The Neuro Institute has helped many clients live
more rewarding, independent, and fulfilling lives. Here are just a
few of some of those inspiring stories:
Brandon Gray
It is because of Brandon that the Neuro Institute was founded.
Over the past year Brandon has made great strides in recovering
as much of a normal life as possible, after having acquired a brain
injury in August of 2001. Coming home from the Centre of Neuro Skills at the end
of January of 2003, he had just spent the last 6 weeks in intensive
care from some serious medical complications.
This caused him to lose a great amount of ground that he had
gained over the previous 6 months.
Since February 2003 to the present he has become our hardest
worker and his gains are the proof of that.
Because of great insurance and his mom, Cari, Brandon works at
the clinic 4-6 hours per day with Physical and Occupational Therapy
and Speech/Cognitive Retraining and gets great follow-up at home,
which is so important with any good Neuro Rehab program.
He has gained between 20-25 pounds of mostly muscle, can do
contact guard transfers into and out of various cars, is
Hack-Squatting 150-200 pounds for between 8-10 reps. These are just a few of the functional skills he is doing.
The theory of our “immersion program” is that as the person
becomes stronger we can add more and more therapy.
Brandon is proof that this approach can work if made available
for people.
Michael Tubbs
Michael Tubbs, former amateur skateboarder, traveled all over the
country doing what he loved, skateboarding. Although he made
skateboarding look easy, he had dedicated years of hard work to
achieve his dream. On the tragic day of August 5th, 2007,
while attempting a skateboarding maneuver, he fell and hit his head
sustaining a severe traumatic brain injury. He was immediately rushed
to a local trauma center to save his life. After spending a couple
months in the hospital he was discharged and began treatment at Neuro
Institute.
Since then this client has met approximately 70% of his short term
goals and has met 60% of his long-term goals in the two months of his
physical and occupational treatment at Neuro Institute. This has
resulted in
the ability to
ambulate for community distances including to classes and on uneven
surfaces safely and independently, an increase in his strength in his
left lower extremity to near normal, ability to jump, near normal fine
motor control, improved balance, and the ability to ascend and descend
a flight of stairs safely and without an assistive device.
In Speech-Language Pathology Michael has demonstrated
significant progress in all areas of cognition, especially in the
areas of attention, verbal comprehension, immediate and working
memory, and decision speed. This improvement in sustained attention
and overall cognitive status has allowed him to begin his
transition back to the school environment by taking a course at local
community college.
His confidence continues to build as he feels his vision and dream of
regaining his previous lifestyle become a reality. It has been a
pleasure to be a part of Michael’s “Recovery Team” these past months.
We know with his determination all his dreams will someday be his. We
would like to thank you Michael, for allowing us to be a part of this
very important journey.
Jimmy Tucker 
James
“Jimmy” Tucker was injured in a mountain climbing accident on South
Mountain in the spring of 2004. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying
all rugged, adventure sports. During his accident Jimmy became a T12
spinal cord injury along with a Traumatic Brain injury. After
spending a couple months at a local acute hospital his family found
Neuro Institute in Tempe. As a Neuro recovery center here in the
Phoenix Metropolitan area, the Neuro Institute offered Jimmy his best
chance for recovery, from such a difficult injury.
Jimmy first came to Neuro Institute in June of 2004. He was in a
wheelchair and had severe cognitive deficits from his brain injury.
Jimmy and his family were told by many therapists in the medical
community that he would always be in a wheelchair and would always be
challenged to lead a normal life because of the brain injury. Jimmy
and his family would have none of this negative talk. They only
talked about what he could do, not what he couldn’t. Each tiny step
in the recovery process led to many bigger more exciting ones. During
the first year of his recovery, Jimmy had a goal of completing his
senior year at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe. Not only did he
do this but he got out of his wheelchair. Then thanks to a bracing
system which his dad and himself modified he was able to walk with
long leg braces that actually offered little support from falling.
Most therapists he worked with thought this was crazy, but it worked.
Jimmy eventually eliminated all but a small brace on his lower legs.
Today Jimmy is learning to walk with a single point cane and is a
student at Arizona State University, seeking a professional degree in
psychology and medicine. Jimmy continues to defy his doctors as they
now believe that there is no limit to how far he can go. Jimmy truly
believes he is a long way from the finish line of his road to
recovery. He only wishes that more individuals could have the same
passion for recovery. He also knows how important his family has been
thru this process. Without mom and dad finding Neuro Institute and
constantly pushing their son, much of his success might not have
happened.
CJ
CJ has been coming to Neuro institute
since June of 2005. He has been limited since birth with the
condition known as CP. Cerebral Palsy has not slowed down CJ from
wanting to experience life as a normal 16 year old. Many of CJ’s
goals are related to achieving success in a more normal functioning
life.
Over the past two and a half years, CJ has shown remarkable progress
in strength and in his ability to walk with his various assistive
devices. He has recently been using a new bracing system which has
given him more confidence in his daily activities. Being a young man
in high school, Neuro institute is proud to be a part of CJ’s journey
along the path towards a normal life.
CJ is an inspiration to all whose conditions put limits on what they
can do in their lives. CJ’s motto is “no limits”.
Curtis Neill
Curtis
Neill is a C5 Quadriplegic who was injured in a motor vehicle accident
in early 2002 and came to us as a client here in 2003. Curtis
attacked his recovery program like he attacks life and has shown the
drive and courage necessary to recover from such a traumatic
experience. He’s remained focused on reaching his full potential as
well as helping others reach theirs. To this day, there is little that
Curtis can’t do. One of his favorite slogans is “Determination knows
no boundaries”. Curtis continues to work on his college degree as
well as helping mentor those who have traumatic spinal cord injuries.
He is a special person in the recovery field and he knows the
importance of maintaining focus to become a successful individual.
Curtis is always trying to reach the next level. We at Neuro Institute
are honored that Curtis has allowed us to be part of his “Recovery
Team”.
