MRC News

Connie Flanagin named Clinical Services Employee of the Year

How far will Connie Flanagin go to help patients take advantage of the services available at Methodist Rehabilitation Center?

Here’s a hint: Her 1999 Lexus has 360,000 miles on it.

As manager of the hospital’s community outreach representatives, Flanagin is definitely driven, says Chief Financial Officer Gary Armstrong.

“She enjoys going around the state and outside the state telling the story of Methodist Rehab,” Armstrong said. “She will travel weekends, nights or whatever it takes to ensure patients are seen in a timely manner.”

Communication device gives voice to people silenced by illness or injury

PEARL—Playing charades used to be a never-ending pastime for Gayle and Ken Heckman.

She would gesture, and he would guess what she was trying to say. It’s how the Pearl couple communicated after a 1993 stroke left Gayle struggling to speak or write.

Now the Heckmans are happy to report that there’s a new game in town. Today, Gayle just taps a touch screen to tell Ken everything from “I love you” to “the plants need watering.”

Standing wheelchair expands capabilities of Laurel librarian

LAUREL—Wheelchair user Drenda Barrett used to fear a literary avalanche every time she grabbed a book off an overhead shelf.

“I’ve pulled books down on my head a time or two – and some of our books are not light,” said the Laurel librarian.

So there’s no disguising her delight with a new power wheelchair that allows safe access to the library’s loftiest perches.

Wilson Research Foundation announces new board members

JACKSON, Miss.—The Board of Governors of the Wilson Research Foundation, the fundraising arm of Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson, announced today the election of three new board members: Sam Lane and Dick Molpus of Jackson, and John D. (Dave) Robinson of Ridgeland.

Kemper County cheerleader rebounds from paralyzing disorder at Methodist Rehab Center

KEMPER COUNTY, Miss.—After a season of cheerleading for the Kemper County High School football team, Kristy Grace should have been in the best shape of her life.

But as the Christmas holidays neared, the 16-year-old noticed a strange weakness in her extremities. “My legs would flap when I walked, and I noticed my feet were numb,” she said. “Then the right side of my hand and fingers got numb and tight, and I couldn’t write.”

Mississippi Paralysis Association funds project to create online resource for spinal cord injury patients

JACKSON, Miss.—Critical self-care strategies will soon be a few clicks away for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in Mississippi.

Methodist Rehabilitation Center is putting the information online, thanks to a $47,696 grant from the Mississippi Paralysis Association (MPA).

MPA Executive Director Natalie Ellis of Clinton said the money will fund the Jackson hospital’s eTHANKS project, a Web-based program that will serve as a ’round-the-clock resource for SCI patients striving to stay healthy.

Holy Technology! 'Batman suit' gives paralyzed 5-year-old the ability to walk

MONROE, La.—Its official name is the Otto Bock Reciprocating Gait Orthosis, which is too much of a mouthful for 5-year-old Michael Johnson Jr. of Monroe.

So he calls his new trunk-to-heel brace system his “Batman suit.” The name reflects Michael’s fascination with super heroes, but this suit’s “powers” aren’t just make-believe. When the partially paralyzed youngster wears the braces, he can walk.

Functionality of today's artificial limbs helps Raymond woman reclaim active lifestyle

RAYMOND, Miss.—Carol Anderson is careful to spell out w-a-l-k when she’s around her Rat Terrier, Brussels Griffon and two Chihuahuas. She doesn’t want to get their hopes up yet.

But the day is near when she’ll once again take Lucy, Sadie, Emma and Annie on a romp around her Raymond neighborhood. After years of being hobbled by a severely injured ankle, Anderson is reclaiming her active lifestyle with the help of an artificial limb.

Delta farmer returns to fields with help of high-tech limb

LELAND, Miss.—As Matt Azlin begins a play-by-play of his Nov. 13 farm accident, his wife Katherine gently hustles their two kids out of earshot.

Hayes, 5, and Josie, 18 months, don’t need to hear the gruesome details. They already know how Daddy lost his lower right leg. And if the truth be known, they handled the news better than most adults. “When we first told Hayes about the amputation, he said: ‘Cool, Daddy is going to be a pirate,’ ” Katherine said. “He even wanted to take my artificial leg to school for share day,” Matt said.

Tree trimmer survives blow from 800-pound pine, overcomes paralysis at Methodist Rehab Center

RICHLAND, Miss.—In the tree trimming business, warning shouts mean one thing: Run for your life.

“When someone hollers your name, you don’t look,” says Mike McNair of Richland. “You move and then look.”

He tried as much on Nov. 10, but didn’t move fast enough. One short step from safety, he got clobbered by 800 pounds of Southern pine.

“It was a freak accident,” said the owner of McNair Tree Service. “A tree I cut fell on another tree lying on the ground and it bounced up and hit me.”

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