Justin's Magee Therapy Gym Program Fund

Justin Mathews and Christine Black were married in July, 2019 in upstate New York. A few months later, Justin was struck by a speeding driver after returning from a church newlywed retreat.

Justin nearly lost his life, but thanks to the grace of God and several life-saving surgeries, he miraculously survived, though he soon received the news that he had a spinal cord injury (SCI) as a result of the accident. Justin spent the next few months in the hospital as he continued to fight for his life, until he thankfully became ready for the next step. 

Seeking the best SCI rehabilitation expertise available, Justin and his family moved to Philadelphia to support his recovery at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. As one of the nation's 14 model SCI hospital systems, Magee provided Justin, Christine, and their families with hands-on support, innovative treatment methods, and exceptional care. Justin spent several hours each day engaging in restorative therapies to improve his physical functions. He saw tremendous improvement, and learned a vast amount from his physical and occupational therapists, physicians, and care team members on how to continue his recovery once finally returning home after 8+ months of hospitalization.

Justin benefited from a number of state of the art technologies and equipment in Magee's therapy gym, including e-stimulation bikes and tilt tables. He hopes to see others in a similar condition have the opportunity to regain their physical function from these programs.

The Mathews and Black families are truly appreciative of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital's kindness and efforts to support Justin's recovery and all of our healing. We hope you will donate as a gesture of our shared interest in seeing the best outcome for future patients. Thank you for your generosity and friendship! 

With love,

Justin & Christine Mathews 

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Magee Rehabilitation offers one of the nation's leading rehabilitation programs for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). With more than 4,000 SCI patients in its follow-up system, Magee has the clinical experience and the unique peer resources that no other Greater Philadelphia rehabilitation program can offer. 

Magee's SCI services include an expert clinical inpatient program; state-of-the-art assistive and therapeutic technology; unique outpatient therapy programs; and community reintegration services. Lifetime follow-up care is coordinated through Magee to address the unique health and community reintegration concerns of people with SCI.

The benefits of rehabilitation do not stop after a patient has successfully demonstrated improved function and has returned home. People with SCI are likely to have some form of long-term disability and unique healthcare needs through the remainder of their lives. All resources and services of Magee Rehabilitation are available through the Lifetime Follow-Up System of Care.

Justin's Magee Therapy Gym Program Fund will be used for a variety of purposes ranging from Gym  therapy equipment to devices customized for patients as they transition home.  This fund is so important because it give the therapists and nurses the ability to individualize every single patient’s experience to get the best out of their recovery.