JACKSON, Miss.—Brock Archuleta earned Pitcher of the Year as a high school sophomore, so he’s no stranger to long hours spent readying for the rigors of baseball season.
But all that hard work now seems like a cakewalk compared to his latest challenge. For the last year, Archuleta has been battling back from a paralyzing spinal cord injury.
“One day of therapy is like a week of baseball practice,” says Archuleta. “It feels like you just got through running 3 miles.”
JACKSON, Miss.—Most people don’t like going to the hospital, but 79-year-old Mary Rice of Gulfport figures it may have saved her from drowning in Hurricane Katrina.
If she hadn’t been in Gulfport Memorial Hospital, she surely would have been overwhelmed by the rising floodwaters in her youngest daughter’s ground floor apartment in Pass Christian.
JACKSON—The award-winning movie “Murderball” comes to Northpark 14 in Ridgeland this Friday, offering an insider’s view of the rough-and-tumble world of quad rugby.
In conjunction with the documentary’s local debut, members of the Jackson Jags—all quadriplegic athletes—will answer questions about the fast-paced game in the theater lobby during the first matinee.
FLOWOOD, Miss.—Ever since her lower legs were amputated as a baby, Tammy Stamps of Brandon had been stuck with two styles of footwear for her artificial feet—tennis shoes or flats.
So when she got her first pair of high heels at age 16, Stamps happily strutted down the hallway at Methodist Orthotics and Prosthetics in Flowood like she was prancing down a fashion show runway. “I just got in them and kept ticking,” she said.
FLOWOOD, Miss.—When kids shop for backpacks, they’re mainly interested in their coolness quotient. No one wants to lug something that is soooo last year.
But physical therapists say backpack users would be better off to forget what’s trendy and focus on safety. A backpack that doesn’t fit properly or is too heavy can lead to injury.
JACKSON—Celebrating America’s Independence Day should be fun and exciting, but Methodist Rehabilitation Center urges Mississippians to remember that incorrect use of fireworks can turn a joyful July fourth celebration into a dangerous event.
“Most fireworks can be relatively safe with proper and careful use,” said Dr. David Collipp, a physiatrist (physician specializing in physical medicine), at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson. “However, some fireworks are very dangerous and can result in death, loss of eyesight, severe burns and amputation.”
JACKSON, Miss.—Before firing up the grill for a backyard barbecue this Memorial Day weekend, Methodist Rehabilitation Center urges families to think first about outdoor cooking safety.
“Handling food properly, frequently washing hands and sanitizing utensils and platters is very important in maintaining food safety,” said John Pelton, director of nutrition services at Methodist Rehab. “You should follow proper cooking guidelines to assure food is properly thawed, fully cooked and bacteria free.”
JACKSON, Miss.—Physicians at Methodist Rehabilitation Center want to remind boaters and swimmers to think first about safety around water this summer.
“Each year, about 1,000 diving-related injuries occur,” said Dr. Rahul Vohra, medical director at Methodist Rehab. “This accounts for 10 percent of all spinal cord injuries and 60 percent of all recreational injuries.”
Dr. Vohra recommends always checking the water for a minimum depth of ten feet before diving or jumping in and to always be aware of no diving or no swimming signs.
JACKSON, Miss.—It’s not something you would expect to do your senior year—readying for high school graduation at the same time you’re rehabbing from a stroke.
So 18-year-old Sylvia Aldridge of Jackson understands when people say: “You’re too young to have this happen.”
“I couldn’t believe it, either,” she said. “But illness doesn’t have an age and you never know what might happen.”
JACKSON, Miss.—As a registered nurse, Tina Marucci of Brandon is no stranger to medical emergencies.
Still, nothing prepared Marucci for the scene that met her on December 18, 2001. She came home from a weekend away to find her 26-year-old husband Joe sprawled on the floor, unable to move or talk. “I knew in my head that it was a stroke,” she said. “But I was in a state of disbelief. I thought: ‘This isn’t happening to us.’ ”