JACKSON—After suffering a paralyzing spinal cord injury at age 15, Hayden Perkins of Madison spent some time “running himself into the ground” with a litany of what-ifs.
What if he hadn’t taken a friend’s dog to the vet? What if he had put his seatbelt back on after stopping at a store? What if he hadn’t lost control of his car?
JACKSON, Miss.—For days, Dennis Cagle sat glued to his computer screen as he watched Hurricane Katrina’s swirling mass move menacingly toward Mississippi.
As safety officer and disaster coordinator for Methodist Rehabilitation Center, it was his job to monitor the progress of the monstrous storm. And as it became clear that Methodist might be in its path, Cagle declared a Code Purple.
JACKSON, Miss.—As a part of Think First, Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s statewide safety and injury prevention program, physicians and staff at the Jackson hospital remind children to avoid common Halloween-related mistakes.
FLOWOOD, Miss.—Before Alice Allen of Philadelphia had a stroke, she never thought twice about gulping down a big glass of water. Now the simple act is rife with complications. She has to mix the liquid with a thickening agent, then tuck her chin to her chest as she swallows.
It’s a common struggle for people who suffer from dysphagia—a swallowing disorder caused by illness or injury. But a new therapy offered at Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s outpatient clinic in Flowood is giving patients like Allen hope of eating and drinking normally again.
JACKSON, Miss.—As the weather turns cooler and more pleasant for outdoor activities, an increasing number of children will be on neighborhood streets—riding bicycles, scooters, skateboards and roller-blading.
A physician at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson wants motorists to be aware of this increased traffic and encourages parents and children to take appropriate precautions to ensure safety.
FLOWOOD, Miss.—Shawn Ethridge of Collinsville is on the edge of his seat as he eagerly awaits his turn at Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s Driving Rehabilitation Program in Flowood.
Despite having suffered a severe brain injury in a February car crash, the 21-year-old can’t wait to get back behind the wheel. And Methodist occupational therapist Ashlee Ricotta says that’s a fairly common attitude among people who’ve been put in the passenger seat by a disabling injury or illness.
JACKSON, Miss.—Communities hit hard by Hurricane Katrina are now in the flight path of another menace—mosquitoes bearing West Nile virus.
Methodist Rehabilitation Center researcher Dr. Art Leis says September and October are typically peak months for the virus and conditions are ripe for a “dramatic rise” in cases.
BRANDON, Miss.—Before a car accident put him in a wheelchair at age 16, Joey Brinson was fearless on the football field.
“I was like 140 pounds and I would hit anybody,” said the former defensive back.
Brinson still plays full tilt, but the new arena for his aggression is the local ice rink.
The 29-year-old Brandon resident took up the game of sled hockey three years ago, and has since become a national contender in the fast-paced, full-contact sport.
JACKSON, Miss.—Mary Anne Richardson of Clinton was in tears.
Her 16-year-old son Edward was being admitted to Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson following a paralyzing spinal cord injury, and she was overwhelmed with thoughts of what lay ahead.
So it meant a lot when a Methodist employee noticed her anguish and said: “Somebody needs to take care of momma.”
“I thought that was so kind,” Richardson said. “I was very upset that day knowing all that was facing us. But everybody at Methodist was warm and caring and friendly and nice.”
JACKSON, Miss.—Four-wheelers should come with a forewarning.
That’s the philosophy of Dr. Michael Winkelmann, a Methodist Rehabilitation Center physician who well knows the dangers of the popular all-terrain vehicles.
During a recent five-month period, 17-year-old Brock Archuleta of Richland was just the first of five Mississippi teenagers admitted to Methodist following devastating four-wheeler wrecks. Four suffered spinal cord injuries, while one was left with a traumatic brain injury.