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Hi everyone,
To start this particular story, I am Natalie, a neurological physical therapist who has been working downtown St. Louis at The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis since spring 2018 when I graduated from PT school. Throughout my time, I have had the pleasure of working with too many individuals coming through our doors with new, life altering, and physically debilitating diagnoses. As you may imagine, this is not an easy role for the individuals to be in- while they are mentally and emotionally coping with various debilitating circumstances, we are doing our best to engage and empower their return to home and community. While we work all the magic we can to facilitate a return to functional independence, we are unable to follow our patients beyond our doors. And furthermore, unfortunately I have seen first hand too many gaps our healthcare system deals individuals. Here is precisely where the true magic of Paraquad comes into play, a community resource in which we refer many clients, that challenges to meet each client right where they are, physically and financially.
The Stephen A. Orthwein Center at Paraquad is a regional destination for people with disabilities seeking accessible exercise and expert staff. Our fully adapted fitness center supports a wide range of people, including those with a spinal cord injury, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, amputation, or stroke, in reaching their fitness and mobility goals. We are committed to empowering people with disabilities to increase their independence through an active, healthy lifestyle. The Orthwein Center offers fully accessible state-of-the-art exercise equipment, including a body-weight support treadmill and a functional electrical stimulation cycle, as well as adapted cardiovascular and strength training equipment.
Jerry has been a member of the Stephen A. Orthwein Center for over seven years. He was a physical therapist prior to his injury and understands better than most the value of regular exercise. Jerry started at Paraquad after being discharged from therapy post-injury. He felt very strongly that he still wasn’t done making progress. The Orthwein Center offered him access to specialized equipment like the LiteGait (an over ground harness system) that allowed him to continue to work on his balance with walking. And he has made a lot of progress. In addition to his walking goals, he comes because of the welcoming environment, the friends he has made, the outstanding staff, and the reasonable cost. He feels comfortable here and is able to exercise much more independently then he would at a traditional gym. His focus is on remaining strong and being part of the Orthwein Center community.
Rita joined the Orthwein Center in February, right before the COVID-19 closures. She is a stroke survivor, lives alone, and was very concerned about her balance. During the closure, Orthwein Center staff kept in touch with Rita with regular phone calls. She was doing well, but really missed coming in person to exercise. Since the Orthwein Center reopened, Rita has been a regular participant. She reports that she moves better and is more confident when she exercises, but that the biggest benefit is the social interaction. Rita is concerned about the pandemic and doesn’t leave her home often. She has prioritized exercising at the Orthwein Center because it has such a positive impact on her quality of life.
As I hope you see, the Orthwein center at Paraquad is a wonderful and adapted gym for varying ability levels. As many of you may know, I begin my transition of moving from St. Louis to Colorado this summer, but before I do so, I am doing a farewell bike tour across Missouri, starting in Kansas City, and joining the Katy Trail for a total of ~300 miles just outside of St. Louis City.
In conclusion, I ask that in my journey, you will support accessible exercise for individuals with all ability levels. I have set my fundraising goal of $600 to symbolize the trek to KC and back (one way by train and the return via bike), which will provide an annual membership to the Orthwein Center for an individual who would not otherwise be able to join.
Thank you for taking time to consider this organization. I know many of my patients who keep in touch can not say enough positive reviews about their experiences with Orthwein Center and staff. I hope you will consider supporting, in any amount you may be able to.
Respectfully,
Natalie (PT, and soon to be bikepacking fanatic)
Interested in learning more about Paraquad? https://www.paraquad.org/
To start this particular story, I am Natalie, a neurological physical therapist who has been working downtown St. Louis at The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis since spring 2018 when I graduated from PT school. Throughout my time, I have had the pleasure of working with too many individuals coming through our doors with new, life altering, and physically debilitating diagnoses. As you may imagine, this is not an easy role for the individuals to be in- while they are mentally and emotionally coping with various debilitating circumstances, we are doing our best to engage and empower their return to home and community. While we work all the magic we can to facilitate a return to functional independence, we are unable to follow our patients beyond our doors. And furthermore, unfortunately I have seen first hand too many gaps our healthcare system deals individuals. Here is precisely where the true magic of Paraquad comes into play, a community resource in which we refer many clients, that challenges to meet each client right where they are, physically and financially.
The Stephen A. Orthwein Center at Paraquad is a regional destination for people with disabilities seeking accessible exercise and expert staff. Our fully adapted fitness center supports a wide range of people, including those with a spinal cord injury, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, amputation, or stroke, in reaching their fitness and mobility goals. We are committed to empowering people with disabilities to increase their independence through an active, healthy lifestyle. The Orthwein Center offers fully accessible state-of-the-art exercise equipment, including a body-weight support treadmill and a functional electrical stimulation cycle, as well as adapted cardiovascular and strength training equipment.
Jerry has been a member of the Stephen A. Orthwein Center for over seven years. He was a physical therapist prior to his injury and understands better than most the value of regular exercise. Jerry started at Paraquad after being discharged from therapy post-injury. He felt very strongly that he still wasn’t done making progress. The Orthwein Center offered him access to specialized equipment like the LiteGait (an over ground harness system) that allowed him to continue to work on his balance with walking. And he has made a lot of progress. In addition to his walking goals, he comes because of the welcoming environment, the friends he has made, the outstanding staff, and the reasonable cost. He feels comfortable here and is able to exercise much more independently then he would at a traditional gym. His focus is on remaining strong and being part of the Orthwein Center community.
Rita joined the Orthwein Center in February, right before the COVID-19 closures. She is a stroke survivor, lives alone, and was very concerned about her balance. During the closure, Orthwein Center staff kept in touch with Rita with regular phone calls. She was doing well, but really missed coming in person to exercise. Since the Orthwein Center reopened, Rita has been a regular participant. She reports that she moves better and is more confident when she exercises, but that the biggest benefit is the social interaction. Rita is concerned about the pandemic and doesn’t leave her home often. She has prioritized exercising at the Orthwein Center because it has such a positive impact on her quality of life.
As I hope you see, the Orthwein center at Paraquad is a wonderful and adapted gym for varying ability levels. As many of you may know, I begin my transition of moving from St. Louis to Colorado this summer, but before I do so, I am doing a farewell bike tour across Missouri, starting in Kansas City, and joining the Katy Trail for a total of ~300 miles just outside of St. Louis City.
In conclusion, I ask that in my journey, you will support accessible exercise for individuals with all ability levels. I have set my fundraising goal of $600 to symbolize the trek to KC and back (one way by train and the return via bike), which will provide an annual membership to the Orthwein Center for an individual who would not otherwise be able to join.
Thank you for taking time to consider this organization. I know many of my patients who keep in touch can not say enough positive reviews about their experiences with Orthwein Center and staff. I hope you will consider supporting, in any amount you may be able to.
Respectfully,
Natalie (PT, and soon to be bikepacking fanatic)
Interested in learning more about Paraquad? https://www.paraquad.org/
Organizer
Paraquad, Inc
Beneficiary