Help Us Get Conrad Back on His Feet

Our son Conrad was injured in a near fatal one car accident in May 2007. He was in a coma until October of that year.   A diffuse axonal brain injury, with resulting spasticity, left him very weak on the left side and unable to walk.  After two years of aggressive inpatient rehabilitation in the nations best brain injury rehab facilities (Shepherd Center, Atlanta, Kessler Rehab, West Orange, NJ) and one year of home therapy, in spring of 2009, Conrad took steps with minimal help from his physical therapist, Tom, in New Jersey. 

During his mother's absence from home while in the care of CNAs, an unfortunate accident caused a break of Conrad's right hip, on his strong side.  His progress to walking was thus, lost.  After surgical repair  (New York Presbyterian Hospital) a series of  unexplained refusals to rehab facilities with the prowess to give Conrad the therapy his orthopedic surgeon  ordered, Conrad ended up at a facility that promised results but never had him even stand.

This breach of standard of care convinced us to bring Conrad back to the Triangle area where, while living at home, once again, via orthopedic surgeries and physical therapy at UNC CRC, Conrad battled back to standing treatment. He gained independence in toileting and moving side to side, dressing and in all his activities of daily living. 


To get him on his feet walking was next on our list. 

Another unfortunate occurrence- his mother's brief hospitalization- lost his CAPS funding for home health support- and landed him in a nursing home where there is NOT and WILL NOT BE physical therapy for Conrad .

An unfortunate break of his left femur neck in February 2018, when a hoyer lift failed, required surgery. His surgeon ordered physical therapy which the nursing home refused.  His mother arranged treatment for him at UNC CRC.  After dismissed from PT, in June 2018, Conrad developed a deep vein thrombosis (clot) in his left leg that was related to inactivity after the end of therapy (and recent surgery).  He's battled back from the thrombosis through physical therapy. 

We, Conrad's family, instituted a physical therapy regimen after his discharge from outpatient physical therapy,  with exercise treatment specialists who are trained in esteemed doctoral level physical therapy programs. This treatment program commenced in August 2018. The regimen has been effected at the nursing home but we have minimal equipment there- a large exercise ball and stretch resistance bands. He has gained in trunk control and left side strength and balance, with a more forward head posture.  At this point the consensus is: Conrad must receive standing treatment to progress further. 

We are now moving his treatment to his childhood home in Chapel Hill weekly, where he has a therapy mat, a tilt table, and a state-of-the-arts exercise bike (these were generous gifts from persons in the community who wished Conrad well after his injury early on.  This type of state of the arts equipment as well as therapy activities  are denied Conrad by the nursing home.  What he lacks at home is a standing device which will enable him to attempt and succeed at walking again.  Physical therapists think it IS possible for Conrad to walk independently or we would not ask for your help. 

A Sara Lift Plus, in which Conrad is pictured, would give him the standing treatment needed to get him to walking.  This treatment would also increase trunk control, level his balance with his left side talking more weight on to balance with the right side until near equal distribution is achieved, and attain a neck posture that has him looking straight ahead. Thus treated, he would be ready to take steps,  with which the lift will safely assist him. 

While Conrad progresses to walking the standing treatment would also benefit: increased bone density,  increased lung volume (he has diminished volume, a soft voice), increase gastrointestinal motility for digestion, and grow his self esteem.    

Though Conrad's brain processing speed slowed significantly from his TBI initially, affecting short term memory and learning, the good news is: he now shows signs of learning from day to day.  He remembers names, places he has visited recently, and news stories. This cognitive improvement indicates Conrad will retain the learning that he engages in during the treatment regimen and enhance progress to walking.  

We know that his nursing home WILL NOT give him physical therapy.  Insurance companies will not approve any more physical therapy unless Conrad progresses significantly and the therapy will only last 6-12 weeks.  Conrad's caught in a Catch 22 because the only way he can qualify for a 6-12 weeks regimen of aggressive outpatient physical therapy, would be by progressing to possessing trunk control, a head posture conducive to full balance, and left sided strength as near equal to the right side, balance in strength that is necessary to safely walk.  To get there, aggressive treatment using the Sara Lift Plus, is recommended by his physical therapists at UNC CRC. And after he received physical therapy, Conrad would need to continue working on walking with the Sara Plus lift to retain his new skills. 

Thank you for reading about our wonderful son, and brother, Conrad.  Dennis, Daphne and I are so grateful for all the support therapists, doctors, nurses, friends, care givers and new acquaintances have provided to help Conrad progress.  Conrad is most grateful as well.    We hope this campaign will be successful on his behalf.