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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 independent from the wheelchair level, including being able to drive with hand controls,” she said. “And I moved to my own apartment within six months and went back to college.” Now, she’s balancing her duties as an account manager for Numotion Medical Supply with her advocacy efforts as Ms. Wheelchair America. And she says it’s all a labor of love. “I love being able to talk to people with new and old injuries and encourage them,” she said. “Life may be different for them, but it can still be amazing. I’ve had a very productive and happy life.” Nationally recognized for expertise in rehabilitation medicine after a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury or amputation.

For more information, visit methodistonline.org or call 601-364-3434 or toll-free 1-800-223-6672, ext. 3434.

FROM THE CEO

hroughout this edition of Ways & Means you will find stories of tragedy turned into triumph. You will read about people who faced extraordinary odds and persevered with the help of our excellent physicians, nurses, therapists and researchers. You will find information on breakthrough technologies provided by generous champions of our work that helped put people on the road to recovery. We count ourselves fortunate as an organization every day that we can help restore ability and dignity to our patients and celebrate their successes. For all of the help we provide, for all of the patients we care for and all of the success stories we have, I still receive phone calls and inquiries that start out with a comment similar to this: “We really want mother to come to Methodist Rehab for treatment but we cannot get in…” We are often asked if the hospital is full. That is usually not the case. Sometimes we are asked why it seems harder, or takes a little longer, to get insurance approval to be admitted to MRC compared to a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) or home health. We do have challenges obtaining admission approvals that I will explain below. The first thing you should know is that we do everything in our power to get insurance approval for you or your loved one to be admitted to MRC if this is where you need to be. We encourage patients and family Mark Adams members to push for a referral to MRC. There are certainly situations where a less intensive level of service is appropriate, and MRC’s nurse liaisons can help families with this decision making. MRC is a hospital licensed as an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) by Medicare and the State of Mississippi. MRC provides a level of clinical expertise and comprehensive care not available in a SNF or from a home health agency. We employ rehab physician specialists and nurse practitoners and a wide array of nurses, therapists, psychologists, dieticians and other professional level staff with focused expertise in facilitating your recovery. There are times when a SNF or home health service is appropriate to meet the patient’s needs. We assist patients, families and hospital discharge planners with decision making to address such follow-up rehabilitation services. Some challenges we face in the admission approval process include: •

The federally mandated process for gaining insurance approval for admission to an IRF such as MRC is much more bureaucratic and time consuming than the same insurance approval for admission to a SNF or home health service. This bureaucratic process provides significant time delays to obtaining an insurance approval for admission to MRC. When ‘faster is better’ drives the discharge decision from an acute care hospital, a discharge to a SNF or home health agency may be made.

•

Medicare Advantage plans are growing in popularity and are required to provide coverage for an IRF such as MRC. However, our experience and national studies show they deny admission to IRFs even when medical evidence indicates the IRF is appropriate care for the patient. The patient/family certainly has the right to appeal these denials, but the time and expertise required to appeal can be costly.

These factors combine to make inpatient rehabilitation an increasingly difficult option for the patient to access. My advice to potential patients is to ask for a referral to MRC when you believe it is warranted. Don’t assume a referral will be made. If your insurance carrier denies coverage for the admission, we will help you understand why it was denied or help you understand if you should appeal. When a SNF or home health referral is an appropriate level of care for your needs, we can help you understand what to expect related to the services you will be provided. We hope you enjoy reading our patients’ stories contained in these pages. They are compelling, they are informative, and they are filled with hope and encouragement.

President and Chief Executive Officer Methodist Rehabilitation Center

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WAYS & MEANS METHODIST REHABILITATION CENTER | WINTER 2017

CONTENTS

MISSION STATEMENT

In response to the love of God, Methodist Rehabilitation Center is dedicated to the restoration and enhancement of the lives of those we serve. We are committed to excellence and leadership in the delivery of comprehensive services. 4

WAYS & MEANS | METHODISTONLINE.ORG

WAYS & MEANS

2019 EDITION

30 34 38 42 ALSO INSIDE

METHODIST REHABILITATION CENTER | 2019 EDITION

Publisher Doug Boone

A PROTECTOR AND SURVIVOR

Editor Susan Christensen

Louisiana wildlife officer beats odds, overcomes gunshot wound to the head and returns to work and family

OUT OF THE BLUE

MRC helps former Mississippi State quarterback Greg Plump get back to his life as a park ranger after being sidelined by an unexpected stroke

BACK IN THE CLASSROOM

Contributing Writers Chris Blount, Susan Christensen, Carey Miller Photography Susan Christensen, Carey Miller, James Patterson, Melanie Thortis Cover photo by Melanie Thortis President and Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Adams Methodist Rehabilitation Center Board of Trustees

Quest program helps Claire Spencer return to teaching at Christ Covenant School after a stroke

THE MARS CHRONICLES

How Mississippi College student Mar’Shanna “Mars” Graham overcame the deadliest type of stroke

News briefs Where are they now? Employees of the year Ahead of the curve Nothing but smiles Victim again Right on target Hope and faith Q&A with Dr. Raechel Percy Active learner Adapting dad ‘A tremendous help’ Major gifts Research publications Wilson Research Foundation honorarium

Art Director Carey Miller

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 29 48 49 50

Officers Walter S. Weems—Chairman of the Board David L. McMillin—Vice Chairman Mike P. Sturdivant Jr.—Treasurer Michael Reddix, M.D.—Secretary Members Rev. Bert Felder, C. Gerald Garnett, Matthew L. Holleman, III, Tish Hughes, William R. (Randy) James, Sam M. Lane, Virginia Wilson Mounger, William (Bill) A. Ray, E. B. (Bud) Robinson, Jr., Thomas A. Turner, III, Stuart Yablon, M.D., Wirt A. Yerger, III Life Member Dean M. Miller Founders Earl R. Wilson, Frank E. Hart, Sr., Hilton L. Ladner, Jesse L. Wofford, M.D. Methodist Rehabilitation Center provides comprehensive medical rehabilitation programs for people with spinal cord and brain injuries, stroke and other neurological and orthopedic disorders. The 124-bed state-of-theart hospital in Jackson has twice been designated a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model System site by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and is also the only hospital in Mississippi twice named one of America’s best by U.S. News & World Report. Methodist Rehabilitation Center 1350 East Woodrow Wilson Jackson, Mississippi 39216 www.methodistonline.org | 800-223-6672 Ways & Means is published annually by the Methodist Rehabilitation Center Public Relations Department.

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NEWS

News Briefs Tansey named fellow by American Society of Neurorehabilitation The American Society of Neurorehabilitation recently selected Keith Tansey, M.D. Ph,D., as a 2018 Fellow of ASNR. Begun in 2008, this annual honor recognizes individuals for their significant contributions to the field of neurorehabilitation and to the ASNR Tansey specifically. At Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Dr. Tansey is a senior scientist at the Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery. He also serves on the University of Mississippi Medical Center faculty as a professor of rehabilitation medicine in the Department of Neurosurgery and in the Department of Neurobiology, and as a physician in the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic at the Jackson VA Medical Center. He is board-certified in neurology with subspecialty certifications in spinal cord injury medicine and neural repair and rehabilitation. He is president of the American Spinal Injury Association, serves on the board of the International Society for Restorative Neurology and is on the membership commitee of the American Society for Neurorehabilitation.

MRC therapists earn special certification in neurology MRC physical therapists Chris McGuffey and Jacob Long were recently certified as clinical specialists in neurology by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. ABPTS certifies individuals who have demonstrated advanced McGuffey clinical knowledge and skills in physical therapy specialty areas. Both McGuffey and Long are also certified Assistive Technology Professionals, a designation by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America that recognizes demonstrated competence in analyzing the Long needs of consumers with disabilities, assisting in the selection of appropriate assistive technology for the consumers’ needs, and providing training in the use of the selected devices.

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New ZeroG device benefits patients’ recovery at MRC When you’re left disabled by injury or illness, the early stages of walking can be challenging. But Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s new ZeroG Gait and Balance Training System promises to make it easier for patients and therapists alike. ZeroG consists of a wearable harness attached to a ceiling MRC physical therapist track system. By havBethany Truhett works with stroke patient Jon ing the system mountDavid Roberson using ed overhead, patients the ZeroG Gait and have no barriers and Balance Training System. can work on walking in a safe, controlled setting. “Once we put a patient in the harness, we can adjust how much weight they bear as they stand or take steps,” explained Suzy Gonzales, director of therapy services. “This allows the patient to do intensive therapy sessions early on without the fear of falling.” While safely supported, patients can practice walking, balance activities, stair climbing and going from sitting to standing. ZeroG also has interactive programming that makes therapy challenging and effective. “We are very excited to add this state of the art technology to enhance our patients’ outcomes and their quality of life,” Gonzales said.

MRC medical director receives Estin Comarr Award Vernon Lin, M.D. Ph.D., medical director of Methodist Rehabilitation Center, received the Estin Comarr Award for Distinguished Clinical Service from the American Paraplegia Society. Recipients are APS members who have demonstrated exceptional acLin complishment in the area of clinical care of persons with SCI and who have had a positive impact on their quality of life.

MRC sponsors Miracle League’s baseball field for disabled persons Even if he wasn’t the son of Methodist Rehabilitation Center Vice President of Legal Affairs Tammy Voynik, MRC would still be proud of Joseph Voynik. Thanks to his efforts, Joseph and children and adults with Tammy Voynik disabilities are playing baseball on a field built just for them in Ridgeland. The wheelchair-friendly site features rubberized turf and accessible dugouts and was made possible by four years of fund-raising. Since the grand opening of the field in April, the Miracle League of Central Mississippi has hosted a spring and fall season. And about 50-plus youth and adults have come out to play. A huge baseball fan, Joseph was only 12 when he got the idea for the project while watching his favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I saw commercials for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Miracle League, and I instantly wanted to become involved with it,” he said. Fellow students in Joseph’s 7th grade leadership class at Jackson Prep helped stage the league’s first fund-raiser, a one-mile fun run that brought in $10,000 for the non-profit organization. Once the city of Ridgeland decided to provide a site for the field, Joseph began fund-raising in earnest, visiting local corporations and businesses to solicit donations toward a $500,000 goal. MRC contributed $50,000 to sponsor one of the dugouts. “Given the beneficiaries of the project, we felt the Miracle League Field was in keeping with our mission, and we wanted to get involved,” said Methodist Rehab CEO Mark Adams. “It was great to be there on opening night to see the kids enjoying playing baseball.” Since she uses a wheelchair, Tammy Voynik imagines a lot of people think Joseph started the project for her. But she and her son both insist it was always about bringing one of America’s favorite pastimes to a wider audience. Now a senior at Jackson Prep, Joseph has certainly won accolades for his good works, including being named a Goodwill Salute Youth Honoree. But what gives him the greatest satisfaction is seeing kids who’ve never been able to play sports get swept up in the game. “It feels great to know that kids with disabilities will have a special place of their own in our area to experience the fun of being part of a team and cheered on by their families, friends and volunteers like me,” he said.

Wofford named medical director of Specialty Care Dr. John D. Wofford was recently named medical director of Methodist Specialty Care Center. The center, a long-term care facility for the severely disabled, is located on MRC’s east campus in Flowood. Wofford, also an admitting physician for MRC, serves on the Wofford faculty of the University of Mississippi Medical Center as an associate professor of medicine and is a member of the Neuroscience Institute at UMMC. “I have an extensive background in internal medicine and am board certified in the subspecialty of infectious disease,” Wofford said. “I’ve also enjoyed my work with the spinal cord injury patients at MRC, so I’m looking forward to helping meet the specific needs of Methodist Specialty Care Center’s residents.” As medical director of MSCC, Wofford oversees all of the care of the center’s residents while also serving as their personal physician. “Dr. Wofford’s personal attention to our residents’ needs has benefited them tremendously,” said Larry McKnight, director of MSCC.

Physicians’ clinic now Methodist Physical Medicine Methodist Rehabilitation Center has recently launched a re-branding campaign for one of its service lines. The outpatient physicians’ clinic once known as Methodist Pain & Spine Center is now known as Methodist Physical Medicine. The clinic, staffed by board certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians Philip Blount, M.D., and Raechel Percy, D.O., is located on MRC’s Flowood campus. “We wanted to represent to the public and our reP H Y S I C A L M E D I C I N E ferral sources that we focus our care on the whole patient, not just on their pain or their spine,” said Joel Shows, director of operations for the clinic. “We will continue to deliver our goal of returning our patients to their active lifestyles.” The plan for re-branding included local billboard and newspaper advertising, letters to referral sources and patients and newly designed brochures and other items for use in outreach. For more information about Methodist Physical Medicine, please visit www.methodistphysicalmedicine.org.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

What MRC alumni have done since they left the therapy gym by Susan Christensen

WILL GRAVES

Will Graves’ Plan A was to become an engineer. But after a car crash left him a quadriplegic at age 16, Graves reconsidered his academic goals. “Law was always my second choice,” he said. And since writing was easier to do on voice activation software than math, he switched to Plan B. Evidence shows it was a wise decision. Today, the 26-year-old is a new law school graduate who’s already ahead of the game. “I tried a case before I graduated,” he said. The opportunity came while the University of Mississippi School of Law student was doing summer work for the Jones County District Attorney. “Under the Law Student Limited Practice Act, you can get sworn in and do what a barred lawyer can do as long as you are under supervision,” Graves explained. “I got to do the whole case by myself, and I won.” The courtroom victory is just the latest example of Graves’ ongoing push to be as independent as possible. Since his 2008 accident, the former Jones County resident has let nothing get in the way of his goals. “When you first wake up, you think how I am going to do this or that,” he said. But he learned “things are doable” during his tenure at Methodist Rehabilitation Center. “They taught me things I still carry with me today,” he said. Graves said the hospital’s assistive technology staff introduced him to computer techniques and software that

helped him be successful in the classroom. “It was very instrumental in being able to do what I needed to do,” said Graves, who recently passed the Mississipi bar exam. Recently at MRC for an office visit, Graves said he got a kick out of reconnecting with staff. “They are still very friendly, welcoming and caring,” he said. And it reminded him of a truth he learned then and now shares with others recovering from disabling injuries: You’ve got to find your purpose and pursue it. ‘It may seem impossible, but it’s very obtainable, especially today,” he said. “There will be people to help you achieve it and go as far as you can.”

HOLLIE HARVEY

Thirteen years ago, a Halloween outing ended in horror for Hollie Harvey of Mendenhall. She broke her back in a hayride accident. And doctors predicted the mother of three might be paralyzed for life. “I couldn’t move anything,” she said. “I was so scared, I cried all the way over to Methodist Rehabilitation Center.” But after considering her kids— Hooks, 5; Anna Grace, 7; and Honey Beth, 12—Harvey dried up her tears and got serious in the therapy gym. “When they would tell me to do 10 reps, I’d do 20,” she said. “I remember telling (rehab tech) Ann Hardy that I’m going to walk out of here. And she’d say: ‘You got this.’” Today, it’s a message she shares with others who are facing disabling injuries and illness.

“I have done some inspirational speaking, and I talk about what a miracle it is that God healed me,” she said. “It boiled down to a lot of determination, a lot of hard work and a lot of prayer. I did a lot of visualizing of myself walking out and that’s exactly what I did.” Harvey said she always recommends MRC’s services to others with spinal cord injuries. And she’s proud to be one of the first patients featured in MRC’s Now I Can campaign. A poster featuring a photograph of Harvey, her husband, Tim, and their children can still be viewed on MRC’s second floor. “And you would not believe the people who call me and tell me what an inspiration I am,” she said. Much has changed in the years since Harvey became a “model” rehab patient. She gave up her nursing career to have more time for family concerns. “That was my dream after my accident, to stay home with them, to take care of them and watch every single thing they do,” she said. She’s been in the bleachers as high school senior Hooks quarterbacks the Simpson Academy football team this fall and she’ll be watching when he returns to the baseball field in the spring. “I go to every game still,” she said. New to her schedule is grandparent activities with Honey Beth Mashburn’s son, Blane. “I am crazy about my baby,” she said. “I am Sugar and Tim is Big T.” Harvey said Anna Grace is now in her third year at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. And she won’t ever forget how her accident turned the then 7-year-old into a caregiver. “She stayed with me by herself and

“You would not believe the people who call me and tell me what an inspiration I am.” — Hollie Harvey

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Will Graves. Photo: Courtesy Will Graves

Josh Neely. Photo: Susan Christensen

would dress me. She was my angel.” Now, when Halloween rolls around, the Harvey family takes some time to reflect. “We do something every year to remember it, and we talk about how we appreciate every year we’ve had since,” she said. “I’m just so happy and blessed every day. I don’t want to take one minute for granted.”

JOSH NEELY

Josh Neely was a scared 16-year-old when he first arrived at MRC in the fall of 2003. While playing football for Mendenhall High School, Neely had suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury. ‘It was just a freak accident on a kickoff return,” Neely said. “The worst thing is when I came to they asked me if I was hurting anywhere. And I realized I couldn’t feel anything. I tried to get up

Hollie Harvey’s family as featured in MRC’s inaugural Now I Can ad campaign in 2010. From left to right, Honey Beth, Hollie, Tim, Hooks and Anna Grace Harvey. Photo: Josh Hailey

Hollie Harvey’s family today. From left, Blane and Honey Beth Mashburn and Hollie, Tim, Anna Grace and Hooks Harvey. Photo courtesy Harvey family

and nothing moved.” At the hospital, Neely regained some sensation. But it was up in the air whether the young athlete would regain control of his body. “He had no intentional movement,” remembers his mom, Jana Neely. “He could move his arm, but it might go four feet high or to his side. He couldn’t even feed himself because his hand would go two feet above his head.” Neely was in a wheelchair when he rolled into MRC, but the hospital’s experienced spinal cord injury team knew how to get him back on his feet. They took note of his competitive nature and threw down the gauntlet. “Instead of saying this is a terrible thing, it was almost like there was no pity—which I desperately needed,” Neely said. “They would say: ‘I know it’s uncomfortable and it may not feel good, but you have to do this to get better.’” Soon, Neely was hanging from a

harness and taking steps on the hospital’s specialized treadmill system. “He just worked and worked and got to come home in about two weeks,” said his mom. “We sing MRC’s praises all the time.” Neely continued improving via outpatient therapy. And he eventually was able to return to athletics. He played scholarship soccer at Co-Lin Community College and rugby at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. After college, he began a career as a firefighter. He now lives in Hattiesburg and is the south Mississippi owner of Mosquito Marshals, a mosquito control service. Looking back, Neely said he has fond memories of his time at MRC— like the days he’d race his wheelchair against a therapy tech on a rolling stool. “I appreciated being pushed,” he said. “I’m forever indebted to the staff and the difference they made in my life.”

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NEWS

Employees

Veronica Taylor Clinical Services

VERONICA TAYLOR

Becoming a physical therapist was not a lifelong dream for Veronica Taylor, Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s Employee of the Year for Clinical Services. She had little knowledge of the profession until she watched the movie Regarding Henry, which features a brain-injured character played by Harrison Ford. “Harrison Ford had a physical therapist in the movie that helped him walk again, and that’s what inspired me,” Taylor said. Today, Taylor feels fortunate to have stumbled on her true calling. After 10 years working for MRC’s stroke recovery program, she can’t imagine doing anything else. “I love this place,” she said. “I love the impact I get to see in a short time, and how involved the doctors are. There’s a whole team approach to taking care of people. I feel like everybody brings something to the table.” While she has grown professionally during her tenure at MRC, Taylor says she never expected to be named Employee of the Year. “That was a nice surprise,” she said. And it was gratifying that her husband and kids also got to benefit. The cash bonus that came with the award afforded the family a trip to San Diego.

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Nickey Ray

Support Services

of the

Year

Brad Kennedy

Clinical Services, External

“We went to the zoo, Lego Land and Sea World—a lot of stuff in a short period of time,” she said. Taylor said she’s always loved kids. And before graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Health Related Professions in 2006, she thought she’d do pediatric PT. But after a couple of years in a clinic that saw a variety of physical therapy patients, she felt drawn to the challenge of addressing the complex problems of stroke patients. “It was a lot more interesting to me, and they were so appreciative,” she said. Suzy Gonzales, director of therapy services at MRC, said their gratitude likely had a lot to do with Taylor’s caring nature. “She has a positive attitude and an infectious smile,” Gonzales said. “She often walks our halls telling visitors and patients hello to brighten their day. She motivates us all to treat others with kindness.” Taylor said she prefers to use persuasion to accomplish therapy goals. “I’m usually sweet and try to talk them into doing something without realizing it,” she said. “I’ll say: ‘You don’t have to do therapy, let’s just walk.’” As the mother of an 8- and 4-yearold, Taylor has special empathy for women who have strokes related to

Melinda Gehrett

Support Services, External

childbirth. During their therapy time, she focuses on skills they’ll need to do mom duties like changing diapers and pushing a stroller. “I want to feel sorry for them, but I know I have to help them get better,” she said. “I want them to be able to go home and help take care of their babies.” And Gonzales said Taylor goes the extra mile to make that happen. “She has a strong work ethic and treats all of her patients with the utmost competence and compassion,” Gonzales said. “I’m so happy to have her on our team.” Taylor, in turn, is happy to have found a place where she’s appreciated and given a chance to grow. “We have a rapport with each other, and no one person is expected to know everything,” she said. “We’re encouraged to learn. And I love how we try to stay on the forefront of the newest technology.”

NICKEY RAY

Nickey Ray’s boss is a cut-to-thechase kind of guy. So when asked what earned Ray Support Services Employee of the Year, senior director of facilities management Chuck Koski sent a bulleted list: • Prompt

• Always willing to work after hours • Courteous • Excellent customer service • Great attitude • Willing to do anything asked That last attribute is especially important to Ray’s role as senior maintenance mechanic at MRC. While MRC’s Biomedical Engineering Department has responsibility for the upkeep of all the hospital’s medical devices, Ray and his coworkers take care of everything else. “We fix anything that comes up— plus some,” Ray said. “We have to be able to repair it or bring someone in if we can’t.” Most of his duties are about what you’d expect, from changing light bulbs and fixing malfunctioning toilets to addressing temperature concerns. But Ray also has some duties more associated with hotel management. “This facility caters to patients in ways other hospitals never have or probably never will,” he said. “How many hospitals have safes and refrigerators in the room? “I like that variety. I wouldn’t want to be tied to one thing. Every day is a new day. It’s never a dull moment.” Ray’s job has ‘round-the-clock demands. And when he’s on call twice a month, he frequently comes in to address problems that can’t wait until Monday. Even then, he exhibits his trademark positivity. “He’s one of those employees who seems to be having a great day each and every day,” says MRC Therapy Director Suzy Gonzales, who nominated Ray for his honor. “He treats everyone with respect and kindness.” Ray’s considerate nature is what brought him to MRC. Ten years ago, he was a mechanical foreman at another company when he got word of impending layoffs. “They were going to send three or four of my guys home, so I came to Methodist Rehab and acquired this job. And I asked my former employer to rehire two or three guys. I was able to keep those guys a job and found myself a new job. “I didn’t know anything at the time about Methodist, but everything I have found out so far has all been good.” He’s particularly grateful for being honored as Employee of the Year.

“I never expected a little maintenance guy would get something like that,” he said. But he’s happy to be recognized as a contributor to the hospital’s important mission. “You can’t say anything but great things about this place because of what they do for people drastically injured,” he said. “It’s just a wonderful place.”

“I’m very blessed to work at Methodist,” Kennedy said. “I get to work in a lab and put stuff together. I get to problem-solve. It’s the best of two worlds, mechanical and clinical. But at the end of the day, for me, it’s about the patients. It brings me great joy to help others who have lived what I’ve lived.”

BRAD KENNEDY

Melinda Gehrett has served as business manager of Methodist Specialty Care Center since it opened in 2003. “When we first opened up, we had maybe 10 residents or so,” Gehrett says of the long-term care facility for the severely disabled that now houses 60. “I helped get the business office off of the ground.” Ever since, she’s been keeping the daily affairs of MSCC running smoothly. That’s why she was surprised to be selected as Support Services Employee of the Year for External Campuses. “I just didn’t expect it at all,” she said. “You’d think working in the business office you might not get noticed, but I am kind of the go-to girl here when anybody needs something.” MSCC director Larry McKnight says she is invaluable to the center. “Melinda has a personal dedication to doing the job in a very professional manner,” he said. “Her work is very precise, and it gives me confidence in knowing all our paperwork is exactly as it should be. And she’s always willing to jump in and help people.” Gehrett works with residents’ families to help them navigate insurance and legal concerns. “I help them get approved,” she said. “I work with family members very closely, and if they need any help I’m the go-between. The rules for long-term care are constantly changing. It used to be a lot simpler to get qualified. There’s more paperwork to navigate now. We are one of the most regulated industries in health care, so it’s a lot to keep up with.” Before coming to MSCC, Gehrett worked for another company in the long-term care field for 26 years, after she left college at Mississippi State University. “I was studying petroleum engineering,” she said. “Which is totally not what I ended up doing, of course.”

Brad Kennedy says he was “shocked” being named Clinical Services Employee of the Year for MRC’s external campuses. But that may be Kennedy, a certified prosthetist at Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics’ Hattiesburg clinic, being his usual humble self. Because it’s the second time he’s received the honor in his 22-year career with Methodist O&P. “They were nice enough to give it to me one time, so I didn’t figure it would happen again,” Kennedy said. But you only have to see Kennedy at work to know he’s deserving of the repeat. Which his boss, Hattiesburg clinical manager Keith Frost, does every day. “His patients are loyal to him because it is obvious he genuinely cares for them,” Frost said. “His coworkers enjoy working with him because he is always ready with a laugh to brighten the day or a hand to help anyone who needs it. He comes early or stays late to help our office succeed without complaint, but still manages to put his family first.” As a left-side, above-the-knee amputee himself, Kennedy has a special connection with his patients. He knows the life-changing effects of limb loss. At 17, he was planning on a career in the military when he was hit by a car. “I got my prosthesis and did my therapy at MRC, and I continued to see them,” Kennedy said. “But for me, the military was no longer an option. For a few years, I did not have a clue in the world what I wanted to do. Then MRC had a tech trainee position come open, so I applied for it and they were nice enough to hire me. That was December 1996, and I’ve been here ever since.” Kennedy worked his way up through the ranks, earning his prosthetist certification and working for stints at the Flowood and Meridian clinics before relocating to Hattiesburg.

MELINDA GEHRETT

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OUTPATIENT THERAPY OUTPATIENT THERAPY

Methodist Outpatient Therapy physical therapist Elizabeth Rich helps Deanna Wilbourn elongate her spine while deep breathing over an exercise ball during one of her Schroth Therapy sessions. Photo: Carey Miller

Ahead of the curve Methodist Outpatient Therapy only clinic in state to offer Schroth Therapy, an innovative, non-surgical treatment for scoliosis

hen her 14-year-old daughter Deanna was diagnosed with scoliosis, Victoria Wilbourn became a mom on a mission. Researching online for the best possible treatment, she came across overwhelmingly positive feedback on Schroth Therapy. The non-surgical, physical therapy-based treatment originated in Germany and is becoming more sought-after in the U.S. “I was sure that this treatment is exactly what my daughter needed,” Wilbourn said. Willing to spare no expense, she first took Deanna to a Boston area clinic to be fitted for a custom-made orthotic

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by Carey Miller back brace and an intensive week of the therapy. But after further research, the Madison mom was surprised to find that there were therapists highly skilled in the innovative therapy right in her own backyard. “I tried googling Schroth Therapy in Mississippi,” Wilbourn said. “And I came upon an article about Methodist Rehabilitation Center offering the therapy. Then I came to find out that they were the only place in the entire state.” Today, MRC employs the only three physical therapists certified to administer Schroth Therapy in Mississippi. Elizabeth Rich, who also serves as therapy manager for the Methodist Outpatient Therapy clinic in Ridgeland, was the first to complete the training and is certified

as C2, the highest level of certification. She is joined by physical therapist Rachel Cooley, who is also C2 certified. At Methodist Outpatient Therapy clinic in Flowood, physical therapist Amy Macon has completed the C1 level of training. At the time, Deanna was under the care of Dr. Catherine Zimmerman, a pediatrician specializing in non-operative pediatric orthopedic care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. “Victoria is a very proactive parent,” Zimmerman said. “She has a background in science, and she could filter through the information that’s out there on the internet very well. So she could figure out what was hocus-pocus and what really had some legitimacy.”

“I’m absolutely sure that surgery isn’t even a question anymore. The doctor told me that if you are able at all to stop scoliosis from getting worse, then that’s a victory. So this really is a huge victory.” — Victoria Wilbourn

Zimmerman says she had become familiar with Schroth Therapy during her fellowship in non-operative pediatric care in Madison, Wisc. “I myself was also really surprised when I learned Elizabeth had completed the training,” Zimmerman said. “It’s not just unique for Mississippi. Nashville doesn’t have it—Memphis doesn’t have it. So we are very fortunate that we have these physical therapists that are very dedicated and have a passion for it.” Zimmerman says that when Wilbourn asked about Schroth Therapy, she was happy to give her a referral to MRC. She knew it would complement her care well. “I think it is very beneficial as an adjunct treatment for scoliosis, particularly for the symptoms and pain that can be associated with the condition,” Zimmerman said. “While I don’t replace my traditional recommendation to use orthotic bracing with this therapy, it is very complementary to it.” Deanna started a regimen of Schroth Therapy with Rich in January of 2017. Her overall course of care has not only slowed the progression of her curve, it has reversed it by a significant margin. “Our main goal with adolescent patients is always to delay the progression, or better yet, stop the progression, or, ideally, even reverse the curvature,” Rich said. “Elizabeth has been just excellent. I’m absolutely sure that surgery isn’t even a question anymore,” Wilbourn said. “The doctor told me that if you are able at all to stop scoliosis from getting worse, then that’s a victory. So this really is a huge victory.” Rich says that Schroth has the potential to prevent or delay the need for invasive surgery, which has been a traditional treatment for many adolescent scoliosis sufferers. “Schroth Therapy is one of the only conservative treatment approaches to scoliosis,” she said. “It treats the condition from a three-dimensional approach, looking at it from three different planes of movement. Not just the lateral curvature, but also the rotation and any front-to-back disturbances in the spine as well. It focuses—especially during peak growth periods in adolescents—on obtaining a corrective posture and strengthening the patient in that posture.” Even if surgery is necessary, Schroth Therapy can benefit patients post-op.

Deanna Wilbourn performs an advanced exercise known as the St. Andrew’s Cross as part of her Schroth Therapy regimen. Photo: Carey Miller

“Sometimes surgery is indicated, but we’re able to help patients post-surgery get their maximum movement and work on correcting their posture,” Rich said. The therapy is even beneficial for adults who have already undergone surgery and may be experiencing back pain later in life. “We can work with them to get them in a better posture to alleviate their pain,” Rich said. Rich says that a typical course of Schroth Therapy consists of 10 to 15 initial sessions. “When I feel like the patient is independent with their home exercise program, we then move to less frequent appointments to check back in periodically, to add some new exercises so they don’t get bored with the program, and just to make sure that everything has been progressing correctly,” Rich said. Educating the patient so that they can continue independently is a major component of the therapy, but that also means that it requires discipline. “Deanna has done really well,” Rich said. “She’s been a model patient. She wears her brace consistently and performs her exercises regularly.” “I think the exercises are fun, I like doing them,” Deanna said. “And I like that I got to come here and meet other people who have the same trouble that I do with my back. And Elizabeth is so nice. Plus, it gives me a good workout.” A student at Christ Covenant School in Ridgeland, Deanna has continued to lead an active lifestyle, playing her favorite sport, tennis. “I’ve noticed a big improvement in her shoulders, they are now absolutely level,” Wilbourn said. “And there’s been massive improvement in her posture. When we went to the beach and she was in her swimsuit, I thought if you didn’t know her you would never think that this child had scoliosis.” Wilbourn says she hopes telling Deanna’s story will encourage other moms—and dads, too—to seek out the therapy if their child is diagnosed with scoliosis. “It’s been a long journey, and it’s been a lot of work for Deanna,” Wilbourn said. “But it’s so incredibly encouraging when you can see the results.” To learn more about Schroth Therapy offered by MRC, call 601-984-8700 or visit methodistonline.org/schroth.

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INPATIENT THERAPY Acquired brain injury survivor Tahkizalyn “Nunu” Jenkins of Webb is all smiles as MRC facility dog Nauvoo sits in her lap. Photo: Carey Miller

Nothing but smiles

Nauvoo, Methodist Rehab’s latest facility dog, assists in therapy and lightens mood in the gym and beyond

nly one employee at Methodist Rehabilitation Center is allowed to nap on the job. But he’s also the only employee with four paws and a tail. He’s Nauvoo, MRC’s new facility dog. And he’s no ordinary pooch. The black Labrador and golden retriever mix was trained by Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), who for over 40 years have been training dogs to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Nauvoo knows over 40 commands designed

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by Carey Miller to assist and inspire MRC’s patients. “I always ask patients during our initial evaluation if they like dogs,” said occupational therapist Misty Ferguson, who is Nauvoo’s handler. “And most of the time they say, ‘Why are they asking me this in the hospital?’” When Ferguson learned acquired brain injury survivor Tahkizalyn “Nunu” Jenkins of Webb had her own dog at home, she knew activities using Nauvoo would keep her engaged. “She’s able to use Nauvoo for motivation and encouragement,” Ferguson

said. “When it’s just her and him, it takes away the pressure of human involvement.” During therapy, Jenkins brushed Nauvoo’s hair, threw a ball for him to fetch and even named common household items that Nauvoo picked up and handed to her. “On her first day, we introduced Nunu and Nauvoo,” Ferguson said. “There was an instant connection between them and she smiled immediately. That first morning here she was very tearful in the room and having a hard time

“Most of the patients really enjoy having him around. He just lights up the whole room. Just him being around makes everybody happy.” — MRC OT Misty Ferguson

Nauvoo is MRC’s newest facility dog. He was trained by Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), who for over 40 years have been training dogs to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Photo: Carey Miller

getting started with things. But then we introduced them and it was nothing but smiles.” “I was scared of him at first, because he’s so big!” said Jenkins, whose dog at home is a small Shih Tzu. “But now I just love him. I want to come home with him and Misty.” Jenkins hopes to get her own assistance dog to help her continue therapy after leaving the hospital, and to aid with certain activities. CCI dogs also respond to commands to retrieve all kinds of items, open automatic doors, push drawers closed and much more. “We’re in the process now,” said her mother, Gladys Jenkins. “Just seeing how she works with Nauvoo made me want to try. She was having trouble with her arm, and Nauvoo could sense it and help her. I was like, ‘wow.’ And I see that he has helped her with finding her words. If he’s around, she communicates much more.” In fact, facility dogs have been proven to be useful in speech therapy. Speech therapist Nikki Howell often asks Ferguson for Nauvoo to assist her patients. “So far I’ve used Nauvoo for some high level language tasks,” Howell said. “A lot of times, people who have language issues have trouble with directional terms like right, left, up, down. So we have them throw a ball and then say which direction Nauvoo went to fetch

it. When patients with cognitive impairments have trouble with recall, what we’ve done is have Nauvoo do a series of tricks. Then the patient has to remember what he did and say it aloud.” Beyond the practical applications in therapy, having a facility dog like Nauvoo helps to lighten the mood in the hospital, where sometimes emotions can run high. “Most of the patients really enjoy having him around,” Ferguson said. “Even the ones that might be a little apprehensive at first come around. Everyone’s always asking me, ‘Where’s Nauvoo?’ even if I haven’t used him in our therapy sessions. He’s good for the rest of the staff, too. He just lights up the whole room. Just him being around makes everybody happy.” According to CCI, it costs about $50,000 to train and provide follow-up support for a facility dog. However, they provide the dogs at no cost, thanks to the support of donors and volunteers. Nauvoo was provided to MRC via a $300,000 grant from PetSmart Charities, the philanthropic arm of the pet retail giant. MRC has had facility dogs in the past. Puma, the hospital’s last facility dog, turned 10 in January 2017 and handler and occupational therapist Jenn Sivak decided it was time for him to retire. That’s when Ferguson expressed her

interest to MRC’s therapy director and began the process of becoming the handler for MRC’s next facility dog. “I sent in a request for information to CCI, and then they sent me a paper application,” Ferguson said. “After several weeks, there was a phone interview. The next day I found out that they wanted me to fly to CCI’s training center in Orlando, Fla., for an in-person interview. There, we practiced with an imitation dog made out of carpet, so they could see my handling style to see what kind of dog I would fit best with.” About four months later, Ferguson got a call. She had been chosen to receive a dog and they wanted her to return to Orlando for an intensive two-week training session. “The classes were all day long, with lectures and dog handling training,” Ferguson said. “They had us walk with different dogs to see how we interacted. I only went on one walk with Nauvoo, and it was the afternoon before we were to be paired with a dog, so that we could start working with them. “All night I was thinking it had to be him, the walk just felt right. The next day they told me we had been paired. I later found out that Nauvoo and I share the same birthday, Sept. 27. So maybe it was meant to be.”

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STROKE RECOVERY PROGRAM

State Rep. Gary Chism tests his balance skills during sessions with Rachel Cooley, a physical therapist at Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Ridgeland. Photo: Carey Miller

Victim again

State Rep. Gary Chism shares cautionary tale about recognizing and reacting to stroke symptoms

s District 37 state representative for 18 years, Gary Chism of Columbus is familiar with Mississippi’s health care capabilities. But it took a blood clot in his brain to help him fully appreciate the stroke expertise of two Jackson hospitals. “You don’t realize until you need it how much difference it makes,” said Chism, who suffered a stroke on April 6. “The University of Mississippi Medical Center is by far the premier hospital in the state. They’ve just got so many specialists. And being at Methodist Rehabilitation Center really showed me it is first class. My therapists were so pleasant,

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by Susan Christensen before you knew it you were doing what they asked you to do.” And that’s something, given Chism’s self-proclaimed penchant for contrary behavior. “I’m known for my outbursts and opinions,” said the 67-year-old representative for Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha Counties. “It probably wasn’t a surprise to some of my colleagues that I had a stroke.” His wife, Barbara, said Chism also has a reputation for stubbornness and it almost proved his undoing. He kept refusing to go to the doctor, despite showing signs he wasn’t thinking straight. “He’s normally a very regimented

person, you can set your watch by him,” Barbara said. But during the week of April 2, his behavior became erratic. He was forgetful and couldn’t seem to navigate familiar surroundings. And he frequently repeated himself in conversation. On April 6, Barbara awoke to find him getting dressed at 1 a.m. “He was really adamant it was time to go to work,” she said. “More glaring than that, when I did go to work, I put my polo shirt on backwards,” Chism said. “With a T-shirt, that would be one thing. But a golf shirt?” Barbara said if she had seen her husband’s wardrobe malfunction, “I would

“Laying on a gurney thinking you are going to die is a terrible thought. I really thought I was going to meet my maker face to face.” — Gary Chism State Rep. Gary Chism works on attention span, word-finding skills and multi-tasking abilities during speech therapy sessions with Heather Wise, a speech therapist at Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Ridgeland. Photo: Carey Miller

have called the ambulance. When your husband is doing things so out of character, you know something is not right.” That night, Barbara strongly urged her husband to visit their local ER. “I finally made eye contact and said, ‘I really think you need to go.’ He said, ‘I’ll go in the morning if I don’t feel any better. And I said: ‘What if tomorrow never comes?’” It wasn’t an outlandish thought. Chism had already suffered a stroke in 2009. And the American Stroke Association reports that about a fourth of stroke survivors fall victim again. As the state with the second highest stroke rate in the nation, that means plenty of Mississippians are repeat patients at MRC. So the hospital offers weekly classes to educate survivors about recognizing and preventing strokes, said education nurse Pam Everett. “We talk about the three types of strokes and why stroke is a medical emergency,” Everett said. “The sooner you act, the better chance you have of preserving brain function.” Time is important because there’s a narrow window to receive the clot-busting drug known as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). “Patients have four and a half hours from the start of stroke symptoms to receive tPA,” Everett said. And doctors don’t administer the drug until they make sure tPA is appropriate for the patient. “The type of stroke has to be confirmed by the doctor asking a series of health questions and determining the results of any CT scans,” Everett said.

So she makes sure that MRC patients are familiar with all the possible symptoms of a clot or bleed in the brain. “I tell people your disabilities depend on what part of your brain is affected and your second stroke might be totally different,” Everett said. Certainly that was the case with Chism. His first stroke came with classic one-sided paralysis. “If I had felt the side of my face go numb, it would have registered to me I was having another stroke,” he said. “But I was just doing odd stuff.” During his inpatient stay at MRC, Chism had to be made aware of his initial limitations, said occupational therapist Tina Weaver. “His wife noticed what wasn’t the norm, and we had to work with him to help him realize his deficits,” Weaver said. “His endurance was low, so we were trying to get his strength back,” said physical therapist Bethany Truhett. “And he had balance problems with walking. One day I had him side-stepping forward and backward over cones—sort of an obstacle course.” In speech therapy, Chism did tasks and puzzles to focus on improving his attention span, word-finding skills and multi-tasking abilities. “If you’re going back to working or driving, you must be able to multi-task,” said Heather Wise, a speech therapist and certified brain injury specialist at Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Ridgeland. As he worked to reclaim his duties as co-owner of Columbus Insurance Services, Inc., and his responsibilities as a

legislator, Chism also got an earful about how to recognize and prevent another stroke. “I’ve been talking to him about being aware of the signs and symptoms of stroke, reminding him to take his medications as prescribed and to follow up with his doctor regularly,” said Rachel Cooley, a physical therapist at Methodist Outpatient Therapy. “Another thing we try to talk about is lifestyle changes—eating better and not smoking,” Wise said. Chism has acknowledged his need to get healthy. “I’ve got to lose this belly and more exercise is in my future,” he said. “I’m trying to get both of us on a diet we can live with,” Barbara said. “I want to see him get on with his life and not be on the sidelines worrying about having another stroke.” Chism said he has learned his lesson about listening to Barbara. And he urges others to be more mindful of their mates’ concerns about their health. “If something you’re doing is odd to someone else, you need to get to a place where they can determine what is going on. And don’t delay. “My wife was right when she tried to get me to go to the ER. And if she ever tells me I need to go again, I won’t be arguing. My alarm clock has gone off twice and the second time was sobering. Laying on a gurney thinking you are going to die is a terrible thought. I really thought I was going to meet my maker face to face.”

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THERAPEUTIC RECREATION John White, co-owner of Two-Gun Tactical in Flowood, helps adjust a gun mount for Sheila Burnham of Madison during a marksmanship clinic organized by Methodist Rehabilitation Center. Photo: Susan Christensen

Right on target

Methodist Rehab marksmanship clinic introduces Paralympic sport to people with physical disabilities

rom the seat of her wheelchair, Sheila Burnham of Madison has hunted everything from Mississippi deer to African Cape Buffalo. But on a recent Thursday morning, her prey was a paper target. She was among the participants in a Shooting Para Sport Clinic at Two Gun Tactical in Flowood. The April 12 clinic was the first of three organized by Ginny Boydston, director of the adaptive sports and recreation program at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson. Marksmanship clinics also were held in Gulfport on May 10 and Tupelo on May 17. During her more than 40-year tenure at MRC, Boydston has introduced Mississippians with disabilities to everything from snow skiing and sled hockey to wheelchair racing and fencing. And

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by Susan Christensen she has long wanted to add marksmanship to the mix. “It’s one of those Paralympic sports that has been out there, and I knew we probably had interest,” she said. “Mississippi boys and girls are born to shoot.” “I’ve been around guns all my life,” said John Berret of Madison, one of five people to attend the first clinic. “I got my first BB gun from my papaw at 8 years old.” “I’ve been shooting since before I can even remember it,” added Joey Brinson of Florence. Burnham waited until adulthood to take up shooting, but she caught on quickly once she began attending events for disabled hunters. In 2004, she became the first woman to win the Safari Club International Pathfinder Award. The honor came with an African safari, so Burnham is no stranger to bag-

ging big game. But that skill didn’t immediately translate to hitting bullseyes on a tiny target 10 meters away. “The sight takes a little getting used to because you have to put a sight within another sight,” she said. “There is a lot more to it than you would initially think,” agreed Berret. “But it’s a lot of fun.” Boydston began working on funding for a marksmanship program last year. And she said it felt like “divine intervention” when everything fell into place. The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services approved a $12,500 grant for the program through its Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund. And Life of Mississippi and the VA Medical Center in Biloxi also are sponsors. Once she had the money to purchase

DeJuan Surrell of Jackson, left, and Joey Brinson of Florence, right, look at how close Surrell got to the bullseye during target practice at Two Gun Tactical in Flowood. Photo: Susan Christensen

equipment, Boydston went searching for clinic sites. And she was again met with generous offers. Two Gun Tactical, the Marine Corps JROTC at Gulfport High School and Grace Baptist Church in Tupelo volunteered to host clinics and also signed on as sponsors. And Two Gun Tactical co-owner John White agreed to teach clinic participants. “Ginny had the equipment, we had the place and we were glad to help,” said White, an Air National Guard retiree who has spent the last six years teaching Boy Scouts to shoot. “We pride ourselves on being an education center for all types of shooting.” White said he particularly enjoys educating newbies. And he found an enthusiastic student in Michelle Cox of Edwards. “I do want to be able to shoot a gun and learn so I can get out in the woods,” she said. Due to her quadriplegia, Cox has limited use of her hands. So her machinist husband, Michael, made a metal device to help her pull the trigger. But as it turned out, her fingers were all she needed. “I like I can pull the trigger by myself,” Cox said. “It makes you feel free.” An “extremely sensitive” trigger is one characteristic of the competition

John Berret of Madison, left, and Michelle Cox of Edwards, right, take aim during a marksmanship clinic at Two Gun Tactical in Flowood. Photo: Susan Christensen

rifles, White said. And there’s nothing flimsy about them either. “This thing weighs more than me,” said DeJuan Surrell of Jackson as he dealt with the heft of the mostly wooden rifle. As manager for the U.S. Wheelchair Fencing Team, Boydston has contacts at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. And she said Bob Foth, resident rifle coach and program manager of USA Shooting, was a great resource. His recommendation for the best competition air rifles and pistols impressed clinic participants. “These are definitely not the run-of-the-mill BB guns we had as kids,” Brinson said. “They are high-end firearms,” White said. “We got to play with the guns yesterday, and they are real nice. I had to run my guys from out of here.” Using MRC’s equipment, White set up a small shooting range in a Two Gun Tactical classroom. Participants sat behind a table equipped with gun mounts as they fired at targets displayed at the correct competition distance. But not before White stressed some safety rules and explained the rifle’s capabilities. Not a hunter herself, Boydston said she appreciated White’s expertise. “Marksmanship is a precision sport,

and like any sport, you need a coach,” she said. “John gave us the info we needed to keep us safe and let us learn the rifle and have a good experience with it. Today was very successful because most people were hitting the target.” For those who want to compete in marksmanship, Boydston said opportunities abound. “It’s more well known in America, and there is more opportunity to experience a tournament,” Boydston said. “The thing I think I’m going to really like about it is people can do this on their own. They don’t need a buddy to spar with or a team. They can get their own gun and go to a range to shoot. It’s a little more user friendly.” And like most sports MRC has brought to Mississippi, it can be a game changer for the newly injured, said Berret, who is on his fourth MRC-sponsored athletic activity. “It helps them get back their self-confidence, which they tend to lose after an injury,” Berret said. “It gets them out into the community and that can be hard, at first. It helps you mainstream more quickly. My first time in rehab, I remember seeing people in wheelchairs doing things. And I thought, if they can do that, I can do that, too.”

“It’s one of those Paralympic sports that has been out there, and I knew we probably had interest. Mississippi boys and girls are born to shoot.” — MRC therapeutic recreation director Ginny Boydston

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BRAIN INJURY PROGRAM

Hope and faith

Therapy at Methodist Rehab gives aneurysm survivor Spencer Gunn a second chance by Carey Miller Spencer Gunn spent two touchand-go months in a Memphis hospital after a brain-injuring aneurysm. But his wife Jacquelyn never lost hope he would get better. “First, they had told me he only had a 2 percent chance to live. Then, when he left the ICU, they said he didn’t qualify to go to rehab,” she said. “They said he could either go to a nursing home or home. I told the doctors that I wasn’t going to leave the hospital until my husband gets some therapy.” On paper, Spencer’s health had led to rejections from out-of-state rehab centers. But the Gunns’ prayers were answered when Le Downing, an outreach nurse for Methodist Rehabilitation Center, was able to meet with them and see firsthand Spencer’s potential for recovery. “Le just walked in the hospital one day,” Jacquelyn said. “I just feel like God sent her to us. And I thank Him for that.” “When I walked into the room, I knew that Mr. Gunn would benefit from rehab at MRC,” Downing said of the hospital that specializes in treating brain injuries and other disabling conditions. “Although the documentation did not look good, he looked great during the on-site evaluation.” After the surgery to clip the aneurysm, Spencer, 58, had suffered from meningitis and fluid buildup in his lungs. He spent over a month on a breathing machine. He was still not able to speak or communicate effectively and was mostly bed-bound. “But he had a huge smile on his face and it lit up when his wife would speak to him,” Downing said. “You could see in his eyes that he had it in him to get better.” Downing reported her findings to MRC’s brain injury program director Dr. Stuart Yablon, who admitted him. “That first week he was there, that’s when everything turned around for him,” Jacquelyn said.

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When he left inpatient after 30 days, Spencer was walking with assistance and talking again. “After I saw that change, after seeing him for two whole months able to do nothing, I said a prayer,” Jacquelyn said. “I said, ‘Lord, if it be your will, you will make a way for us to get a house down here for him to continue to get therapy here.’” The Gunns had been living in Guntown, a north Mississippi community near Tupelo. Jacquelyn soon found a place to rent in Madison, where the two lived so she could take him to his sessions at MRC’s Outpatient Therapy clinic in Ridgeland. “She told me she wanted to stay with Methodist because she had a great experience with us, and because she understood that not all outpatient clinics are geared toward neuro-recovery,” said Bonnie Lahuta, who served as Spencer’s inpatient occupational therapist. Back when Spencer first arrived at

“Most outpatient therapy clinics focus on orthopedic conditions, and they don’t see brain injuries on a daily basis like they do at our clinics.” — Occupational therapist Bonnie Lahuta

MRC, he was still wearing a tracheostomy tube for breathing as well as a feeding tube. He was unable to stand on his own or speak. So Lahuta and physical therapist Kaitlin Ingram knew they had their work cut out for them. “The first morning he was here, he didn’t really respond, other than eye movements, to anything we said to him,” said Lahuta. At first, they had to use the hospital’s overhead lift system and a wheelchair to get Spencer to and from therapy. But during that first week things began to turn around. “Then there was just a sort of lightbulb moment, where all of a sudden he started doing things again,” Lahuta said. “You could tell that he wanted to communicate verbally but just couldn’t get his tongue to cooperate. When he started responding to our prompts and cues, we knew he’s in there. We’ve just got to get him out.” Lahuta started by focusing on helping him with everyday tasks like dressing, grooming and feeding himself. “His right side was significantly impaired, it was really tight,” said Lahuta. “I worked a lot on regaining movement in that shoulder, mainly because it was a struggle even getting dressed at first.” Ingram focused on getting Spencer standing up so that they could ease their way into walking. “The first day, I put him on the tilt table to slowly progress him to get used to standing upright,” Ingram said. “That definitely woke him up, and I could tell he had some movement that I could work with. From there we moved to the standing frame, and before long he was taking steps supported by the lift system in the gym.” When it was time to leave and go to outpatient, Jacquelyn knew there was only one choice to continue Spencer’s progress. “Most outpatient therapy clinics focus on orthopedic conditions, and they

don’t see brain injuries on a daily basis like they do at our clinics,” Lahuta said. “They also don’t have access to the types of specialized neuro-recovery equipment that we have at our clinic,” said occupational therapist Jessica Martinez, who has been working with neurological patients almost exclusively for 15 years. Martinez worked with Spencer at outpatient for two months and says he made steady improvement. “Now he is really making use of his right arm when we are doing tasks,” she said. “He is steadily using it more and able to reach a lot higher, and he has gotten about half of the range in his shoulder back.” Spencer also continued his physical therapy and progressed to walking without assistance. “Mr. Gunn’s recovery has been nothing short of amazing,” Downing said. “Ms. Gunn sent me a video of Mr. Gunn walking and singing. The video brought tears to my eyes. The support and love she has for him would encourage anyone to better themselves.” Regaining his speech was the most difficult hurdle for Spencer, and speech therapist Heather Wise worked with him for three months at the clinic. “Communication, getting his thoughts across, finding words—all of these things improved since he started therapy,” Wise said. “I think things will continue to move in the right direction and he will continue to progress over time.” Spencer, a retired supervisor for the city of Tupelo, had embarked on a second career preaching at Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church in nearby Aberdeen. Though it remains to be seen if he will return to the pulpit, the Gunns know he will continue to do the Lord’s work. “I’m not going to say that I know he won’t ever be back to where he was, because I know what kind of God we serve,” Jacquelyn said. “I told Spencer when he was in the hospital, this is just our sabbatical. God has given you rest, and He is going to bring you out of this to help other people. He is using you right now, to show people that there is a God, and what He can do.”

At Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Ridgeland, occupational therapist Jessica Martinez helps Spencer Gunn work on fine motor control in his right hand by using a nut and bolt assembly box. Photo: Carey Miller

Gunn practices walking with the assistance of physical therapy assistant Stephanie Holt at Methodist Outpatient Therapy. Photo: Carey Miller

Gunn and his wife Jacquelyn at MRC’s annual Brain Injury Program Christmas Party. Photo: Carey Miller

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METHODIST PHYSICAL MEDICINE

Q&A

With Raechel Percy, Methodist Physical Medicine physician by Carey Miller

aechel Percy, D.O., is the newest staff physician at Methodist Physical Medicine in Flowood. She is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She was most recently a resident physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Ky. A summa cum laude graduate of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., Percy earned a doctorate in osteopathic medicine at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, Mich. Her professional interests include sports and musculoskeletal medicine, amputee rehabilitation and prosthetic restoration and adaptive sports and recreation activities for individuals with disabilities.

What led you to the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation?

One of my mentors told me that physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors are the non-surgical experts in bones, muscles, joints and nerves. I’ve always been very interested in how the body works, and how those systems work together. And physical medicine and rehab is all about making people as functional as possible and helping them live the fullest lives that they can with whatever they may be dealing with. Whether it’s an athlete returning to sport, or it’s someone who has had a stroke learning how to take care of themselves again—being able to help people achieve those kinds of goals is what I got into rehab for.

What drew you to working for MRC?

When I was looking for where to begin my practice, MRC offered the opportunity to do some outpatient musculoskeletal rehab, a field I had always enjoyed and was hoping to do. I was also attracted by MRC’s very large orthotics and prosthetics network, which gave me access to an amputee population that needs to be served. Mississippi has the highest rate of amputation in the nation, and the population is very under-served. It was a great opportunity to be able to help fill that need and be a part of growing those types of services we offer, while also being able to continue the general rehab things that I enjoy doing.

How did you develop that interest in amputee rehabilitation? What do you find rewarding about it?

I had an amazing mentor during my training that helped me see how rewarding it could be to help amputees gain function—be it through helping someone get a prosthesis and get back to their life or helping a child with congenital limb loss

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Dr. Raechel Percy

not be limited. So that was the medical part of it, but I also had a very inspirational encounter with an amputee that was a rock climber. They showed me that you can push the limits of whatever you want to do. Seeing them overcome what they were dealt in life and seeing them still be able to lead an amazing, successful and happy life really pushed me toward the field. I really enjoy it, and I feel like it’s an area where I can make a difference in people’s lives.

What has it been like working with Methodist O&P?

It’s been great. Especially since they are right here on our Flowood campus along with orthopedic and neurological therapy as well. Having everyone here in the same area has made it a great relationship. If I have any questions, I can always just go over and ask, and sometimes they come up and see patients with me. I’ve gone to see patients down there so we can all take a look together at whatever the problem may be and hopefully take care of it then and there, or put our heads together to devise a solution for whatever it is we’re dealing with.

What are some of the typical types of injuries and illnesses you treat?

I perform a full spectrum of rehab medicine. There’s the musculoskeletal medicine for bones, muscles joints and nerves.

I use ultrasound for diagnostics and injections. I can perform nerve studies and EMGs. I can also prescribe therapy-based, conservative treatment for a variety of injuries. I also maintain a general rehab practice, to help people take care of all sorts of neurologic disorders and disabilities, such as helping with spasticity management for people with spinal cord injuries. I also work with the assistive technology clinic on site for wheelchair evaluations, and, of course, the outpatient amputee management I’ve mentioned, as well as post-stroke care.

As a doctor of osteopathy, how does your approach differ from a traditional rehab M.D.?

Our training is similar, but a D.O. has a little bit more of a holistic approach, taking the whole person into account. We also have more training for a deeper understanding of anatomy and the musculoskeletal system. So that lends itself to physical medicine and rehabilitation really well. We focus a lot on the body and how it is working, and then take into account how all of the body’s different systems interact with one another. So, say you are having an issue, say, with your muscles, and I treat it, but I also look at how is it affecting your life.

So, in what ways does your approach complement Dr. Philip Blount’s at Methodist Physical Medicine as an overall practice?

I think we complement each other well. Coming from different backgrounds you bring new ideas to the table, even from just having trained in a different geographical area. You bring different ways of thinking about the same problems. We can bounce ideas off each other and may spark something in one another we might not have been thinking of. This applies to MRC as a whole. Our practice is very much therapy-based and multidisciplinary, using all of the different divisions of MRC, be it outpatient therapy or O&P.

You encourage participation in adaptive sports and recreation for people with disabilities. Why do you think it is important?

Part of rehab is, again, helping someone be as functional as they can possibly be. It’s also helping them live a full life. Everyone has hobbies, interests, stuff that they like to do. Some sort of recreation outside of taking care of themselves every day and working. That’s no different for someone with a disability. There are so many activities available as long as you’re willing to think a little outside the box. Recreation activities have been changed, adapted and made accessible so people of all different abilities can participate. When I was in Kentucky I worked a lot with

some groups that did adaptive rock climbing, sled hockey, fly fishing—and that’s just scratching the surface. Whatever someone wants to do, there’s an opportunity. Here in Mississippi, I had the pleasure of working with the Miracle League in Ridgeland. To be able to get some of those kids who maybe thought they could only watch from the bleachers out on the field to play baseball, I think that’s what it’s all about.

What would you say sets Methodist Physical Medicine apart from other clinics?

Here at Methodist we can be both a typical type of sports medicine clinic, taking care of people with active lifestyles, but also serve the rehab needs of people who are affected by more serious injuries and illnesses. We have the resources here to fully treat someone from therapy needs, to bracing needs, to assistive technology. We have the resources for comprehensive concussion care, which other clinics might not necessarily have, with vestibular balance therapy and neuropsychology services. We have ultrasound and EMG capabilities in house, which often patients are referred off site for. I can also create specific physical therapy plans for my patients and then work directly with the therapists since we’re under the same roof. That way I’m not just evaluating patients and then sending them off. I’ve seen some very good outcomes because of this.

That certainly speaks to the next question: What are the advantages of being a division of the state’s only freestanding rehabilitation hospital?

Yeah, it definitely helps with my work in amputee rehab because it provides a continuity of care that I don’t think you can find anywhere else in the state. If they come to us for inpatient care following an amputation, we are easily able to transition them to outpatient care and get them established with our team at O&P and therapy and the AT clinic. And another great advantage is the state-of-the-art facilities we have access to between our outpatient campus here, the clinic in Ridgeland and the main hospital here that we just wouldn’t have access to without being a part of the Methodist family.

Finally, if someone wants to schedule an appointment with you, what do they need to do?

People are welcome to call our office at 601-936-8801. You don’t have to have a referral from your doctor. You can certainly ask your doctor about us and we can work with them, but it’s not a requirement for an appointment. We are happy to see and help people and we take pretty much every type of insurance.

“We focus a lot on the body and how it is working, and then take into account how all of the body’s different systems interact with one another.” — Dr. Raechel Percy

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ORTHOTICS & PROSTHETICS Chandler Norman’s durable prosthesis fits his active lifestlye, like his part-time job working for his grandfather’s landscaping business. Photo: Melanie Thortis

Chandler Norman. Photo: Melanie Thortis

Active learner

After losing his leg in an ATV accident, Sebastopol teen Chandler Norman got an education in the world of prosthetics

hen it was time to pick a topic for his high school senior project, Chandler Norman wanted to learn more about the world of prosthetics. And with good reason. The 18-year-old from Sebastopol had his left leg amputated above the knee following an ATV accident in early 2016. He then learned to walk again with a custom prosthetic leg built by Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics in Flowood. “We had to find a job we liked and research and write about it for our project,” Norman said. “I thought it would be pretty cool to get to come to Methodist O&P and work with them and see how they do things. I’ve always liked working with mechanical things.” Norman shadowed Methodist O&P certified prosthetist Taylor Hankins to learn the process of fabricating components, eventually making his own custom socket for his leg. “I can’t think of another patient who has made their own prosthesis,” Hankins said. “When Chandler wanted to do his senior project on prosthetics, I knew it would do him a lot of good to know what all goes into it, because he will likely be living with a prosthesis the rest of his life. We signed him up as a volunteer so he could come in. I supervised all the aspects of it, but he built his own socket, start to finish, completely hands-on.”

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by Carey Miller Norman might be a familiar face to some. Grateful for blood transfusions that saved his life, he has appeared in ads for Mississippi Blood Services. “Chandler had such an immense need for blood,” said Emily Austin, marketing and communications director for MBS. “He made a very profound statement on all of our hearts as we watched his story and struggle and how he came back from his accident so amazingly.” It’s a story Norman recounts in a TV commercial for MBS. The ATV accident, which happened on a remote game reserve near Forest, crushed Norman’s left leg and tore his femoral artery. During transport to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Norman nearly bled out three times. His amputation led to nine surgeries in as many days. In all, he spent 48 days in the hospital and received 56 units of donated blood. “Chandler started out very impaired and had a lot to overcome,” said Karen Klein, a physical therapist at Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Flowood who has over 18 years of experience working with amputees. “He had a lot of issues with pain in the beginning. He could be very hard-headed, and he got frustrated when walking with the prosthesis didn’t come easy to him. But once he put his mind to it, and we figured out how to properly motivate him, he really took off with it. He came to love everybody here, and he would stay just to hang out after his therapy appointments. He would talk to the other patients. He became

Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics certified prosthetist Taylor Hankins adjusts the prosthesis of Chandler Norman during a recent check-up at the Flowood clinic. Photo: Carey Miller

Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics certified prosthetist Taylor Hankins makes a modification to Chandler Norman’s custom prosthetic socket. Photo: Carey Miller

an inspiration for everybody in the clinic, from the young to the old.” Norman admits it wasn’t an easy road to recovery. “They told me my amputation was pretty traumatic, and I had to go through a lot of healing,” Norman said. “But I knew I would do whatever I had to do to walk again with a prosthetic leg. I never had any doubt in my mind that I would walk again.” “In my job you get to see where people start and where they end up,” said Hankins. “Though I may know they’re going to succeed in their rehabilitation, they may still be questioning that themselves. We are there to help them get to that point, and it’s always a big celebration. What was different about Chandler was, he never questioned if he was going to do well. In his mind he knew that he would, he just had to make his way through the process.” Before the accident, Norman was a go-getter. At Sebastapol High School, where he graduated in May, he played football and worked hard in his off time. Today, he works part-time for his grandfather’s landscaping business, part-time at a local hardware store, and is an avid outdoorsman. Klein developed her treatment plan with that active lifestyle in mind. “He never stays inside, he is the type that is always on the go,” Klein said. “So we kept taking him outside to try and simulate his environment and what he did all day every day. His mom told me that he only ever came inside to sleep and eat.” Hankins also chose a unique prosthetic knee to fit Norman’s lifestyle. The Otto Bock X-3 is a waterproof knee that was developed in conjunction with the U.S. military for soldiers to use in the field. Hankins knew its rugged design could help Norman get back to the life he loved, while also taking every ounce of punishment an energetic teen could dish out. “One of the challenges in my field is finding the components that can match the ability of the patient wearing them,” Hankins said. “Somebody as young and active as him needed something pretty robust, especially so he doesn’t have to keep coming back for me to repair something. The X-3 fit because, like Chandler, military guys need something out in the field that can stand up to whatever they put it through.” Norman was just learning to walk again when there was a setback. Hetereotopic ossification, a rare condition that only affects 7 percent of lower extremity amputees, caused his femur

bone to regrow and protrude from the residual limb. “Just when I was starting to get the hang of it, I got a knot on my leg that kept bulging out, so I went back to the doctor,” Norman said. “It wound up being bone growing out of the end of my femur where they had cut it.” “I did everything I could to accommodate it prosthetically,” Hankins said. “But, unfortunately, the pain associated with it has no prosthetic cause, so there is no prosthetic solution.” “So I had to go back for another surgery,” Norman said. “But after I got over that I was finally walking, and we really started working.” Because Methodist O&P and Methodist Outpatient Therapy are right next door to each other, Hankins and Klein can work together closely to ensure the proper fit and comfort for their patients’ prostheses. “We’re both in the same place at the same time,” Hankins said. “I’m fine-tuning the prosthesis, and she’s working on the muscles that drive the prosthesis. So having the two of us there to address the two things simultaneously is huge.” This collaboration helps to speed up what can sometimes be an arduous process. “A lot of times we would have to go back to the drawing board,” Klein said. “I’d see things that weren’t working right, and I’d go get Taylor to help us work through it. There can be a lot of trial and error, but we finally got something to fit him well.” “We fine-tuned it to work perfectly to meet all of his needs for him to be successful and independent as a student with a job, an outdoorsman, and as a busy teenager on the path to college,” said Hankins. “If we ever had a problem, Karen would come right over and grab me. It’s great that Karen was able to connect with him and find a way to motivate him. She got him to really work as hard as he possibly could.” Norman, who received scholarships through 4-H, is now attending East Central Community College. But he says he doesn’t want to stray too far from home and the team that helped him get back on his feet again—just in case his leg ever needs a tune-up. “Taylor and Karen are awesome,” Norman said. “I wouldn’t ever go anywhere else. They’ve always treated me right. Methodist became my family.”

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SPINAL CORD INJURY PROGRAM

Adapting dad

After being paralyzed in a car wreck, expectant father prepares for arrival of his newborn son with guidance of MRC’s experts

ike a lot of new fathers, Frank Elam of Eupora was awed by the arrival of his firstborn on Aug. 9. “It was not real to me until that point,” he said. “Then I was like: ‘Oh man, this is a human— my little human.’” Just 40 days before, it was up in the air whether Elam would be on hand to welcome his son into the world. On June 30, a car wreck paralyzed Elam, just a month before the original due date for Franklin Darnell Elam Jr. “They took me straight to Tupelo in an ambulance, and I stayed conscious all the way,” said the 22-year-old. “I kept saying: ‘Don’t let me die. I’ve got a baby on the way.’” There was never any doubt Elam would want to be by the side of his wife, Heavenly, during labor and delivery. He’s been going the distance for the love of his life since they were in high school. “My brother used to call me the eight-mile man,” Elam said with a smile. That’s how far he’d walk to get to Heavenly’s house. Now, he can’t move anything from the chest down, but he’s no less committed to his young family. “At the end of the day, it’s all about making the best life for our son,” he said. “When I was walking, you put any man next to me and he couldn’t beat me in anything. Now that I’m in a wheelchair, I’m going to be the best man in a wheelchair I can be. I can’t do anything but learn it and roll with it.” After surgery in Tupelo to stabilize his spine, Elam chose to leave North Mississippi and head to Jackson for the

by Susan Christensen next stage of his recovery. With so much at stake, Methodist Rehabilitation Center—the state’s only freestanding rehabilitation hospital— seemed the best fit. “He was so young and had a baby on the way so he needed to get back to functioning,” said Aubrey Seay, MRC’s North Mississippi outreach nurse. “What stood out about MRC is we have a physician who specializes in spinal cord injury medicine. Frank was excited about that.” Elam arrived at MRC to find a staff adept at prepping parents for baby wrangling from a wheelchair. And they clearly understood the urgency of the matter in Elam’s case. They had less than three weeks before Frank Jr.’s expected arrival. So Elam was soon practicing daddy duties with the hospital’s resident baby doll. He good-naturedly changed the doll’s diaper, fed it a bottle, wrapped it in a onesie and strapped it into a car seat. And if he felt silly tending to his make-believe offspring, he wasn’t complaining. Indeed, MRC staff said they’ve never seen a more cooperative patient. “I hope I get more patients just like him,” said MRC physician Dr. Jennifer Villacorta, who is board certified in both physical and spinal cord injury medicine. “The people who want to help themselves are the people we can help the most.” That dynamic has certainly benefited Elam. He now has abilities rarely possible for patients with damage to their C-8 and T-1 vertebrae.

“Technically, he has a high-level injury,” Dr. Villacorta said. “For most folks, that means they might function like a quadriplegic because they don’t have trunk control. But he functions more like a paraplegic because of the way he sits and tries to maintain his posture.” People usually take more than a month to manage such an accomplishment, Dr. Villacorta said. Elam did it in two and a half weeks. “Most people at his level are not able to do the things he does,” said MRC occupational therapist Elizabeth Hust. It helped that Elam came to rehab in peak condition. His duties as an Army National Guardsman, welder and former football player had kept him physically fit. “He had a huge advantage because of his crazy upper body strength,” said Jessica Baker, an occupational therapy student from Louisiana State University who helped Hust work with Elam. The physical prowess also was a byproduct of Elam’s legendary work ethic. “He was working 85 hours a week and half of it was physical,” Heavenly said. To save money for his growing family, Elam had been taking on extra shifts at B.K. Edwards Fabrication & Welding in Maben. And on the Saturday night of his accident, he was bone-tired as he clocked out. He said he was 10 minutes from home when he fell asleep at the wheel of his 2001 Grand Marquis. The car ran off the road, flipped vertically and wrapped around a tree. “I drug myself out of the vehicle into an ant bed, and they ate me up,”

“They have taken us in like we were their kids. People at MRC care about patients and what they are going through.” — Heavenly Elam

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While at MRC, Frank Elam Sr. practiced dad duties as part of his occupational therapy. Staff at the hospital did all they could to ready Elam for the imminent arrival of his firstborn. Photo: Susan Christensen

As they adjust to Frank Elam Sr.’s spinal cord injury, the arrival of Frank Elam Jr. has been a bright spot in the lives of Frank Sr. and wife, Heavenly. Photo: Melanie Thortis

he said. But even with that distraction, Elam couldn’t help but notice his legs weren’t working. “I was using a lot of arm (to get out of the car). And when I hit the ground, it was my last bit of my energy. I just laid there.” Fortunately, Elam had wrecked in front of the home of someone he knew. And it wasn’t long before an ambulance was speeding him to Tupelo. A very pregnant Heavenly got the bad news via their local mailman. “I’m definitely glad he came to get me because I wouldn’t have known anything,” she said. “He ran me all over the county. First, we went to Eupora headed towards where the wreck was. Then he took me to Mathiston where I met my sister. She took me to Tupelo.” It wouldn’t be the first time the community came together to help the young couple. While Elam was in the hospital, his construction buddies made his mobile home completely wheelchair accessible. And their friends and family also staged fund-raisers to help the Elams financially. Elam’s plight elicited acts of kindness from MRC’s staff, too. “They have

Frank Elam Sr. worked with MRC physical therapist Jacob Long to prepare for fatherhood. Here, he works on making a transfer from his wheelchair to a vehicle. Photo: Carey Miller

taken us in like we were their kids,” Heavenly said. “People at MRC care about patients and what they are going through.” Rehabilitation technician Katherine Pace said she couldn’t help but admire the couple’s commitment to each other. “To see young people that much in love is inspiring to me,” Pace said. “She is so caring and wants to do it all. She is up for the challenge of the baby and him.” Some might say fate had prepared Smith for Elam’s predicament. Her mother became a paraplegic in a 2014 car wreck. “Taking care of my mom, what little bit I did, helped me prepare for a lot of things I do for him,” she said. “It wasn’t a big transition.” What has been surprising, she said, is how little her mom and Elam have in common ability-wise. “Even in four years, I’ve never seen my mother do the things Frank has done in just a month,” Heavenly said. “He very much wants to be independent.” To that end, he has been a beast in therapy gym. “He would do anything we asked him to do,” Hust said. While Hust helped Elam master what OTs call “activities of daily living,”

physical therapy focused on Elam’s mobility. As a certified Assistive Technology Professional, MRC physical therapist Jacob Long lent his expertise to recommending the best wheelchair for Elam’s health and lifestyle needs. His choice included the addition of a motorized and portable “fifth wheel” to help Elam avoid wear and tear on his upper body. Long also ordered equipment to help Elam do baby tasks from his chair. Elam hopes he might one day be able to park his wheelchair and walk again. “You can’t tell me I can’t walk—I believe in God,” he said. But he and Heavenly also believe in being realistic. And that means preparing for whatever comes their way. It’s no mystery who inspires Elam. He wants nothing more than to be a devoted husband. “I just do whatever makes Heavenly happy—anything to see her smile,” he said. “That’s my best friend right there.” As for Heavenly, she’s beyond grateful to still have her husband by her side. “I was happy for him to be alive,” she said. “And for him to be so headstrong and so much himself, that’s a blessing.”

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Facebook.com/MethodistRehab

Now I can...protect and serve Sgt. Scott Lawrence of the Byram Police dutifully served his community for over 25 years. But complications arose after a surgery to fix an on-the-job neck injury. His neck swelled, and he couldn’t breathe for over four minutes. He suffered an anoxic brain injury, and 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 expectations. Now he’s back to full duty at the Byram PD in his senior role as Training Officer in Charge. “I received some of the best one-on-one physical therapy I have ever received in my life,” Lawrence said of MRC. “It was like they knew me all of my life and knew exactly what I needed.” Nationally recognized for expertise in rehabilitation medicine after a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury or amputation.

For more information, visit methodistonline.org or call 601-364-3434 or toll-free 1-800-223-6672, ext. 3434.

OUTPATIENT THERAPY Certified lymphedema therapist Lori Towery of Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Ridgeland wraps Carol Cannon’s lower left leg with a special bandage that prevents the swelling caused by lymphedema to return to the limb. Photo: Carey Miller

‘A tremendous help’

Outpatient Therapy offers proven lymphedema treatment

hen Carol Cannon of Ridgeland was diagnosed with lymphedema, she had never even heard of the condition that was causing swelling in her lower legs so severe she couldn’t wear shoes. “It’s bothered me for at least eight years,” said Cannon, 81. “I’d been to several doctors. They thought the swelling was from my heart, then my veins. They tried me on strong diuretics. I just figured nothing was going to help me.” Finally, her family doctor recognized the condition and referred her to Methodist Outpatient Therapy for Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT), a proven treatment for managing the condition. “Lymphedema can be somewhat difficult to diagnose because it’s not identifiable just by swelling, but also how the skin looks and feels,” said Lori Towery, a certified lymphedema therapist who ad-

by Carey Miller ministers the treatment. “But if you have seen it before, you don’t forget what it looks like. And many doctors may have seen it but did not know there was an effective treatment for it.” Lymphedema is caused by a damaged lymphatic system, which can occur from certain cancer treatments. But Cannon thinks an illness long ago is to blame. When working as a missionary in New Guinea in her early 20s, she became very ill and nearly died from filariasis, a rare, tropical parasitic disease that affects the lymph nodes. Cannon said she has dealt with after effects all her life, such as sensitivity to extreme heat. “But lymphedema never really started to affect her until after she had both hips replaced and she became less mobile,” Towery said. There is no cure for lymphedema, but it can be managed with proper

care—that’s why CDT is a combination of treatment and education on managing the condition. First, swelling is addressed by facilitating the movement of fluid using manual lymphatic drainage, which Towery likens to a gentle massage. Then, to prevent the swelling from returning before the next session, the limb is wrapped tightly with special bandages. “They may look like typical Ace bandages, but these don’t expand, they work to compress,” Towery said. This treatment is administered daily until the limb is back to normal size. For long-term management, patients are then fitted with compression garments and educated on self-care. “CDT has been great,” Cannon said. “Just the difference from when I first came in—I couldn’t even see my ankle bone on my right leg, it was so swollen. It has been a tremendous help.”

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BRAIN INJURY PROGRAM

A PROTECTOR AND

SURVIVOR Louisiana wildlife officer beats odds, overcomes gunshot wound to the head and returns to work and family

by Susan Christensen

fter 25 years of helping people overcome brain injuries, Dr. Stuart Yablon often fears the worst for victims of penetrating gunshots to the head. “It’s a high mortality group,” said the physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Methodist Rehabilitation Center. “A lot of patients die before they get to the hospital, and those that do make it tend not to do well.” So when Tyler Wheeler reclaimed his job as a Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries senior agent just seven months post-injury, Yablon called the comeback “amazing.” “We were gratified to see how well he progressed, and it was a privilege to take care of an officer injured in the line of duty,” he said. “They put their lives on the line for us every day.” Today, Wheeler bears few traces of his brush with death. Even with his head shaved bare, he’s curiously devoid of obvious scars. But he has proof of the trauma on his cell phone. A copy of his post-injury CT scan shows why he’s lucky to be alive. “The bullet entered the left side, went through the back of both frontal lobes, hit the right side of my skull, then went to the back of my brain where it still sits today,” Wheeler said. In the past, neurosurgeons removed such bullet fragments. “But in modern times, they don’t go after it unless leaving the

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fragment poses greater risk to some important structures,” Dr. Yablon said. Research shows a number of factors influence gunshot related brain injuries. There’s bullet velocity, the distance from which the gun was fired and whether the bullet is designed to fragment on impact. Wheeler’s assailant used hollow point bullets, which are meant to break apart. The fact they didn’t was the first of several fortunate twists that helped save his life. Thanks to his shift partner’s quick arrival after the shooting, Wheeler got prompt emergency medical attention at LSU-Shreveport Medical Center. And he also benefited from his family’s decision to seek the expertise of MRC’s seasoned brain injury rehabilitation team. “It would be tough to beat MRC—they were outstanding,” said his wife, Haley. “If I had to recommend a rehab facility for someone to go to, that would be it.” “The reason I got out of there so fast is not just because of my will,” said Wheeler, who returned to his Monroe home a mere 10 days after arriving at MRC. “The atmosphere is so good … it makes the patients want to get better. “The staff seemed like that’s the place they wanted to be and that’s where they wanted to work the rest of their lives. They made the rehab experience as fun as it could be.”

Tyler Wheeler now cherishes the time he spends with wife, Haley, and son, Landon. Photo: Melanie Thortis

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Seven months after being shot four times in the line of duty, Tyler Wheeler of Monroe, La., returned to his beloved post as a Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries senior agent. Photo: Melanie Thortis

“SHE LEFT ME THERE TO DIE”

Wheeler has always been a fan of “keeping my family safe and the next person safe.” As such, he had his sights set on a career with the state police. But an opportunity to become a wildlife officer at age 21 seemed too good to pass up. “You get to deal on a daily basis with people who are out having fun, and I enjoy that aspect,” he said. “I like making sure everyone is able to enjoy the same stuff I did when I was growing up—hunting and fishing with my grandfather and my dad. “Keeping bad guys off the street is good, too.” That mindset meant Wheeler was not one to ignore an erratic driver, even at the end of his shift. So around 2 a.m., he pulled over Amethyst Baird Rathore. And as he prepared to administer a field sobriety test, she nearly killed him. “She went straight out the window with a pistol and fired three shots with me facing her,” he said. “The first shot went into my shoulder. The next two went through my left forearm. When these two shots exited, one went into the left side of my jaw and into my neck, the next went into the left side of my temple.” As he tried to un-holster his gun and scramble to safety, Wheeler blacked out and hit the ground. “As I began to wake up, I heard her walking toward me, and I felt her presence standing over the top of me,” he said. “At this time, she fired one more round into my upper back, more precisely on my upper spine and in between my shoulder blades. My bullet resistant vest stopped this bullet. She then left me there to die. “I was laying on my stomach in the dirt, bleeding from seven different locations on my body.” Fortunately, fellow senior wildlife agent and close friend J.P. Hattaway was headed to help out. “Thirty seconds later, he showed up,” Wheeler said. “He secured the scene, called the state police and American Medical Response.”

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Soon, a helicopter transported Wheeler to LSU-Shreveport Medical, while his wife was driven to the hospital by one of his coworkers. “Let me tell you, we got there 10 minutes after he touched down,” Haley said. “J.P. had called me at 3 a.m. and told me Tyler got shot in the arm. I’m like OK, I can deal with an arm. Then we got to the hospital and it totally changed. They said he got shot in the head, and he got shot in the shoulder. I was the only one who got to see him before he went to surgery, and he still had his uniform on. It was not a good sight for me.”

“HE WANTED TO BE CHALLENGED”

Today, Wheeler walks with the confident posture of a man proud to wear a law enforcement uniform. But when he rolled into MRC on Jan. 26, 2017, he could barely stand. He’d already endured three different surgeries, including a craniotomy. That’s when a neurosurgeon removes part of your skull to give your bruised brain room to swell. Doctors also replaced his shattered left jawbone with a titanium plate and removed a bullet that had passed within millimeters of his jugular vein. He got a feeding tube, too, which Wheeler admits he railed against. “I’d say: ‘Give me a burger, I know I can eat it.” Heaven knows, he needed the calories. “When they brought me to Jackson, they weighed me. And I realized real quickly how bad things were,” Wheeler said. “I had lost 31 pounds, and I didn’t have 31 pounds to lose. It hurt me because I had been in really good shape at the time. I had worked hard to get there and all of it was gone.” What remained was a stubborn work ethic that kept Wheeler poised to put everything into his recovery. “He was extremely motivated to get back to work,” said Alex Touchstone, his physical therapist while at MRC. “He wanted to be challenged. And with a patient like that, you can

Tyler Wheeler bears few traces of his brush with death. But he has proof of the trauma on his cell phone. A copy of his post-injury CT scan shows a bullet fragment that’s still in his brain. Photo: Melanie Thortis

Tyler Wheeler said physical therapist Alex Touchstone, left, was among the staff that kept him motivated while he worked to recover. Photo: Courtesy of Wheeler Family

make treatment fun.” Because Wheeler had an athletic background, Touchstone and occupational therapist Chuck Crenshaw worked together to offer therapeutic exercises reminiscent of sports training. “Working on a lot of high-level balance was a primary issue,” Crenshaw said. “And by the end we were working on planks for his core strength.” Wheeler did sessions on the hospital’s Dynavision visual and neuro-motor training device, too. Patients are timed as they touch flashing targets on the device’s light board, and Wheeler excelled at that, as well. He also attended speech therapy to work on cognitive issues. “I hated it, but it helped,” he said. “I did have some memory issues.” But he hadn’t forgotten about the night he was shot, which Crenshaw called unique. “Most people with brain injuries don’t recall anything that happened. But he could walk you through everything,” Crenshaw said. Clea Evans, Ph.D., director of neuropsychology at MRC, said revisiting such scenarios can be troubling. That’s why helping victims of violence address their trauma is part of therapy at MRC. “Emotional wounds are invisible, but can also impact the course of recovery,” she said. “So therapy involves helping them tell their story and begin to process it on a cognitive and emotional level. Our goal is to help them begin to regain a sense of safety and security, be able to trust others again and learn new coping skills to manage the inevitable anxiety that comes with cues or triggers that remind them of the traumatic event.” Both Yablon and Evans say the most successful brain injury patients are those who are blessed with the best support. And Wheeler definitely had a crew of family, friends and coworkers cheering him on. “The first day they brought him to his room, there were

like five to eight law enforcement officers in the hall,” Touchstone said. “That kind of made me excited. I wanted to work with that guy.”

“MY LIFE IS BACK TO NORMAL”

On March 27, 2017, Wheeler had his fourth and most welcome surgery—a procedure to replace the part of his skull that had been removed. Doctors also took out the feeding tube and a bullet fragment near his left trapezoid. Just over a month later, Wheeler passed a test of his driving skills at Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Flowood. And on Aug. 2, 2017, he wrapped up what had been six months of intense outpatient rehabilitation at a clinic close to home. Wheeler eased back into full-time agent duties on Aug. 4, 2017, and the transition went smoothly. “Everything fell back into place,” he said. “And my life is back to normal. However, what my family has seen and had to endure will never go away. “My wife didn’t get the notification until after the initial surgery that I would live. And my 5-year-old son, Landon, had to see his dad in a hospital bed with half his head. He knows that a bad lady tried to kill me.” That “bad lady,” by the way, was sentenced to 60 years for attempted murder. Today, Wheeler believes God spared him for a “very important reason.” And he said the experience taught him some important lessons. “I’ve learned to handle situations a little more safely on the job.” And he’s also come to understand that everything shouldn’t always be about the job. “I’m the kind of guy who didn’t like to take leave. But I’ve learned you need to spend time with your family—any one of them might not be here forever.”

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STROKE RECOVERY PROGRAM

out of the

BLUE

MRC helps former Mississippi State quarterback Greg Plump get back to his life as a park ranger after being sidelined by an unexpected stroke by Carey Miller

Photo: Melanie Thortis

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As a park ranger, Plump lives and works at Holmes County State Park. Here he is seen at the park’s welcome center where he greets and checks in visitors. Photo: Melanie Thortis

HE THOUGHT OF HAVING A STROKE IN HIS 40S HAD NEVER REALLY CROSSED GREG PLUMP’S MIND. UNTIL IT HAPPENED.

“It just came out of the blue,” said Plump, who is 48. “I was working out every day, and I tried to eat healthy.” Plump has always been fit and athletic. A former Mississippi State University quarterback, he’s best remembered for taking over after Sleepy Robinson was injured in the 1992 season. “I was just sitting at home watching a football game with a friend of mine,” Plump said of the night of Sept. 15, 2017. “She noticed that my face started drooping and said, ‘I think you’re having a stroke.’ I didn’t want to believe her.” Methodist Rehabilitation Center physical therapist Maryjo Pride knows a stroke can affect anyone. Working for the stroke recovery program at the Jackson hospital, she’s treated countless stroke victims, some as young as 21 and upward into their 90s. But there are ways to minimize your risk, she says. “The best thing you can do is to change the things that you can change,” Pride said. “In terms of what you eat, the exercise you get, the amount of rest you get, and minimizing the stress in your life. Because there are factors that you can’t change. And those are gender, race and family history. Change what you can—if you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, for instance, be sure to take your medication.” Plump was working as the park ranger for Holmes County State Park in Durant, a job that kept him active. He also was

coaching the football team at Durant High School. And though doctors were unable to pinpoint what exactly caused his stroke, Plump thinks the stress of his hectic lifestyle may have contributed. “It’s still a mystery, we are still trying to find out to this day what caused my stroke,” Plump said. “But I think part of it was I didn’t ever take time to rest. I was always on the go, always doing something, seven days a week.” Plump is also part of the group with the highest stroke risk: African-American men. According to stroke.org, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the African-American community. And for African-American men ages 45-54, the rate of strokes caused by a blood clot is three times that of Caucasians. Data also shows that African-Americans have more severe and disabling strokes than other ethnic groups. Pride, along with occupational therapist Sarah Boyd, treated Plump when he came to MRC after spending 10 days at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. “When I came to MRC, my whole left side was basically paralyzed, I couldn’t move,” Plump said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve never even been sick or to the hospital before. I really didn’t think I would ever be able to move again. But MRC’s staff was unbelievable. I tell you, they gave me some of the best workouts I ever had—and I played college football.” Those “workouts” were specialized therapies designed to address Plump’s left side. “I worked on a lot of weight-bearing activities with him,” Boyd said. “We also worked on active range of motion in his left arm. For example, I had him stand to work on balance while bearing his weight with his left arm, while he threw bean bags in the basketball hoop with his right arm.”

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“MRC’s staff was unbelievable. I tell you, they gave me some of the best workouts I ever had—and I played college football.”

—GREG PLUMP

Clockwise, from top left: 1. MRC occupational therapist Sarah Boyd had Greg Plump throw bean bags into a basketball hoop, while supporting his weight with his weakened left side to strengthen it. 2. Keeping the grounds of the park maintained is just one of the many jobs Plump has as park ranger. 3. At Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Ridgeland, Plump walks on the clinic’s Walker View treadmill, which analyzes and provides feedback on his gait in real time. 4. Plump looks out over one of the park’s two lakes while standing under a picnic canopy. Photos 1 and 3 by Carey Miller. Photos 2 and 4 by Melanie Thortis.

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Plump manages the daily operations at the welcome center of Holmes County State Park in Durant. Photo: Melanie Thortis

At right, Quest occupational therapist Allison Harris worked with Plump extensively to help him regain his strength at MRC’s Ridgeland outpatient clinic. Photo: Carey Miller

Maryjo Pride, at right, specializes in stroke recovery and served as Plump’s physical therapist during his inpatient stay at MRC. Photo: Carey Miller

“I worked with him using the body weight-supported treadmill,” Pride said of the equipment that off-loads a precise portion of a patient’s body weight, so therapists can reintroduce the repetitive motions of stepping, providing important sensory input. “It allowed him to take more steps because he was unable to walk over ground very long because his tolerance wasn’t very good.” The therapies gave Plump hope that he could eventually recover. “Some part of me believed I would never walk again,” Plump said. “But my therapists said, no, that’s not going to happen. They got me to moving and they worked me, and worked me, and worked me some more. I have a lot of thanks to give to them. I would tell anyone who ever needs rehab that Methodist is the place.” After about a month of inpatient care, Plump left using a wheelchair. But he continued therapy to work on walking at Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Flowood. “Something about that chair just didn’t sit well with me,” Plump said. “So when I went to outpatient, I told them we would be turning this chair in soon. And they continued to work me just as tough as inpatient. So I went from the wheelchair to a four-legged walking cane. And I continued to work hard until I was using just a single walking cane.” Determined to return to his job as a park ranger, Plump then enrolled in MRC’s Quest program. Housed at MRC’s outpatient facility in Ridgeland, Quest is a comprehensive outpatient program for people who wish to make a successful return to work, school or home life. “Outpatient in Flowood had done such a good job that I really didn’t want to leave,” Plump said. “But they told me Quest was the way to get me back to work. Well, I was hoping they’d be just as good, and guess what—nothing changed. All of MRC’s staff from inpatient to outpatient to Quest has been exceptional. It’s been an awesome experience.” Erin Perry, his physical therapist at Quest, says she appreciated Plump’s drive to succeed.

“What made it fun to work with him was that having been a collegiate athlete, he was highly competitive,” Perry said. “He always wanted to push, push, push, and he was up for any challenge.” “It was really important to him to go back to work,” said occupational therapist Allison Harris. “So he said that anything we wanted him to do, he would do it.” “Football taught me that hard work pays off,” Plump said. But at the same time his athletic nature made his recovery more difficult. “He was really muscular before the stroke, which is good, but it almost played against us because it gave him so much tightness in that left side,” Perry said. “So I used the Bioness L300 foot drop system. It would stimulate those tight muscles when I had him working on the treadmill to fine-tune his gait.” “I started him with typical therapies like strengthening and range of motion,” Harris said. “But we also had to work on that tightness. I used the Graston technique, which uses a set of specialized tools to provide myofascial release to alleviate that muscle tightness. “I also used kinesio taping, which helps with positioning. A lot of time when someone has a stroke, their muscles get out of line and into a painful position. Kinesio taping puts the muscles back in place where you can strengthen them properly.” Another unique benefit of Quest is that therapists pay a visit to worksites to identify the challenges their environment may present to patients. And the wide-open spaces of Plump’s state park could be unpredictable. “He showed us around the grounds and pointed out things he did regularly, like using a weedeater to keep the park’s grounds looking nice,” Perry said. And Plump, who is now able to walk without assistance, was cleared to suit back up as park ranger in no time at all. “Now, I’m back at work full-time doing everything I did before,” Plump said. “I’m a little bit slower than I was, but I can still do everything. It’s my job to ensure that people who come to the park enjoy themselves and obey the rules.”

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STROKE BRAIN INJURY RECOVERY PROGRAM PROGRAM

BACK in the

CLASSROOM MRC’s Quest program works with Mississippi Department of Rehab Services to help Claire Spencer return to teaching at Christ Covenant School after a stroke

by Carey Miller

laire Spencer has returned to teaching history at Ridgeland’s Christ Covenant School (CCS), just a year after she suffered a stroke that almost completely paralyzed her left side. The transformation amazes outpatient occupational therapist Kari Richeson, who treated Spencer while working parttime at Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s inpatient facility in Jackson. “You always want to reserve hope for people, that’s just what we do,” Richeson said. “But it’s also our job to be realistic. Knowing where Claire sat the day I met her at inpatient, it’s very gratifying to know she has made it this far.” Richeson has a unique perspective on her recovery, because she worked closely with Spencer at Quest. That’s

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MRC’s comprehensive outpatient program for people who wish to make a successful return to work, school or home life after a debilitating injury or illness. “Now to see her standing in front of a classroom doing what’s she’s good at—teaching history to young students and livening up the room—it’s inspirational,” Richeson said. Spencer’s recovery has been a journey. After the stroke, she spent nearly two months in a nursing home, too frail to undergo rehab. “When I got to Methodist finally, I was still in pretty bad shape,” Spencer said. “I was still on a feeding tube. They put me on the fifth floor at MRC, and I loved it. I love the people there, and it was a great place to be. When I had finally became coherent enough to be aware of where I was, I thought I had gone to the Ritz-Carlton.” Spencer spent six weeks at MRC, with her goals focused on getting back to teaching.

Claire Spencer answers questions from her history class at Christ Covenant School in Ridgeland. Photo: Melanie Thortis

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“It’s been very eye-opening to me working with Quest.When you see someone in the beginning needing assistance just standing or walking, and then you see the end results—it’s just amazing. The therapists are really, really good at helping people get where they need to be.” —Lakeesha Bogan, MDRS Counselor

Lakeesha Bogan of MDRS looks on as Claire Spencer tries out some speech-totext software that will help her with her teaching duties. Photo: Carey Miller

Occupational therapist Kari Richeson works with Claire Spencer using the Bioness Integrated Therapy System, a touchscreen system that challenges and assesses the physical, visual, auditory and cognitive abilities of patients using a variety of activities. Photo: Carey Miller

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Claire Spencer walks on the Walker View treadmill, which provdes realtime gait and posture feedback. Photo: Carey Miller

“They kept talking about this program called Quest that would get me ready to go back to work,” Spencer said. “I really love teaching, so I really wanted to do that. But even at that point, I wasn’t sure how I would be able to go back to work.” At Quest, a team of physical, occupational and speech therapists tailor a treatment plan to each patient. The plan focuses on improving the function necessary to return to what they were doing before their injury or illness. Besides Richeson, physical therapist Erin Perry and speech therapist Cassie Means started working with Spencer in February. “Between Erin helping me with walking, Cassie helping me with recall and speech and Kari helping me with the everyday stuff, it gave me the confidence to feel like I could do it,” Spencer said. “You know—like they say ‘walking, talking and chewing gum at the same time,’ maybe?” For many Quest patients like Spencer, securing needed funding can be as challenging as rehab itself. Even for those whose jobs provide insurance, months of intensive therapy may not be covered. The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS), a state agency, is dedicated to helping individuals overcome that hurdle. “I assist Quest patients to either maintain, regain or obtain employment,” said Lakeesha Bogan, a counselor for MDRS. “A lot have insurance, but insurance only covers a certain amount of visits. So once we get their doctor’s prescription saying how much therapy they need, we work with vocational rehab to secure the funding.” The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, one of MDRS’s many services, provides funding specifically for disabled persons to return to or find work. Bogan works closely with the staff at Quest to identify patients’ needs and to provide proper documentation to secure funding. “It’s been very eye-opening to me working with Quest,” Bogan said. “When you see someone in the beginning needing assistance just standing or walking, and then you see the end results—it’s just amazing. The therapists are really, really good at helping people get where they need to be.” For Spencer, Bogan helped with funding for occupational therapy and necessary home modifications and is working to provide speech-to-text software that will greatly help the schoolteacher with preparing her lessons. “Lakeesha has been really great, she has facilitated a lot of things for me,” Spencer said. “Any time I’ve had one-on-one interaction with her, she’s been super sweet, easy to talk to, and very encouraging.” MDRS also provided funding for Spencer to enroll in MRC’s Driving Rehabilitation Program, which assesses drivers’ abilities and makes the necessary recommendations for them to drive safely after an injury or illness.

“That’s been huge,” Spencer said. “Just being able to have that freedom to drive. To know you can just get out and go to the grocery store if you need to.” While Spencer is now back in the classroom, her recovery continues with regular therapy at Quest. “I love therapy, I’m going to be so sad when it’s over,” Spencer said. “I call Erin ‘Er Bear’ and I call Kari ‘Ker Bear.’ They’ve been great.” Perry says that Spencer was very active before her stroke and has focused her physical therapy on helping her get back to that lifestyle. “We looked at getting equipment that was appropriate for her, and she has gotten a recumbent bike for her home,” Perry said. “She has really made tremendous progress. We’ve used our body weight-supported treadmill extensively and she has progressed with her speed. And she’s greatly improved her foot placement. Working on her standing tolerance, as a teacher who has to direct a classroom, was also a huge part of her therapy.” Spencer’s therapists also paid a visit to her workplace to identify what her everyday challenges might be. “They came up to my school and looked at everything to see if there was anything that I would need to adapt to for dayto-day tasks,” Spencer said. “One thing Kari suggested was for me to get a rolling cart. Now I put my laptop on it and teach class. I’ve never been one of those teachers who can just sit behind a desk.” “We continue to work with her on her mobility and cognitive skills,” Richeson said. “And we’re introducing more functional compensatory strategies like that cart that she can use practically in her work environment.” Spencer says she is grateful for everyone that has helped her get back to doing what she loves and her family at CCS. “We recently had a commissioning ceremony where the eighth grade students graduate,” Spencer said. “It was very bittersweet. I cry every time the students leave. We see the students who have been there since kindergarten, all grown up in their big boy and girl clothes. I was so happy that I was able to be there for that. I’m so thankful that I was able to get rehab and to get back in the classroom. It means a lot.” But as happy as Spencer has been to return to work, her school family is equally pleased to see her back. “It has been a blessing to our students and faculty to have Mrs. Spencer back in the classroom at CCS,” said Cathy Haynie, head of school at CCS. “Watching her perseverance and hard work to get to this point is truly an inspiration. Who she is as a teacher, her love of the subject matter and of her students, did not waver and actually served as motivation for her recovery. We are grateful for her dedication to her calling and proud to have her as a CCS teacher.”

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services Contact Information Office of Special Disability Programs

—Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, Home and Community-Based Waivers, Independent Living Grant, State Attendant Care Program, Vocational Rehabilitation (Vocational evaluation, counseling and guidance, educational assistance, job training, job placement and assistive technology)

AbilityWorks

—Network of community rehabilitation programs that provide vocational assessment, job training, and actual work experience for individuals with disabilities

800-443-1000

mdrs.ms.gov/specialprograms

601-898-7076

mdrs.ms.gov/abilityworks

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STROKE RECOVERY PROGRAM

fter months of therapy at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson, Mar’Shanna Graham—aka Mars—has returned to her regular orbit. She’s in nursing school at Mississippi College in Clinton and back to favorite activities like working out in the gym and volunteering with kids. But it hasn’t been that long since Graham’s dream of becoming a caregiver seemed as distant as the stars above. On Feb. 10, 2017, the then 19-year-old suffered a hemorrhagic or bleeding stroke—the deadliest kind. Less than 20 percent of strokes are hemorrhagic. And Graham’s was caused by a condition that afflicts less than 1 percent of the population—an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Typically present at birth, AVMs are a tangle of abnormally connected blood vessels that can weaken over time. While many go unnoticed, there’s no ignoring the impact if they rupture. As blood spills into the brain, tissue damage can lead to severe head pain, weakness on one side of the face or body, seizures, confusion and loss of consciousness.

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Photo: Melanie Thortis

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Graham finetunes her walking ability on a specialized treadmill. Equipped with virtual reality features, the treadmill gives users visual and auditory feedback as they work on therapy goals. Photo: Carey Miller

Mar’Shanna Graham works on balance and coordination with physical therapist Erin Perry. On Graham’s right thigh is a Bioness L300 device that uses low level electrical stimulation to help activate weakened nerves that control muscles in her lower leg. Photo: Carey Miller

Graham was in the middle of a Human Anatomy and Physiology test when she heard a strange beeping in her head. “All of a sudden I couldn’t breathe,” she said. “I had no feeling in my right side and almost fell out of my chair. I couldn’t find words—nothing would come out. I couldn’t even raise my hand.” Graham was rushed to St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, where staff evaluated her condition and made an urgent call to her mother Ann in Brookhaven. “The doctor said it was a serious emergency and you need to get here as soon as possible,” Ann said. As a friend drove a frightened Ann to Jackson, MC Dean of Students Jim Turcotte made sure Mar’Shanna wasn’t alone. “He said he was not going to leave Mar’Shanna’s side until the family got there,” Ann said. “That’s just the way we do things at Mississippi College,” Turcotte said. “We are very committed to the safety and

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Graham works on walking over ground and up stairs with physical therapist Megan Gautreau at MRC’s Flowood clinic. Photo: Carey Miller

well-being of our students. They should not be in an emergency situation without someone from administration there to lend any help they can.” Graham remembers little after being admitted into the E.R. “I woke up in the hospital and thought it was a day or so later,” she said. “My mom finally told me I was in the ICU six days. She said the doctor told her he’d have to perform emergency surgery, and there was a 5050 chance of survival.” “The doctor said I cannot promise you that your child is going to make it, and my whole world was flipped upside down” said Ann. During the surgery, Graham’s family kept a prayer vigil in the hospital chapel. And Ann’s head was still bowed when the surgeon came to update everyone several hours later. “The doctor came in and said: ‘Hold your head up, your baby made it,’” Ann said. “And I gave him the biggest hug.

He said: ‘I did what I could do, and God guided my hand.’ “When I tell you God was there with my child, God was there with my child. Within hours of her going through all this, the doctor asked her how she was doing and she put her thumbs up. She was letting folks know she was coming back.”

Today, Graham’s sunny nature still prevails. But it’s now coupled with a steely resolve born of months of determined effort. “She was ready to do anything and that is rare,” said Kaitlin Ingram, an inpatient physical therapist with MRC’s brain injury recovery program. “She didn’t let anything get her down.” It’s not that Graham didn’t have cause for concern. When she first arrived

Graham works on an exercise with speech therapist Kim Boyd at MRC’s Flowood clinic. Photo: Carey Miller

Graham uses MRC’s Dynavision device, which is used to evaluate and rehabilitate visual, neuro and physical skills. Photo: Carey Miller

at MRC, “the whole right side of her body was literally numb,” said her mom. Nevertheless, she was soon attacking therapy activities like an athlete primed for competition. An example is her performance on MRC’s weight support treadmill system. Used for both therapy and research, the treadmill allows patients to practice standing and walking before they can support their own weight. And it initially takes two therapists to help guide their legs during the process. “But by the third time on it, it was just me and her,” Ingram said. “She came a long way.” “Within a week’s time, my baby was taking steps and walking,” marveled her mom. “I said, ‘Lord, you are working out miracles through my baby.’” A self-professed “geek for fitness” Graham was used to being in top shape. Second in command for her high school ROTC unit, she once did 96 pushups

Occupational therapist Pat Baird helped Graham recover the motor skills necessary for her to pursue her nursing career. Photo: Carey Miller

Graham began walking the halls of MRC within a week of starting the brain injury recovery program. MRC physical therapist Kaitlin Ingram, at left, said Graham “didn’t let anything get her down.” Photo: Carey Miller

in one minute. And the middle of five sisters used to pester her siblings to help her work out. So despite her newfound frailties, she resisted any walking aids. “I tried to get her to use a cane one time and she carried it,” remembers Ingram. “I said: ‘Alright, forget the cane.’”

Graham followed her inpatient stay with stints at two of MRC’s specialized outpatient clinics. At Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Flowood, she worked with therapists trained in neurological rehabilitation. Then she transferred to Quest, a one-of-a-kind program at MRC’s Ridgeland clinic that helps stroke, brain and spinal injury patients make a successful return to school, work or family life. “She was motivated from the be-

ginning to get into nursing school,” said Megan Gautreau, a physical therapist at the Flowood clinic. So speech, occupational and physical therapists at both clinics worked together to ready Graham for a return to the classroom. “We did a lot of fine-tuning of her gait pattern and mechanics, a lot of treadmill training,” Gautreau said. They also focused on balance and performing dual tasks. “We’d do physical activities with an added cognitive challenge,” Gautreau said. “For instance, we’d walk outdoors while she was naming objects or doing serial counting.” In speech therapy, Graham addressed thinking and memory skills, expressive language and word finding. And to connect those tasks to Graham’s return to MC, speech therapist Kimberly Boyd often used anatomy and physiology and neurology textbooks in Graham’s sessions.

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Photo: Melanie Thortis

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“Writing was a problem, too,” Boyd said. “So we worked on strategies for taking notes, such as recording lectures.” Normally right-handed, Graham learned to be a leftie. But she continues to push to regain more abilities on her right side. “With her return to nursing in mind, we had to work on integrating both hands to incorporate her school and job performance,” said Pat Baird, an occupational therapist at the Flowood clinic. “She had right-sided increased muscle tone, which impaired the use of her wrist and fingers.” Initially, Graham also suffered from double vision and her visual attention and motor coordination remained a concern. That problem called for sessions on the clinic’s Bioness Integrated Therapy System (BITS), the only device of its kind in the metro Jackson area. Working with a large interactive touch screen, Graham did activities to enhance her eye-hand coordination, peripheral vision and memory and to increase visual search and scanning abilities. It wasn’t the only time Graham found herself immersed in therapy that resembled a video game. At Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Ridgeland, she exercised on a specialized treadmill with virtual reality features. During therapy sessions, she would do programmed treadmill workouts while watching a mirrored version of herself on the machine’s video screen. “The treadmill gave her good visual and auditory feedback,” explained Erin Perry, a physical therapist at the clinic. “For instance, we’d set parameters to the step length we wanted. And she might look up and see she had to take a longer step on the right.” Another technology that helped Graham improve her walking ability was the Bioness L300. The wearable device uses low level electrical stimulation to help activate weakened nerves that control muscles in the lower leg. And Graham likes the effect. “I walk a whole lot smoother when I have it on,” said Graham. Graham’s transfer to Quest put even more emphasis on the skills she would need for nursing school, and her therapists brainstormed ways to smooth that transition.

“We incorporated things she would be doing in nursing school, like patient transport and lots of standing,” Perry said. Graham also worked hard to regain more normal function in her right arm. “She had abnormal muscle tone which affected her ability to move her arm fluidly,” explained Kari Richeson, an occupational therapist at Quest. “She had a lot of difficulty with dexterous movements and the field of nursing requires a lot of dexterity.” Another problem for Graham was impaired proprioception. MRC occupational therapist Allison Harris said the term describes a loss of sensation that limited Graham’s ability to recognize the position of her arm. “It makes it much harder to coordinate movement,” Harris said. “You have to look at your arm and focus on that.” But as Graham has already demonstrated, nothing is so difficult she can’t overcome it. Her mindset from day one was: “I’ve got to fight.” “I’d say: ‘This is what I’m going to do, and this is how I’m going to get better,’” she said. “With God on my side, I knew I could do anything and all things.” One answered prayer was MC’s willingness to work with Graham on her return to the campus. “Dr. Eric Pratt, vice president of Christian development, and Dr. Ron Howard, vice president of academic affairs, were there for the longhaul to make sure she assimilated as best she could,” Turcotte said. By spring semester of this year, Graham was managing 15 hours of classes, a part-time job in the MC library and a return to the gym. And when she learned she had been accepted to nursing school, she was over the moon. “Yay for me,” she said beaming her trademark smile. Graham plans to become a nurse practitioner who specializes in neurological conditions. And she’s convinced her experiences with a life-threatening illness will make her a better caregiver. “I think it’s going to be an amazing impact because I can relate to my patients,” Graham said. “I can tell them you are going to be OK. I’ve been through the storm, and God creates the most beautiful creations in the storm.”

What are the symptoms of an AVM? Symptoms can vary greatly in severity; in some people the severity of symptoms becomes debilitating or even life-threatening. Seizures and headaches that may be severe are the most generalized symptoms of AVMs, but no particular type of seizure or headache pattern has been identified. Seizures can be focal (meaning they involve a small part of the brain) or generalized (widespread), involving convulsions, a loss of control over movement, or a change in a person’s level of consciousness. Headaches can vary greatly in frequency, duration, and intensity, sometimes becoming as severe as migraines. Pain may be on either one side of the head or on both sides. Sometimes a headache consistently affecting one side of the head may be closely linked to the site of an AVM. Most often, the location of the pain is not specific to the malformation and may encompass most of the head. AVMs also can cause a wide range of more specific neurological symptoms that vary from person to person, depending primarily upon the location of the AVM. Such symptoms may include: • • • • • •

• • • •

muscle weakness or paralysis in one part of the body a loss of coordination (ataxia) that can lead to such problems as gait disturbances difficulties carrying out tasks that require planning (apraxia) back pain or weakness in the lower extremities caused by a spinal AVM dizziness visual problems such as a loss of part of the visual field, inability to control eye movement, or swelling of a part of the optic nerve difficulty speaking or understanding language (aphasia) abnormal sensations such as numbness, tingling, or spontaneous pain memory deficits confusion, hallucinations, or dementia. Source: National Institutes for Health

Mary Ann and H.F. McCarty, Jr. Photo: MRC Archive

Linda and Wirt Yerger, III. Photo: Courtesy Yerger family

Major gifts

New funds established at MRC’s Wilson Research Foundation

his has been an exciting year for our donor-supported Wilson Research Foundation at Methodist Rehabilitation Center with the announcement of two major gifts to help restore ability and independence. Linda and Wirt Yerger, III, and the H.F. McCarty, Jr. Family have each begun new family research funds. The Yerger NeuroRobotics Research Fund was established with a $750,000 gift to launch robotics research and education initiatives utilizing Methodist’s four robotic therapy systems, the Lokomat FreeD, ErigoPro, ArmeoPower and ArmeoSpring. “It is an honor to support the Wilson Foundation’s work,” said Wirt Yerger III. “Linda and I have had many friends and loved ones helped by Methodist Rehab over the years, and we are excited about the potential of these robotic therapies.” “With this generous gift, we will be able to further the advancement of robotics therapy in hopes of it becoming a routine clinical practice for patients who suffered brain and spinal cord injuries,”

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by Chris Blount, Director said Dr. Keith Tansey, senior scientist at MRC’s Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery. “We plan to carry out ‘discovery’ studies and also use robotic technology as a measurement tool to assess the performance of patients under different conditions that only robots can create. This technology allows us to develop more comprehensive evaluation and treatment protocols that can be applied to a broader spectrum of patients than what therapists can do. We are very thankful to Linda and Wirt Yerger for helping us address these questions and more.” The H.F. McCarty, Jr. Family Foundation Fund for Stroke Research was established with a $500,000 gift for stroke-specific research and education initiatives. The McCarty family has a unique history, as this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the late Mary Ann and H.F. McCarty, Jr. providing the seed funds to begin a research foundation at MRC. H.F. McCarty, Jr. insisted the Foundation be named to honor MRC’s founding chairman and his wife, the late Earl R. and Martha Lyles Wilson.

“The McCarty Foundation gift will make possible a number of studies directly involving stroke patients to determine ways to regain best possible function and in the shortest possible time,” said Dr. Dobrivoje Stokic, administrative director of research and senior scientist. “Our research is geared toward addressing questions directly relevant for clinical practice, such as: Which of our laboratory assessments complement clinical examination and can help with predicting the potential for recovery, selecting the best treatment options, and evaluating the results of treatment?’ What lies behind gait deviations or arm impairments in patients after stroke – muscle weakness, muscle incoordination, or muscle stiffness? How useful are different treatment options, such as robotics, intrathecal Baclofen administration, or Botox injections in each of these situations?” These two extraordinary gifts are a testament to the vision and generosity of both the Yerger and McCarty families. We are deeply grateful, and we look forward to seeing these gifts restore ability and hope to those we serve.

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS MRC researchers are denoted in blue type

2017

Acharya D, Wang P, Paul A, Dai J, Gate D, Lowery J, Stokic DS, Leis AA, Flavell R, Town T, Fikrig E, Bai F: Interleukin-17A Promotes CD8+ T Cell cytotoxicity to facilitate West Nile virus clearance. Journal of Virology 2017; 91: e1529-16. Brown JM, Carter BS, Tansey KE, Zafonte R: Introduction. Neurosurgical rehabilitation. Neurosurgical Focus, 2017; 43: p. E1. Chiang CC, Parsons AM, Kriegshauser JS, Paripati HR, Zarka MA, Leis AA: Pleural ‘drop metastases’ 21 years after resection of a thymoma. Muscle & Nerve 2017; 56: 171-175. Chow JW, Yablon SA, Stokic DS: Intrathecal baclofen bolus reduces exaggerated extensor coactivation during pre-swing and early-swing of gait after acquired brain injury. Clinical Neurophysiology 2017; 128: 725-733. Frontera WR, Bean JF, Damiano D, Ehrlich-Jones L, Fried-Oken M, Jette A, Jung R, Lieber RL, Malec JF, Mueller MJ, Ottenbacher KJ, Tansey KE, Thompson A: Rehabilitation research at the National Institutes of Health: Moving the field forward (executive summary). Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 2017; 98: 795-803. Howard CL, Wallace, CT, Abbas JJ, Stokic DS: Residual Standard Deviation: Validation of a new measure of dual-task cost in below-knee prosthesis users. Gait & Posture 2017; 51: 91-96. Howard CL, Perry B, Chow JW, Wallace C, Stokic DS: Increased alertness, better than posture prioritization, explains dual-task performance in prosthesis users and controls under increasing postural and cognitive challenge. Experimental Brain Research 2017; 235: 3527-3539.

Leis AA, Smith BE, Kosiorek HE, Omejec G, Podnar S: Complete dislocation of the ulnar nerve at the elbow: A protective effect against neuropathy? Muscle & Nerve 2017; 56: 242-246. Paul AM, Acharya D, Duty L, Thompson EA, Le L, Stokic DS, Leis AA, Bai F: Osteopontin facilitates West Nile virus neuroinvasion via neutrophil ‘Trojan horse’ transport. Scientific Reports 2017; 7: 4722. Perry BE, Evans EK, Stokic DS: Weight compensation characteristics of ArmeoSpring exoskeleton: implications for clinical practice and research. Journal of Neuroengineering & Rehabilitation 2017; 14: 14. Shah SA, Mohamadpour M, Askin G, Nakase-Richardson R, Stokic DS, Sherer M, Yablon SA, Schiff ND: Focal electroencephalographic changes index post-traumatic confusion and outcome. Journal of Neurotrauma 2017; 34: 2691-2699.

2018 Bolliger M, Blight AR, Field-Fote EC, Musselman K, Rossignol S, Barthelemy D, Bouyer L, Popovic MR, Schwab JM, Boninger ML, Tansey KE, et al.: Lower extremity outcome measures: considerations for clinical trials in spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2018; 56: 628-642. Chow JW, Stokic DS: Improvements in force variability and structure from vision- to memory-guided submaximal isometric knee extension in subacute stroke. Journal of Applied Physiology 2018; 124: 592-603. Chow JW, Stokic DS: Gait impairments in patients without lower limb hypertonia early after stroke are related to weakness of paretic knee flexors. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 2018 (in print).

Cortes M, Alias GG, Tansey KE: A ‘snapshot’ of the advances in SCI therapeutics. Neurotherapeutics 2018; 15: 527-528. Giacino JT, Katz DI, Schiff ND, Whyte J, Ashman EJ, Ashwal S, Barbano R, Hammond FM, Laureys S, Ling GSF, Nakase-Richardson R, Seel RT, Yablon S, et al.: Practice guideline update recommendations summary: Disorders of consciousness. Neurology 2018; 91: 450-460. Giacino JT, Katz DI, Schiff ND, Whyte J, Ashman EJ, Ashwal S, Barbano R, Hammond FM, Laureys S, Ling GSF, Nakase-Richardson R, Seel RT, Yablon S, et al.: Comprehensive systematic review update summary: Disorders of consciousness. Neurology 2018; 91: 450-460 Hawkes MA, Hocker SE, Leis AA: West Nile virus induces a post-infectious pro-inflammatory state that explains transformation of stable ocular myasthenia gravis to myasthenic crises. Journal of the Neurological Sciences 2018; 395: 1-3. Howard CL, Wallace C, Perry B, Stokic DS: Comparison of mobility and user satisfaction between a microprocessor knee and standard prosthetic knee: a summary of seven single-subject trials. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research 2018; 41: 63-73. Jones LAT, Bryden A, Wheeler TL, Tansey KE, et al.: Considerations and recommendations for selection and utilization of upper extremity clinical outcome assessments in human spinal cord injury trials. Spinal Cord 2018; 56: 414-425. Wight JT, Grover GB, Chow JW, Borsa PA, Wikstrom EA, Tillman MD: Developing reliable measures of the passive torque-angle relationship for shoulder internal and external rotation: Implications for overhead athletics. Physical Therapy in Sport 2018; 33: 82-88.

MRC researcher selected as elite reviewer for publication Dr. Dobrivoje Stokic, administrative director for research at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, has been recognized as an Elite Reviewer for the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, among the highest ranked journals in the field. Awarded to only the top 3 percent of the journal’s almost 3,000 reviewers, the designation recognizes contributions to the journal’s peer-review process. Stokic is a senior scientist for MRC’s Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery. His research interests include assessment of motor function after acquired brain or spinal cord injury, spasticity assessment and management and the long-term effects of West Nile virus infection.

Stokic

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Wilson Research Foundation Honorarium We honor these generous donors to the Wilson Research Foundation. Thank you for helping us restore ability and hope through research, education and technology at Methodist Rehabilitation Center. To make a tax-deductible donation or to learn more about The Wilson Research Foundation, contact us at (601) 364-3598 or email wfgift@wilsonfoundation. org. Or, make a secure online donation at www.wilsonfoundation.org. “EARL R. AND MARTHA LYLES WILSON VISIONARIES

Dick Molpus Foundation Össur Jim Phyfer $500,000 and Greater Sara and Bill Ray BankPlus Karen Skeen (Walk & Roll) Ergon Foundation, Inc. Donna E. Roberts Gertrude C. Ford Foundation Heather Wise (Walk & Roll) Ann and Jorge R. Leis H. F. McCarty, Jr. Family Foundation Craig H. Neilsen Foundation PARTNERS Leo Seal and the Leo Seal Trust $5,000 - $24,999 Fund Carol H. Allen Maxine and John Tullos Pattie and Gary Armstrong Earl R. and Martha Lyles Wilson Dea Dea and Dolph Baker Linda and Wirt Yerger III Joseph C. Bancroft Charitable Foundation Baptist Health Systems PILLARS Barefield Workplace Solutions $200,000 - $499,999 Lori and Chris Blount Estate of Marsha Blount Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Luckyday Foundation Mississippi Donna and Art Leis, M.D. Melissa and Si Bondurant Selby and Richard D. McRae Jean Turner Brewer Foundation Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes Nora Frances and Vaughan McRae Maralyn Bullion MRC Gift Shop Volunteers Estate of Gordon Scarbrough C.W. Caldwell Canizaro Cawthon Davis Architects Sally and Charles Carmichael PIONEERS Kay and Ken Clark $85,000 - $199,999 Linda Clark (Walk & Roll) Ameristar Cares Workplace Giving Richard Cowart Anne Andrews Black Charitable Custom Medical Solutions Lead Unitrust Elizabeth Daniels Barbara and Jeep Clark Bettie and Gene Delcomyn Paula and Randy James Nora and Tam Etheridge Carolyn and John McIntyre, Jr. First Commercial Bank Lyn and David McMillin Alan Freeland, M.D. Richard D. McRae Kathy and Don Flynt Moran Family Philanthropic Fund Susan and Nick Greco Virginia Wilson Mounger and Grenfell Sledge & Stevens J. Harbour Mounger Steele and Bob Hardeman Pruet Foundation Estate of Lillian Simpson Susie Haseloff (Walk & Roll) Hawe Yeu Incorporated Ann and Henry Holifield SUSTAINERS Sandra and Matt Holleman $25,000 - $84,999 Shan and Steve Hope Gina and Mark Adams Horne CPA and Business Advisors Linda and Robert Bartley Katy and Jamie Houston (Walk & The Bike Crossing Roll) Estate of Carolee Bacon Davis Robbie Hughes Else Partners Tish and Haden Hughes Keith Ferguson (Walk & Roll) IBM Richard M. Fountain Stuart C. Irby HUB International Rachel and Joe Jacobson Kaitlin Ingram (Walk & Roll) Luly Johnson (Walk & Roll) Leila and Sam Lane Seymour Johnson Madison Charitable Foundation Mary Ann McCarty Hardy Jones

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James R. Keenan Shona Killough (Walk & Roll) Marcia King Kitty and Ed Kossman LogoStoreUSA Betty and Charlie Lott Dorothy L. Mahaffey James M. Malloy May and Company Terri Meadows (Walk & Roll) Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation John R. McCarty Katie Rose McClendon McGlinchey Stafford Foundation James L. McRae Mid-State Construction Beverly Y. Milam Marcia and John Mixon MMI Dining Systems Mobility Medical Beverly and Joe Morette Jim Palmer Lisa and Lee Paris Rose and Henry Paris Melissa and David Patterson Mary Palmertree (Walk & Roll) Bridgett Pelts (Walk & Roll) Bonnie Perry (Walk & Roll) Jesse D. Puckett Michael Reddix, M.D. Ashlee Ricotta (Walk & Roll) Julius M. Ridgway E. B. (Bud) Robinson Roberta and Dave Robinson Estate of George H. Robinson Helen and Nat Rogers Katie R. Saliba Dr. Conrad and Kelly Woodfield Sevier Emily Skeen (Walk & Roll) Robert Smith, M.D. Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company SSS Foundation St. Dominic Health Services Sharon Woodfield Steel Lisa and John Stevens Jan and Mike Sturdivant, Jr. Patti and Jerry Sullivan Worth H. Thomas Thompson Charitable Endowment Fund Jackie and Faser Triplett, M.D. Trustmark National Bank Thomas A. Turner III Rahul Vohra, M.D. Nell and Ed Wall

Alan Walters William S. Ware Jean and John Webb Susan and Walter Weems Marsha and Terry Wells Elizabeth White Amy Lyles Wilson Kevin Wilson Wise Carter Child & Caraway, P.A. Sam E. and Bernice C. Wittel Foundation Marion R. Wofford, M.D .

FELLOWS (2008-2018) $1,000 - $4,999 AGC Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Fund Joanne and Wallace Allred Atmos Energy Chris Ayers Bancorp South Family and Friends of Tony Bates Drs. David and Gemma Beckley Elton G. Beebe Carl P. Bernet, M.D. Charles Berry Biggs, Ingram & Solop Crisler and Doug Boone Howard E. Boone Richard Brand Gerald Bowles Broadmoor Mini Storage Charlene Bryant Roberta H. Burda Randa Buster Christine Carmichael Century Club Charities James M. Chandler Dr. and Mrs. Ching J. Chen Dr. John Chow John M. Christian Susan Christensen James H. Clayton Kimberly Coalter David C. Collipp, M.D. Corporate Benefits C Spire Foundation Betsy S. Creekmore Meredith and James Creekmore Cups, an Espresso Café Wanda and Ken Curry Tabetha Deavers (Walk & Roll) Amy Dempsey (Walk & Roll) Dorsey J. Barefield Charitable Trust Nina and Bill Dinkins Mrs. Robert V. Donley

Deveaux Duckworth Dulaney Dental Mary Lynn and Bob Dunaway Pamela B. and Larry W. Edwards Joseph D. Fail Fred Farrell Rev. Bert Felder Fleet Feet Sports Charlotte Fitzgerald Allison Fracchia Gerald Garnett Allen W. Glisson George Gober Suzy Gonzales Judy and Dan Grafton Barbara A. Griffin Drs. Patti and Leon Grigoryev Samuel Grissom, M.D. David Guzman Handicapable Vans Robert V. M. Harrison Antoinette and John Hawkins Heidelburg & Woodliff Kenneth W. Helton Peggy Hemphill Wood C. Hiatt Diane and J. L. Holloway Hometown Healthcare Charla Howard Huttig/Masonite Building Products Glynn Hughes Lakeysha Greer Isaac Sue and Robert Jacobs Alyson Jones, M.D. Henry J. Jones Lona and Bennett J. Johnson Sue and Otis Johnson J’s Mobility Unlimited Kathy Kendrick Kelly Kennedy Larry Kerr Catherine Klipple Kristos Amerigreek Elizabeth Lampley Sam M. Lane, Jr. Juanita Lester Grace and Vernon W. Lin, M.D. Rev. Dr. Giles Lindley Jacob Long (Walk & Roll) Hon. Deniese T. Lott Lucian A. Harvey, Jr. and Jerri Jeter Harvey Foundation Donna Lyon Nicole Marquez (Walk & Roll) Susan and Larry Marquez Mary G. McKee Terri S. McKie Mid-South Medical Imaging Peggy and Dean Miller Mississippi Brain and Spine Mississippi Federal Credit Union Mary Ethel and Roger Muns National Seating and Mobility Kerry Nations Otto Bock Wheeler Parker Cheryl and Neal Patton

Thomas G. Peaster Permobil Foundation John F. Phillips Vernon Pleasant Sandra and Frank E. Polanski James F. Price Primos Café Quantum Rehab C. Mike Quick Welissa Rader Dorothy and R. Miller Reid Wells P. Richards W. B. Ridgway Peggy and Robert Rives, M.D. Katie Rives Anne W. Rogers Sanderson Farms Megan and Arash Sepehri (Walk & Roll) Joel Shows Mandy and Tim Shumaker Douglas A. Simpson Skeen Plumbing and Gas T. Mark Sledge Lottie Smith Southern Bancorp Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company Laura and Frank P. Stainback III, M.D. Jacqueline M. Stahlman State Bank & Trust Company James H. Stewart, Jr. Dobrivoje Stokic, M.D. Bettye Yarborough Sullivan Telephone Electronics Corporation (TEC) Terry Service, Inc. Dr. Anne R. Thompson Terrell E. Wise and Eloise D. Wise Foundation Burney F. Threadgill Ancel C. Tipton, M.D. Helen O. Tolleson Christopher P. Tompkins Lori Towery Tammy and Eddie Voynik Mark J. Wakefield Walker Foundation Chris Wallace (Walk & Roll) Walmart Distribution Center Brookhaven Walmart Clinton Walmart Flowood Walmart Jackson Robert H. Weaver Jean and John Webb Cheryl and Cal Wells Whataburger Sue and Jerry D. Whitt Kathryn Wiener Lois and James Willis Mary and Jesse L. Wofford, M.D. Mary and Wirt A. Yerger, Jr. Camie and Paul Young

FRIENDS OF RESEARCH

Gifts up to $999 received since the 2018 edition of Ways & Means A & A Home Health Equipments Laura Alford Benjamin W. Allen Jackie Allen Shirlene Allen Allstate Giving Campaign American Medical Response (AMR) Dale Anderson Sherrie and Lanny Anderson Kevin Anthony Paula and Robby Arceneaux Leigh Ann Armstrong Sarah and John Armstrong Trey Arnold Tyler Avery Heather Bailey Jackie Bailey James D. Baker Bank of America Charitable Foundation Janet Barnes Stephen Ball Arden Barnett Liz Beasley Ruth Bell Ginger and Rick Benson Judy and Larry Berry Carol K. Black Larry Bleakney Charles L. Bigham Pat Boland Jeff Booth Ann M. Bourdreaux Netta and Charles Boudreaux James V. Bowlin Rebecca and Steve Bozeman Jane Brannan Jodi M Brantley Paula E. Brian Kathy Briner Charles Brown Rebecca Broom Adrienne Brumfield Kathy C. Bryan David Buck Bufkin Mechanical Byrd & Wiser Rose Cacibuda Becky Cameron Dr. Robert M. Cameron Joy and Don Cannada Carden Family Investments, LLC Janice Carlisle Janet Coulter Cynthia Carter Ellen Casaz Scott Catington Mrs. John W. Chatham Jackie M. Chow John B. Clark Melanie Clark Elaine Clay Sylvia Cliburn

Janet Coalter Lane Cockrell Lou Coffey Dr. Tim Coker Coldwater United Methodist Church Melissa Cole Copeland, Cook, Taylor and Bush Myra and Bill Cook Bess Corbitt Scott Crawford William L. and Stacie S. Crim Clara Crowder Pam Culberson Doug Cunningham Mary A. Current Ann B. Dale Eleanor B. Dauenhauer Gerry and Roy Daughdrill Martha Davis Patrick Davis Sandy and Larry Davis Gloria Day Mariano Loret De Mola Russell Deane Walter M. Denny, Jr. Denmiss LLC Hon. Melba Dixon Anna Furr Dexter Robert Doherty Judith L. Douglass Emily Duggar Lauren Dukes Charles M. Dunn Laina Dunn Dawn Dyess Erin Edwards Cleta and Ed Ellington Barbara and Bob England Entergy Kim Erickson John R. Evans Virginia Ezelle Karen Faison Alton and Jean Farris Laura Fenelon Brenda Ferguson Jim Ferguson Mark Fields Robert Finen Lillian Floyd Melinda and Mike Fortenberry Betty Ruth Fox Kay and Miller French Keith Frost Ann E. Frye Ann Fuentes Lana Fuqua Del Garber John Gibson Susan Gieger Jan and Roger Gilbert Rebecca Goodwin Phillip L. Grady Martha Grace Gray Angie and Kenny Greer Teresia and Greg Griffin Amanda Griggs

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Sandi Grisham Gulde United Methodist Church Creasy Gunn Milika Gunn Jack Gunn Robin Gunn David Guzman Obra V. Hackett Angela Hamiter Claudia Hankins Janet and Randy Hankins Mary K. Hanvey Bob and Carol Hardison Allison Harris Susan Hart JoAnne Hartley Emily Haxton Tony Hayes Jane C. Henderson Karen L. Heinlein Patricia Heslop Audrey T. Hildebrand Jane and Price Hilderbrand Henry and Sondra Holman Trust Miller Holmes Mr. and Mrs. Carroll V. Hood Cheryl and Henry Hood Patty and B.B. Hosch, Jr. Barbara M. Hilton Home Instead Senior Care Christy Hughes Dr. Wayne H. Hughes Rebecca Ingram Reed Ingram Art Inkster John Irby Jackson Paper Company Ginger and Eddie Joe Kenneth W. Johnson Laurie Johnson Laurdes Johnson Larry L. Johnson Tip Johnson Tom Johnson J. H. Johnson Vikki Johnson Christopher Jones Erin Jones Henry J. Jones Jane Jones Keon Jones Dr. Les and Sheila Jones Renee S. Jones Richard Jones J. H. Johnston Debra Keller Brad Kennedy Diane Kersh Barbara Key John Killough Pam Kilby Daniel K. Kim Karen Klein Stan Kline Joy Kuebler Paula and Steve Kuhn Alfred Kuhnert

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Ola Land Ben Lane Linda and John Lange G. W. Lee Johnette and Billy Lester Hubert Lipe Bob Lloyd William E. Loper III, M.D. Jane Lord Joe Lutz Elizabeth A. Lyle Arretta Lyles Susan Lyon Sudhakar Madakasira Jim Mallette Heather Maloney Patsy Malouf Lelia Manning Darri Mansel Allen F. Martin Phyllis and Mike Massey Sandra F. Matthews Whitney Maxwell Cheryl May Meredith and James May Lee Ann Mayo Shannon and Tony McAlpin Charles McArthur Martha McBee McClain Plumbing & Electrical, Inc. Pat McDaniel Woodie McDuffie Jesse McGlade Janna McIntosh Ruth W. McIntosh Patrick McNeese MIPCO Impression Products Lee and Bruce Monroe Chirsty Miller Jeffery D. Miller James N. C. Moffat, III Sally Molpus Cathy Moon Daniel Morris Heather Morris Bertram S. Mortimer Diane Mitchell Roben and Dalton Mounger Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference MS Group Marketing Diane Mitchell Betty Murphey Robert Murphree Delores and Jorge Navarette Neel–Schaffer John C. Neill Heather Newell Tamera C. Nix W. C. Noblin, Jr. Virginia O’Connell Open Doors Sunday School Class Christ Church Origin Bank F. Ralph Owens Benjamin Page Joseph W. Parker Patsy and Doug Parkin

Don Parsons Jacqui and Ed Patten George Patton Paul Moak Subaru Paula R. Perez PERS of Mississippi Employees Grady L. Phillips W. L. Phillips Peter Pikul Booth Poole Shannon Pigott Libby and Clyde Posey Don Potts Pressure Management Resources John L. Prichard MaryJo Pride Sheila and Lamar Puryear The John Pyron Family Quality Chemical Supply, Inc. Caryn Quilter Linda and Mike Rainer James B. Randall III Elwood F. Ratliff Nicky K. Ray Karen Reed Mrs. Hugh C. Redhead James E. Renfroe Elizabeth Rich Jeff L. Rickels Ann Ritchie Spencer Ritchie River Hills Bank G. S. Roberts Bouncer Robertson Kathryn Roden Martha Rogers Dario Rosa Frank Ross Cathey Russell Rusticated Rental Company Robert A. Sadler Deborah Santos Ellnora Schliesser Janet Scott Mark Saxon Brian Shaw Susan Moak Sheldon Kathy Shields Mary Katherine Shipp Norman C. Shotts Jan J. Shultz Elisa R. Sides Barbara Singleton Charles E. Smith Cissy Smith Robin and Dennis Smith Jerry Smith Mary Smith Norwood Smith Robert H. Smith Son Seekers Sunday School Class First Baptist Church – Crystal Springs Robert Soukup Southern Pipe and Supply Company Carolyn and Henry Spears W. C. Spencer

Nancy Stark Becky and Art Stevens Robert Soukup Sheila Stocks Tracy C. Stockston Gayla and Bill Stone Flo Stover Betty Strait Jane A. Streets Eddie Streety Janne Swearengen Gail and John Sweat Anna and Justin Sypult Susan K. Taylor Sandy Temple David M. Temple Patsy J. Thaggard B. J. Thayer The Quality Group The Randy Hankins Sunday School Class The Stuart Hall Sunshine Club Terry D. Thomas Hazel B. Thornton Burney F. Threadgill THV II Sales Team Helen O. Tollison Robert and Julie Tullos Betty and Rollin Turnage Pam and Jon Turner U. S. Bankruptcy Court Linda Riley Tynes William S. VanZandt Terre M. Vardeman Venture Oil & Gas, Inc. Lori Verhage Vicksburg Specialty Shop Vital Records Control Suzanne and Pat Vivier Jerrie and Bob Walker Liz Walker Walmart Pearl Lee Waring Marcia Warth Becky Watkins Deborah Webb Wendy’s Charles White Kathryn Wiener Susan Wilks Deana Williams Chris B. Williams Judi Williams Kelly Williams Martha B. Williams Otis J. Williams Virginia Williamson Trish and Kenneth Windham Cindy P. Wilson Larry Word Elton Wright Terry Wright Julia Yandell W. G. Yates and Sons Construction Company John Zupko

HONORARY GIFTS

Mark Adams Given by Hardy Jones Ross Barnett Given by Rebecca Broome Tony Bates Given by Sheila Puryear Chris Blount Given by Jeff Booth Stephen Ball Cal Wells Rev. Dr. Henry Blount Given by Dick Molpus Doug Boone Given by Mr. and Mrs. James N.C. Moffat III Opal Bowlin Given by James V. Bowlin Dr. John Chow Given by Russell Deane Charles M. Dunn Betty Dorsey-Wilson Given by Emily Duggar Pat Floyd Given by Heather Newell Taylor Hankins Given by G. W. Lee Ann and Henry Holifield Given by Virginia Wilson Mounger Amy Lyles Wilson Joanne and Dr. Ed Jones Given by Eleanor B. Dauenhauer Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Jones Given by Jan J. Shultz Kitty Kossman Given by Jane Lord Sam Lane Given by Burney F. Threadgill Cal Wells Sam M. Lane, Jr. Given by Jon and Pam Turner Cal Wells Rev. David McIntosh Given by Dea Dea and Dolph Baker Eva and Dr. Wayne Hughes Elwood F. Ratliff Lee Waring Dean and Peggy Miller Given by Christy Miller Jeffery D. Miller Jared Moffat and Rebecca McGoldrick Given by Crisler and Doug Boone Joe Moss Given by G. W. Lee Virginia Wilson Mounger Given by Ann and Henry Holifield John W. Lange Roben and Dalton Mounger Cheryl and Cal Wells Amy Lyles Wilson Sam E. and Bernice C. Wittel Foundation Jennifer Nicholson Given by G. W. Lee Jean Phillips Given by W. L. Phillips

Whitney Raju Given by Anonymous Noble Black and Marc Razic Given by Jane M. Hilderbrand Dr. Ann Schimmel Given by Virginia Ezelle Susan Hart Audrey T. Hildebrand Elizabeth A. Lyle Sally Molpus Mrs. Hugh C. Redhead Russell Sheffield Given by Judi Williams Karen Skeen Given by Tyler Avery Allstate Giving Campaign Antonnette and John J. Hawkins Elton Wright Brent Smith Given by Robert H. Smith Robert H. Smith Given by William L. and Stacie S. Crim Paul Townsend Given by James B. Randall Thomas A. Turner III Given by Jean Turner Brewer Amy Lyles Wilson and Henry Granberry Given by Ann Wilson Holifield Virginia Wilson Mounger Heather Wise Given by Larry Kerr

MEMORIAL GIFTS

Wallace Allred Given by Si Bondurant Ruby Faye Bigham Given by Charles L. Bigham Marilyn Blount Given by Dick Molpus Chris Blount Melissa Wilson Bondurant Given by Ann M. Bourdreaux Paula and Robby Arceneaux Carden Oil & Gas Walter M. Denny, Jr. Denmiss, LLC, Management and Staff Barbara and Bob England Anna Furr Dexter Melinda and Mike Fortenberry Kay and Miller French Ann and Henry Holifield Patty and B.B. Hosch, Jr. Vikki Johnson Bob Lloyd The McNeese’s (Pat, Janice, Nikki, Colin & Lauren) Bruce and Lee Monroe Virginia Wilson Mounger Benjamin Page Libby and Clyde Posey C. Mike Quick Susan M. Sheldon Robin and Dennis Smith Flo Stover The Stuart Hall Sunshine Club

Venture Oil & Gas, Inc. Julia Yandell Mary and Wirt Yerger, Jr. Bethany Boone Given by Howard E. Boone Henry Joseph Bordelon, Sr. Given by Sherrie and Lanny Anderson Sally Carmichael Given by Christine Carmichael Meta Dimitrijevic Given by The Stokic Family Powell Gandy Given by Pam Kilby Elise Pate Glisson Given by Allen W. Glisson Jacob (Jake) Anthony Greer Given by Sarah and John Armstrong Liz Beasley Judy and Larry Berry Pat Boland Netta and Charles Boudreaux Rebecca and Steve Bozeman & Family Byrd & Wiser Attorneys Kathy C. Bryan Dr. Robert M. Cameron Mary A. Current Gerry and Roy Daughdrill Sandy and Larry Davis Alexis, Alec and Brister Donahoe Robert Doherty Laina Dunn Cleta and Edward Ellington Angela and Kenneth Greer Teresia and Greg Griffin Angela Hamiter Claudia Hankins Janet and Randy Hankins Mary K. Hanvey Patricia Heslop Cheryl, Henry & Brent Hood Mr. and Mrs. Carroll V. Hood Donna (Monroe) Jones Stan Kline Paula and Steve Kuhn Susan Lyon Shannon and Tony McAlpin Pat McDaniel Ruth W. McIntosh Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, Inc. Coach Mitchell, Diane and Cameryn Dianne Monroe Patsy and Doug Parkin Jacqui and Ed Patten PERS of Mississippi Employees Renfroe & Perilloux Shelia and Lamar Puryear The John Pyron Family James E. Renfroe Linda and Mike Rainer Sun Seekers Sunday School Class – First Baptist Church – Crystal Springs Deborah Santos Carolyn and Henry Spears

Becky and Art Stevens The Randy Hankins Sunday School Class Betty and Rollin Turnage U. S. Bankruptcy Court Terre (Monroe) Vardaman Vicksburg Specialty Shop Suzanne and Pat Vivier Jerrie and Bob Walker Charles White Terry Wright Doris Nell Hayles Given by Barbara Singleton Ann Hickey Given by Pam Kilby Richard Hunter Given by Martha B. Williams Ed Kossman Given by Kitty Kossman Jane Lord F. Ralph Owens Marie Logan Given by Ellen Casaz Bennie Lyles Given by Arretta Lyles Dr. J. O. Manning Given by Leila and Sam Lane H. F. McCarty, Jr. Given by Patti and Jerry Sullivan Carol McDuffie Given by Leila and Sam Lane J. Harbour Mounger Given by Roben and Dalton Mounger Ann and Henry Holifield Amy Lyles Wilson John C. Neill Melba Dixon Spencer O’Brien Given by Open Doors SS Class – Christ United Methodist Church Glenn Sharrod Given by Diane Kersh Dr. Faser Triplett Given by Jackie Triplett Clyde F. Warth Given by Marcia Warth Marsha McCarty Wells Given by Terry Wells Patti and Jerry Sullivan Martha and Earl R. Wilson Given by Maralyn Bullion Ann and Henry Holifield Lee Ann Mayo Hazel B. Thornton Cheryl and Cal Wells Sam E. and Bernice C. Wittel Foundation Earl R. Wilson Given by John W. Lange Cal Wells Clyde Woodfield Given by Dr. Conrad and Kelly Woodfield Sevier Michael A. Woodfield Given by Dr. Conrad and Kelly Woodfield Sevier

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Walk&Roll

Ninth Annual Benefit for The Wilson Research Foundation

Join us on April 6, 2019 for the 10th Annual Walk & Roll!

The 9th Annual Walk & Roll for Research was held on May 12, raising over $106,000 for the Wilson Research Foundation at MRC. Results of the 2018 Walk & Roll: Gold Sponsors: Century Club Charities, Cups-an Espresso Café, Ergon, First Commercial Bank, Handicapable Vans, Horne LLP, HUB International, J’s Mobility, LogoStoreUSA, Mid-State Construction, Walmart, Workplace Solutions Silver Sponsors: Baptist Health Foundation, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Canizaro-Cawthon-Davis, Dulaney Dental, Mid-South Medical Imaging, Mississippi Federal Credit Union, National Seating & Mobility, Permobil, Skeen Plumbing and Gas Bronze Sponsors: A&A Home Health Equipment, American Medical Response, BankPlus, Biggs, Ingram & Solop, Broadmoor Mini Storage, Brunini Law Firm, C Spire, Copeland Cook Taylor & Bush, Fleet Feet, Hederman Brothers, Hometown Healthcare, Hometown Medical, Jackson Paper, Kristo’s Amerigreek, Masonite/Huttig, MMI Dining Systems, Mobility Medical, Neel Shaffer, Paul Moak Subaru, Primos Café, Quantum Rehab, Southern Bancorp, Southern Pipe &

WAYS & MEANS | METHODISTONLINE.ORG

Supply, St. Dominic, State Bank & Trust, Terry Service, The Bike Crossing, Trustmark, W.G. Yates & Sons Construction, Wendy’s, Whataburger Top Fundraising Teams: TEAM NAME Rowdy Rehabers $16,380 Team Sam $12,545 Team Wilson $12,416 Team Karen $10,415 Team Outpatient $9,888 Rehab Rockstars $8,220 Record Team $5,081 Rally for Research $1,879 Team Specialty Care $1,802 Team O&P $1,380 Team Gunn $1,075 Top Individual Fundraiser: Karen Skeen: $10,475 Visit www.wilsonfoundation.org for more details on Walk & Roll donations.

Now Idance can... like everyone’s watching

Photo: Melanie Thortis

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Photo: Melanie Thortis

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 credits her comeback to Susan Geiger, a physical therapist at Methodist Outpatient Rehabilitation in Flowood who is specially trained to treat balance disorders. “She was able to tell me why I was feeling the way I was feeling. And it was refreshing to have someone understand my symptoms,” Creek said. “She was able to help when no one else could.”

Nationally recognized for expertise in rehabilitation medicine after a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury or amputation.

For more information, visit methodistonline.org or call 601-364-3434 or toll-free 1-800-223-6672, ext. 3434.

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