Client Spotlight: Lonnie Watson’s Recovery from Stroke

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By Megan Lashley, Neurorecovery Exercise Specialist

On October 23rd, 2020 Lonnie Watson (L.W.) noticed a strange pain running down his leg.  He thought nothing of it and continued about his day.  The next morning he began favoring his right side.  After making a call to his doctor, L.W. was sent to the Emergency Room.  Luckily, Community Hospital was nearby.

He had suffered a stroke, and was admitted to Community North in Indianapolis to begin inpatient rehabilitation.   As he started the lengthy process of rehab, the severity of his condition became clear.  He no longer had the ability to stand up, or keep his balance on his own.  He didn’t have control over his right arm, and he couldn’t coordinate any volitional movement.

“I was told that the first five months after a stroke were the most crucial for recovery, and that was my determination,” says L.W.

L.W. set goals to improve leg strength and balance.  He was determined to re-learn how to reach and grasp objects, and he worked tirelessly with his therapists every day.  Over the next few weeks in the hospital, he quickly progressed from being reliant on a Hoyer Lift to leave his bed, to the use of a boardslide.  Then came steps with a hemi-walker, a rolling walker, and finally a single point cane.  He was mobile again and celebrating, but his journey was far from complete.

When he left the hospital, L.W. continued in-home therapy for several months until he hit a recovery wall.   He needed to find place where he could continue his progress, and he needed team that understood his condition.  Recovery revolves around hard work and determination and L.W. was determined to find structure and steady encouragement to continue his journey.

In April of 2021, L.W. was introduced to NeuroHope and has been part of the NeuroHope community ever since!  Over the last year, L.W. has been a dedicated member of  NeuroHope’s “Path to Independence” Wellness program, a monthly membership separate from therapy that features specialized fitness plans, open gym access, and group cardio and strengthening classes.  L.W. arrives each day with enthusiasm in his soul and progress on his mind.  As he continues to work towards his functional goals, L.W. recently exceeded a tremendous  personal goal: A 100 pound weight lost since his stroke! And he isn’t finished yet!

You will find L.W.’s customized T-shirt hanging in the NeuroHope gym.  It has a logo of the mind and heart intertwined.

“All you need is a determined mind and a willing heart,” L.W. reminds us. “As long as you have those two things, you can do it.”

L.W. is happily retired and married to the love of his life Lolita, of 40 years. He has two children (L.W. Jr. and LaTrice) and eight grandchildren.  He is an inspiration to us all.

Keep up the great work, L.W.!

 

NeuroHope Trains at Frazier Rehabilitation Institute

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Team NeuroHope recently spent a three-day weekend training at Frazier Rehabilitation Institute in Louisville, Kentucky with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network (NRN).  As a proud member of the NRN, we sometimes use Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) at NeuroHope – many channels of electrodes placed over the skin to activate the muscular and the nervous system.  NMES, as well as epidural stimulation (implanted on the spinal cord) and transcutaneous stimulation (electrodes over the nerve roots) are all part of research studies being performed at Frazier through the University of Louisville.

We are thankful to learn from some of the brightest minds in neuroresearch and to bring this therapy to Indianapolis so people recovering from spinal cord injuries have a chance at affordable, continued care!

NeuroHope Receives $150,000 State Grant

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We are proud to announce that NeuroHope is the recipent of a new $150,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Health, by way of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) and the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund!

Back in 2017, an expansion grant from CTSI and the Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund helped NeuroHope lay the foundation for an extended therapy and wellness gym in Indianapolis for patients to continue their recovery and improve their health after insurance expires.  Now, we are honored to receive additional funding to help our program continue to grow.

Indianapolis is fortunate to have excellent rehabilitation hospitals for people recovering from catastrophic events.  Unfortunately, due to the rising costs of healthcare, the time patients are able to spend in them is often limited to a matter of weeks of insurance covered therapy visits. 

NeuroHope was created to fill this void in care.  We believe the high cost of therapy should not prevent people from receiving the care they need during their life-changing recovery.  Our model revolves around providing affordable rates for therapy and wellness programs.  We raise funds through community partners, grants, and our army of supporters to offset the cost so patients have a longer-term continuum of care.  We are thankful the state of Indiana continues to have confidence in our program and the hundreds of patients we have served!
 
This grant will be an important part of our model and we look forward to the coming year!

4th Annual “Swing Fore Hope” – Sept 20!

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Registration is OPEN for the 4th Annual “Swing Fore Hope” Golf Scramble to benefit NeuroHope!  Mark your calendar for Monday, September 20!  

Last year was a sellout that raised more than $50,000 for our inspiring patients recovering from paralysis!  This year, we need your support more than ever to rebound from the year of COVID closure.  Let’s get there again!

Registration includes:

  • 8:00 AM:  Check-in with driving range access and breakfast.  Auction & raffle items available for purchase.
  • 9:30 AM: Player meetings, Grand Marshall Address (George “Mack” McClellan) & a 5-plane flyover during the national anthem thanks to Indy Biplanes.
  • 10:00 AM:  Shotgun start to 18-hole scramble
  • 11:00 – 12:00: Lunch provided by Uncle Drew’s Kitchen (mouth-watering pulled pork or Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches)
  • Free beer provided by Four Day Ray Brewing, and mixed drinks by Fuzzy’s Vodka
  • 4:00 – 5:00: Awards ceremony & Winners announced (Pro-shop prizes and Champion’s Cup), Pizza provided

You will also have your shot at in-game awards, prizes, and auction / raffle items, a chance at a new Harley Davidson, AND to engrave your name on the prestigious CHAMPIONS CUP.  This is the stuff legends are made of everyone!

All for a $135 donation to NeuroHope! ($540 per foursome):  Click here to register online.

We are seeking hole sponsors with signage on your hole:  $400.
(Foursome and hole sponsor combined: $840), and Event Sponsors ($1,500 including foursome)

Join us September 20!

 

Video: Juan’s Steps Will Make Your Day

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Let’s kick off summer with a short video of inspiring clients who CONTINUE to make progress in their recoveries at NeuroHope!

The short video below shows clips of Juan taking steps after his brain injury, Yarnin and Mike using neuromuscular electrical stimulation to improve hand and arm function after stroke, and Lucas and Slade working hard after spinal cord injury. You’ll also notice our Wellness Program in action, which features gym access and group cardio and strength classes.

We recently received an $18,000 grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to boost this program!

Recovery from neurologic injury takes TIME, ACCESS, MOTIVATION, and HARD WORK.   This is why we’re here!

Client Spotlight: Jenny Rosebrock

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Over the course of a long career as a nurse, Jenny Rosebrock served many patients recovering from neurologic injuries, but she never imagined she would be on the receiving end of such care.  That changed in March of 2020, when Jenny suffered a brainstem stroke causing left side paralysis.  It would be the start of a long and grueling road to recovery.

Jenny spent three weeks at a local rehabilitation hospital before she was discharged home.  With outpatient clinics closed last spring due to COVID-19, she was not able to begin outpatient therapy at the hospital until June.  By the fall, Jenny had made significant gains.  She had regained some movement, and could take her first steps with a hemi-walker.

Unfortunately, in October of 2020, just seven months after her stroke, it was determined that Jenny had “plateaued”.  Her recovery was deemed complete and she was discharged from rehabilitation.    It is a story that is familiar to so many patients battling the rehabilitation process.  Neurologic injuries take months, sometimes years, to recover from.  NeuroHope was created to help patients like Jenny maximize their recovery.  Fortunately, her outpatient therapist recommended NeuroHope so she could continue her progress. (story continued below video)

Over the last four months, Jenny has been a regular in the NeuroHope gym with Nora, Megan, and Lydia, pushing her recovery.   She has inspired everyone with her enthusiasm, and came up with the idea for our “Key West Challenge”,  a therapy and workout challenge involving everyone at NeuroHope that tracks therapy and wellness “miles” on a virtual journey to Florida.

Most importantly, Jenny’s recovery continues!  The video above captures the emotional moment when she left her walker behind and took her FIRST STEPS after her stroke.

“I am so grateful to NeuroHope,” Jenny says.  “With an atmosphere of positivity and encouragement, and a great staff and facility, I have made progress and can use a walker without a leg brace now.  My ‘stroke-aversary’ is in March. As I reflect on the past year, I am thankful for family, friends, my therapists, and for NeuroHope!”

Keep pushing Jenny!  This is why we’re here!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Holiday Season from NeuroHope!

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From the NeuroHope family to each of yours: Merry Christmas, and Happy Holiday season!  May the holiday season provide a respite from stress and a chance to reflect on the blessings we have!

We are thankful to be in the lives of each of our patients recovering from life-changing injury, and we appreciate every supporter that follows their inspiring journeys.  In 2020, NeuroHope helped 96 people receive continued therapy.  Additionally, the Wellness program we launched thanks to your donations and support from the Indiana Department of Health gave 25 members access to open gym and assisted gym hours at NeuroHope to stay as active as possible after injury.

It’s all part of our ongoing mission to provide a location where long-term, affordable rehabilitation and wellness is possible.  We are proud to make it happen!

2021 will mark our 6-year anniversary, and the opportunity to help our 200th patient!

Happy Holidays everyone! We appreciate you all!

NeuroHope Receives $25,000 From OrthoIndy Foundation

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The year 2020 has been turbulent for non-profit organizations.   Fundraising is always a challenge, but never more than this year   Charities had to sustain temporary closures due to COVID-19, and need to raise more funds than usual to make up for lost time and to implement program changes.

Thankfully, there are angel organizations, donors, and foundations that believe in NeuroHope and are eager to help!

I’m thrilled to announce that NeuroHope is the proud recipient of a $25,000 program grant from the OrthoIndy and Indiana Orthopedic Hospital Foundation!  This generous gift is made possibly by the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF).  The OrthoIndy Foundation was created in 2012 with a mission to improve mobility and function for residents of central Indiana.  The Foundation supports local programs that work  to increase self-sufficiency, promote wellness, and improve the quality of life for individuals in need.

The Foundation first believed in our vision back in 2016, when it supplied NeuroHope with a generous expansion grant to help our clinic move to our current location.   In the four years since, NeuroHope has grown to form a true continuum of care program for people living with and recovering from paralysis, and we’ve helped 184 people on their road to recovery.

Our program revolves around providing supplemental therapy and exercise for patients.  Most people attend NeuroHope because their insurance coverage for physical therapy has been capped.  These patients need extended therapy and more time with specialists to work on goals that maximize recovery and improve their quality of life.   This award from the OrthoIndy Foundation helps fund the supplementary care we provide, and will ensure our program remains strong in 2021 and beyond.  We are humbled and honored to have their support!

3rd Annual “Swing Fore Hope” Raises $53,000!

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What a day! Our 3rd annual “Swing Fore Hope” charity scramble was a smashing success. 132 golfers, 18 sponsors, a silent auction, raffle winners, patient speeches by Mitch Dankert and Chris Nichols, and a day’s worth of free food and drinks for all. Most importantly, we raised a grand total of $53,000 for NeuroHope!

There are many people to thank who made this year’s ONLY fundraiser such a success:

Every golfer that came out to support our patients, the auction item donors, the NeuroHope events committee led by Justin Davis, who planned the outing for months, Indy Biplanes for an exciting tee-off flyover, Ironwood Golf Club for being such great hosts, all of our pizza donors, Jack’s Donuts, Fuzzy’s Vodka, Four Day Ray Brewing, and Havana Cigar Lounge for the presence and product donations all afternoon!  

A special thanks goes to our Event Sponsors: Hensley Legal Group, Langdon Shaw Wealth Management, hc1.com, Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Rehab Medical, and Delta Faucet

A special thanks also goes out to all of our hole sponsors:  

Ameripak, Aero Industries, Axiom HR, Brenda Bowman – FC Tucker, Bright Ideas of Broadripple, Burger King of Kokomo & Muncie, David Bruce – State Farm, Greg George Insurance Agency, Justus Real Estate, Kimball Electronics,  KSM Consulting, The Laviolette Group, Lynch, Harrison, & Brumleve, Lannie Thompson – FC Tucker, National Bank of Indianapolis, Patterson Horth General Contractors, Rehabiliation Associates of Indiana, Sparenberg Farms, The Spickelmier Family, Systemmax Corporation, Tim Allen Photo.

Congratulations to all of our contest winners who took home Delta Faucet merhandise (Longest Drive, closet to the pin).  And, cheers to the new “Swing Fore Hope” Champions: Austin Bowman, Josh Martin, Craig Costello, and Drew Schroeder!

Don’t forget – you can support NeuroHope year-round by choosing “NeuroHope of Indiana” as your Amazon Smile charity.  You can also set up easy, monthly recurring contributions by clicking here.  Just $25 per month from 100 people would be an extra $30,000 per year for our patients!!

Thank you all!  We’ll see you next year!

Client Spotlight: Tim Owen

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In March of 2019, 45-year-old Tim Owen was driving his car when he was overcome by a paralyzing stroke.  Thanks to quick thinking and the life-saving work of paramedics, he survived.  But the effects of the stroke were significant, initially leaving him completely paralyzed on his left side.

Tim’s recovery has been long and tedious.  He spent two months at Community Hospital and came to NeuroHope for continued therapy in September of 2019.   Over the last 12 months Tim has worked tirelessly in his recovery and made MAJOR strides.  One of his more recent goals – GET BACK ON THAT GOLF COURSE!

Check out the inspiring video below of Tim working with Bart and Megan to get his swing back while strengthening his legs and core on a vibration plate AND his FIRST LIVE SWING at Top Golf with his son behind the camera!

Gotta love it.  GO TIM!!

 

Tim is one of the 52 current clients at NeuroHope that is recovering from a life-changing injury or neurologic condition that we provide with continued rehabilitation and exercise programs.  Spinal cord injury, brain injury, and stroke take months, or sometimes years to maximize recovery.  Unfortunately, most insurance plans limit the amount of therapy coverage each year, and traditional healthcare facilities are unable to provide continued care.

NeuroHope was created to fill the void in care by offering affordable rates for patients AFTER insurance is exhausted so patients like Tim can continue their inspiring journeys and be in a better position to reach their goals.