Helping those Injured to Find Their Strength

A student of Aeronautical Engineering who sustained a brain injury found her strength to begin her return to the community.

Kristina, a 21 year old, aspired to a career in aeronautics. As a patient at Spaulding, she fought to recover from a brain injury that left her with severe headaches and mobility issues, which often limited her.

But she never gave up during her therapy sessions and persevered through them. Prior to her discharge we planned a community outing to the Museum of Science to address her mobility and activity tolerance. No matter how she felt, she was determined that she was going on this outing.  The only exhibit she truly cared about seeing was a special exhibit NASA shuttle since this was exactly her field. She, another patient, and two therapistst piled into our therapeutic recreation van (obtained with support from Global Giving and TripAdvisor) and headed to the museum. Kristine later told us she said she felt “privileged” to be part of this small group of 4, "a girl's afternoon out" which made her feel more comfortable.

As we approached the simulated shuttle (in her wheelchair), she was bubbling with excitement! She practically jumped out of her chair to climb into the shuttle, exclaiming she had always wanted to get inside one. She climbed in and contorted her body to fit inside without the assist from staff. Pain was not even an issue (even though her pain level was high that day) since she was having the time of her life! This outing made all the difference for this young woman giving her the confidence and joy she needed to return back to the community independently.

A simple outing. An "outta' this world" outcome. Kristina found her strength!