You empower Craig patients and families to thrive
Thank you for your generous support!
CRAIG FOUNDATION IMPACT AND OUTCOMES
Since Craig is an independent, non-profit hospital, many of our innovative programs are not covered by insurance, and these programs would not be possible without philanthropic support. Programs and outcomes such as:
Patient Assistance offers a safety net for patients and families whose financial means (including insurance) are inadequate to meet the financial burdens associated with catastrophic injury. These funds help patients remodel homes for accessibility, train caregivers, obtain needed medical or dental care, and meet transitional financial emergencies.
In FY24, nearly $3M was distributed through our patient assistance funds to more than 650 patients and families!
Rehabilitation Engineering, who provide customized solutions to meet patient needs by designing, developing, modifying, and applying rehabilitative and assistive technology.
Therapeutic Recreation, the largest program of its kind in the nation, sets the standard for hospital rehabilitation recreation programs. Our certified therapeutic recreation specialists introduce or re-expose patients to sports, recreation, or leisuretime interests to advance individual treatment and rehabilitation goals of improving, maintaining, or restoring physical strength, cognition, and mobility.
Over 975 people were served through Craig Hospital’s Therapeutic Recreation program in FY24!
Nurse Advice Line is the only phone-based care and education resource in the nation that provides specialized health care information to people living with spinal cord and brain injuries.
School Program empowers young patients to continue their high school studies at Craig. While participating in individual rehab therapies, students work closely with Craig’s credentialed teachers throughout inpatient and before discharge, to create a school transition plan to make the return to school as seamless as possible.
In the 2023-2024 academic year, the School Program served 43 teens from 18 states. During the same time period, 24 School Program alumni graduated high school or earned a GED, joining more than 250 others who had done so in the previous 14 years.
Community Reintegration assesses patients’ capacity to return to work, volunteering, or school; educate patients about available resources; and provides coaching and the adaptive technology patients need in order to be successful and confident.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
As a private, non-profit rehabilitation facility, Craig relies on generous donors to maintain its excellence in helping patients to achieve the best possible outcomes. Craig Hospital Foundation (tax ID #23-7352287) is a qualified charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that exists solely to support Craig Hospital patients, programs, and research.
The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy recognized the Craig Foundation as a “High Performing” organization in 2016 for showing high efficiency and effectiveness when it comes to bottom-line returns. The Craig Foundation was one of only 51 organizations receiving this recognition.
A (noncomprehensive) list of programs supported:
• Culture of Care programs not covered by insurance, such as:
• Clinical Practice Specialists
• School Program
• Community Reintegration
• Rehab Engineering
• Assistive Technology
• Adaptive Transportation
• Operation TBI Freedom
• Patient Assistance
• Rehabilitative Equipment
• Research on SCI and BI
• Telehealth
Our patient assistance funds help families bridge the enormous gap between their limited means and astronomical injury-related costs. In FY 2024, we distributed $3 million in direct assistance to more than 650 current or former patients.
CRAIG HOSPITAL IMPACT IN FY 2024
PATIENTS TREATED
Spinal Cord Injury
Brain Injury
Both SCI/BI
Other Diagnoses
505 Inpatients | 1,400 Outpatients
HIGHLIGHT REEL
THERAPEUTIC RECREATION
Restores richness to lives of people with SCI/ BI by helping them engage in meaningful recreational activity.
975+ Participants
8+ Sessions per patient
84 Adventure Trips
Activities included one-on-one and group sessions at Craig, community outings, and adventure programming.
NEUROLOGIC MUSIC THERAPY
Restores non-musical functions through live-music interventions.
171 Participants
1,205 Treatment hours
Speech & Cognition
Major areas of impact
SCHOOL PROGRAM (2023-24 ACADEMIC YEAR)
Supports students during their rehabilitation.
45
Students 41 Transitioned back to their schools
24
Graduated high school/earned GED
FROM A BED AT CRAIG HOSPITAL TO A BIKE AT PEDAL 4 POSSIBLE
Ambitious hikers from all over the world travel to Colorado to challenge themselves by climbing a “Fourteener” — a mountain peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet.
And on August 16, 43-year-old Mark Eller and his brother, Ryan, did just that.
“The hike was very challenging, and we didn’t break any speed records, but we did it,” Mark explains. “There were times in my recovery when I never thought I’d be able to hike again, so being able to get back outside in nature to hike … it was a great day!”
What made it even more impressive was that the hike celebrated Mark’s one-year anniversary of being admitted to the hospital after contracting a serious case of West Nile Virus.
A Fateful Mosquito Bite
The previous summer, Mark developed symptoms similar to the flu after spending time hiking in the Colorado mountains.
“I thought I could just sleep it off, but the symptoms only got worse. After a check-in call from my brother, he became extremely concerned by my slurred speech and confusion. He called an ambulance, which rushed me to the hospital.”
I was facing so many unknowns, and while I didn’t know what my recovery would look like, Craig taught me about strength, tenacity and how to live with challenges.
- Mark Eller, Craig Graduate
After five days in the ICU and numerous tests, a spinal tap confirmed West Nile Virus, which attacked Mark’s nervous system, causing paralysis from the waist up. “I could not hold up my head, move my arms, or breathe on my own,” he recalls. “My diaphragm was paralyzed, and I was placed on a vent.”
Mark spent several weeks at a hospital near his Colorado home before transferring to Craig in October.
There, he concentrated on physical, occupational and speech therapy for the next
three months. “I focused on improving my core muscles to be able to walk again, and I worked on upper body strength and coordination,” he recalls. “Due to being on the vent and not being able to speak, my vocal cords atrophied, so I also needed to relearn how to speak, along with eat, swallow and chew.”
In addition, Mark spent a lot of time in recreational therapy, participating in golf putting, table hockey, basketball dribbling, and adaptive biking. “I owe so much to Craig Hospital because they got me home and back to life. I was even able to participate in P4P on an e-bike.” he says.
Today, Mark is still working on improving his respiratory and upper body strength. “I’m no longer in a wheelchair, but I still can’t do a pushup. But I am working on it, and I know I’ll get there.”
He adds, “My time at Craig was so positive. Battling West Nile was a very traumatic experience for me, but the team at Craig was encouraging and supportive. I was facing so many unknowns, and while I didn’t know what my recovery would look like, Craig taught me about strength, tenacity and how to live with challenges.”
Mark adds, “Thinking back to where I was last year—no thanks to a mosquito—brings up powerful emotions. But I am so happy to be outside doing the activities that I enjoy. I feel extremely grateful for how far I’ve come.”
HELPING STUDENTS FOLLOW THEIR ACADEMIC DREAMS
When Emma Spalding was 12 years old, she participated in a Future Farmers of America convention at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman. “While I was there, I fell in love with the school and knew it was where I wanted to go to college,” she recalls.
Several years later, the 17-year-old high school senior and her mother, Heidi Kesler, were driving to Pullman from their home in Elma, Washington, to tour WSU’s campus.
“On the night of August 10, we were outside of Othello, Washington, heading to Pullman, when a truck sped through several stop signs and T-boned our car,” she says.
Emma was flown to Spokane with a brain injury, a broken back and a damaged kidney. For more than a month, she remained in a medically induced coma before transferring to Craig Hospital in late September.
“I was determined to recover and refused to give up,” she explains. “I fought every day while at Craig and focused on improving and getting my life back.”
Three months later, Emma returned home and graduated high school with her class. “Thanks to [Craig’s School Program teacher] Laura Magnuson, I was able to go back to school in person, finish my classes and graduate on time,” she says. “While I am mostly healed from my injuries, I still struggle with memory issues from my TBI, which can make school a challenge. But thankfully, the techniques I learned at Craig are very helpful.”
After graduating, Emma completed her associate’s degree at a community college near her home and transferred to WSU. Thanks to Craig Hospital’s Alumni Education Scholarship, Emma is currently a junior at WSU and plans to graduate in the fall of 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science.
“I am so grateful for the scholarship,” she says. “This assistance will help me follow my dream of earning my degree and hopefully becoming a pharmaceutical rep for veterinarians or becoming an emergency medical technician.”
She adds, “Whatever I choose to do, I want to return to Elma to give back to my community
because this entire experience has taught me the importance of helping others and giving back.”
Helping others is the exact purpose of the donorsupported scholarship, which was established about 40 years ago by Dr. Harry Hahn, Craig’s medical director from 1979 to 1985.
“Dr. Hahn knew that education was one of the factors determining a Craig grad’s future success and quality of life,” Laura explains. “To encourage patients to pursue formal education, he established the Craig Hospital Alumni Educational Scholarship Fund.”
She adds, “Thanks to support from the Craig Foundation, we can help our grads take action toward a brighter future by supplementing a small portion of their post-secondary education. School can be very costly, and we want grads to know we have their back following their rehabilitation.”
This year, the committee received 49 scholarship
applications. Amounts awarded ranged from $1,000 to $3,000, and nobody was turned down. Craig’s Alumni Education Scholarships are open to Craig grads enrolling in college classes leading to a certificate or degree. Students may apply for multiple years.
In addition to helping Emma, the scholarship program has changed the lives of numerous other Craig grads.
For Cameron Pacrem, attending the University of Hawaii—West Oahu became his goal after sustaining a spinal cord injury in a diving accident.
“I came to Craig from Hawaii for three months of inpatient and four months of outpatient therapy,” he says. “While at Craig, Laura supported me through my sophomore year of high school and helped me find myself again.”
Cameron says his accident threw him into the darkest time of his life, but he was able to get through it with the help of Laura Magnuson and his rehabilitation psychologist, Dr. Courtney Wallace.
“In fact, Dr. Wallace inspired me to go to college and study psychology so I could help others going through traumatic experiences like mine,” he explains. “This scholarship will help ease the
financial burden of attending college. My family has already spent so much money on my medical bills and out-of-pocket therapies, but now I can focus on school—instead of worrying about money. I feel so thankful for everything Craig has given me. While life is hard, it’s very important to persevere.”
Cyrus Lewis also knows about perseverance.
After an accident, Cyrus was admitted to Craig for several months. “I was able to finish high school and attended the University of Denver for one semester,” he says. “But I soon realized that being closer to my home in Durango would make life easier for me because being a quadriplegic is very challenging. So, I decided to transfer to Fort Lewis College near where my parents live.”
Thanks to a Craig Alumni Education Scholarship, Cyrus will not only be able to afford college, but he can concentrate on gaining independence, improving his transfers and learning how to drive again.
“After my injury, my life became limited, and I lost the ability to participate in some activities and careers that I was interested in before my accident,” he explains. “I am hoping my college experience can help me discover new passions and opportunities. I am also hopeful that college will help me become more comfortable with my disability.”
WORKING AFTER INJURY: A FULFILLING CAREER IN EDUCATION
A typical weekday for Ayesha Brown starts early. As a lead teacher for an elementary school morning program, Ayesha guides children in various activities, from games to learning to write in cursive—a skill she’s also redeveloping.
“Not only am I teaching them to write in cursive, but I’m also teaching myself to recover and learn to write again,” Ayesha explains.
In 2018, Ayesha’s life changed when her vehicle slid on black ice and she sustained a spinal cord injury. Through years of recovery and resilience, Ayesha sought to further her independence by finding a career that felt meaningful to her. She started working in education in August of 2023.
“Working with kids makes me happy, I don’t wake up feeling dread to go to work,” Ayesha shares.
“I’m excited to get there in the morning.”
Following her mornings with her students, Ayesha often visits Craig Hospital’s PEAK Center and Community Reintegration, a donor-funded program that provides transitional services for patients returning to productive communitybased activities such as work, school or volunteering.
Ayesha attributes much of her success to Hayley Medina, MOT OTR/L, CEES, a community reintegration specialist at Craig. Hayley supports Ayesha with job coaching, career planning and connecting to community resources, helping Ayesha make strides toward her goals. “Ayesha’s story is truly inspiring, and her resilience and determination shine through,” Hayley shares.
“Returning to the workforce has been a significant milestone and is a reminder of what can be accomplished with determination and supportive resources.”
Reflecting on her career journey, Ayesha admits that the process was initially daunting as she worried about how children would perceive her wheelchair. Her fears were soon put to ease when she began engaging with students. “They accept me and they love my chair,” Ayesha says. “They want to know about my chair, and I find myself educating them on my disability and reminding them to always wear a seat belt.”
Throughout her recovery, Ayesha has learned the importance of advocating for herself— whether in seeking resources, navigating health care or pursuing opportunities for continued independence. Ayesha also emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy in the workplace, and she urges employers to show empathy and to treat people with respect and understanding.
“At the end of the day, we’re powerful because we put energy into getting back in the work field. Give us grace and respect that we are really trying,” Ayesha explains.
A quote that Ayesha lives by is “Slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be,” and she believes that it’s the best guidance for people who are on a similar path. “Take it slow. Every day is a learning process. Go into your work and stay in student mode, move slowly and continue to learn,” Ayesha says.
Her advice to others who find themselves on the same journey: find work that fulfills you, seek support when needed and know that your contributions matter.
REIMAGINING FAMILY TRADITIONS
When Ben Edwards was nine years old, he began hunting with his father and grandfather.
“Growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I started hunting small game, such as squirrels, rabbits and grouse,” he says. “And then I moved onto deer, shooting my first deer at the age of 11.”
He adds, “Each year, my entire family heads to our deer camp. I used to look forward to it all year, but being in a wheelchair has made that impossible—until I received an Action Trackchair.”
Staying Connected
a shortened school day. “Going back to school was challenging, especially navigating the bus,” Ben says. “But I figured it out after a while.”
In August 2022, 16-year-old Ben attended a family reunion in rural Minnesota with his grandparents. While at the gathering, he fell off a stand-up swing, breaking his C5 and C6 vertebrae.
He was flown to a hospital in Minneapolis, where he stayed for several weeks before transferring to Craig Hospital for his SCI neurorehabilitation.
“Ben had such a great experience at Craig,” recalls Anna Edwards, Ben’s mother. “When he first arrived, he couldn’t sit up, and he had a trach and a vent. He received phenomenal care and support at Craig, with the entire staff anticipating his every need. Not only was each day packed with therapies, but the School Program helped Ben stay connected with his learning.”
She adds, “Laura Magnuson [Craig School Program teacher], communicated regularly with Ben’s school to ensure he met all of his sophomore year requirements and minimized any learning disruptions. We were so thankful for everything Craig did for Ben.”
Back to Michigan
Once Ben returned home to Marquette, Michigan, he went back to school on a hybrid schedule with
For Ben, the most difficult part of his injury was not being able to return to the outdoorsy adventures he loved, such as exploring nature, camping, hunting, hiking and biking.
“But once I tested out the Action Trackchair [an all-terrain wheelchair that easily moves on hills, rocks, gravel, grass and snow], I got very excited,” he says. “I took it for a test run on pavement, small inclines and declines, and on dirt and grass—and it totally worked!”
While the cost of the chair was prohibitive, the Craig Foundation’s donor-supported Adaptive Equipment Scholarship helped the Edwards family afford the chair, which he received this past spring.
Now, Ben not only has access to dirt and sandy trails, but grassy fields and muddy terrain. “I feel so thankful for the funding I received because the chair has allowed me to be completely independent outside,” he explains.
David Edwards, Ben’s grandfather, adds, “Being able to return to the woods with a track wheelchair means so much to Ben’s confidence, sense of independence, and outlook on life. His physical world has been irrevocably altered, but not his spirit. This chair is a means to helping him move forward to embrace the endless possibilities he has yet to explore.”
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SECOND CHANCES
In January, Breanna Gutierrez celebrated her 30th birthday with plans to ski at Winter Park with her NSCD [National Sports Center for the Disabled] brain injury group. “I love skiing and feeling the warm sunshine on my face with the snow in the background.” she says. “It’s just so beautiful and freeing. I only skied once before my accident, but now I feel very lucky that I am able to enjoy that fantastic feeling.”
It’s no surprise that Breanna feels lucky— considering she spent six months at Craig Hospital recovering from a serious car accident.
An Absolute Blessing
At the time of the accident, Breanna was driving with her boyfriend when they were hit head-on by another vehicle. In addition to a broken back and numerous other broken bones, Breanna sustained a brain injury, which led to a stroke. “I was in the ICU for about one month,” she recalls. “After I was released, I transferred to Craig in July.”
A staff member in the ICU told the Gutierrez family about Craig for brain injury neurorehabilitation. “I am forever grateful for that recommendation because Craig was an absolute blessing for Breanna and our family,” Breanna’s mother, Veronica, explains. “Not only did she need to relearn how to walk, but Breanna also had to relearn how to speak, eat and use the bathroom.”
She adds, “As a mother, it’s so hard to see your child suffering in any way, knowing their whole
life will be a challenge, but we felt thankful for Craig Hospital. Our entire family believes there’s a special place in heaven for everyone at Craig.”
In addition to a rigorous physical, occupational and speech therapy schedule, Breanna also took part in the donor-supported music and horticultural therapy programs.
“Getting my voice back was a very slow process,” Breanna recalls. “At first, I could only speak in a
slight whisper, and then I started to improve a little each day, thanks to my speech therapist. After I surprised everyone by singing happy birthday to my dad, I began working on singing Bob Marley’s ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’ in music therapy.”
I will forever be thankful for Craig— the most wonderful people who were there for me during the worst time of my life.
- Breanna Gutierrez, Craig Graduate
Annamarie Engelhard, Craig’s board-certified music therapist, adds, “Music therapy was a powerful treatment in Breanna’s rehabilitation. With both the neurologic presentation of her injury and her personal affinity towards music, we were able to use clinical music therapy techniques to improve her voice, breath and speaking, while supporting her whole-being with music that comforted and encouraged her.”
And it was Breanna’s love of flowers and plants that led her to horticultural therapy at Craig.
“Before my accident, I managed the floral department at Safeway, so it made sense for me to spend hours getting my hands dirty in horticultural therapy.”
It Takes a Village
When it was time for Breanna to go home, the Gutierrez family felt nervous and overwhelmed.
“During Breanna’s stay at Craig, her care team focused on preparing our family for life back at home,” Veronica explains. “But the thought of actually returning home still caused us stress and uncertainty because we knew that navigating life outside the hospital was going to be a challenge.”
She adds, “To help us prepare for the transition, Craig staff visited our home before discharge to evaluate what adjustments needed to be made to our house, which was so helpful. In the end, we decided to stay at my mother’s house because at the time, my father was in hospice, so their house was already set up to accommodate Breanna’s specific needs.”
Once Breanna returned home, she was determined to stay busy. In addition to skiing with the NSCD, volunteering at the Denver Botanic Gardens and Craig Hospital, and attending Easter Seals’ day program, Breanna joined Craig’s Brain Injury Community Recreation Group.
“I feel extremely grateful to be part of the BI group and spend time with others in my situation,” she says. “I have made many close friends and love
doing fun activities together, getting back into the community, and staying connected to Craig.”
The focus of the Brain Injury Community Recreation Group is to work on socialization and independence.
“We meet once a month to talk about various issues experienced by patients with BI and their family members and to plan fun, interesting outings, such as Rockies games, concerts, hikes, plays and museums,” explains Carol Huserik in Craig’s Therapeutic Recreation department. “Group members are tasked with suggesting activities, researching and planning.”
Carol adds, “It’s amazing to watch the growth of our participants. There’s so much power in coming together to share unique experiences and take on new responsibilities. Members motivate each other to get out and be active, which can be challenging for some individuals with a brain injury.”
Looking Ahead
When asked about the future, Breanna says she has many goals. These include improving her walking, balance and speech, as well as gaining more independence. The Gutierrez family is also attending family therapy to navigate the stress and ongoing challenges associated with caregiving.
“It’s been a long road, but I am grateful to be able to have some sort of life,” Breanna says. “I’ve learned the importance of working hard and never giving up. I have been given a second chance at life, so why waste it? Why not try to better myself?”
Breanna adds, “I will forever be thankful for Craig—the most wonderful people who were there for me during the worst time of my life.”
