Noah Gibbs of Madison had his life mapped out.

First, he’d finish a degree in biomedical engineering at Mississippi State University, then pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon.

But instead of a fall semester hitting the books and shadowing Starkville physicians, he’s learning about health care from an unexpected perspective. Since July 22, he’s been recovering from a paralyzing injury suffered in a side-by-side accident.

Astride a stationary bike, strapped into a Pilates machine or sweating it out with boot camp diehards, 51-year-old Faith Martin is a model of fitness as she teaches classes at the Flowood YMCA.

So her students might be surprised by her recent appearance at a Citywide Stroke Support Group meeting at Methodist Rehabilitation Center.

It’s hard to imagine she once spent a month at the Jackson hospital, fighting to recover from a near fatal stroke.