Meet Doug

Summer 2024

Last September, Doug Albanese’s life took a sudden turn when he experienced a devastating fall down the stairs of his home cellar, landing headfirst on the concrete floor.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he would spend weeks unconscious with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the neuro critical care unit. After he was able to respond to a command with a thumbs up, Doug was recommended to Spaulding for his rehabilitation. He began care at Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care Cambridge a month after his accident, unable to stand or walk.

Doug arrived at Spaulding in despair, convinced he may never walk again; never get back to his job as a dispatch supervisor in the Lebanon, New Hampshire police department; never photograph breathtaking scenery on his New Hampshire hikes. While the future seemed bleak, Doug found hope and surprised himself at Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care Cambridge.

“My care team focused on my capabilities, not my lack of abilities,” said Doug. “My physical therapist, Joy, encouraged me to stay positive and challenged me to make strides that I didn’t believe I could make.” Though a challenge it was, Doug was up for it — he progressed from sitting up with help from an easy lift machine, to walking with a walker, then with a cane, and finally on his own within a month of being at Spaulding.

His care team’s approach is exactly what Spaulding aims to provide for all our patients — the tools, guidance, and belief that gives people their lives back. Generous donors enable us to invest in compassionate care, specialized equipment, and leading-edge programs to address the most complex patient needs. Support like yours equips our patients with the skilled teams and resources they need for recovery.

As Doug continued to make progress, his care team began involving his wife, Laura, in his therapy sessions to prepare her for Doug’s return home. “It wasn’t just a job for his team. They cared about Doug as a person and took a holistic approach to his recovery,” said Laura. That approach went beyond a robust rehabilitation program — his team made sure Doug felt safe and comfortable, helping him with daily tasks and bringing him ginger ale and cranberry juice every night before bed.

From our special brand of comprehensive rehabilitation care; to custom therapy programs that help people get back to doing the activities they once enjoyed; to dedicated housing to keep families close while their loved ones are in our care — all these offerings are supported by your donations.

Today, Doug is back to work at the police department, finding his groove again as a dispatch supervisor. He recently took his first walk in the woods and is looking forward to getting back to longer hikes and his photography this fall. “My care team was the best in the league,” said Doug. “I wouldn’t be where I am without them.” With their support — and yours — he continues to make progress toward his goals that he once thought would never be possible.

Your own Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care Cambridge story is unique. And you can make other recovery stories possible with your generous gift today. Thank you for helping our patients and families write their next chapter.