Meet Sam

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

Sam—who lives in Hingham with his wife, Lauren, and their three children—was diagnosed in 2023 with glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain cancer. Last fall, he experienced a brain bleed and was rushed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for emergency surgery. He transferred to Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care Cambridge, and after 10 days he was able to “graduate” to our new Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) for his continued recovery.

At Spaulding Cambridge—and especially in our new ARU—our care teams work closely with patients and families, developing partnerships that help them progress in their recoveries. “Sam’s care team was so thorough and compassionate,” says Lauren. “At a very vulnerable time in our family’s life, they went above and beyond.” Sam adds, “They saw Lauren as a central part of my care team—which she absolutely is!”

As someone with a complex medical condition, Sam was impressed by how Spaulding treats the whole person. Our staff are devoted to each patient and their care plan, with a commitment to helping people regain functionality in a setting tailored to their individual needs.

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

For patients who require ongoing acute medical treatment along with intensive rehabilitation therapy, our new 30-bed Spaulding Cambridge ARU is a unique solution. “As a patient, I couldn’t be more grateful for such all-encompassing care,” says Sam. “Across the board, the staff—including nurses, oncologists, therapists, and more—are coordinated in their efforts. They are focused solely on improving the journey.”

With multidisciplinary expertise, the Spaulding Cambridge ARU enables patients to advance their treatment and therapy plans as efficiently as possible, helping them get back to being their best selves sooner.

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.

Sam’s clinical team instilled in him the confidence that he could and would regain his strength and abilities. He described their unapparelled blend of expertise, compassion, and persistence, and how it inspired him.

“My team believed in me,” Sam says. “They understood when and how to push me. They gave me hope, and with their help, I got back to doing things I thought I might never do again. My team was by my side for every step of the journey.” He’s now home with Lauren and their kids, happily cheering on sports games and making cherished memories on family trips.