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Patient Stories

As a national leader in rehabilitative care, Spaulding Rehabilitation helps patients find their strength every day. But it's the words and experiences of our patients that best describe what our services can really do.

Our patient stories provide a look inside the outstanding rehabilitative services available through our network of world-class providers. We invite you to read these compelling and unforgettable stories — and learn how our rehabilitative care has changed people's lives.

Don't bet against our patients' will and determination.

Gifts to Spaulding support our patients and families as they build new futures. Throughout Spaulding’s history, we have improved the lives of thousands of people. Together, and with your generous donations, we will continue to discover and deliver the best care possible — today and tomorrow.

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  • Patient Story

    Meet Robert Lewis, Jr. | A Spaulding Story of Strength

    COVID-19 survivor and Spaulding patient Robert Lewis, Jr. shares his journey: from diagnosis with the novel coronavirus through his rehabilitation at Spaulding Hospital Cambridge—and what it means to him to be back at work at the community outreach organization he founded in Boston. My COVID-19 Recovery—As Told by Robert Lewis, Jr. I’m not sure how I expected to feel when I turned 60 years old last spring, but I didn’t anticipate a trip to the emergency department. I certainly didn’t expect to be sedated, intubated, and wake up 12 days later. But on March 22—my 60th birthday— that’s what happened. It was the beginning of my COVID-19 journey. It was an intense and frightening time. When I was moved to Spaulding Hospital Cambridge for rehabilitation after three weeks of acute care, I had to relearn…everything: how to breathe without an oxygen tank; how to walk; how to touch my nose and tie my sneakers. I had to get my strength back. What struck me about Spaulding was the incredible treatment that I—and my family—received from everyone there, from the moment I arrived until I walked out just one week later. There’s a culture of love and compassion and excellence that radiates from every person. Trust

  • Patient Story

    Meet Michele: Reclaiming Independence with the Travis Roy Center

    After a life-changing ski injury, Michele found hope, strength, and a path to independence at Spaulding, where dedicated therapists and innovative assistive technology from the Travis Roy Center helped her reclaim her life. With generosity of donors, life-changing stories like these become possible. Watch the video

  • Patient Story

    Meet Martha and the “Spaulding Sisters”

    The self-titled “Spaulding Sisters” made the most of 2020. The group of women met at Spaulding Boston over the past several years, bonding over their shared love of aquatic therapy. When the COVID-19 pandemic closed our community water fitness classes, the Sisters came together to support each other and their health in a whole new way. The ladies are avid participants in the Spaulding Adaptive Sports Program’s virtual classes (launched in response to the pandemic), “meeting” several times a week to exercise virtually together from the safety of their homes. They are among the more than 1,000 participants who have benefitted from virtual classes like yoga, boxing, exercise for stroke and TBI, dance with Parkinson’s, and more. In 2020, donations were used to pivot Spaulding adaptive sports programming to be entirely virtual—supporting the health and wellness of an even broader community, when so many were isolated and unable to participate in their regular fitness and community activities. Martha Starr, “Spaulding Sister,” patient, and volunteer, says the virtual programs have been a true lifesaver in 2020. And so have the Sisters’ weekly Friday Zoom calls to check in on one another. They share resources and coping strategies, discuss their conditions, and laugh together. Martha

  • Patient Story

    Meet Lauren and Tracey: From Rehab to the Finish Line

    Spring 2023 Watch this special story of a mother and daughter who both underwent outpatient rehabilitation therapy with Spaulding, and recently achieved an incredible feat — running the Boston Marathon on Spaulding's Race for Rehab Team. Their journey is a testament to the power of healing and perseverance. Join us in celebrating their

  • Patient Story

    Meet Gary

    Leer esta historia en español. Fall 2021 How would you start to rebuild decades of your life? Gary Brennan of Centerville was driving to work one day when the next thing he knew, he was waking up in a trauma center. He asked his clinical team to alert his fiancé’s family—he and Lynne planned to wed in just a few months. Gary thought it was 1974. He didn’t know that he was 59 years old, and he’d been married to Lynne for nearly 40 years. A driver had rear-ended Gary’s truck, resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that wiped out decades of his memory. “My life became swiss cheese,” says Gary. “The hunk was there, but full of holes.” He and Lynne needed to reconstruct every aspect of his life. Helping Gary fill those holes was one goal of his rehabilitation team at Spaulding Cape Cod. He received intensive treatment to address deficits caused by the TBI, strengthening his cognitive skills, balance, and self-care. After his inpatient rehab and weeks of home care, he returned to Spaulding for outpatient therapy to work toward increasing independence. Gary and Lynne started referring to him as Gary 2.0. “I had to rebuild myself,” says Gary. “Sometimes I struggled with

  • Patient Story

    Meet Ethan | A Spaulding Story of Strength

    Para leer esta historia en español, visite nuestra página en el Internet. Who was by your side when you achieved a major life goal? For Ethan Wang, it will be a community of family, friends, and caregivers cheering for him (virtually) as he walks at his Boston University graduation this year. It’s a significant milestone for Ethan, who sustained a spinal cord injury while studying abroad—paralyzing him from the neck down and derailing his junior year of college. In Bali in March 2019, Ethan was critically injured while swimming in the ocean. He needed immediate life-saving surgery, followed by a medical evacuation and more surgeries in Singapore, before he could return home to Massachusetts. Then came the long journey of rehabilitation. Our donor community has been with Ethan on this journey, too. Gifts to Spaulding provide resources and support to help patients like Ethan achieve their goals. “Our family’s main source of strength is the amazing support we have received,” says Ethan’s father, Willis. “There is so much strength in community, and that is what has helped us.” Paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury (SCI) is an intense, life-changing event. Ethan spent 148 days as an inpatient at Spaulding Boston, achieving a new physical milestone

  • Patient Story

    Meet Clifton: Surviving Stroke: There and Back Again

    Spring 2023 Life often comes full circle. Clifton Singletary’s Spaulding Rehabilitation story began while he was serving our patients. When he returned to Spaulding as a patient himself, his desire to give back grew stronger. Clifton’s first visit to Spaulding was in July 2013 to escort the Boston Pops as they performed for survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings. Clifton, a decorated Boston police officer, was invited to Spaulding in recognition of his service that day, when he helped load the wounded into ambulances. Clifton never imagined that he would return to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston almost 10 years later, following a hemorrhagic stroke. Unable to walk on his own and struggling with post-stroke coordination, sensory, and cognitive symptoms, he found that his Spaulding team was determined to get him back on his feet. “This is beyond professionalism,” he says. “There’s a level of dedication the people have here that is beyond comprehension.” Spaulding’s personalized approach to care has Clifton not only walking again but inspired to return to the hospital to help others. Part of his efforts include participating in a research study testing a virtual reality–linked treadmill to improve gait performance for stroke survivors like himself. One in four people will have a

  • Patient Story

    From Inpatient to Empowerment: Becky’s Path to Recovery

    Discover the inspiring journey of Becky, who has faced significant medical challenges throughout her life after being diagnosed with Dwarfism. With the help of Spaulding’s donor-funded program, Supportive Surroundings, Becky made a remarkable transition from inpatient to outpatient care following major surgery. She is a powerful advocate for disability rights and the importance of Spaulding’s mission. Watch the video

  • Patient Story

    Cross-Country Journey to Recovery: Ari's Milestones at Spaulding

    Watching Ari's journey unfold is nothing short of inspiring. After traveling cross-country to Spaulding for specialized care following a traumatic brain injury, Ari made incredible strides—from speaking his first word, "Mama," to reaching countless other milestones, all thanks to the expert therapists and staff who supported his recovery every step of the way. Stories like Ari’s are made possible by the vital donor support that helps us provide this transformative care. Watch the video

  • Patient Story

    Meet Alan: A Second Chance at Life After Stroke and COVID-19

    Leer esta historia en español. Spring 2022 Because of Spaulding, patients like Alan LaChance can make incredible recoveries. Shortly after Thanksgiving, Alan woke up feeling like he couldn’t breathe. He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with COVID-19. The 37-year-old’s condition declined rapidly, and he sent a text to close friends saying he knew he was dying. That’s the last thing Alan remembers before he woke up four weeks later. Alan had been put on a ventilator and sustained multiple strokes while unconscious. He was no longer able to speak or move his right side. Alan and his family knew he needed to go to Spaulding Cape Cod for his rehabilitation. “Spaulding Cape Cod gives you the tools to recover,” Alan says. “With two young kids, I have a lot to work for.” New, innovative therapies discovered through research can enhance recovery and quality of life for people overcoming conditions such as COVID-19 or stroke—or both, like Alan. By helping us invest in leading-edge rehabilitation technologies, clinical training on innovative therapies and groundbreaking research, donations to Spaulding have an impact on our patients today and for years to come. As an avid exerciser and active employee at a utility company, Alan adopted a “bootcamp” mentality at Spaulding Cape Cod and resolved to “get up

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