Adam Cobb, a vibrant Purdue University student, embodies the power of perseverance. Meeting him today, you might never guess that just months ago, he was fighting for his life.

On March 1, 2025 Adam was struck by a car while crossing the street near campus. He remembers nothing of the accident, but the consequences were devastating: a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), a GCS score of 3, and multiple intercapsular hemorrhages. Doctors gave little hope for recovery. After nearly 20 days in a coma, Adam began a long road back—first at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI), where intensive therapy helped him walk again with minimal assistance. But Adam wasn’t content to stop there.

Determined to push beyond expectations, Adam set his sights on returning to Purdue. Like many neurological injury survivors, his insurance-covered PT visits ran out just as he was making progress. Thanks to the donors and supporters that make our extended care programs possible, Adam found the bridge he needed to continue therapy at the DRIVEN NeuroRecovery Center Powered by NeuroHope during the critical months after his injury.

Here, he’s been working tirelessly toward his goals. One milestone has been especially meaningful: relearning to dribble a basketball. “At first, I literally couldn’t dribble at all,” Adam said. “And now I can do over 100 dribbles!” For a right-handed player recovering from a left-side brain injury, this achievement reflects extraordinary dedication.

Adam’s mother shares how proud she is of his persistence, especially as he adapts to college life with new challenges. “It’s hard for Adam to use the resources at the Disability Resource Center at Purdue because he’s never used them before,” she explained. Learning new strategies, advocating for himself, and balancing therapy with classes has been a vital part of his recovery.

Today, Adam is back on campus, taking two classes, working on driving again, and determined to one day move back into his fraternity house. He’s exploring his interest in business and building toward a full return to college life.

“My biggest goal is to be physically back to normal, like how I used to be,” Adam shared. “I want to be able to do the things I used to do, and just have everything be good again.”

With his determination and the support of the NeuroHope team, there’s no doubt Adam will continue to exceed expectations. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of our mission!

In December 2023, Patricia Harris experienced a life-changing fall. She was at home on a ladder when she lost her balance and tumbled to the floor. At first, she didn’t realize the full extent of her injury. She wasn’t paralyzed — she just noticed it was difficult to walk. She followed up with doctors, completed physical therapy, and tried to stay optimistic as she regained mobility using a walker, then a cane.

By August 2024, her condition was getting worse. One day at work, the pain became so unbearable that she left early, made it home, and collapsed.

Just days earlier, she had seen a specialist who suspected something was happening with her spinal cord. Tests confirmed that the damage stretched from T2 through T10. On August 18, 2024, Patricia underwent spinal surgery. When she woke up, her paralysis was worse.

Her recovery journey since then has been one of remarkable determination. After a difficult hospital stay and a brief rehabilitation experience, Patricia heard about NeuroHope through a presentation by Founder Chris Leeuw. In February 2025, she arrived at DRIVEN NeuroRecovery powered by NeuroHope in a power wheelchair, unsure of what to expect. What she found was a team who believed in her even before she fully believed in herself.

“When I spoke to Will, he told me, ‘You can do this.’ Not, ‘maybe.’ Just, ‘You’re going to do it.’ And he was right,” Patricia says.

Her first goal was simple but life-changing: to get out of her power chair and regain independence. Doctors had estimated she wouldn’t be able to start walking until a full year after surgery, but with relentless work and faith, she was up on her feet and walking within two months.

“Right after surgery, I remember trying to move my big toe. When it finally moved, that was my first miracle,” she recalls.

Patricia’s spinal cord injury journey has not been easy. She has navigated vision loss, rebuilt her strength, and even worked with her family to create makeshift accessibility solutions at home — including a homemade ramp and a used van to get to therapy.

Through it all, Patricia has been surrounded by an incredible support system: her husband, children, and grandchildren, who have stepped up in ways that deepened their already strong bond. Now, Patricia is back in the kitchen, rediscovering one of her greatest joys — cooking for the people she loves.

“Before my injury, I was a big cook — everyone came to our house. I couldn’t do that for a while. But now, I can move around again. The therapists taught me little things that stick with me — how to stand, how to balance, how to move safely. Those reminders carry me through.”

When asked what motivates her to keep going, her answer is immediate:

“I’m just thankful to be alive. So every step I take now — it’s a blessing.”

In August of 2024, 15 year-old Evan Brandstastter sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury due to complications from a surgery.
In the video below, Occupational Therapist Elizabeth Parr and OT student Sally use a unique form of Trancutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TSS) to work on core strength, balance and functional recovery, then Physical Therapist Will Roark takes him into the Hydroworx pool to work on gait and jumping.

Unlike traditional electrical stimulation that places electrodes on and stimulates the muscles, TSS places electrodes directly on the spine, and on the abdomen to stimulate the central nervous system system.  With the stimulation turned on Evan reports increased control in his steps and movements, and carry over after the stimulation is off!

His Goal: Navigating the halls at school easier, and returning to the golf course.  LETS GO EVAN!!