Monthly Archives: June 2011

Getting Back into the Game

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Dr. Jennifer Reesman

Most soccer players, especially goalies, are known for their fearlessness. Unfortunately their aggressive play and love for the game can translate into time spent off the field, recovering from a concussion.

I first got to know Chris–a charming, hard-hitting soccer goalie who also loves the guitar–after he was sidelined by a concussion. He was hit in the head when, while blocking the goal, he dove to the ground, and the ball struck him in the face–hard–as he made the save. Because of the severity of the blows and his neurological signs, he was airlifted off the soccer field and flown to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, as his stunned teammates, spectators and parents watched.

A short time later, Chris came to see us in Kennedy Krieger’s Sports Neurorehabilitation Concussion Clinic. He came cheerfully, even though he was still experiencing symptoms of his concussion. Still, he wasn’t his usual ball of energy, and he was bothered by frequent headaches. As you can imagine, he was eager to return to the game—but in a safe way–and his parents needed help figuring out when Chris could safely return to the sport he loves.

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Defining Determination

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Dr. Suzanne Prestwich

I wouldn’t be surprised to look up the definition of “determination” in a dictionary, only to find a photo of a smiling John “Alex” Curtis.

On the day he was admitted to our inpatient rehabilitation unit, his mother told me, “You know, Alex is a very special child.” Of course, all of us parents think the same about our kids. But throughout his time with us, Alex proved his mother right.

Alex came to Kennedy Krieger Institute for intensive inpatient rehabilitation after he had an operation elsewhere to fix a chest wall abnormality called Pectus Excavatum. If severe and untreated, the condition can affect the ability to breathe. Unfortunately, a complication occurred during the procedure and Alex woke from surgery unable to walk.

I remember within those first few days, Alex told me in a matter-of-fact way that he was going to walk again. I hope for a full recovery for all of my patients, but experience has told me that nothing is guaranteed. Alex, however, didn’t need my hope or guarantee: He knew he would walk again. There was simply never any doubt in his mind. Continue reading →

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A big heart goes a long way

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Lindsay Balladarsch

During the two years that I have worked at Café James—a classroom at Kennedy Krieger High School that teaches students job skills in the hospitality industry—I’ve been so privileged to work with Jerome. His shining personality is always hard to miss, even in previous years, just in passing, when he would walk down the hallway past my homeroom. At first, I didn’t know Jerome at all, but I instantly liked him a lot.

As time went on, I watched him interacting with his peers in the halls and in the cafeteria, and I began to realize what made Jerome so special: He is one of the kindest, most truthful, and heartfelt people there is. Everyone likes him and he is friendly and respectful to everyone he meets.

After he was diagnosed with a learning disability, Jerome was enrolled into Kennedy Krieger School’s Fairmount Campus. Now about to graduate from Kennedy Krieger High School, he has been working hard ever since.
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Simple Steps

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Dr. Cristina Sadowsky

Last Monday was a big day in the life of one of my patients: He graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a degree in political science. His parents and siblings were there to applaud as he accepted his diploma and turned his tassel. It was an experience that thousands of college students will have this month, but for Matt Courson, this already special day was momentous.

Before a crowd of thousands, Matt lifted himself from his wheelchair and traveled across the stage on his own two feet with the help of a walker and leg braces. It wasn’t the first time he had walked since a spinal cord injury left him paralyzed from the chest down (our team in the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury has been working hard on this with Matt in therapy), but it marked the realization of a goal that others had told Matt would never happen. Continue reading →

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