person’s balance, skin protection and ability to perform activities throughout the day.” One of the most dramatic changes in wheelchairs has been the shift from heavy steel frames with brackets for mounting wheels to welded tubular frames made from titanium and aircraft aluminum. The result is a lightweight chair that disassembles easily for transportation. Accessories range from colorful upholstery, pouches, lap trays, mirrors, lights and caddies to carry larger items. Performance options include suspension forks high-pressure tires and ultra-light wheels. Front wheels (casters) may be small and hard, or soft and wide. Rear tires come in lots of different profiles including knobby, high pressure and solid foam with a variety of tread patterns. “In some ways it is like buying a car,” Kreutz says. “Some people with experience in using a wheelchair know exactly what they want. Others come in with no knowledge and want to understand all the options, features, adjustments and colors.” Matt Edens, sports teams coordinator at Shepherd, describes the first time a patient tries a sports chair: “It’s so different from their everyday chair – the turning radius, light weight, and speed – and they go ‘Wow!’ Their eyes open wide, and they get that there is life after their injury.” Shepherd Center Seating Clinic manager David Kreutz, left, discusses wheelchair and cushion options with spinal cord injury patient Susan Bowman of Cordova, Tenn. One of the most popular options for sports chairs is the Click Strap that athletes wear across their waists and knees. “When you’ve got those on,” Edens says, “the chair just turns with you. You’re one with the chair.” Cost is an issue, of course. Chairs can range from as little as a few hundred dollars to $40,000 and more, and insurance doesn’t always cover the costs. But grants are available from foundations and charitable organizations, and many people raise funds through special events like BBQs, golf tournaments and car washes. “With all the innovations and the evolution of wheelchair capabilities, there’s really nothing you can’t do,” Duane says. “If you put your mind to it, you can figure out an adaptive way to do it. And it’s fun to be cool in a wheelchair.” Spring 2011 1 5 Secondary Complications: A Primary Photo by Gary Meek Research Target Shepherd Center teams with two other institutions to shed new light on a preventable threat. By Sara Baxter Shepherd Center ICU charge nurse Anneka Hitch checks on a spinal cord patient to monitor any signs of medical complications. On a Saturday afternoon last fall, about 30 healthcare workers from throughout South Carolina gathered in a meeting room in Charleston to hear presentations on a topic they probably didn’t learn about in their formal medical training – how to prevent secondary complications from developing in people who sustain spinal cord injuries (SCI). Secondary complications are a scourge in medical care, but people with SCI are particularly vulnerable. For example, if a patient’s body position isn’t changed regularly, he or she could develop pressure sores that may later become infected, or even develop into life-threatening blood clots. Other secondary complications range from urinary tract infections to bowel and bladder problems to pneumonia. “Many people think complications happen down the road – after a patient has been paralyzed for a long period of time,” says Deborah Backus, PT, Ph.D., associate director of SCI research at Shepherd Center. She helped conduct the training. “While that can and does happen, many complications occur early – even as early as when the patient is on a backboard waiting to get initial treatment.” The complications often bring much more than discomfort: They prolong rehabilitation, pose setbacks to progress or put the patient’s life in danger. “Clinicians at trauma centers are trained to save your life,” says Joycelyn Craig, BSN, RN, CRRN, Shepherd’s nurse education manager and also one of the leaders of the training session. “But in the case of people with SCI, clinicians may not be trained in prevention of secondary complications.” A new research and training project in South Carolina, and involving Shepherd Center, seeks to change that. Headed by former Shepherd researcher James Krause, Ph.D. – who has quadriplegia and who, with Shepherd’s help, managed to avoid secondary complications after recently breaking his leg – the project is designed to predict and prevent the factors that cause complications in people with SCI. It is funded with a $3.9 million grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), 1 6 Spinal Column where Dr. Krause serves as associate dean of research. Partnering with MUSC on the project are Shepherd and the Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Dr. Backus is leading the training and is the site lead and coordinator. “The research will identify the factors that lead to secondary complications, and that information will be passed on in the form of training to clinicians and physicians to help prevent these conditions,” Dr. Krause explains. The daylong training sessions like the one held last fall in Charleston are a key component of the project. Two more are scheduled in the coming months in Spartanburg and Columbia. Conducted by Craig, Dr. Backus and Shepherd Medical Director Emeritus David Apple, M.D., the sessions provide an overview of secondary complications and strategies to prevent and reduce them. During the next three years, as the research progresses, new knowledge will be incorporated into curricula to ensure healthcare workers are fully trained. “These healthcare professionals know secondary complications can happen,” Craig says, “but they don’t always fully understand their role as clinicians in preventing them.” To help medical staff translate their knowledge into practice, Craig is developing a downloadable template that hospitals can use to document processes like turning a patient. “Right now nothing like that exists,” she notes. The larger research project is actually a follow-up to a study done by Dr. Krause when he worked at Shepherd. From 1989 to 2002, Shepherd’s SCI Model System program surveyed 1,400 people with SCI about their injury, personality, support system, behaviors and health. The current study is similar, but will include people who have never received rehabilitation services. “In this new project, we’re examining how lack of access to care relates to developing secondary conditions,” Dr. Krause says. “Some people receive no rehabilitation after injury, or they don’t have access to attendant care, or they’re discharged with no follow-up. We’ll look at how these circumstances can lead to secondary complications, and then use what we learn to educate clinicians and patients.” w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g ManagedCareCorner Lesson Learned: The Importance of Planning Ahead Two former patients share their insight on insurance coverage. By Amanda Crowe, MA, MPH F or Billy Hulse and Matthew Davies, it started as an ordinary day. Matthew Davies, 49, former CEO of United Healthcare of Central Florida, was traveling to a meeting in Jacksonville in 2005 when he was involved in a car accident that resulted in a C-7 spinal cord injury (SCI) and moderate brain injury. For businessman Billy Hulse, 63, a history of night terrors – a medical condition caused by an over-arousal of the central nervous system during sleep – led him to slam his head into a shelf above his bed, injuring his spinal cord at the C-2 level in 2009. Most of us don’t think that we, or a loved one, will sustain these types of injuries. But accidents happen. Each year, nearly 11,000 Americans sustain SCIs, according to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. So, you have to plan for the worst-case scenario. Perhaps the best advice and lesson learned come from people recovering from SCI. Be prepared. “We were totally unprepared,” Billy says. “You find yourself in a position where you are less able to earn an income, and your expenses go through the roof.” Matthew Davies says. “You have to take the time to learn what is covered under your insurance before you need it.” Billy, for example, is only allowed $3,000 toward durable medical equipment. When you factor in his wheelchair, hospital bed and other medical supplies – which total more than $50,000 a year and are essential to his daily living and recovery – that money doesn’t go far. That’s apart from his round-the-clock medical care. Insist on catastrophic coverage. If you work for a company, insist that your employer select an insurance carrier that provides adequate catastrophic care and rehabilitation coverage. “Our error was not having better insurance coverage. Insurance isn’t user-friendly or admirably designed,” says Betty, Billy’s wife, who has a staff of six healthcare professionals to help care for Billy. “You can’t imagine the magnitude of this kind of injury until you are dealing with it. There is no way I could take care of him by myself, or even with two people.” If you can afford extra coverage, buy it. Since their ordeal, many of the Hulse’s friends have bought supplemental insurance to cover catastrophic injuries. “If you can afford it, buy it,” says Billy, who has been able to continue his work as a private investor in small software and aviation companies. “Without a strong medical policy to cover these types of injuries, you can quickly become overwhelmed by the expenses. It should be mandatory.” Matthew is grateful that he bought a long-term disability plan in 1988. Although he paid out-of-pocket from 1998 to 2005, he says it has more than paid for itself because of the covered benefits – including income replacement after the accident. “It’s another monthly payment, but it gives you peace of mind and greater flexibility if and when you ever have to use it,” he says. “Your financial resources run out pretty quickly. Longterm disability coverage is critical to catastrophic injury.” Cherish your support network. Having health insurance is one thing: Nearly 60 million Americans don’t have any coverage. But even if you have a health plan, it may not provide adequate coverage. Many plans – Medicare, Medicaid and commercial plans alike – have limited coverage for catastrophic injuries. Yet, patients with these types of injuries require early, intensive, coordinated and ongoing specialty care to maximize their functional abilities. “I don’t think there is broad understanding of the limits that are imposed when you have a catastrophic event,” Photo by Gary Meek Understand the limits of your health plan. Billy Hulse, who sustained a C-2 spinal cord injury in 2009, offers advice on having adequate insurance coverage for catastrophic injuries. As Billy and Matthew share, the tireless support of friends and family – who shoulder a tremendous burden, too – is priceless. “You can’t put a price tag on a support network to sustain and keep you motivated,” says Matthew, now a healthcare advocate focusing on the challenges and barriers faced by older adults and people with disabilities. “It makes a huge difference to your quality of life.” Billy and Betty say while they face constant unknowns, they have one another to lean on. She is constantly inspired by Billy’s positive spirit. “He’s so busy living despite the challenges. He lifts us up,” she adds. Spring 2011 1 7 Photos by Gary Meek PatientProfile Determined TO Keep Going Despite Setbacks Former spinal cord injury and MS patient shows a strong spirit through a series of difficult times. By Bill Sanders The life-restoring, soul-strengthening therapy that Shepherd Center provides compelled former spinal cord injury patient Connie Kay, Ph.D., of The Villages, Fla., to return to the hospital’s day program for a third time last fall – two years after she completed inpatient therapy at Shepherd. “I got more hugs in two days at Shepherd than in the 10 months since I completed the day program the first time,” says Connie, 64. “What Shepherd is, is so rare in this world. It kept me going at a bleak time. They say once a part of the Shepherd family, always a part, and that’s how I feel.” During her most recent stay at Shepherd, Connie heard some tough-to-deal-with news: Because of her declining bone density, she could not continue efforts to stand and walk again. But 1 8 Spinal Column true to Connie’s strong spirit, this setback – another in a series of difficult circumstances over the past few years – didn’t keep her down for long. She credits her Shepherd “family” with providing the encouragement and care she needed to address this latest hurdle. Connie first became part of the Shepherd family in 2008 – 13 years after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but immediately on the heels of a cervical epidural hematoma that left her paralyzed. “I am a psychologist, had my own practice in Florida and kept it active for a couple of years after the MS diagnosis, but it began to take a toll on me, mostly with fatigue,” Connie explains. “Then in 2008, I’m still mobile, walking and functioning well, and I wake up one morning with a sore neck. That lasted a week and was slowly getting worse. What she found “I went to an ER, they put me on a gurney and at Shepherd is the last thing I remember saying is that I was going exactly what down. I woke up in a different hospital, paralyzed she had come from the neck down,” she recalls. to expect When Connie transferred to Shepherd Center, – family to doctors could not predict what her future might cry with, be hold. She could only move a finger. The Florida loved by and surgeon, who Connie credits for helping save her eventually to life, didn’t expect Connie to regain much function, help her cope she says. and recover. Amidst this life-altering trauma, Connie was still reeling from the recent news that her life partw w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g ner, Beverly, had been diagnosed with brain cancer. “I knew from being a psychologist that multiple traumas at once are difficult,” Connie says. “Now I was living it.” But Connie soon learned that her spinal cord injury (SCI) was incomplete, and she began to regain some movement. She completed three months of inpatient therapy at Shepherd and returned home with some strength in her upper body. Connie and Beverly began planning the rest of their lives – whatever that would look like. “With my MS, we’d always assumed I’d die first,” Connie says. “Beverly was a tennis pro in great health, and then there I was in a power chair taking care of her as she underwent radiation treatment.” Connie stayed with Beverly as long as she could, but eventually had to return to Shepherd in spring 2009 for a month of intense therapy in the spinal cord injury day program. Then she returned home, and unable to care for Beverly, Connie made the heart-wrenching decision to put her in hospice care. She visited Beverly daily until she died in her arms about two months later. In time, Connie decided to return to Shepherd in fall 2009 for a six-week day program. What she found at Shepherd is exactly what she had come to expect – family to cry with, be loved by and eventually to help her cope and recover. “The people at Shepherd were like family to Beverly,” Connie says. “They had done everything in their power to make sure she had everything she needed while she was taking care of me. The love and concern, as well as excellent therapy, saved my life, much more than the surgeon did. When I came back after Beverly died, the outpouring of love was incredible.” Jill Koval, Ph.D., director of psychological services in Shepherd’s inpatient SCI program, says the love goes both ways. “I met Connie the first time she came in and have followed her through ever since,” Dr. Koval says. “Connie is like a Connie Kay, Ph.D., of The Villages, Fla., has completed three rounds of therapy in Shepherd Center’s SCI Day Program. Connie says her life was saved by the excellent therapy she received at Shepherd Center, as well as the love and concern shown toward her and her family by the staff. sponge in how she soaks it all in. She is very open to anything that is offered, and there’s always been a level of trust that what we were offering would help her. “And I never saw any quit in her. Even the hardest things that came her way, with Beverly dying, her grandchildren getting sick (she has two with cancer), she always has had a good balance between appropriate feelings and an attitude to keep going and be independent and be there for her family. She is very special to us,” Dr. Koval adds. After her second stay in Shepherd’s day program, Connie returned home knowing that nothing would be the same again. Dealing with both a spinal cord injury and MS would mean good days and difficult ones. So she went about finding a caregiver, and her Shepherd friends kept in touch throughout the process. In 2010, Connie lost some of what she’d gained in strength and mobility, and she’s had some other setbacks, as well. “I had been hospitalized for a nonrelated injury for four weeks and then spent six weeks in a rehab center,” Connie explains. “It became clear that I’d lost some of the ground I’d made in my leg strength. I was having problems standing again.” So back she came to Shepherd in fall 2010. “I returned to work with the same treatment team that knows and loves me,” she says. “My goal was to at least be where I was, probably further along, by the time I left.” Instead, Connie learned the news about that her declining bone density. Attempting to stand, let alone walk again, could have caused her legs to break. “My nurse, Velma, and my case manager, Marilyn, were given the task of telling me the news,” Connie says. “I guarantee there was not a dry eye in the room.” But, in time, Connie began to develop new goals and plans. “The staff assisted me throughout my entire stay with new directions for me,” she explains. “First of all, we established a wellness plan in order to maintain and prevent further deterioration. This includes swimming three times a week. Once in the pool, with the assistance of a neck flotation device, I am able to do something close to the elementary backstroke and propel myself the full length of the pool and back. If I am in at least three feet of water, I can attempt walking with assistance due to lowered gravity in the pool. So, I will be vertical after all!” No one who knows Connie would expect anything less. To read this story and view more photographs online, visit www.spinalcolumn.org Spring 2011 1 9 Q+A ask the Doc Shepherd Center physicians answer medical questions from patients and family members. Q:After my spinal cord injury, others tell me I need antibiotics if I suspect a urinary tract infection (UTI). Is this true? So yes, some urinary tract infections need to be treated. But not all symptoms imply a significant infection. Good clinical judgment is important because antibiotics can have negative consequences. A: Spinal cord injuries may lead to impairments in multiple areas of the body. One major area is the urinary system. But bladder function can be affected in various ways, and each person may experience different sets of issues. When the bladder system is altered, the risk of infections increases. Some patients may need to use an indwelling catheter or perform intermittent catheterizations (ICs) to drain urine. This may further increase the risk of developing a UTI. Most patients do extremely well with their bladder programs and may go years without infections. Further research in this area continues. — Gerald Bilsky, M.D., Medical Director, Outpatient Services Q:After I am done with my inpatient rehabilitation and discharge from Shepherd Center, with whom do I need to follow up? A: Upon completing your inpatient rehabilitation course, you will need to follow up with your primary care physician, as well as a physiatrist (a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician). The majority of the attending physicians at Shepherd are physiatrists. However, just having bacteria in the urine does not constitute an infection that requires antibiotics. Many patients will have low levels of bacteria, yet not have any clinical problems. In fact, frequently, the person may clear up over time with no Just as a cardiologist cares for issues relating to the heart, and an interventions. In other cases, increasing fluids may prove internist addresses issues such as hypertension and diabetes, a helpful. Adding urine acidifiers such as vitamin C or cranberry physiatrist (no, not psychiatrist and no, not podiatrist), would follow pills, though not scientifically proven, also has been tried. issues relating to your spinal cord or brain injury. A physiatrist is a physician who has completed medical school, followed by a The mere presence of a change in odor may not have any four-year residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and clinical significance. This can come from several factors – not perhaps even further specialized training (fellowship training) in necessarily a significant infection. Good hydration, proper spinal cord injury. Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems from catheter care and improved catheterization technique may musculoskeletal issues, including sore shoulders and low back alleviate this symptom. pain, to catastrophic events such as spinal cord and brain injury, Predominantly, when treating urinary system problems, we and stroke. consider the following: Are there new symptoms or has a People with spinal cord injury are at higher risk for certain medical significant change in the bladder status occurred? Has this conditions that physiatrists are trained to diagnose and treat. change been going on for a while, or did it just start? Are there Physiatrists also monitor routine maintenance items based upon any other associated findings? the medications the patient is taking. Physiatrists, because of their Some blood in the urine, or some spontaneous production special training, are more attuned to these issues. Thus, follow-up of urine, may be a sign of a possible infection. Nonetheless, with a physiatrist is recommended. because many patients see resolution of their symptoms — Anna Choo Elmers, M.D., Physiatrist spontaneously, persistence of symptoms is more important. A fever of greater than 101.5 is a more likely indicator of infection, Submit your questions for “Ask the Doc” especially if associated with shaking chills. Under these to [email protected]. circumstances, the physician may send a specimen to the lab for evaluation. Only with that information can the appropriate antibiotic be prescribed, if needed. Antibiotics are not without risks. Allergic reactions can occur. These can be of minor consequence with a brief rash, or they can be severe enough to cause respiratory failure or worse. Also, with repeated antibiotic usage, resistance to antibiotics may occur, and some bacteria may become difficult to treat at all, even with IV antibiotics. Furthermore, antibiotics may cause stomach upset and/or diarrhea, which can greatly impact a person with a spinal cord injury. 2 0 Spinal Column Gerald Bilsky, M.D., Medical Director, Outpatient Services Anna Choo Elmers, M.D., Physiatrist w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Q&A Q+A with J. Tobias Musser, M.D., Physiatrist, Shepherd Pain Institute Interviewed by JANE M. SANDERS Q:What drew you to the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry)? Q:What is distinctive about the Shepherd Pain Institute’s approach to treating chronic pain? A: Its breadth. It is a field that encompasses many other areas of medicine, including neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and rheumatology. The field also involves nutrition, wellness, physical fitness, kinesiology and mental health. With my interest in holistic, mind-body medicine, I chose physiatry because it interlaces all of these specialties into one. As it is an ever-evolving field, my “job description” evolves in parallel, allowing for progressive exploration. A: O ur team.There are very few pain clinics in Georgia that offer a truly comprehensive and multidisciplinary program that provides advanced comprehensive interventional pain medicine, manual rehabilitation therapists and doctorate-level pain psychological services. Q:What are some of the most promising new treatments in interventional spine and pain medicine? As physiatrists and rehabilitation providers, our approach to patient care is always focused on establishing positive doctorpatient relationships that lead to enhanced function and quality of life. Getting people back to a healthy lifestyle that includes work and play is important to us. Our treatment team is committed to providing the highest level of care and service to our patients. A: P RP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy offers a promising solution to accelerate healing of tendon injuries, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and even nerve injuries, naturally without subjecting the patient to significant risk. PRP is an emerging treatment in a new realm of medicine called “regenerative medicine.” We’re starting to see some very good evidence that shows its positive effects, which involves using one’s own platelets that have been separated from the blood, concentrated and then injected into damaged tissue under ultrasound guidance. Platelets contain a powerful cocktail of growth factors and attract one’s own stem cells to help dramatically accelerate healing and enhance tissue recovery. This therapy is being performed around the country, especially for elite athletes, and we hope to offer it at Shepherd Center soon once more solid evidence is published. The ultimate goal of treatment is to reduce or alleviate pain through education, hands-on therapies, appropriate injection therapies using cutting-edge technologies, and coordinated rehabilitation and exercise therapies. We do this while avoiding the use of potentially addictive and dangerous medications. We do so by combining the most up-to-date traditional and alternative therapies to achieve maximal outcomes. You can’t just fix someone’s problem with a pain pill. You have to have a comprehensive approach, and that’s what Shepherd Pain Institute is all about. The most exciting treatment in pain management is spinal cord stimulation, which is a type of neuromodulation used to treat chronic pain syndromes. This therapy involves implanting electrodes in the spinal canal in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The electrodes interrupt pain impulses before they reach the brain and replace those impulses with a comfortable sensation. This therapy is effective for severe chronic arm, leg, low back and abdominal pain. It is especially effective for most pain complaints after spinal cord injury. We’ve been doing it at Shepherd Center for more than five years now, and I continue to be amazed at how effective it is for most neurologic-based pain. It has truly revolutionized the field of pain medicine. INTERESTING FACTs: Our physicians offer cutting-edge, innovative treatments. We are never afraid to think outside of the box, especially for patients in whom other pain interventions have failed. We’re always looking for a solution for our patients’ pain Photo by Leita Cowart J. Tobias Musser, M.D. Random Facts: • Dr. Musser and his fiancée are raising three Weimaraner puppies. • He enjoys carpentry and photography. Fellowship: Shepherd Center Residency: Emory University To read more of this interview and view more photographs online, visit www.spinalcolumn.org Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine Internship: Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine • Dr. Musser enjoys traveling; he’s visited every state except for Alaska. He’s also visited every state park and vineyard/winery in Georgia and is gradually making his way to parks in surrounding states. Spring 2011 2 1 ShepherdAlums By BILL SANDERS Monica Quimby, of Scarborough, Maine Brittany Riffe, of Goose Creek, S.C. Kurt Blankenship, of Little Rock, Ark. FROM NEAR AND FAR Ryan Bloyd, of Jasper, Ga. It’s been more than 11 years since Kurt Blankenship, 29, of Little Rock, Ark., was in an automobile accident that left him with paraplegia. But almost since Day One, Kurt has been committed to moving on with his life. Since then, he’s earned a college degree, married and is now a management support specialist with the Social Security Administration. “It’s really been a great process,” Kurt says. “I got out of the hospital and didn’t really know what I was going to do, but I jumped right back into life and haven’t stopped. “My life is completely different than what it would have been like if I 2 2 Spinal Column Former Shepherd Center patients from across the nation report on their productive lives post-injury. hadn’t been at Shepherd Center,” he adds. “Physically and emotionally, you have to adjust, but with the support of family and friends, I have had no problem with the adjustments.” Kurt plays wheelchair basketball for the Arkansas Rollin’ Razorbacks in Little Rock, where he moved with his wife, Carrie. She is a physical therapist who works in pediatrics with Arkansas Easter Seals. Kurt and Carrie are finalizing their adoption of 4-month-old twin girls; they spend every free moment loving on them. “You know, kind of like being able to walk one day and waking up the next not being able to, we went from no babies to two babies overnight,” Kurt says. “There are lots of adjustments required to handle both situations, and I know that I was being prepared for this 11 years ago. “Plus, now I have an amazing wife along with the same family and friends that helped to support me back then,” he adds. “All I can say is that when God is leading you, He will prepare you, and if you are willing to walk through His doors, the ride is a ride full of amazement and joy.” Ryan Bloyd, 34, of Jasper, Ga., is a former Shepherd Center brain injury patient who knows he is blessed to have the unusually strong support system he’s had during his recovery. w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Not only have friends and family been there for Ryan, but his employer – Northwest Exterminating – has gone above and beyond what most employers would do. “They’ve done so much for me, I cannot even say enough about it,” Ryan says. “They’ve made me so happy.” Ryan was one of Northwest Exterminating’s top salesmen before a blood infection led to a brain aneurysm in fall 2008. What followed was seven months of treatment and rehabilitation at Shepherd Center and Shepherd Pathways. Most of Ryan’s hard work has involved relearning how to talk and communicate. He is far ahead of where he was and expects to see continued improvement. “Ryan’s doing great,” says his mother, Sandy Bloyd. “What’s really helped him was the full support of his employer. Two years ago, in the summer of 2009, they had a golf tournament fundraiser to raise $25,000 to cover additional, specialized speech therapy. Last June, they created a job for him back in the office. “He was a top salesman, but can’t do that yet with his speech still coming back,” she adds. “So he’s in billing now, working three days a week and going to speech therapy twice a week.” Northwest Exterminating has raised another $25,000 for Ryan’s continued therapy. Sandy credits Shepherd Center and Pathways for giving Ryan his life back. “I didn’t know it at the time, just how critical they were,” she says. “We were fortunate that he went to Shepherd, and then Pathways was phenomenal. We’re just so blessed.” Monica Quimby, 24, of Scarborough, Maine, is a self-admitted extreme person. She sustained an L-1 spinal cord injury in 2006 while doing a double back flip on a ski slope at Sunday River in Maine. For the fifth anniversary of the accident, Monica, who uses a wheelchair on a daily basis, held a party. “Celebrate life,” she says. “This was a life party.” Monica is thankful for life and knows her injuries could have been fatal. So celebrating life seems like the natural thing to do, she says. She’s also in a celebratory mood because she recently earned a master’s degree in higher education. She plans to continue her studies, setting her sights on a doctorate in neuroscience, with hopes of a career in stem cell research. Monica was on the skiing team at the University of New Hampshire (where she earned an undergraduate degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology) and was practicing her jumps when she was injured. “I missed the landing by 20 feet,” she says. “I never lost consciousness, but it was very painful to say the least.” After 10 days in the ICU at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Monica was transferred to Shepherd Center for rehabilitation. “It was the best experience of my life,” she says. “When I got there, I couldn’t move or feel from my ribcage down. I set a goal to walk with long leg braces by the time I left, and I did that. During therapy, we realized I had muscle function in my thighs and glutes. So I could walk some with the braces, drive and transfer.” Monica is now a biology professor at Southern Maine Community College and loves it. She uses a wheelchair because the long leg braces aren’t that practical for her. But she hopes one day to be walking again. “I keep working hard and staying positive,” she says. “But life is good as is.” Brittany Riffe, 21, of Goose Creek, S.C., sustained a T-8 spinal cord injury in an automobile accident in 2007. Since then, she has experienced pain and complications, but a positive attitude and the things she learned at Shepherd Center have pulled her through it, she says. “Shepherd Center taught me things,” Brittany says. “I hated the fact that I couldn’t walk. But then I met all these people at Shepherd who had worse injuries than I did, and they were all more positive than I was. It changed my whole view of things. Now, no matter how sick I get, I still think about how lucky I am.” Since being discharged from Shepherd Center, Brittany has graduated from high school and enrolled in online college classes. But bone infections, urinary tract infections and gall bladder problems have kept Brittany in and out of hospitals for the past three years. She’s now in a back brace until summer. “I’ve had nine procedures, counting the first surgery after my accident,” Brittany says. “But my new neurologist is an amazing doctor, and he thinks if I can push through and follow everything they ask me to do, that I shouldn’t have to have surgery again and can get rid of infections forever.” Brittany has stayed active with her friends, and getting out of the house on a regular basis helps her keep her mind off of her problems, she explains. “That helps,” Brittany adds. “But what I learned at Shepherd helps a lot, too. It gave me determination, but also perspective.” What’s New? We want to stay current on any personal or professional news in your life. Send us an update and a photo (we’ll return it to you): Jane Sanders, Spinal Column Magazine, 2020 Peachtree Rd., N.W., Atlanta, GA, 30309. You can also e-mail us at [email protected]. Spring 2011 2 3 FoundationFeatures Spring 2011 Photo by Jim Fitts passion and commitment he does every Thursday for the ABI Unit that contributed to his friend’s recovery. “Mark is passionate about everything he does,” says Dean Melcher, director of annual giving at the Shepherd Center Foundation. “If it wasn’t Shepherd Center, I’m sure he’d be deeply involved in another organization. So, we’re very happy that he has this strong commitment to us.” As a volunteer for the ABI Unit, Mark assists with filing and other administrative tasks, but his favorite activity is setting up the unit’s master calendar, a large, wall-mounted magnetic chart that displays each patient’s daily schedule. Mark also develops a deep connection with patients and their families by sharing his own personal experiences at Shepherd. Volunteering at Shepherd is “pure happiness” for Mark, he says. “I could be exhausted after working all day and then volunteering,” Mark explains. “But when I leave Shepherd, I feel totally energized. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience because it’s giving back.” Mark feels equally as fulfilled when he applies his innate creativity to developing unique ways to raise money for Shepherd Center. For example, his company, Mark Sunderland Interiors, exhibited at a film industry trade show called “The Next Cool Thing” in January 2011. He donated a portion of his ticket sales to Shepherd and also created the “Shepherd Lounge” as part of his 10,000-square-foot exhibition. The lounge was a Hollywood, art deco-themed space that included Shepherd signage and that allowed Shepherd Center representatives to network and share the hospital’s mission with others. Additionally, Mark donates to Shepherd 100 percent of his proceeds from sales of the book, Spectacular Homes of Georgia, in which he and 41 other designers are featured. Funds from these and other fundraising efforts by Mark go to the ABI Unit and to Shepherd’s Annual Fund. While tragic circumstances introduced Mark to Shepherd, inspirational people like Mark’s friend, Shepherd co-founder Alana Shepherd, fellow volunteer Steve Lore keep him there. “I promised to always be a friend to my former design assistant and still am today,” Mark says. Volunteer Profile Mark Sunderland Popular Atlanta interior designer creates unique ways to give back to Shepherd Center. By Rachel Franco Sometimes an assistant changes your business. Sometimes an assistant does even more by changing your life. Such is the case with Mark Sunderland, a Shepherd Center volunteer and fundraiser, and his former design assistant. Mark and his former assistant became acquainted when they both worked at the design firm, Beverly Hall, in the mid-1990s. As business associates, they collaborated often. But it was a rainy, summer day about a decade ago that transformed Mark and his former assistant from a creative design team to lifelong friends and introduced them to Shepherd Center. Mark’s former assistant was in a terrible car accident. Eventually, Mark’s former assistant entered Shepherd Center’s Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program, which provides comprehensive rehabilitation care for people who have sustained traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries. After visiting his friend regularly and witnessing firsthand Shepherd Center’s extraordinary care, Mark felt compelled to volunteer. And volunteer with 2 4 Spinal Column Atlanta interior designer Mark Sunderland is a Shepherd Center volunteer who recently donated to the hospital a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales to “The Next Cool Thing” design event. Attending the event was Mark’s friend and Shepherd Center MS patient, Kathy Russell. w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Photo by Jim Fitts Shepherd Center File Photo Donor Profile Valery, Bill and Cindy Voyles Voyles family continues a long tradition of giving to Shepherd Center. By Sara Baxter The Voyles family, including Valery, left, and her brother Bill, above, and his wife Cindy are longtime supporters of Shepherd Center. Valery Voyles remembers the time she and a group of volunteers the Dora and Ed Voyles Assistive Technology Center, thanks to were tying ribbons on invitations for Shepherd Center’s major a generous gift from Ed Voyles’ estate. The Center helps patients fundraiser, The Legendary Party. A woman approached her and adjust to wheelchairs, learn how to drive an adapted vehicle, and asked if they needed help. The group welcomed her, and through access computers and other equipment using adaptive technology. conversation, they learned that the woman’s son had just come to Valery Voyles first volunteered at Shepherd during what she Shepherd after sustaining a spinal cord injury. calls a “low point” in her life. “I needed something else to focus on, “She was so happy to be there, knowing that her son was getting and it was very comforting to spend time down there,” she recalls. good care,” Valery recalls. “She’d just been given a positive outlook “It’s not a tragic or depressing environment at all.” by Shepherd, and she had the peace of mind to turn her attention Shortly after Valery raised her hand to volunteer, her friend and to other things, like helping us. To me, that just demonstrates the fellow Shepherd supporter Ruth Anthony (who happens to be this happy and hopeful spirit of Shepherd.” year’s Legendary Party honoree) persuaded her to serve as chair That positive spirit led Valery Voyles and her family – includof The Legendary Party 2001. Valery chose for proceeds from the ing parents Ed and Dora, both now deceased, and twin brothers party to go to assistive technology. Ben and Bill – to become longtime supporters of Now, 10 years after Valery chaired The Legendary the Center. The family owns and operates the Ed Party, her brother Bill and his wife Cindy are at the “Shepherd Center Voyles Automotive Group, a venerable network helm of the big event, serving as the first husbandis a world-class of car dealerships throughout metro Atlanta, for and-wife team to co-chair the party. operation right here which Valery serves as chairman and CEO. “We thought we’d be a good team,” Cindy says, in our city. And it’s “We have such admiration for the Shepherd “and though it’s a big job, it feels good to be helping one of the places family and all they have contributed,” Bill says. to raise awareness and attract new supporters to this we have supported “Shepherd Center is a world-class operation right wonderful place.” for a long time here in our city. And it’s one of the places we have Like Valery, Bill and Cindy are impressed with because we believe supported for a long time because we believe in the positive energy that comes from Shepherd in the cause.” the cause.” Center and all the hospital does for its patients. — An important aspect of that support has been “When you visit the Center, it really gets into Bill Voyles providing technology to help Shepherd patients your heart,” Cindy says. “We are happy to support adapt to everyday living. In 2007, Shepherd opened that kind of hope.” Spring 2011 2 5 FoundationFeatures Making the Move Photos by Steven Dinberg January 17, 2011 was moving day for patients in Shepherd Center’s Neurospecialty unit as they relocated to the newly renovated second floor of the Shepherd Building. The 22,500-square-foot renovation, funded by generous donors, provides more privacy to patients and their families and allows staff to better manage infection control. It also puts the Neurospecialty Unit in closer proximity with the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Unit, which now extends from the second floor of the adjacent MarcusWoodruff Building to the Shepherd Building. The renovation began in July 2010 and was completed in late December. Aside from knocking down walls to reconfigure the space, the renovation also involved adding a generator and updating the ventilation system, as well as the nurse call system and the ventilator alarm system. Televisions were 2 6 Spinal Column converted from analog to digital, and the therapy gym on the floor also got a makeover to make it lighter and brighter. “This new space is a better environment for both the patients and Shepherd staff,” says Wilma Bunch, Shepherd’s vice president of facilities, who oversaw the project. “With more private rooms, we won’t have to transfer patients as frequently, and we now have the ability to place new patients more easily. Also, since the ABI Unit is all on one floor now, this increases the efficiency of the staff as they no longer have to travel between floors to care for patients.” The second floor of the Shepherd Building had previously housed the Spinal Cord Injury Unit, which moved to the fifth floor of the Marcus-Woodruff Building in 2009 in a Additional private rooms are the highlight of Shepherd Center’s latest renovation project. By Sara Baxter separate renovation project. With the addition of 20 private rooms and four semi-private rooms through the renovation, Shepherd Center now has a bed capacity of 132, including 107 private rooms. The cost of the renovation was approximately $5 million, which was part of a larger $9.8 million project that including completion of the fifth floor of the MarcusWoodruff Building in 2009. These renovations were funded completely by individuals and organizations in the community who believe in the Center’s mission. “We depend upon donors to help provide our broad continuum of care, as well as special capital projects,” says Scott H. Sikes, executive director of the Shepherd Center Foundation. “We are so grateful for their support.” Plans are now under way for a complete renovation of the third floor of the Shepherd Building. Scheduled for completion in January 2012, it will be similar in layout to the new second floor. As of January 2011, the Foundation has raised $1.1 million of the estimated $3.5 million needed to complete the renovation. Staff members and patients have moved into the newly renovated second floor of the Shepherd Building. The floor houses the Neurospecialty Unit. w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g in the Summer City “Summer in the City” gets a makeover for 2011 that’s sure to wow partygoers. By Rachel Franco When you combine celebrity chefs, finely aged wines, dynamic a wider audience and raises funds for its life-changing work. people and a great cause, you experience an evening you’ll Shepherd Center Foundation’s goal is to raise more than $100,000 never forget. from this event, says Dean Melcher, director of annual giving. These are the plans of Shepherd Center Society (SCS), Funds raised will go to the hospital’s Annual Fund, which supShepherd Center’s social/fundraising group, which plans to unveil ports programs such as Shepherd’s Andrew C. Carlos Multiple the completely transformed version of its “Summer in the City” Sclerosis Institute (named after the former executive vice presievent from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. dent, treasurer and director of National Distributing Company). The original Summer in the City built SCS membership Specifically, funds will go to the institute’s MS General Support and provided a casual wine and cheese party for SCS members Fund, Shepherd’s MS Research Fund and other related programs and non-members. While the event was a success, SCS, with that subsidize medication, treatment, special equipment and items help from National Distributing Company, decided to explore that may not be covered by insurance, but are critically important ways to enhance the experience for both attendees and in the treatment of people with MS. Shepherd Center. Companies and individuals can sponsor the event Co-chaired by SCS members Alden Potts and at levels ranging from $500 to $25,000, which also The Gena Bryant, the made-over Summer in the includes exclusive access to a special, pre-event enhanced City is sure to impress. Held at Piedmont Park VIP reception. Summer in Conservancy, this year’s affair features live music With the delectable food and wine pairings, the City and pairs a sophisticated selection of single-taste the combined auction/drawing and the meaningis a winentrees – prepared by some of Atlanta’s most ful cause, this year’s Summer in the City event is win for prestigious chefs – with signature wines from on its way to becoming a popular annual event. “I everyone. event sponsor National Distributing Company. think people will miss out on an extraordinary event A special bar featuring popular martinis and other if they don’t come, especially since we’ve partnered beverages will also be available. A “Chinese” auction will with such an exciting business like National Distributing give the evening an added twist. Auction items will relate to the Company, which can do so much to make the event successful,” event’s fine food and wine theme. says event co-chairman Alden Potts. The enhanced Summer in the City is a win-win for everyone, For more information about sponsorships or tickets ($80 each), organizers say. Not only do attendees enjoy a wonderful evening visit www.shepherdcentersociety.com or contact Anne Pearce at filled with delicious food and wine, memorable auction items and 404-350-7302 or at [email protected]. new friends, but Shepherd Center increases its awareness among The event co-chairs for the Shepherd Center Society’s “Summer in the City 2011” are Alden Potts, left, and Gena Bryant. Spring 2011 2 7 Photo by Billy Howard FoundationFeatures Helping Teens with Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries Shepherd Center’s Adolescent Program provides specialized services supported by generous donors. By Lauren Angelo Photo by Gary Meek Many teenagers face challenges associated with adolescence as Program. Upon request from the teen, a representative from they transition from childhood to adulthood. Adolescents who Shepherd gives a presentation at the student’s school about spinal sustain a brain or spinal cord injury face these challenges in addicord or brain injury, the student’s level of injury and the type of tion to the rigors of rehabilitation and learning to live with their help the student will need. Depending on the student’s wishes, new injuries. sometimes these presentations are given to a small group of Shepherd Center’s Adolescent Program recognizes the deteachers, while in other cases, the entire school is present. mands adolescent patients face and works to ensure that they Teen patients and Shepherd staff members also work together continue to lead healthy lifestyles with the highest level of indeon an injury prevention effort called YiPES! (Youth and Injury pendence possible. Prevention Education at Shepherd). YiPES! has a Facebook page The Adolescent Program is designed to (link to it from www.facebook.com/shepherd) support teens by addressing their unique that includes videos featuring adolescent patients concerns and providing education in describing how their accident happened and areas such as self-advocacy, self-esteem warning other teens to be more careful than they and problem-solving. Cathi Dugger, a physiwere. By allowing patients to share their cal therapist who has been working with the stories, Shepherd hopes they will inspire Adolescent Program for spinal cord injury for teens to avoid engaging in risky behaviors 12 years, says teens’ biggest worries are overcomlike texting while driving or diving into ing the stigma associated with being in a wheelshallow water. chair and being accepted by their peers. To help “Shepherd Center has a terrific team that’s teens overcome these fears, the program focuses dedicated to the unique needs of our teenage on group activities and outings, allowing teens patients,” says Dean Melcher, director of annual Top: Herndon Murray, to support each other during their first few trips giving in the Shepherd Center Foundation. M.D., medical director of outside the hospital. Through the efforts of the Foundation’s Shepherd’s Spinal Cord Dugger and her colleagues also incorporate Board of Trustees and hospital leadership, the Injury Program, treats teen-specific rehabilitation activities, such as Wii Adolescent Patient Program Fund, which is many adolescent patients. Above: Physical therapist gaming. The Wii is fun for teens, but also has supported by generous donors, provides money Cathi Dugger leads patient hidden therapeutic benefits, helping with handfor the Adolescent Program and YiPES! so Ed Leatherman and others eye coordination, strength building and cognitive they can continue to provide adolescent patient on an ice cream outing. decision-making. Some patients initially can’t activities and teen-oriented prevention messages lift their arms high enough to play, but seeing a to the public. target on the screen gives them a tangible goal. Dugger, who knows firsthand how important these programs Teens’ decision-making skills improve as they work to improve are to Shepherd’s adolescent patients, is assisting with fundraistheir avatar’s performance and advance to higher levels. When ing efforts. their avatar loses or gets hit, a therapist helps them determine “Our program is so special because we’re one of the what mistake they made and how they can make a better decision few spinal cord injury rehabilitation facilities that offers next time. an adolescent program,” she explains. “Teens are stuck in the In addition to working with teens during their stay at middle – they’re not small children, but they’re not yet adults, and Shepherd, the Adolescent Program also works to make sure their it takes a special group to help them be the best they can be and transition back to school is successful through the No Obstacles grow with their injury.” 2 8 Spinal Column w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Why drive 400 miles to celebrate the Kentucky Derby when Shepherd Center hosts the best Kentucky Derby party right here in Atlanta? Join us for Shepherd Center’s 29th Annual Derby Day, which has become Atlanta’s largest Kentucky Derby-themed fundraising event. The Shepherd Center Junior Committee is excited to be returning to the Georgia International Horse Park for the second year. More than 1,000 guests are expected to attend this year. The committee has been working since August 2010 to garner sponsorships and make preparations for this annual fundraiser. Last year’s event raised $130,000 in net proceeds for Shepherd Center’s Therapeutic Recreation Program, a vital part of rehabilitation and therapy for patients. Therapeutic recreation helps improve physical, cognitive and social functioning so participants can return to a lifestyle that is as independent, active and healthy as possible. The program gives patients the opportunity to get involved with hobbies and activities they enjoyed before their injury or illness, as well as the opportunity to learn new skills, often with the help of adaptive equipment. Therapeutic recreation, however, is not covered by insurance companies, therefore making it imperative that the Junior Committee raise as much money as possible for this crucial program. Derby Day 2011 Co-chair Stuart Griswold says: “I hope we can raise enough money at Derby Day that a future therapeutic recreation trip or activity becomes the turning point of someone’s recovery and that they forever associate that with the day that they conquered their injury.” Derby Day will be held on May 7 at the Georgia International Horse Park’s sprawling 1,400 acres of picturesque meadows in Conyers, Ga., only 28 miles from downtown Atlanta. Guests will enjoy an afternoon of big hats and seersucker while bidding in the live and silent auctions, sampling southern food staples, sipping on spring’s favorite beverages, and dancing to the music of Sweetwater Junction and watching the Kentucky Derby on the big screens. The live and silent auctions will feature such wonderful items as a Sea Island getaway, tickets to the 2011 PGA Championship, a stay at The Ritz-Carlton at Amelia Island, spa services, fitness packages, electronics, home furnishings and more. Want to have seats in Shepherd’s Millionaire’s Row? Derby Day sponsors enjoy special treatment with upgraded amenities such as their own televisions for viewing the Derby, luxury restrooms, drinks delivered to them and a few food items not available in the patron tent. Griswold’s co-chair, Reagan Michaelis, says: “I am really looking forward to being a part of every single aspect of Derby Day and getting to work closely with all the wonderful volunteers, executive committee members and committee co-chairs. Seeing all the behind-the-scenes pieces and helping with those decisions this year is exciting, and I can’t wait for it to all come together. Derby Day is my favorite day of the year, and this year is surely no exception!” For information on how to become a sponsor for Derby Day 2011, or for ticket information, contact Anne Pearce at 404-3507302 or [email protected]. Or, visit us at www.derbyday.com. Neil Dent By Anne Pearce It’s time for sundresses, seersucker and mint juleps again. Photo by Derby Day 2011 Derby Day attracts guests from throughout metro Atlanta for a day of fun, games and eye-catching hats. Pecans on Peachtree Fundraiser Experiences Continued Success It was another successful year for the Shepherd Center Auxiliary’s annual holiday fundraiser, Pecans on Peachtree. Volunteers helped raise more than $82,000 for patient-related programs and Auxiliary operations at the hospital. Auxiliary members volunteered nearly 1,100 hours selling pecans from two locations inside the hospital, shipping pecans to hundreds of customers all over the United States and Canada, and hosting pecan parties in their homes or businesses. It was truly a group effort and much appreciated by everyone in the hospital. “This was the 27th year for Pecans on Peachtree and the Auxiliary continues to put an amazing amount of time and energy in to make this project successful,” says Midge Tracy, director of Volunteer Services. “Chairpersons Marla Bennett and Maureen Escott did an outstanding job of coordinating all the volunteers and making sure everything ran smoothly. We are grateful for their leadership and the Auxiliary’s willingness to do whatever it takes to raise funds for our patients.” Volunteers helped raise more than $82,000 Visit pecansonpeachtree.org beginning in October to view the 2011 Pecans on Peachtree catalog, or call Volunteer Services at 404-350-7315 for information. Spring 2011 2 9 FoundationFeatures to the test, two fully guided river rafting excursions are planned on the exciting Class II and III rapids of the Nantahala River in western North Carolina. The Water Excursions Offer Adventure The Shepherd Center Therapeutic Recreation Department is organizing several upcoming trips that will allow former patients opportunities to enjoy challenging water activities as the weather warms up this summer. For people with disabilities who want to put their paddling skills trips, planned for June 18 and Aug. 20, are open to people of all skill levels and abilities, and friends and family members are welcome to come along. The cost is $40 per person. Register by contacting Chris Ravotti at [email protected] or (404) 350-7790. For people who want to experience an underwater adventure, an adaptive SCUBA diving trip is planned to Bonaire in the Caribbean. Recognized as one of the world’s top SCUBA diving destinations, Bonaire offers warm, tranquil waters that are home to the highest diversity of fish in the entire Caribbean. On this weeklong adventure from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4, participants will stay at the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort, one of the Caribbean’s first handicapped-accessible diving resorts. In addition to seven nights at the resort, the trip includes round-trip airfare on a direct flight from Atlanta to Bonaire on Delta Air Lines, round-trip airport transfers, two boat dives per day, unlimited shore diving and full American breakfast daily. A $500 deposit is required upon registration. For more information and reservations, contact DIVERS@SEA at 404-350-8510 or Shepherd Center aquatic specialist Angela Pihera 404-3507786 or [email protected]. Also, former patients, along with their families and friends, may want to make plans to snow ski with Shepherd Center’s Therapeutic Recreation Department and SkiMore Tours. A trip planned for early 2012 will feature private adaptive ski instruction, equipment, lift tickets, accommodations and airport transfers. The trip is open to all skill levels and abilities. The date and location will be announced soon. For more information, contact Katie Murphy at 404-350-7465 or [email protected]. New Foundation Board Leadership Ernie Pickett begins his term as chair of the Shepherd Center Foundation Board. After a successful term as chairman of the Shepherd Center Foundation Board of Trustees, Cynthia McCague turned over the gavel to Ernie Prickett on April 1. Cynthia, who is retired as senior vice president and global head of human resources for The Coca-Cola Company, was essential in helping to launch a strategic and more holistic approach to corporate partnerships for the Foundation. With her expertise in the corporate world, Cynthia was able to steer the Foundation into a better understanding of the opportunities for Shepherd to expand into more meaningful corporate relationships that benefit both the company’s interests and the needs of Shepherd Center patients. Cynthia’s passion for the hospital and her eagerness to promote its mission in the community is unequaled, and she leaves quite a legacy on the Foundation Board. Ernie Prickett, who has served on the Foundation Board since its founding in 2005, will carry on with the success that Cynthia and previous chairs have had in leading the board responsible for establishing development policy and generating the funding necessary for the hospital’s unfunded or underfunded programs and services. Ernie will serve a two-year term of leadership. 3 0 Spinal Column Ernie Prickett, left, has begun a two-year term as chairman of the Shepherd Center Foundation Board of Trustees. He follows in the successful footsteps of previous chair, Cynthia McCague. Ernie is a principal with Pinnacle Planning, LLC and serves in various roles in the community for the Atlanta Kiwanis Club, BBC Foundation, Capital City Club, Society of International Business Fellows, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Trust for Public Land, Westminster Schools and the Weswood Foundation. His professional memberships include the Atlanta Life Underwriters Association, Atlanta Estate Planning Council, The Million Dollar Roundtable and the Georgia Planned Giving Council. Ernie is a native of Toccoa, Ga., and a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he earned a degree in economics before joining the U.S. Marine Corps. Following his service to the country, Ernie earned a CLU designation from The American College. Ernie and his wife, Libby, spend their leisure time keeping up with their four children and traveling the world. — Brittany Wilson w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Legendary Party Kicks Off its 23rd Year! The Legendary Party Kickoff Luncheon is the venue ball chairmen use to announce their theme and introduce their vision of the event to the committee. A Legendary Event’s Tony Conway gave committee members and guests living proof as two uniformed Palace Guards greeted guests at the luncheon on Feb. 15 at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. A perfect example of what’s in store for this year’s themed fundraising gala, “Legendary Treasures of London.” Legendary Party Chairmen Cindy and Bill Voyles welcomed guests and thanked committee members for volunteering for this important fundraiser and highlighted their ideas for what will be a very elegant and beautiful ball. Cindy and Bill promised a fun-filled evening on Saturday, Nov. 5, featuring beautiful décor, fabulous food, and great dancing to Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters. Of course, this is meant to foreshadow what will be a truly remarkable meal at The Legendary Party in November. For information about The Legendary Party, please contact Cara Puckett at (404) 350-7778 or [email protected], or visit www.TheLegendaryParty.com. — Dean Melcher Photo by Louie Favorite Photo by Louie Favorite Cindy and Bill announced that Ruth Anthony will serve as Honorary Chairman of this year’s gala. Ruth has also graciously offered to host this year’s Patron Party in her home in September. Ruth is a Shepherd Center Foundation Advisory Board member and chaired The Legendary Party in 2000. Ruth has been a great friend of Shepherd Center. She has involved many of her friends and associates in The Legendary Party Committee and as Patrons of the event, so it’s a great privilege to recognize her generous support. The Voyles introduced Kay Quigley, who is chairman-elect and will be helping Cindy and Bill plan and organize this year’s gala. Proceeds from the event will support the Center’s patient care, particularly the SHARE Initiative, which provides specialized care and therapy for injured soldiers, and the Center’s Adolescent Program (see story on page 28). The Ritz-Carlton provided an exquisite lunch that showed off the talents of their internationally acclaimed chefs. Diners enjoyed braised short rib, confit pumpkin, foie gras cannelloni and black winter truffle. Left: A guard greets Bill and Cindy Voyles and Ruth and Tom Anthony as they enter the Gallery for lunch. Right: Legendary Party Committee members Angie Garde, Pam Smart, Lisa Fuller and Barbara Joiner are excited about this year’s theme – Legendary Treasures of London. Spring 2011 3 1 FoundationFeatures Third Annual “Big Game” Bash Scores Big for Shepherd Center This year marked the 45th Super Bowl matchup, which brought the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers head to head. More than 150 football fans gathered at the Bobby Jones Golf Clubhouse in Atlanta on Sunday, Feb. 6, to watch the Packers win the trophy, but also to support Shepherd Center and the great things it does. The “Big Game” Bash kicked off the 2011 fundraising season for the Shepherd Center Society (SCS), a volunteer group in its third year. Kimbrough Murray, Big Game Bash co-chair and first-year volunteer, describes the rewarding experience she had in planning the event. “Having just moved to Atlanta, I was new to the whole Shepherd Center Society experience,” she says. “I have known about Shepherd for a long time, and I am so impressed with what an amazing facility it has become. It was so rewarding to work with other Shepherd Center Society members on planning the Big Game Bash. The enthusiasm and generosity of the community when they were solicited was overwhelming. Everyone was so eager to help Shepherd, and I now have a huge understanding of why.” Kimbrough’s co-chair, Thomas Cyphers, adds, “Events such as the Super Bowl party are valuable to Shepherd Center because of the people they attract and the attention they bring to the various ways of getting involved with the Center.” For the third year in a row, Sunbelt Technology graciously donated flat-screen televisions, a large projection screen and their time to set up and take down the equipment so SCS partygoers would have an outstanding football experience. In addition to viewing the game, guests enjoyed cold beverages and an assortment of tailgating foods. Food sponsors were Zoe’s Kitchen, Ted’s Montana Grill, Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Chick-fil-A, Domino’s Pizza and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Beverage sponsors were Holiday Fine Wine & Spirits, Peachtree Road Liquor Store and Brown-Forman Corporation. And what’s a football game without a little friendly competition? For a small donation, guests could participate in a few different contests based on the game. The winner received various gift cards as a prize, and Shepherd Center garnered a nice-sized donation. Mark your calendars for Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012. The next “Big Game” and the SCS bash will be here before you know it! For information about becoming a member of SCS or sponsoring one of the group’s events, contact Anne Pearce at 404350-7302 or [email protected]. Or, visit www.shepherdcentersociety.com. — Anne Pearce Shepherd Center Society member Katie Mingo enjoys the Big Game Bash. Photo by Anne Pearce Grant from The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to Shepherd Center’s Bridge Program Provides Therapeutic Recreation Equipment Photo by Gary Meek Shepherd Center is distinguished not only by the excellent care it provides to inpatients, but also by the care it continues to provide after discharge. The hospital’s Marcus Community Bridge Program, which provides assistance with community reintegration after discharge, helps patients continue to thrive after leaving Shepherd. In 2010, the program received Joshua Branch, left, practices a generous $71,250 grant from with Shepherd’s wheelchair The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. rugby team. He received a new chair thanks to grant funds. The grant has provided Bridge Program clients with therapeutic recreation equipment that enhances their quality of life and keeps them engaged in sports and recreational activities. Joshua Branch of Fayetteville, Ga., is a former spinal cord injury patient at Shepherd and a member of Shepherd’s wheelchair rugby 3 2 Spinal Column team. He received a new rugby chair through the Neilsen grant. Joshua says the chair has given him tremendous opportunities to participate in rugby when he otherwise would not be able to play. “I have been able to participate in a number of tournaments,” Joshua says. “This gives me the chance to meet new people and learn from them.” Joshua is not alone in his desire to remain active after sustaining an injury. One of the biggest obstacles Bridge clients face in remaining engaged in sports and recreational activities is financial resources, says Brittany Wilson, a major gifts officer for the Shepherd Center Foundation. They often cannot afford the necessary equipment or membership fees. “Even though multiple studies have shown the importance of leisure activities in terms of overall well-being and continued physical progress after injury, therapeutic recreation is not considered a medical necessity and is often overlooked,” Wilson says. Fortunately, the funds from the Neilsen Foundation have enabled Shepherd to address this issue with 17 deserving Bridge clients. – Lauren Angelo w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Notes from Scott H.Sikes Shepherd Center Foundation Executive Director Every year, Shepherd Center treats more than 900 inpatients and their families from across the country. In addition to these inpatients – who may stay with us for 45 days to three months – more than 6,000 outpatients visit Shepherd Center each year for one hour, one day or a few days. Each of these patients and their families and other loved ones are a special and unique story. They have so many needs, and we rely on you, the readers of Spinal Column magazine to help us care for them. Shepherd Center’s donors provide funding for vital patient care and services that typically are not paid for by insurance or government programs. Programs such as therapeutic recreation, temporary housing (family apartments) for out-of-town patients’ family members, chaplaincy and assistive technology have proven crucial to our patients’ positive outcomes. Our patient outcomes far exceed national averages. Two years ago, we began our “Circles of Giving” as a way to recognize our special donors who make an annual investment in our work, and they make these annual gifts totally unrestricted so our Board of Directors may apply the funds to the most pressing needs that year. Without these investors/donors, we simply couldn’t do what we do. Our Circles of Giving are shown below. We are grateful for the contributions of the many people who give unrestricted gifts. Many of these “Circle” donors also sponsor and/or pay to attend our fundraising special events like the Junior Committee’s “Derby Day,” Shepherd Center Society’s “Summer in the City,” the “Shepherd Center Cup Golf Tournament” and Photo by Gary Meek Circles of Giving Recognize Special Donors who Make Annual, Unrestricted Gifts to Shepherd Center Gifts to the Shepherd Center Foundation help fund assistive technology for Shepherd Center patients. Examples include this sipand-puff game to help patients learn to navigate wheelchairs. the Auxiliary’s “Legendary Party”; and therefore, they give at an even higher level each year. We are thankful for each gift and hope you will give thought soon to your total charitable gifts for the year. We are happy to meet with you and your advisors today to see how a gift to Shepherd Center Foundation may fit with the financial and/ or estate plans you complete later in the year. Please call me at 404.350.7305 or email me at [email protected]. Circle of Healing Circle of HOPE Circle of FRIENDS recognizes unrestricted gifts of $2,500+ annually recognizes unrestricted gifts of $1,000+ annually recognizes unrestricted gifts of $500+ annually Spring 2011 3 3 Tributes Honorariums Honorees are listed first in bold print followed by the names of those making gifts in their honor. This list reflects gifts made to Shepherd Center between Oct. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010. James Acas Ms. Christine Acas Bonnie Blackwell Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Blackwell Patricia Ahlers wishes Happy Holidays to: Ms. Linda Alexander Joseph Boyle Dr. David F. Apple, Jr. All of our Veterans Mr. Hayden Hendricks Pete Anziano Mr. Scott J. Keithley Jenny Brickman’s 21st Birthday Mrs. Virginia Brickman Lee Bryan Mr. Mark Dukes Jane and David Apple Mr. and Mrs. Dell B. Sikes Mr. and Mrs. Walter F. Buce wish Happy Holidays to: Amy and Tricia Buce Dr. David Apple Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pope Joy and Bert Burns’ Friendship Ms. Ann R. Howell Linda and Jim Balkcom Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Maier Courtney Carr and Brock David Carr wish Happy Holidays to: Dr. Brock Bowman Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barrow Mr. and Mrs. Adam Brookner Paul B. Battenfeld’s Return Home Mrs. Barbara Battenfeld Mr. and Mrs. David C. Beauchamp wish Happy Holidays to: Mrs. Lois Beauchamp Kathryn Bedel Ms. Nancy Barnes Anne J. Bennett wishes Happy Holidays to: Ms. Patricia Ahlers Marla J. Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Stephens Patricia and Thomas Bennett wish Merry Christmas to: Mrs. Marla Bennett Sue Ellen Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Allred Dr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Delaney Mr. and Mrs. Harry S. Girtman Mr. and Mrs. Don D. Grant, Jr. Ms. Hollie S. Henderson Deborah Bergmanis Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Farst Carol Bernstein’s Recovery Dr. and Mrs. H. Herndon Murray Karen L. Bibb’s Birthday Mr. and Mrs. John S. Bibb, Jr. Sara W. Billingsley wishes Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hoyt, Jr. 3 4 Spinal Column Melissa M. Carroll Ms. D.T. Matthews Chris Castleman Mrs. Erin Castleman Beth Cesare’s Retirement from CLS at Bristol Hospital in CT Bristol Pathology Consultants, PC Friends of Beth Cesare at Bristol Hospital John Price Corr III Mr. Cliff Corr Evelyn G. Crosby wishes Happy Holidays to: Ms. Caroline G. Hazel John Cunning The Clothes Less Traveled Thrift Shop, Inc. Matt J. Curran Mr. Mitchell Greenblatt Carol Curtis wishes the Blessing of the Season to: Mr. and Mrs. Mel Adler Mr. and Mrs. John Alston Mr. and Mrs. Wiliam Astrop Mr. and Mrs. Pat Corrales Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Freeauf Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Harrell Mr. and Mrs. James Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. W. Donald Knight Dr. and Mrs. Jerome Lynn Mrs. Susan Meyers Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Nalley Mr. and Mrs. McKee Nunnally Mrs. Peaches Page Mrs. Lula Post Mr. and Mrs. Martyn Richardson Ms. Laura Spearman Ms. Susan Tucker Mr. and Mrs. Edus Warren Mr. and Mrs. James Wells Mrs. Jane Wheeler Mr. and Mrs. Blaise Davi’s Marriage Ms. Debra Jennings Rosalind Davidson wishes Happy Holidays to: Mr. Myron Golub Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett L. Davis III wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. Stockton Broome Mr. and Mrs. Brian Brown Mr. and Mrs. Allen Builder Mr. and Mrs. Merrell Calhoun Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Cook Dr. and Mrs. Dave Davis Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Fry Mr. and Mrs. William Gow Mr. and Mrs. Hix Green Mr. and Mrs. Allen S. Hardin Mr. and Mrs. Jim Herndon Mr. and Mrs. Lawton Nease Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Radford Mr. Charles Schoen Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Turner Dr. and Mrs. William Waters Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Taratus Dr. Alberto and Valerie H. de la Torre wish Happy Holidays to: Ms. Jo Ann Chiarelli Mr. and Mrs. Jim D’Andrea and Family Mr. Adam de la Torre Ms. Jessica de la Torre Marita de la Torre and Evelio Garcia-Serra The Gelpi Family Dr. and Mrs. Richard Hardin and Family Mrs. Carol Harrison Mrs. Debbie Higgins The Robinson Family Mrs. Kim Skinner Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Family The Wallace Family David M. DeBauche’s Recovery Mr. and Mrs. David M. DeBauche Mary Dent’s Birthday Dr. David F. Apple, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Dews wish Happy Holidays to: Pam and Steve Wakefield William Wesley Chapman, Jr. Mr. William Chapman Ann W. Clarke wishes Happy Holidays to: Mrs. Jeanette M. Clarke Col. (R) USAF and Mrs. Daniel Clark wish Happy Holidays to: Col. (R) USAF and Mrs. Harry Kingsbery Col. (R) USAF and Mrs. John Paul Michael R. Clarkin’s Recovery Mr. Patrick Ryan Shane P. Coco Mr. and Mrs. Dennis A. Coco Tillie and Victor Cohen’s 60th Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Max Diamond Victor Cohen’s Recovery Mr. and Mrs. Max Diamond Ms. Lenore S. Maslia Ken, Susan, Keely and Kendra Cooper Mrs. Carrie Mitchell Photo by Caroline Hemingway Linda W. Alexander wishes Happy Holidays to: Ms. Patricia Ahlers Margharetta Brake Ms. Caprice Devereux Steven C. Cooper Kelsey Pyle The Iris Garden Club made Christmas wreaths for Shepherd Center in December 2010. Club member and Shepherd Center co-founder Alana Shepherd helped make the wreaths, along with Wendy Clift, mother of SCI patient Josh Clift of Australia. w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Sgt Maj Julius C. Dominey Mr. Julius Dominey Donnelly Family Mrs. Heather Nunnally Dovetail Insurance Corp. Douglas Simpson LLC Mr. and Mrs. James T. Gay wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. J. Thomas Vance Mr. and Mrs. Juan Geracaris wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. Ralph Rossi Paul Giugliano’s Recovery Mr. and Mrs. Donald Carter Katie and Steven Dowlen Mr. and Mrs. Alex Whatley Mr. and Mrs. Robert U. Goodman wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. William Pritchard Linda Doyal and Family Ms. Pamela D. Bruce Dr. Bruce G. Green Mr. and Mrs. Michael H. Mescon Diana B. Duemig Mr. Marty Pollock Elizabeth “Libby” Gregory Mrs. Kathryn Ross Jody Dyer Mr. Phillip H. Fauver Mr. and Mrs. John H. Griffin wish Happy Holidays to: Mrs. Anne Hux Lisa Eagen Mr. Marty Pollock Karen Etling Ms. Megan Etling Mr. and Mrs. William H. Fehrs wish Happy Holidays to: Dr. and Mrs. Dave Davis Dr. and Mrs. John Faust Dawn Filbert and Family Mr. David Rossetti Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Flautt wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. Fred Alias Al Fleming Mr. and Mrs. George W. Darden Caroline Fowler wishes Happy Holidays to: Mrs. Joan Woodall Margaret Fox wishes Happy Holidays to: Ted Harrison and Family Helene and Michael Freidman Ms. JoAnn Hess J. William and Jayne Freudenberger Mrs. Ann Gardner Courtney Gale’s Recovery Ms. Lisa D. Davol Nancy Gallant – “Thinking of you” Mrs. Barbara H. Smith Catherine F. Gammon Mrs. Dottie Dye Mr. and Mrs. Jim Gandy wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cuppia Mr. James C. Cupppia and Miss Marcia Day Mr. and Mrs. Jerome C. Cuppia III Mr. and Mrs. Kevin D. Cuppia Mrs. Margaret Naugle Lillian and Peter Gantsoudes Mr. and Mrs. S. Zachry Young Dr. Kenneth Grubbs Mr. Edward Johnson John C. Hamilton wishes Happy Holidays to: Mr. Ben Bunyard Mr. Millard Choate Mr. Bryant Coats Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Coats, Jr. Mr. Robin Loudermilk Photo Courtesy of Ann Boriskie Michelle A. Deyton Mr. Marty Pollock Brain Injury Peer Visitors Association founder and former Shepherd Center brain injury patient Ann Boriskie (back row, left) of Alpharetta, Ga., and former brain injury patient Hadley Korn of Atlanta (back row, center) visit with and provide information to caregivers of Shepherd Center brain injury patients. Caregivers pictured are Amelia Conrad (back row, right) of Northboro, Mass., Sidney and Diane Minton of Bartlett, Tenn. (front row, left), and Karen Lowe of Millington, Tenn. Jami Hanzman Schneider National Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Holland’s Marriage Mr. and Ms. Alan M. Smith Mr. and Mrs. David G. Hunter II wish Happy Holidays to: Ms. Elizabeth R. Holt Max Hardy wishes Happy Holidays to his clients. Barry L. Hollopeter Ms. Robin Berger Porter Hutto Ms. Kidder C. Williams Cheryl and Gene Harper Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey M. Purcell Eliazbeth Holt wishes Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Benedict Mr. and Mrs. Dan Carithers Mr. and Mrs. John Coppedge III Mr. and Mrs. Ross B. George Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Gutt Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hoyt, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David G. Hunter Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Jones Mrs. John McCann Mr. and Mrs. William A. McClain III Mrs. Harriett Northcutt and Mr. John C.Seiler Ms. Hamilton Northcutt Mr. William T. Smith Dr. and Mrs. George S. Voltz, Jr. Mattias Ingersoll wishes Happy Holidays to: Adrian Bannister Debora and Colin Ingersoll Dianne and Ian Ingersoll Ralph Ingersoll Tiffany Ingersoll Ursula Ingersoll Larlene and Jeremy Wieland Elizabeth R. Holt’s Birthday Mrs. Harriett Northcutt Joe Johns Peachtree Polymers, Inc. Minna Hong Mr. Scott J. Keithley Brian Johnson Bartlett Actuarial Group, Ltd. Lauren M. Howard Dr. and Mrs. Michael McDevitt Jack Jones Mr. Adam Jones Craig F. Huber Ms. Hannah Huber Darryl L. Kaelin, M.D. Mrs. Deborah Bergmanis and Mr. Armin Krupp Carole and John Harrison Ms. Kathryn Brown Ted Harrison and Family Mr. and Mrs. Edward Harrison Amy Hawkins Mrs. Katie Groharing Debbie Haynes Mr. and Mrs. Chris Haynes Anne and Til Hazel’s Birthdays Mr. and Mrs. John Boatwright Ms. Evelyn G. Crosby William R. Heiar, USAF (Ret.) Mr. Brian Heiar Lila and Doug Hertz’s Special Assistance Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Fishman Bryan Hewins LTC (R) and Mrs. Floyd K. Maertens The Heroes in Iraq Ms. Julie Almand Verona Hildebrant Mr. and Mrs. Loren Hildebrant Eugene Hirschfeld Mr. John Siddall Bill Hughes Mr. Maria Purwin Frank W. “Billy” Hulse’s Recovery William Howard Flowers, Jr. Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Terry Jackson wish Happy Holidays to: Sarah and Joel Jackson Rachel and Tom Van Betten Mark James COLDEN Consulting, LLC Leah Kearns Mr. Marty Pollock Edward C. “Rusty” Kidd’s Recovery Mr. and Mrs. Roger Mozingo Mr. and Mrs. Robert King and Family Mr. and Mrs. Richard Felker Spring 2011 3 5 Photo by Teri Grimes Tributes In January, Atlanta Braves players, coaches and the team mascot, Homer, visited Shepherd Center patients, including spinal cord injury patient Brian Shaffer of Summertown, Tenn. Alfred W. Klein’s 90th Birthday Dr. Michael Klein and Dr. Mary L. Barnhart Nathan B. Klein Ms. Judith Klein and Mr. Malcolm Dalglish Sasha Klupchak’s Recovery Mr. Richard Klupchak Philippa and Hilton Kort and Family wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Mark Allen Mr. and Mrs. Mark Antebi Mr. and Mrs. Fred Assaf Dr. John Porter and Dr. Lucy Axtel Mr. Mitchell Barnes, Mr. Craig Weaver, Rachel, Chad, Ann and Ray Mr. and Mrs. Jorge Bergallo Drs. Pavna and Barun Brahma Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Blank and Family Mr. and Mrs. Ron Brill Mr. and Mrs. Barry Bruckman and Family Mr. and Mrs. John Burke Ms. Heather Burke Ms. Suzy Burke Dr. and Mrs. Clyde Calhoun Mr. and Mrs. Michael Carlin and Family Dr. and Mrs. Sandy Carter Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Christopher Mr. and Mrs. David Clarke Mr. and Mrs. George Cleveland Mr. and Mrs. John Cleveland Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Michael Corr Dr. and Mrs. Andy Currie Mr. and Mrs. Ron Davidson Mr. and Mrs. Bill Dawkins and Family Mr. and Mrs. David Deignan Mr. and Mrs. Blake Dexter Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Dexter and Family Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Dezelic Dr. Daniel Dubovsky and Staff Ms. Kazuko Dunwoody Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ellinger Mr. and Mrs. Randy Elser Drs. Bill and Carlene Elsner and Family 3 6 Spinal Column Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fasse Mr. and Mrs. Michael Firsowicz Mr. Charles Foell, Michael and Megan Mr. and Mrs. William Fowler Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Fricker Dr. David Garber and Staff Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Garmany Graydon and Pam Garner Mr. and Mrs. Chip Gerry Mrs. Peggy Davis Gold and Ms. Sally Gold Dr. and Mrs. Basil Griffin Mrs. Katherine Hanson and Family Mr. and Mrs. William Hartman and Family Mr. and Mrs. Ken Hawkins and Family Mr. and Mrs. George Hodges and Family Mr. and Mrs. John Hodges Ms. Liz Hodges Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Hoffman and Family Ms. Anne Holdegrafer Mr. and Mrs. William Holley Mr. Cary Ichter Mr. and Mrs. Ray Joelson and Family Mr. and Mrs. James Kennedy and Family Mr. and Mrs. Jim King and Family Mrs. Mandy Kjellstrom Dr. Alan Kozarsky Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kruger Dr. and Mrs. Willis Lanier Mr. Paul Largay Dr. Adam Leaderman Dr. Dorothy E. Mitchell-Leef and Mr. Forrest I. Leef Ms. Sandy Legath Mr. and Mrs. George Levert and Family Mr. Peter Lloyd and Mr. Gene Lashley Dr. and Mrs. Julian Lokey and Family Mr. and Mrs. Scott Lyon Mr. and Mrs. Barclay Macon and Family Mr. and Mrs. Martin Maddern Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Manidis Mrs. Martha Heath Mason Dr. Joe Massey Mr. and Mrs. David Massey Mrs. Susan Mathis and Allene Mr. and Mrs. Lovemore Mbigi Mr. and Mrs. Julius Robberts Mr. and Mrs. William Meaney Mr. and Mrs. William Merritt and Family Dr. and Mrs. Shapour Mobasser and Family Dr. and Mrs. Tom Modi Mr. and Mrs. Bill Moon Dr. Christine Murphy and Family Mr. and Mrs. Michael Murphy Dr. and Mrs. Peter Nagy Dr. and Mrs. Mundy Papadopoulos Shane Paquette Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Patton Mrs. Judy Peil Mr. and Mrs. Mike Pigg and Family Mr. and Mrs. Mark Pirrung Mr. and Mrs. Roy Plaut Dr. and Mrs. Zane Pollard Dr. Nicholas Ranno Mr. and Mrs. Julius Robberts Mr. and Mrs. Arnie Rosenberg Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ruane and Anna Dr. Daniel Shapiro and Dr. Nadine Becker Dr. and Mrs. Don Sharp Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Shreiber and Family Dr. and Mrs. Scott Slayden Mr. and Mrs. Mark Smith Dr. Winifred Soufi Dr. and Mrs. Robert Straub Mr. and Mrs. John Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Don Sutton and Jackie Mr. and Mrs. David Thompson Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Toledo Mr. and Mrs. Jason Van Matre Mr. and Mrs. James Warren Mr. Dick and Mrs. Phoebe Weinberg and Family Mr. and Mrs. Dick White Dr. Stewart Wiegand Dr. and Mrs. Michael Witt Mr. and Mrs. Alan Wright Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright Dr. and Mrs. Robert Straub Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Toledo Dr. and Mrs. Michael Witt Mary Kyle Mrs. Elliott Kyle Anita Marino’s Recovery Ms. Nancy Baily Ms. Nancy Davis Mr. and Mrs. John Edge Mr. Neal Faerber Mr. and Mrs. David Ferrentino Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Fishman Ms. Janice Gee Mrs. Barbara Gieske Mr. Stephen Harris Abbe Hollo Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kooden Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lichtman Mr. and Mrs. Brian Marino Mrs. Keri McGraw Dr. Paul Oberman Mr. and Mrs. Larry Pellegrini Ms. Marci Poliakoff Ms. Karen Pucci Mr. Leonard Samuels Ms. Carmen Sardelli Mr. and Mrs. Edward Shulkin Mr. Ed Skoller Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Skoller The George Stern & Sara Stern Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Ross Weisberg Dr. and Mrs. Michael Wendrow Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Larsen wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Nils Liebendorfer Joan Hope Latiolais William Howard Flowers, Jr. Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Warner Ray Mrs. David Lee Mrs. Elizabeth McNulty Dr. Dorothy E. Mitchell-Leef – Happy Holidays Stephanie, Mary, Nancy and Rossi Dr. Dorothy E. Mitchell-Leef and Forrest I. Leef wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Ron Davidson Ms. Jane Bedford and Mr. Foy Devine Drs. William and Carlene Elsner Dr. and Mrs. Hilton Kort Dr. and Mrs. Z. Peter Nagy Mr. and Mrs. Carl Patrick Mr. Christopher Rex and Dr. Martha Wilkins Dr. Daniel Shapiro and Dr. Nadine Becker Mr. and Mrs. Josh Shubin Drs. Scott and Elizabeth Slayden Donald Peck Leslie, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Philip S. Beeson, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. McCallum Mr. and Mrs. J. Hays Mershon Anita Levy’s Recovery Ms. Betty Schaffer Mr. and Mrs. Roland L’Heureux’s Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Kim G. Girard Adele Lindsey wishes Happy Holidays to: Liz Willis Tiffany Lipscomb Dee Lipscomb Wilbur Little Mr. Marty Pollock Dale Lomas Mr. and Mrs. Neil Christman Stephen M. Lore Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Davis Brian Lucas’ Recovery Ms. Sandra J. Unruh Michele Luther-Krug – OT of the Year Dr. David F. Apple, Jr. Marcos Madrid’s Recovery Ms. Priscilla Pena The Important Work of Billi and Bernie Marcus The Family of Bernard W. Abrams Mr. and Mrs. Robert Markley wish Happy Holidays to: Peg and Kenneth Hoogs Brooks Martin Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Faucette w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Jeanne and A. B. Martin wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. George E. Chase Mr. Robert P. Crawford Dr. Daniel D. Hankey Mr. and Mrs. William Hatcher Dr. and Mrs. David C. Lowance Mr. and Mrs. George A. Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. John G. Morris Dr. and Mrs. Mark P. Pentecost Mr. and Mrs. Crawford M. Sites Mr. and Mrs. William Tanner Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Taratus Mr. Wilbur Warner Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wood Olivia Martin Your Grandchildren, Elisa, William and Matthew William Montgomery Ms. Susan Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Willard B. McBurney Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Tackett Chad McConnell Master Chase Tetrick Kenneth McGaha’s Recovery Mr. and Mrs. Richard V. Ettenger Jean McGarrity Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Gilham, Jr. Captain Sean Patrick McGee, U.S.M.C. Ms. Maureen McGee Brian Mock’s Recovery Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Mock Meghan Mohler and Scott Castellini Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Mohler Michael Moore Ms. Virginia S. Freeman Tom, Katie and Sarah Morgan wish Happy Holidays to: The Curry Family The Friedlander Family The Holder Family The Middleton Family The Money Family The Morgan Family The Sites Family The Webb Family Catherine L. Morris’ Bat Mitzvah Mr. and Mrs. Marvin C. Shrager Julie McLean Ms. Rachael McLoud Sarah A. Morrison Mr. Jeffrey E. Morrison Henry Meininger Ms. Nancy Cain Duane M. Morrow Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Paonessa Mickey and Joseph Meszaros Mrs. Linda Davis Doyle K. Mote Mr. Marty Pollock Military Personnel – Our brave servicemen and women protecting our freedom Mr. and Mrs. Dion Antonio Gary Motz wishes Happy Holidays to: Mr. William Mayville Wanda and Wayne Miller Captain Daniel Miller Mr. and Mrs. John B. Mobley wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Randall Bryan Mr. and Mrs. Peter Candler Mr. and Mrs. James Christians Mr. and Mrs. Clisby Clarke Ms. Carol Dean Davis Mr. and Mrs. Willis Dobbs Mrs. Curtis Illges Mr. and Mrs. John P. Illges Mr. and Mrs. Ed Jones Mr. and Mrs. William Maner Mr. and Mrs. English Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Gary Sams Dr. and Mrs. H. Herndon Murray wish Happy Holidays to: Dr. and Mrs. Meade Christian Dr. and Mrs. William B. Dasher Dr. and Mrs. James Frank Dr. and Mrs. Emory Johnson Dr. and Mrs. David Kafer Dr. and Mrs. Thomas McCraney Hudson Myers’ Recovery Ms. Molli Harris Dr. and Mrs. Jimmy C. Nash wish much love and a very Merry Christmas to: Mr. Robert H. Hogg Merry Nethery wishes Happy Holidays to: Mrs. Frank Carney in honor of Frank Carney Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Durr Mr. and Mrs. Dean Edzards Big John Filer Mr. Charles G. Johnson and Family in honor of Brigadier General Walter Giles Johnson Ms. B. Ruth Johnson and Bettie Johnson in honor of Brigadier Genreral Walter Giles Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Kearns, Anna and Max Ms. Heather Mahoney Mr. and Mrs. Clift McCall and Family Mr. and Mrs. Mac McCleery Ms. Suzanne Muntzing Ms. Rose Lynn Pearson in honor of your beloved Heider and Sigfried Ms. Christy Johnson Schmitz Mr. and Mrs. Michael Swerdlow and Nick Mr. and Mrs. James Travers The Veterans at On-Site Fuel Service, Inc. Sally Nunnally Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pope Christian F. Olson Mr. and Mrs. Brian Olson Kristyn Osterhaus Mr. and Mrs. Tom Neefe Mrs. Jacqueline Osterhaus Mrs. Melinda Simon and Mr. Christopher Schwab Robin Owen Monroney, Owen and Klein Families Mike Owens Mr. and Mrs. David Owens Tish and Warner Ray wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Hal Barry Dr. and Mrs. Phil Beegle Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Coleman Mr. and Mrs. Rene Latiolais Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Purvis The Manske/Redmon Family Ms. Katherine Redmon Dr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Reeve wish Happy Holidays to: Mr. Tommy Vance Barry F. “Toby” Regal’s Recovery Mrs. Sharon Lutiazi John Regan Ms. Christine Regan-Davi Jamie Reynolds Mr. and Mrs. Gentry Strickland Tara A. Robertson Ms. Mary Diana Robertson William E. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Keith A. Reichenbach Ronnie Rudd and Susan Blackburn Mr. and Mrs. Jack D. Williams, Jr. Bradley A. Ruger Mr. Marty Pollock Lisa A. Ruger Mr. Marty Pollock Matthew Sanchez Mr. and Mrs. Paul Knaeble Elaine Scholes’ Recovery Mr. and Mrs. Martin Bass Angela Pihera Mr. Marty Pollock Emory A. Schwall Mr. and Mrs. Stephen R. Long Mrs. Pamela E. Midura Ernie Prickett Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Anderson, Jr. Emory A. Schwall’s Birthday Ms. Anna M. Pincumbe Cara D. Puckett – “Great golf tournament” Dr. David F. Apple, Jr. Thomas Russ Sessions Mr. Tommy Sessions Lois W. Puckett Mrs. Lucy T. Inman Lynn Anderson Caldwell and William B. Shearer’s Wedding Mr. and Mrs. J. Harold Shepherd Emily Purcell Mr. and Mrs. V. Thomas Purcell Shapiro Capital Management wishes Happy Holidays to their clients. Shepherd Center Staff Mrs. Courtney Carr and Brock David Carr Photo by Brittany Wilson Shepherd Center Foundation Staff Mr. and Mrs. Dell B. Sikes Shepherd Center Fourth Floor Spinal Cord Injury Staff Dr. and Mrs. H. Herndon Murray Shepherd Center Volunteer Services Mr. and Mrs. Dell B. Sikes Interns at the accounting firm Grant Thornton, LLP hosted an ice cream social for patients and their families at Shepherd Center in 2010. Alana and Harold Shepherd Ms. Barbara Linden Mr. and Mrs. Dell B. Sikes Spring 2011 3 7 Tributes James H. Shepherd Ms. Barbara Linden Julie Shepherd’s Engagement Dr. Rhonda Taubin Stephen B. Shepherd’s Friendship Mr. John T. Bohlayer Mark Shuler Mr. and Mrs. James S. Long Mr. and Mrs. Bert Shuler Dell B. Sikes Dr. David F. Apple, Jr. Kelley B. Simoneaux Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Simoneaux Selma Singer – “My special mother” Mrs. Steven Gershberg Brian Smith Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Schroeder, Jr. Elizabeth H. Smith wishes Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Lovic Brooks Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carter Mr. and Mrs. Billy Gow Mr. and Mrs. Julian LeCraw Mr. and Mrs. Tom Pendergrast Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sorenson Mr. and Mrs. Tom Towles State Bank and Trust – Hunter Amos and Chris Mattie Mr. K. Courtland Thomas Anne and William Stembler, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J. Harold Shepherd Mrs. Wynne P. Stevenson wishes Happy Holidays to: Dr. and Mrs. Champ Baker Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carroll Mr. and Mrs. Robert David Mr. and Mrs. Tim Flournoy Mr. and Mrs. Frank Foley Mrs. Sally Foley Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner Garrard Ms. Ruthie Hubbard Mrs. Betsy Leebern Mr. and Mrs. Tony Link Ms. Joan Redmond Mr. and Mrs. Matt Smith Mr. and Mrs. Richard Waddell Dr. and Mrs. John Waldrop Dr. Michael Stout COLDEN Consulting, LLC Heidi Stuart Ms. Erika Thomas Tim Sumner Ms. Julia Sumner Hazel Taylor Mr. Alan P. Armstrong Harold R. Smith wishes Happy Holidays to: Smith Wallace Candy Tefertiller – “Thanks for all you did.” Dr. David F. Apple, Jr. Marlon Smith Mrs. Mallory Myers Smith Pat and Randell Thomas Libby and Ernie Prickett Philip E. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Russell Smith Matthew Thornburg Mr. Bruce Stuart Frieda Socol’s Recovery – “Wishing you continued good health” Mr. and Mrs. Max Diamond Ty Tippett – “Congratulations, Mr. President!” Dr. David F. Apple, Jr. Brendan Staley Ms. Teresa Doherty Stan Topol Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Faucette Michael Turner Mr. Marty Pollock U.S. Soldiers Mr. and Mrs. Alvin O. Benton Cherie Stannard’s Recovery Ms. Deborah L. Balai Gary W. Starnes Mrs. Karan Waid Tommy T. Vance Mr. and Mrs. George W. Darden Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Nix Ms. Lucy White Leslie VanHiel Mr. Thomas Kraft Wesley Varda Mr. Stanley W. Adams Mrs. Sally C. Atwell Mr. Dennis W. Brittingham Ms. Bernadette Carter-Jones Equipment Management Group Mr. and Mrs. Richard V. Ettenger Mr. and Mrs. William R. Evans Ms. Cathy Foster Ms. Catherine F. Gammon Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Gammon Mr. Keith Gammon/and Mr. George Gammon Mrs. Elizabeth Harrell Mr. and Mrs. Dean Hittle Integrated Care Management Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Johnston Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Kimbell Mr. and Mrs. Frederick P. Koehn Mr. Jamey Linard Ms. Ellwyn K. Markov Ms. Judy McMillan Ms. Patricia McTeague Mr. Joseph Miranda Mr. William C. Montgomery Ms. Kelli Murphy Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Piorek Dr. Michael Pont Ms. Susanna Rains Mr. and Mrs. Gary F. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Mike Trocke Ms. Johanna Ugo-Conlon Mr. and Mrs. Jim Varda Mr. and Mrs. James D. Wall Mr. and Mrs. Claude Wise Stephen A. Wakefield, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Dews Photo by Teri Grimes Captain Nathan A. Wilson Mrs. Kathryn Ross Peter Wenzell’s Recovery Dr. Evis Babo and Mr. Steve Weizenecker Richard Wilinski Ms. Teresa Kruzan Judy Zaban Mr. and Mrs. A. Frank Murphy Rebecca Washburn Mr. Marty Pollock Jennings E. Watkins’ Birthday Mr. and Mrs. James G. Gullett The Weinberg Family Mr. Christopher Weinberg Mr. and Mrs. William B. Wellons, Jr., wish Happy Holidays to: Mrs. Gregory Anderson Joseph G. Welsh Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Covington 3 8 Spinal Column Bruce Wilson Ms. Kristin Barragan Mrs. Joan Woodall wishes Happy Holidays to: Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Ansley Mrs. McCary Ballard Mrs. James Black Mrs. Douglas Bowring Mr. and Mrs. George Chase Mr. and Mrs. Don Dennard Mrs. Hayes Dever Mrs. C. W. Dukehart Mrs. Julian Fowler Mr. and Mrs. Julian Fowler Mr. and Mrs. William Hatcher Mr. and Mrs. Harry Howard Mr. and Mrs. Barrett Howell Mrs. Robert Ingram Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Martin Mrs. Thomas Martin Ms. Lee Moran Mrs. Edward McDuffie Mrs. Rhodes Perdue Mrs. Charles Peterson Mrs. Sam Smith Mrs. Morris Shadburn Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Stockton Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sterling Mrs. William Warren Katherine Walker wishes Happy Holidays to: Mr. Edward C. “Rusty” Kidd Anne and George Wellington Ms. Beth Wellington Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez visits with Shepherd Center SCI patient Mary Miller of Marietta, Ga., and her physical therapist, Kristen Casperson. Patricia C. Williams wishes Happy Holidays to: Mrs. Betty Ann Bearden Mr. and Mrs. Chris Bracken Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Bryant Ms. Laney Cahillane Mrs. F. C. Chandler Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cunningham Mrs. Dottie Douglas Mrs. Jane Glass Mrs. J. R. Goldthwaite Mrs. Don Harkins Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ilgenfritz Mrs. Sam Inman Mr. and Mrs. Kim Justice Mr. and Mrs. Dave Kenney Mrs. Winnie Klein Mr. and Mrs. Don Krebs Dr. and Mrs. Hugh McLeod Mr. and Mrs. William D. Morrison Mr. Stephen Ott Mr. and Mrs. Keith Ott Mrs. Jean S. Parker Mr. and Mrs. Joe Poteat, Ellie and Joseph Mr. and Mrs. David Potts Mrs. Stephanie Pryon Mrs. Langdon Quin Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Ross and Emma Mr. and Mrs. Lee J. Ross Mr. and Mrs. Berwster Sheats Mrs. Robert Stockhausen Mrs. Whit Sweetin Mrs. Sarah Tharpe Mr. and Mrs. George D. Williams Mrs. Charles Wills Mrs. Jean Withorn Mrs. Mary Frances Woodside Mr. and Mrs. David Zacks Kathryn Williams’ Recovery Cunningham Lindsey Mr. and Mrs. John Fleming w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Memorials Deceased friends of Shepherd Center are listed first in bold print followed by the names of those making gifts in their memory. This list reflects gifts made to Shepherd Center between Oct. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010. Ruth Allen Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Moser Laura and Karl Anschutz Ms. Esther L. Abisamra Ms. Hope Abisamra Mr. and Mrs. Werner Anschutz Dr. Deborah S. Lee and Mr. John W. Peifer Indra M. Arora Ms. Palak Patel Ronnie Bailey Mr. Glenn D. Bailey McCary Ballard Mrs. W. Sam Smith Perry Ballard Mrs. W. Sam Smith Frances Barnes Mr. Gary P. Alexander Isabel Leggatt Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Chapman, Jr. Charles C. Barton Mrs. Miriam W. Smith Tom Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Milton Kassel Gerald E. Bernal Mr. Richard F. Bernal Margaret M. Bernal Mr. Richard F. Bernal Rochelle Bertolini Ms. Jody L. Skipworth Margaret Ann Bratton Mr. and Mrs. David Wilder Richard R. Brazones Atlantic Capital Bank Mrs. Marie J. Benner Dr. Margaret Brazones Mrs. Melinda Doolittle Ms. Thelma G. Gersch Mr. and Mrs. Patrick T. Hickey Ms. Marian W. Hughes Mr. and Mrs. Brent J. Kaplan Mr. and Mrs. James Lebow Mr. and Mrs. Thomas MacArthur Mr. and Mrs. Lee E. Ramby Mr. Kurt Schlenz Mr. and Mrs. Mike Stephens Mr. and Mrs. Terrence M. Tracy Mary Taylor Brazzel Mr. Jason Hanna Ms. Leanne Roque Claude S. Bridges Mrs. Patricia C. Williams Dorothy Brown Mr. and Mrs. Joel K. Isenberg Gordon C. Bynum, Jr. Ms. Catherine Fike Dana Carr’s First Anniversary in Heaven Courtney Wolanin Carr Baby Brock David Carr David and Susan Wolanin Brittany J. Wolanin Dana Carr Mr. and Mrs. Rick Carr Mr. and Mrs. Gary Schumacher Mr. Daniel Vaughn Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Bocchetti Cape Volunteers In Medicine, Inc. Mr. Robert L. Carr Cassaday Family – Bill, Sue, Karen and Scott Mr. and Mrs. Jules J. Chatot Mr. and Mrs. David DiMarzio Mr. and Mrs. Jack Homan Mr. and Mrs. Francis J. Hughes Mr. and Mrs. George K. Kline Dr. and Mrs. Charles Liebeknecht Mr. and Mrs. Peter Probasco Mr. and Mrs. James D. Smith Mr. and Mrs. James B. Stewart Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tragle Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Yucis Kathryn Dodd Mr. and Mrs. Milton Jacobson Marcia H. Duggan Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Corrigan, Jr. The Scott Hudgens Family Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Van Houten Kenneth J. Dukes Ms. Vicki Dukes De Ann Durant Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Moser Wilfried F. Eicken Mrs. Patricia C. Williams Richard C. “Dick” Eriksson Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Burcham Mr. Bruce D. Burton Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Deming Ms. Harlene J. Henson Mr. and Mrs. Gene Little Mr. and Mrs. Lynford Mortland Mr. Stewart J. Shirey Jack Felts Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. Smith Photo by Alex Seblatnigg Forrest L. Adair II Mr. Robert H. Hogg III Nicholas Agati Mrs. Patricia C. Williams Isaac Means Aiken, Jr. Mrs. Frank C. Bowen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Chapman, Jr. Mrs. Miriam W. Smith Jack Albright Ms. Peggy Mandle Bill Allinger Mr. Max Hardy George Cartwright Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Kropp Jerome K. Chase Mrs. Joan Woodall Felma Chitwood, Jr. Ms. Myrtice Hunter Elmira Coffield Mr. and Mrs. William Laverty Albert S. Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Max Diamond Alton Reppard Colcord, Jr. Dr. Bettye W. Hurt Mr. and Mrs. Dalton B. Richardson Neville B. Coltman Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm S. Harris Dennis Coole, Sr. H & H Insurance Services Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Naylor Pittman Construction Company Marlow Corbitt Ms. Lynn Davis Joan Cowles Mrs. Patricia C. Williams Warner S. Currie Mr. and Mrs. James M. Caswell, Jr. Mrs. Janice H. Kane Betty Crane Davis Mrs. W. S. Smith Myrtle A. Davis Mr. Marion T. Davis, Sr. Robert Carr Denny Mr. and Mrs. George Baxter Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Bender Volunteers from the Peachtree Garden Club decorated Shepherd Center for the holidays in November 2010. Spring 2011 3 9 Photo by Teri Grimes Photo Tributes Photo by Caroline Hemingway SCI patient Andrew Durrence of Dallas, Ga., practices walking over ground with his therapists as Atlanta Braves mascot, Homer, cheers him on. Joel Goldberg Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Brown Mr. and Mrs. James M. Caswell, Jr. Betty Gould Mr. and Mrs. Milton Jacobson Bryan Griffin Mrs. Sally C. Atwell James C. Gunn Mr. Michael Gunn William Chenault Hailey Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett L. Davis III Jerry Richard Hamilton Mrs. Jo Ann H. Ivey Marie M. Hamilton Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Hurd, Jr. Jeanne Harley Mrs. Charles H. Peterson Captain Jay Harting Mr. Alexander Hou Dr. Duane Hartley Mr. and Mrs. George M. Gazda The McNeely Foundation John Hayes Ms. Teresa Jackson Peggy D. Hayes Ms. Joanne Hayes Nancy W. Hennessy Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Chapman, Jr. Morton S. Hodgson, Jr. The Hodgson Charitable Trust Don Horwitz Hilton and Philippa Kort and Family Frederick Augusts Hoyt III Elizabeth Reid Holt Atlanta Falcons players, left to right, Michael Turner, John Parker Wilson and Ovie Mughelli visit with patient Cooper Doucette, 16, of Nashua, N.H., during the Falcons’ Hometown Huddle visit in fall 2010. Sara Ann Flohr Mrs. R. B. Lippincott, Jr. Elizabeth Cargill France Mrs. R. B. Lippincott, Jr. Paul Fraser Mr. John D. Saunders Otto Fricker Hilton and Philippa Kort and Family 4 0 Spinal Column David Funk Ms. Donna S. Aranson Mr. and Mrs. Steven Funk Ursula Garner Hilton and Philippa Kort and Family Irene Gasparelli Hilton and Philippa Kort and Family Tommy Gibson Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Gibson Julie Hudson Mr. and Mrs. Greg Davis Mr. Donald Hudson John C. Hunsinger Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Brown Mr. and Mrs. James M. Caswell, Jr. Mr. John D. Goodloe, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Joel K. Isenberg Mrs. Miriam W. Smith Olive M. Toy Rogers B. Toy III Elizabeth Toy Chadwick Jerry M. Hux Mr. and Mrs. Aadu J. Allpere Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. James N. Ashby Mr. and Mrs. Harry Baker Mr. and Mrs. John D. Barnes Mr. and Mrs. David Blair Mr. Edward E. Blazer, CPA Channelbend Homeowner’s Association Ms. Gail M. Chickersky Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Christenson Councill Ms. Linda H. Dawbarn Mr. and Mrs. Tony Denton Mr. and Mrs. Jack Glasheen Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Gower III Mr. and Mrs. John H. Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Larry G. Hailey Hancock & Moore Mr. and Mrs. Reid Hartsfield Mr. and Mrs. Brent Heffron Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hollberg III Mr. and Mrs. Franz F. Holscher, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. John W. Hurst Ms. Teresa Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Robert K. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Phil V. Keb Mr. and Mrs. G. William Knight Dr. and Mrs. Pano A. Lamis Ms. Susan Lieske Mr. and Mrs. Harvey W. Maclary Mr. and Mrs. Alan Martin Mr. and Mrs. Bob R. Mathews Mr. and Mrs. Bruce McQuaid Mr. and Mrs. John R. Miller, Jr. Ms. Valerie Monroe Mr. David R. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Necessary Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus B. Orthwein, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Phillips Colonel and Mrs. Wayne Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Jud Preuss Ms. Frances R. Sarakby Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schronce Mr. Emory A. Schwall Stubbs & Associates Dr. and Mrs. Leslie Sweeney Theodore Alexander Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Watts III Mr. and Mrs. A. Stanley Wheeling Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Worrell Sam C. Inman Mrs. W. Sam Smith Londa Ivey Mrs. Joan Woodall Bobby Jackson Dr. Alberto and Valerie H. de la Torre Tina M. Johnson Ms. Cathy A. Bird Doris Katz Hilton and Philippa Kort and Family Carol Kurz Mr. and Mrs. Milton Jacobson George Lang Mr. Gary P. Alexander Frances Holt Lanier Elizabeth Reid Holt Robert Edward Lanier III Mr. and Mrs. J. Harold Shepherd Dorothy Larkin Mr. Mark Fincher Earl and Mae Laverty Mr. and Mrs. William Laverty F. Michael Lavin Mrs. Bette Lavin Keith LeClaire Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Dew III Mr. and Mrs. William E. LeClaire Mr. and Mrs. Tim Lundmark Robert Lipshutz Mr. Eugene S. Asher w w w. s p i n a l c o l u m n . o r g Lola H. Park Mr. and Mrs. James A. Laird Ryan K. Parker Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Echols Ms. Tonya Faith Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Norman N. Loper Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Plunket, Jr. Ms. Jane Plunket Michael L. “Mikie” Rae, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rae Pauline Reese Ms. Karen Johnston and Mr. Robert A. Lieberman Edward Reisinger Mr. Michael Reisinger Ruth Rosenberg Mr. and Mrs. Don Engleberg Nan Ross Ms. Anne W. Pearce and Mr. Andrew P. Worrell Sherri Rudd Dr. and Mrs. Mark Lobstein Mary Elizabeth Schroder Mrs. W. Sam Smith Peggy Schwall Mrs. Pamela E. Midura Mr. and Mrs. Eugene L. Rawls, Jr. Ms. Nancy Welfer Gertrude Schwarz Mr. and Mrs. Milton Kassel C. Richard Shepherd Mrs. Mary K. Shepherd William Clyde Shepherd, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. MacKay Drake Mr. Eric Gregory Thomas R. and Loraine P. Williams Foundation Lois S. Smith Mrs. William B. Stilwell, Jr. Gayle J. Stocker Dr. and Mrs. George Rives Cary, Jr. Clifford Court Stockton Ms. Barbara H. Gunn Mr. Billy L. Ivey Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Sorenson Mrs. Joan Woodall Doris Rose Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Black Glenn M. Thompson Mrs. Lola Thompson Marcy B. Turk Mrs. Frank C. Bowen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James M. Caswell, Jr. Mr. Emory A. Schwall Mr. and Mrs. J. Harold Shepherd Robert J. Tymoff Mrs. Sarah B. Schloss Doris Ufford Mr. and Mrs. Edward Casey Elizabeth A. Walz Mr. Jack V. Walz Dorothy Watkins Mr. and Mrs. James L. Watkins Patsy Weinman Mr. and Mrs. Max Diamond Lanette W. White Mrs. Sheila Andrews Dr. William F. Wieland Mr. and Mrs. Harold T. Barrett, Jr. John Wilcox’s Father A WWI Veteran John B. “Jay” Woodruff Mr. and Mrs. Andy Farmer Ms. Elizabeth W. Willis Mr. J. Barnett Woodruff Milton H. “Jay” Woodside Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. DuBose Mr. and Mrs. James Moorhead Nell M. Wooten Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Moser Jack “John” Wyant Mr. and Mrs. Edgar J. Forio, Jr. Mrs. W. Sam Smith Ida and Don Yancey Mr. John A. Taylor Margaret Shepherd Yates Mr. and Mrs. Dennis C. Coole, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Albert A. Rayle, Jr. Sandy Yurek Ms. Jody L. Skipworth Donald Wender Mr. and Mrs. Max Diamond Marie Wettensten Mr. and Mrs. George S. Williams Photo by Gary Meek John W. Lundeen Mrs. W. Sam Smith Pen Lybrook Ms. Phyllis Brooks Mr. and Mrs. Douglas P. Lybrook John A. Martin Mrs. Jaquelin P. Adams Mrs. William E. Grabbe St. David’s HealthCare Mr. Louie B. Wood Mrs. Joan Woodall Lynn D. Martin Mrs. W. S. Smith Betty Joe Beard Mays aspenhome Mr. and Mrs. Dennis D. Ballou Mrs. Rose M. Brantley Evelyn Duke and Family Ms. Diane Meagh Ms. Kathy Opitz Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Rissmiller Angie and Jeff Thompson Donald G. McMannis Mrs. R. B. Lippincott, Jr. Dawn McNally Mr. and Mrs. Randall W. Norris Anne Brook Milner Mr. Emory A. Schwall Dr. James H. Milsap, Jr. Dr. Richard S. Colvin Morris Mink Mrs. Beatrice E. Mink John H. Mobley II Mr. and Mrs. James M. Caswell, Jr. Mrs. R. B. Lippincott, Jr. Margaret Ann Murphy Mr. and Mrs. William Lippincott Mark Nemeroff Mrs. Nancy Isenberg Mark J. Nichelson Mrs. Robert C. Beauchamp Robert W. Northrop Mr. and Mrs. Palmer T. Northrop Wiley S. Obenshain Mr. and Mrs. John G. Alston, Sr. Kevin Patrick O’Brien Mrs. Elois Hudson Todd Old Teresa and Cleo Brackett Mrs. Irene M. Cohen Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Magnuson Ms. Evelyn Quinn Ms. Sheila Q. Shepard Sherman A. Olsen Mrs. Patricia C. Williams Robert Osterhaus Mr. and Mrs. Tom Neefe Dottie Palmer Mrs. Marilyn S. Evans Patients Sharon Eckert, right, of Nashville, Tenn., and Daniel Smith, center, of Hampton, Tenn., chat with Sharon’s husband on the seventh floor terrace at Shepherd Center. Spring 2011 4 1 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Atlanta, GA Permit No. 1703 Address Service Requested magazine Read the e at: onlin mn.org spinalcolu Atlanta Braves Drop By Shepherd Center Photo by Teri Grimes Members of the Atlanta Braves visited Shepherd Center patients on Jan. 27. New Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez and bullpen coach Eddie Perez, along with catchers Brian McCann and David Ross, center fielder Nate McLouth and pitcher Jonny Venters, signed autographs and spent time chatting with Shepherd patients, their family members and staff members. They stirred a lot of excitement and enthusiasm among patients. Many people chatted with them about their expectations for the Braves’ 2011 season, which opened on March 31 with Gonzalez at the helm for the first time. Gonzalez is a strong supporter of the Dreams of Recovery Foundation, which was established by former Shepherd Center spinal cord injury (SCI) patient Cindy Donald of Atlanta. The foundation raises funds for therapy, equipment and research for people with SCI. After visiting with patients, McLouth said: “There’s a lot of excitement getting going with baseball now, and we’re glad to parlay that into brightening some people’s days. We’ve gotten to see some people who’ve had a rough time lately. But this is a great place, and people are getting better here.” McCann added, “Being able to put a smile on people’s faces is a gift.” McCann definitely brightened the day for SCI Day Program patient Terry Pittman (pictured at left), 14, of Rocky Mount, N.C. Terry sustained a C-4 to -5 spinal cord injury during football practice in September 2010. He can now walk with the assistance of a walker. See more photos from the Braves’ visit in the Honorariums and Memorials section beginning on page 34.