Meet José

Sudden health issues can derail your life—sometimes for years. But with help from a skilled rehabilitation care team, patients like José can get back to living life to the fullest.

A workplace injury in 2018 left José with back pain and numbness in his leg, which in turn led to multiple falls and a severe decline in his overall health and well-being. When he was evaluated at the Spaulding Outpatient Center Medford, he was spending all day in bed, required assistance from his partner to dress and bathe, and had stopped doing the activities that gave him joy.

“I was frustrated and depressed,” says José. “I couldn’t take care of myself.” He enrolled in Spaulding’s Pain and Functional Restoration Program and began working with Eve Kennedy-Spaien, an occupational therapist and clinical supervisor, on his recovery plan. “Spaulding really considered all my injuries and what I wanted to get back to,” says José, whose comprehensive program included physical therapy with teammates Sabrina and Maggie and behavioral health with Karen, along with occupational therapy with Eve.

“Eve gave me exercises, tips, and tools so that I could do things without pain,” says José. “I think about them all the time!” From advice on how to stand when doing dishes, to how to best apply ice packs, to when to use special lightweight knives and spoons for cooking, Eve’s guidance has gotten José back to the daily activities of life.

From physical therapy to occupational therapy, from leading-edge research to specialized clinical programs, everything we do at Spaulding’s Outpatient Centers is intentionally designed to maximize a patient’s recovery—and each element receives critical support from our donor community.

“My partner has said he sees so much improvement,” says José. “We’re looking forward to gardening outside together this summer, which I could not have imagined doing before.” José is even planning a trip to visit his mother in El Salvador, another previously impossible undertaking without our Pain and Functional Restoration Program.

Generous donations enhance the special programs that set Spaulding’s care apart. Gifts go to work right away to help current and future patients achieve their rehabilitation goals and get back to their lives.

“José had the largest improvement in his outcome measures for performance and satisfaction of any patient I’ve seen in my 35-year career,” said Eve. “It’s incredibly gratifying to be able to help people make such gains and return to the activities they love.”

“Spaulding changed my life,” says José. “We took it step by step, and now I’m doing so much more. I feel like I have freedom again.”