Meet John M: Putting One Foot in Front of the Other After Spinal Cord Injury

Summer 2024

The night before Thanksgiving, John McDermott was getting ready for the holiday when the unthinkable happened.

He was struck by a car outside his home, sustaining a spinal cord injury and multiple broken bones in both of his legs. After receiving critical care — including eight surgeries — at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, John transitioned to Spaulding for rehabilitation. He came to Spaulding Nursing and Therapy Center in Brighton to continue his recovery.

John had been horizontal for 22 hours a day for months, managing a challenging blood pressure situation related to his spinal cord injury. While his medical journey has been long and complex, John found hope at Spaulding Brighton.

“It was a learning curve, figuring out what I’m capable of and how to prepare my body to do therapy,” said John. “The communication and collaboration with my care team here has made all the difference.” Together, John and his team worked on the skills and abilities he’d need to discharge home after all this time.

That’s exactly what Spaulding aims to be for our patients — the exact right place for your recovery. 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 his treatment at Spaulding Brighton progressed, John realized that he was making greater gains than he had initially thought possible — or that he would have made at home. “I looked around the gym and realized that everything I need to put one foot in front of the other is here,” said John. In collaboration with his entire care team, John set a new goal: to be able to walk again.

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.

“From managing medications, to helping with paperwork, to my daily physical and occupational therapy… everyone on the team has provided outstanding care,” said John. With their support — and yours — he continues to make progress toward his goals.

Your own Spaulding Brighton 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.