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Now I Can

Now I Can... cater to my customers.

General Manager Michael Thomas has been a fixture at Jackson’s Broad Street Baking Company for over 19 years. But when he ignored the realities of living with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, he nearly lost the ability to serve his loyal customers.

“I was stubborn,” Thomas said. “I didn’t like the side effects of my medication. So instead of talking to my doctor, I just stopped... Read More

Now I Can... go the distance.

When a looming leg surgery threatened to keep Reece Barham out of the dugout, the Hartfield Academy student and baseball statistician handled the challenge like a major leaguer.

Reece and his parents chose Methodist Outpatient Therapy for his post-operative care, knowing he would need therapy equipment and technology only available at MRC.

“I think I have probably touched nearly... Read More

Now I Can... reclaim my career.

Faith Martin was 44 years old and teaching six fitness classes a week when she had two strokes linked to a bout of sepsis.

“I’d never been sick and out of nowhere it happened,” she said. “They didn’t think I was going to make it.”

Martin survived, but it took two years before she felt like herself again. For much of that time, she relied on Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s... Read More

Now I Can... take the wheel.

For Whitley McQueen, getting her driver’s license means a path to greater independence.

The 20-year-old from Kiln has restrictive lung disease and is dependent on a ventilator to breathe. After graduating from college last fall, she’s ready to get out into the workforce and into the driver’s seat for the first time.

Whitley recently enrolled in Methodist Outpatient Therapy’s... Read More

Now I Can... protect and serve.

Sgt. Scott Lawrence of the Byram Police dutifully served his community for over 25 years. But after suffering an anoxic brain injury during a surgery to fix an on-the-job neck injury, he was told he would never be a police officer again.

With the help of inpatient therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation Center and a year of intensive therapy with MRC’s Quest Program, Lawrence defied all... Read More

Now I Can... take care of business

Less than four months after contracting Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome, Dana Kidd of Meridianreturned to her job as deputy administrator for the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

Initially paralyzed by the rare neurological disorder, Kidd credits staff of Methodist Rehabilitation Center for helping her make a comeback.

“If not for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said... Read More

Now I Can... have a banner recovery

When you sell flags for a living, you’ve got to love the Fourth of July. But the freedom celebration is especially meaningful to Jim McIntyre, owner of A Complete Flag Source in Jackson.

On July 5, 2019, a disabling case of West Nile virus encephalitis nearly cost him his independence. “My body was not properly functioning at all,” he said. “I had very little movement in my arms and... Read More

Now I Can... get my life back.

When Idaho native Janet Henry was hit by a car while cycling on the Natchez Trace, the impact fractured her spine in three places, broke seven ribs, bruised her brain and shattered bones in her left arm.

It was a devastating outcome for an adventure-seeker who loves biking, kayaking, dancing and traveling cross country in her RV. “But if it had to happen, what a great place for it to... Read More

Now I Can... be an all around athlete.

Whether he’s running for Junior ROTC, racing with his mountain bike team or teeing up a golf ball, 14-year-old Cris Hairston stays active. So imagine his dismay when he broke his left femur in a February sledding accident.

Lucky for him, his dad, Kyle, works at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, which has the seasoned staff and advanced technology to get athletes back in the game.

... Read More

Now I Can... dance like everyone is watching.

Melanie Creek is used to students following her every move as she teaches the latest choreography at Xpress Dance in Madison.

But there was a time when the studio owner couldn’t be the Pied Piper of Dance. She was too dizzy and disoriented. “It was really scary and very frustrating,” she said. “I couldn’t even walk straight.”

Now, she’s back to twirling and leaping. And she... Read More

Now I Can ... keep going.

“You do what you have to do.”

That’s the attitude J. Carmen Arevalo took when he was told his leg needed to be amputated after it was crushed in an on-the-job accident.

And it’s the mantra he adhered to as he learned to walk again with an above-the-knee prosthesis from Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics. And one he repeated as he continued to amaze his caregivers at Methodist... Read More

Now I can ... follow my calling

Mar’Shanna Graham was happily on her way to a nursing career when tragedy struck. During her senior year at Mississippi College, a tangle of abnormally connected blood vessels burst in her brain, causing a hemorrhagic stroke.

After surviving a risky surgery and six days in ICU, Graham came to Methodist Rehabilitation Center determined to prevail over her paralyzed right side.

“... Read More

Now I can ... be a teacher again

After having a stroke that almost completely paralyzed her left side, history teacher Claire Spencer was determined to get back to the classroom.

She underwent extensive therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation Center that helped her get her strength back.

“I love the people there, it was a great place to be,” she said.

Then she enrolled in MRC’s Quest Program, a comprehensive... Read More

Now I can ... protect the park

Having a stroke at the age of 48 never crossed Greg Plump’s mind.

“It just came out of the blue,” he said. “I was working out every day, and I tried to eat healthy.”

To recover from the unexpected stroke that paralyzed his left side, the Holmes County State Park ranger and former Mississippi State University quarterback underwent inpatient rehab at Methodist Rehabilitation Center... Read More

Now I can ... serve and protect

Tyler Wheeler walks with the confident posture of a man proud to wear a law enforcement uniform.

But when he arrived at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, the senior agent for Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries could barely stand. He’d been shot four times in the line of duty and still had a bullet in his brain.

Still, he exited MRC after a mere 10 days with the hospital’s brain... Read More

Now I can ... be a family man

“Don’t let me die. I’ve got a baby on the way.”

As rescuers rushed Frank Elam of Eupora to the hospital following a car crash, the paralyzed 22-year-old was determined not to miss his firstborn’s birth. Ditto for the dad duties he now accomplishes from the seat of his custom wheelchair.

Elam and his wife, Heavenly, relied on the spinal cord injury team at Methodist Rehabilitation... Read More

Now I can ... stay active

After an ATV accident led to an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg at age 17, Chandler Norman was determined to walk again.

“I had to go through a lot of healing, but I knew I would do whatever I had to do to walk again with a prosthetic leg,” he said.

And he did just that with the help of physical therapy at Methodist Outpatient Therapy and the expertise of Methodist... Read More

Now I can ... encourage others

It’s no wonder Karen Roy won the 2019 Ms. Wheelchair America pageant and was given the contest’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

She’s long been a role model for those seeking to triumph over a disabling injury or illness. After a robber’s bullet left her a paraplegic at age 19, the unique treatment she received at Methodist Rehabilitation Center helped her succeed.

“I became... Read More

Now I can ... be an entrepeneur

When he got married in 2012, Sancho Johnson realized there wasn’t a lot of options for family entertainment in the metro area.

That’s when the former Coast Guard lieutenant saw an opportunity and opened Playtime, an arcade/restaurant in Clinton.

Johnson had struggled with self-reliance and independence, after his military career came to a end when he was injured on vacation... Read More

Now I can ... get back in the groove

Martez Baldwin was an active college student at Jackson State University, performing with the school’s dance ensemble and working in the college bookstore.

But his college career came to a halt when a flare-up of lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, led to a stroke at 26.

After inpatient therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Baldwin enrolled in MRC’s Quest program to make a... Read More

Now I can ... get back on the beat

After suffering a traumatic brain injury in a fall, Devie Freeman fought for his life for two months in the hospital, 19 days of which he spent in an induced coma on a breathing machine.

After moving to inpatient therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Freeman was determined to return to his job with the Meridian Police Department as liason officer for the Meridian Housing Authority... Read More

Now I can ... get back on the trail

Robert Tierce of Ridgeland was an avid cyclist before he suffered a gunshot-inflicted spinal cord injury that left him almost completely paralyzed in his right side.

“I used to ride a road bike anywhere from 60 to 70 miles a time, no problem,” he said.

Through inpatient and outpatient therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Tierce gradually recovered his mobilty. Before long... Read More

Now I can ... hike with my hounds

In 2015, Nancy Smith had to undergo a complete hip disarticulation to save her life. It’s an amputation of the entire leg through the hip joint, one of the rarest.

When she came to Methodist Rehabilitation Center for rehab after the surgery, she was surprised to find there was hope for her to walk again.

Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics prosthetist Taylor Hankins had helped... Read More

Now I can ... get back on board

After losing his right foot in an on-the-job accident, Brandon Vickers of Sturgis thought his summer pastime of wake boarding might be left high and dry.

Not so, thanks to a special waterproof prosthesis he wears that was customized by Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics.

The Flowood clinic has the expertise, tools and technology to build whatever patients may need. So staff... Read More

Now I can ... take care of business

Sam Watkins III worried he’d be paralyzed for life after a rare heart condition led to a stroke.

“I was so depressed, I didn’t know what to expect,” said the Jackson barber and owner of Exquisite Hair Design.

But with encouragement from his family and the stroke program experts at Methodist Rehab, Sam threw himself into therapy and got back on his feet. Now, he’s using his close... Read More

Now I can ... inspire others

After a brain-injuring fall from a horse, Brianna May came so close to death that her family began planning her funeral.

Yet within months of her December 2014 accident, the Sebastopol resident returned to work, got married and even climbed back in the saddle.

“I think I was used as an example of what God can do,” she said.

So now when she visits the Methodist Rehab... Read More

Now I can ... follow the path of champions

At age 17, Stevelyn Robinson of Winona, Miss., was paralyzed from the neck down in a school bus crash.

And just like the late Chucky Mullins—who became a quadriplegic as an Ole Miss football player— Robinson’s motto is: Never quit!

He persevered through almost six years of therapy with Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s spinal cord injury team. And now he’s at Mullins’ alma mater... Read More

Now I can ... walk my daughter down the aisle

After a debilitating boating accident, Dan Smith of Madison County had to make quick work of his recovery.

His daughter, Sarah, was getting married in less than seven weeks. And he was determined to be by her side.

“Any father wants his daughter’s wedding day to be just like she wants it,” said the lawyer for the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.  “And she was pretty intent... Read More

Now I can ... feast on my favorites

Happiness is a hefty stack of sprinkle-laden donuts.

Take it from Taylor Brown, who has known the sorrow of a severely limited diet since she was a baby.

After an infection damaged the bones and joints in her jaw, Taylor got meals through a feeding tube and learned to talk through clenched teeth.

A series of surgeries at the University of Mississippi Medical Center put her... Read More

Now I can ... catch all the action

At Jackson Preparatory School football games, Adam Malone has the best seat on the sidelines. It’s a hi-tech, sit-to-stand wheelchair that lets him rise to his role as a Broadcast Club videographer.

As soon as he heard about the club, “I went to see what it was all about,” said the teen with muscular dystrophy. “I learned that they were going to do video recordings and live streaming of... Read More

Now I can .. reconnect with my students

After having a stroke, Karlos Taylor wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to teach again.

He was having difficulty speaking, and his right hand was weak, both tools he needed as a graphic design instructor at Mississippi College.

Between inpatient and outpatient therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Taylor regained his gift of gab and his artistic touch.

“I feel like... Read More

Now I can ... be a go-getter grandmother

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Sheri Carter wanted a means to maintain her active lifestyle. And the quest led her to LSVT Big & Loud Therapy at Methodist Outpatient Neurological Rehabilitation in Flowood.

The innovative program uses speech and physical therapies to improve voice strength, walking speed, muscle tone, balance and trunk control. And the former Pearl... Read More

Now I can ... do all my favorite things

After suffering a stroke, Carol Gaddis of Jackson could only twitch an eyebrow and wiggle a couple of fingers on her paralyzed right side.

But thanks to the good Lord and the good care at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, she’s back doing all the activities she loves—hunting, fishing, sewing, crocheting and making and selling soap.

“They kept working with me, and now I can do... Read More

Now I can ... rise to the challenge

 After her estranged husband shot her and killed himself, Jamecca Jones faced a daunting challenge.

The Jackson hairstylist needed to return to work to support her three kids. But she didn’t know how she’d manage the job as a paraplegic.

Then staff at Methodist Rehabilitation Center custom fit Jones with a standing wheelchair that lets her rise to her feet and reach her customers... Read More

Now I can ... give my family a lift

After a paralyzing car wreck, Nikosha Anderson worked hard to get her life back on track. She juggled rehab, going back to college and caring for her son R.J.

And like many wheelchair users, she faced the daily challenge of finding transportation. So Nikosha enrolled in Methodist Rehab’s DriverRehabilitation Program to learn how to drive a vehicle modified with hand controls.

Her... Read More

Now I can ... be strong for my family

Paralyzed by a postpartum stroke, Cheri Hicks was as helpless as her newborn when she arrived at Methodist Rehabilitation Center.

But with the support of some “amazing therapists,” the mother of two says she found the strength to attack therapy “like a job.”

Now, she’s back to enjoying the everyday adventures of family life and has renewed confidence in her capabilities.

“... Read More

Now I can ... further my education

A paralyzing car crash at the age of 17 may have ended Drew Thomas’ high school career, but he wasn’t about to let it put a stop to his education. The now 22 year old resides at Methodist Specialty Care Center in Flowood, Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s long-term care facility for the severely disabled.

MSCC is devoted to helping its residents achieve to the best of their abilities.... Read More

Now I can ... regain my independence

As a former boxer, bull rider and construction worker, tough guy Roy Eavenson was never the type to ask for help.

So imagine his frustration when he lost his left hand in an industrial accident. “I was real blue,” he said. “There were so many things I couldn’t do.”

But ever since Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics custom-fit Eavenson with a bionic hand, he’s found few... Read More

Now I can ... spend time with family

 With seven children and 14 grandchildren, Dr. Ray and Judy Lyle hoped to spend a lot more time with family after retirement.

But struggles with pain threatened to make the Ridgeland couple’s retirement a sedentary one.

“We adore our grandchildren,” Judy said. “I couldn’t get on the floor to play with them. Pain from my back caused so many other pains, any time I tried to do... Read More

Now I can ... be a team player

Growing up with cerebral palsy, DeJuan Surrell spent his youth on the sidelines of sporting events.

But thanks to Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s therapeutic recreation program, he can now compete in wheelchair softball, fencing, quad rugby, power soccer—and even join a dance troupe.

“Now I’m doing more sports than even my able-bodied friends,” said the 32-year-old Jackson... Read More

Now I can ... walk down the aisle

Think of Katie Breland as the paralyzed bride who refused a ride to the altar.

“I wanted my wedding to be how I always thought it would be and a wheelchair wasn’t part of the plan,” said the physical therapy assistant and personal trainer from Bogalusa, La. “I told everybody I wouldn’t get married until I could walk down the aisle. So I started working on it and practicing.”

The... Read More

Now I can ... be an inspiration

Houston, Miss. native Shaquille Vance thought his days of excelling at sports might be over after a 2009 sports injury forced an above-the-knee amputation of his right leg.

His athletic career began anew when Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics custom built a hi-tech prosthetic running leg centered around a carbon-fiber blade known as a “cheetah”... Read More

Now I can ... get out and do

When severe dizziness threatened her go-getter lifestyle, 83-year-old Odessa Whitehead of Ridgeland thought: “I can’t live the rest of my life like this.” 

She had great-grandkids to babysit, a yard to keep and plenty of plans to “get out and do.”

So she’s grateful that her doctor recommended a balance disorder specialist at Methodist Outpatient Rehabilitation in Flowood. 

... Read More
Now I can ... be the bus boss again

The road to recovery took Audrae Barnes right where he wanted to be. But it was one bumpy ride for the Hattiesburg School District transportation director. 

Complications after brain tumor surgery had left Barnes severely disabled.  When he began therapy at Methodist Rehab Center, “he couldn’t do anything but breathe,” said his wife, Elaine.

Putting his trust in MRC’s seasoned... Read More

Now I can ... return to the spotlight

After falling six stories from the roof of her New York apartment building, Nicole Marquez woke up in the hospital on a ventilator with crushed vertebrae and other injuries. In her mind, she knew that she had worked hard for many years to reach the level of a dancer on Broadway.

“At that point, I knew what I had to do. I had to start all over again, and I was prepared to do just that,”... Read More

Now I Can ... be a model patient

When she was asked to model her prosthesis for an Ossür ad, Ann Marie Rivera couldn’t say no to the Icelandic company that manufactured her left foot and ankle. 

“Being a nurse, I always like to help people,” she says. “I was glad to show that people can do whatever they love to do without any limitations.”

After a sports injury forced the amputation of her lower left leg, Ann... Read More

Now I can...stage a comeback

A TV talk show host suffers a near-fatal stroke and is suddenly at a loss for words. Doctors diagnose aphasia, a disorder that can leave victims struggling to speak, read or write.
 
The scenario sounds like a scripted cliffhanger, but it was actually drama in real life for Raymond Wong, former co-host for WABG’s “Good Morning Mississippi.”
 
After working with the... Read More

Now I can...provide some paws-on therapy

Puma is a pooch named after a cat — and that’s hardly the only reason he’s special. As a trained and certified facility dog, the friendly Labrador helps Methodist Rehab patients achieve therapy goals.

“When we want patients to work on arm function, we might ask them to throw balls to Puma,” explained occupational therapist and trained dog handler Jenn Sivak. “Or we might ask questions... Read More

Now I can...continue to be a great doctor

Hattiesburg pediatrician John Gaudet likes to get up close and personal with his young patients. So when muscular dystrophy began to hamper his hands-on style, he came to Methodist Rehab’s Seating and Wheeled Mobility Clinic for guidance.

Clinic staff looked at Dr. Gaudet’s health and lifestyle needs, and custom-fit the active physician with a standing power wheelchair. Now he can rise... Read More

Now I can...let my creativity take flight

Artist Bebe Wolfe is famous for her birds – ceramic creatures so enchanting they draw flocks of collectors to her Jackson studio each year.
 
So when neck pain threatened her career, Wolfe knew she needed help fast. Off she flew to Methodist Pain Management in Flowood, where a team approach delivered quick relief.

“It was really kind of magical,” she said. “None of it was... Read More

Now I can...enjoy my second act

Gerry Cain sees her golden years as a time for grand adventures – like a starring role in “Hats, The Musical!”
 
So when a painful shoulder threatened her active lifestyle, the Ridgeland retiree turned to Methodist Outpatient Rehabilitation for help. Now she’s pain-free and ready for the show to go on.
 
“I focused on therapy, so I could focus on life – and fun!” she... Read More

Now I can...help my daddy on the farm

Josie Azlin loves following Daddy everywhere he goes, and Matt Azlin is happy to oblige. The jaunts are a joyous reminder that life is back to normal at the Leland family farm. “Whatever Daddy is doing, Josie and her big brother, Hayes, love to be with him,” says their mom, Katherine.
 
Azlin faced an uncertain future after an accident forced the amputation of his lower right leg.... Read More

Now I can...keep up with my kids

It was the scariest Halloween ever for registered nurse Hollie Harvey. While on a family hayride, Hollie fell under the wheels of a wagon and broke her back.

Surgeons predicted she would never walk again. But staff at Methodist Rehab said: “Let’s see what you can do.” And with their support and guidance, the Mendenhall mother of three gave it her all and got back on her feet.

“... Read More

Now I can...stay connected

As a quadriplegic, Tony Watts can’t use his hands to control a computer mouse. Yet the 26-year-old still spends plenty of time online with his Facebook and MySpace pals.
 
It’s a pastime made possible by the experts at Methodist Rehab’s Adaptive Computing Lab. After assessing Watts’ abilities, they recommended a system that lets him navigate the Internet by simply sipping and... Read More

Now I can...get my college degree

After a football injury left him a quadriplegic at age 16, Robert Cassidy of Ruleville could have given up. But staff at Methodist Rehab showed him that his goals were still within reach. And therapy helped him gain the tools for a successful return to the classroom.
 
“They have a lot of positive people who motivate you to keep going regardless of the situation,” he says. “... Read More

Now I can...hit the slopes

Like a lot of wheelchair users, Jim Chaney of Vicksburg dreaded slippery slopes – until he learned how to zip down snowy peaks on a ski specially designed for quadriplegics.

Snow skiing is one of many activities made accessible by Methodist Rehab’s adaptive sports program. And Chaney says he’s grateful for the chance to take on new challenges.

“I’ve tried water skiing, quad rugby... Read More

Now I can...do the job I love

Ruby Nunnery has spent 28 happy years as unit secretary for St. Dominic Behavioral Health in Jackson.

So when a stroke threatened her reign as everyone’s favorite Girl Friday, Nunnery was heartbroken – until Methodist Rehab’s Quest program came to the rescue.

At the outpatient program for brain injury survivors, Nunnery got the support she needed to return to the job she loves.... Read More

Now I can...be confident of my abilities

As deputy director for the Mississippi Arts Commission, Lee Powell has to be the Michelangelo of multitaskers.

So when a head injury left her feeling tired and confused, Powell sought help from Methodist Rehab’s outpatient Quest program. There she learned strategies to once again master the details and deadlines of her demanding job.

“It was an answered prayer for me and my needs... Read More

Now I can...get back in the groove

“If I could walk, I would be flat out the door.”

When Chris Gill wrote the lyrics for “Hospital Blues,” he feared his music career might be over. An 18-wheeler had crashed into his SUV, leaving Chris with a severe brain injury and broken bones from head to toe.

But therapy at Methodist Rehab Center helped Chris get back to playing his signature “island blues.” And now he sings... Read More

Now I can...pay it forward

Sam Lane Jr. of Jackson was nearly killed when a drunk driver rammed into his bicycle. And there has been nothing easy about his efforts to overcome a severe brain injury.

But the college student finds some comfort in knowing his struggles may contribute to a greater good. He’s participating in Methodist Rehab research that may lead to better therapies for traumatic brain injury... Read More

Now I can...do anything I set my mind to

After his lower left leg was amputated, Kenny Buford of Crystal Springs expected a life full of limitations.

Then the Navy veteran met Brad Kennedy, a Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics staffer who once bicycled across Europe to showcase the capabilities of his high-tech artificial leg.

“He’s an above-the-knee amputee, and he really inspired me,” says Kenny. “He made me... Read More

Now I can...feel like I have a purpose

After Methodist Rehab helped Karen Skeen recover from a paralyzing fall, the registered nurse wanted a way to give back. "I told Methodist Rehab CEO Mark Adams: I'm coming to work here, you know."

Now the Madison mother of four assists the hospital's spinal cord injury researchers. And as she interviews newly injured patients, Karen does more than collect data. She also makes a... Read More

Now I can...keep working

Delivering medicine to Methodist Rehab’s stroke unit used to be mere routine for pharmacy technician Linda Adcock of Ridgeland.

Now the journey feels akin to a victory lap. After a 2003 stroke, Linda worried she might never work again. “I was in a wheelchair, and I couldn’t even touch my index finger to my thumb,” she says.

Fortunately, Linda’s family knew her workplace was home... Read More

Now I can ... be outstanding in my field

As a plant and soil scientist, David Lang often jokes that is he is "out standing in his field." So when the witty Mississippi State professor suffered a severe brain injury, co-workers wanted to know: Does he still have his sense of humor?

"Yes," said his wife, Maureen. And she's happy to report his considerable intellect is intact, too. "They initially told me it would be at least a... Read More

Now I can ... be a caregiver again

Beverly Coleman of Brandon awoke to a strange new reality in June 2008.

After a collision with a dump truck bruised her brain and battered her body, the nurse at Hospice Ministries Inc. was the one needing constant care. "That was the hardest challenge," she said. "I don't like being a patient. I like helping people."

It's a calling shared by the staff at Methodist Rehab's... Read More

Now I can ... share my faith

As doctors worked to save Will Graves' life after a paralyzing car crash, they cut off his clothes and necklace -- but never touched the Fully Rely on God (FROG) bracelet on the 16-year-old's left arm.

So when the talented athlete for West Jones High School learned he was a quadriplegic, he took the FROG message to heart. He began handing out bracelets and sharing his story, touching... Read More

Now I can ... maximize my mobility

Indianola native Dean Whitehead, a bilateral amputee, had been using a standard wheelchair since the 1970s. But the nature of his injuries caused him to lean to the left, resulting in many postural problems that affected his functional use of a such a chair.

When he came to Methodist Rehab’s Seating and Wheeled Mobility Clinic for an evaluation, physical therapist Allison Fracchia knew... Read More

Now I can ... walk with my peers

When Michael Shelby suffered a spinal cord injury, trauma surgeons gave the athletic teen dire news.
 
“I was told I would never walk again—I would never move again, probably,” he said.
 
But it was a different story at Methodist Rehab, where an experienced medical team worked with the hospital’s in-house researchers to expertly evaluate Michael’s potential. Their... Read More

Now I can ... enjoy the great outdoors

It’s no surprise that Bill Meador of Hickory suffered a stroke while in a shooting house. Hunting and fishing are his favorite activities, so his therapy at Methodist Rehab focused on getting him back outdoors.

After staff taught him how to compensate for his paralyzed left side, the retired engineer devised ingenious ways to make his 120-acre farm more accessible. Now, he encourages... Read More

Now I can ... be a role model

When he talks about the power of persevering, Pisgah High School teacher Jay Levy speaks from a seat of authority—his wheelchair.

Paralyzed by a car accident during his sophomore year of college, Levy first worried he wouldn’t finish his education degree.  “But Methodist Rehab helped me realize life goes on after a spinal cord injury,” he said. “You just have to find new ways to do... Read More

Now I can ... be there in times of need

Lawerance Williams of Jackson knows the challenges of adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury. While a senior at Murrah High School, he damaged his spinal cord during football practice. While a patient at Methodist Rehab, Lawerance learned how to live a full and active life as a wheelchair user.
 
Today, Lawerance provides peer support at Methodist Rehab as part of his... Read More

Now I can ... be a lesson in perseverance

After Kala Harvey of Sledge was hit by a car and fell into a coma, doctors said the brain-injured 18-year-old belonged in a nursing home.

But Alma Harvey wouldn’t give up on her daughter. She put her faith in God and her trust in the nationally recognized brain injury program at Methodist Rehab Center.

“I wanted to see Kala be able to take care of herself, and a lot of people... Read More

Now I can ... continue my life's work

“My work is my life,” says psychologist Dr. Gladys Dinkins Johnson, who heads Jackson’s Wellington Institute. Adults and children in crisis turn to her for help with issues like grief, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and post traumatic stress disorder.

After suffering a stroke that impaired her ability to walk, talk and write, Dr. Johnson found her own life and career in crisis. So... Read More

Now I can ... be an artist again

As she worked to overcome paralysis caused by a stroke, Mary Ann Gallé of Brandon thought her art career was over.

Then a Methodist Rehab therapist put a paint brush in Gallé’s hand and showed the creative spirit she could still express herself. “And I felt like I had become alive again,” she says.

Grateful to be back at her easel, Gallé donated 17 of her paintings to help raise... Read More

Now I can ... return to the pulpit

Brain tumor surgery left Dr. Ricky Gray with speech and memory problems, and the Flowood Baptist Church pastor feared he might never preach again.

But after extensive therapy at Methodist Rehab, Gray returned to the pulpit just two months later. Now, he’s on a mission to give others hope for a full recovery.

“An old saying goes, ‘There’s always hope for help so long as there is... Read More

Now I can ... savor life's little pleasures

Crystal Walley has always loved puttering in the garden, playing with her pets and spending time with family.
 
But the activities have new meaning in the wake of a West Nile virus (WNV) infection that paralyzed and nearly killed the Wayne County mother of two. “You don’t appreciate all the little things until they are taken away,” she says. 
 
Now back on her feet,... Read More

Now I can...be an award-winning athlete

After a car accident put her in a wheelchair, Sonia Fogal thought her athletic days were over. Then came an invitation to try the wheelchair fencing program at Methodist Rehab.

“I immediately liked it because of the close contact and the speed of it,” Fogal said. “I’m an adrenaline junkie!”

Now a frequent gold medal winner in national competition, Fogal has her sights set on the... Read More

Now I can...be more independent

Before he moved to Methodist Specialty Care Center in Flowood, quadriplegic Rickey Starks had to rely on others to answer the phone, turn on the TV or play a DVD.
 
Now he can do all three – hands-free. By sipping and puffing on a special straw, the 26-year-old is able to operate an environmental control unit that is mounted on his power wheelchair. It’s one of many adaptive... Read More

Now I can ... stay competitive

Will Lamkin played both football and baseball in college before a 2008 auto accident left him a quadriplegic.

At the time, he had no idea his injury would lead him to a sport that would rival his collegiate pastimes as his favorite.

“When I started quad rugby, I didn’t even know it existed,” Lamkin said.

Lamkin now fuels his competitive spirit as a member of Methodist... Read More

Now I can ... share my story

“Still Standing” seems an odd title for a book about a guy in a wheelchair. But it makes perfect sense once you meet author Dwight Owens.
 
After being paralyzed in a wreck caused by a drunk driver, the Hot Coffee native turned his personal tragedy into a platform to empower others. Today, the former teacher is a motivational speaker who mentors the newly disabled, counsels youth... Read More