Nobel Sidhu, Author at Sheltering Arms Institute

‘God has given me a gift:’ Michael Lowery Survives Spinal Cord Injury Following Weightlifting Accident

09.23.2020

It was just before the holidays on December 17, 2019. Most of us were shopping, decorating, and preparing to spend time with family. 38-year-old Michael Lowery was beginning the most significant challenge of his life.

He was working out at the gym, lifting heavy free weights. In the middle of his heaviest set, someone called his name. Instinctually, he turned his head, “which is a no-no and I instantly felt a pinched nerve in my neck and I started to fall. When I went to push back up with all I had, that’s when it snapped my neck,” Michael recalls.

A native of Martinsville, Virginia, Michael was rushed to a local emergency room where he immediately underwent surgery. Following the first surgery, the doctors realized his case was much more severe and transported him to VCU Health, where a second surgery was performed. “When I woke up, I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t breathe, so they put me on a ventilator. I was on a ventilator for a month and a half. My family had already made [after-life] plans because they didn’t think I was going to pull through.”

Michael was left with an American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Classification C incomplete spinal cord injury. He has a metal plate inside of his neck from his C3 to C6 vertebrae, but he also has a witty sense of humor, a positive attitude, and determination to continue getting better. “At first, I was just happy to wiggle my toes, that was the best thing ever, but then I started to think, ‘This isn’t so bad. I can work my way up and I believe I can handle this,’” he said.

On March 3, Michael transferred to the rehab floor at VCU Health. “It’s emotional talking about,” Michael shares. “When I first got on the rehab floor, I couldn’t hardly do anything. I literally had to learn everything like I was a newborn—how to walk, how to talk.”

What ensued was a lot of hard work in therapy, mentally and physically. Starting small, his therapists used different strength bands in occupational therapy to work on hand strength and small movements on the mat in physical therapy to build his strength back up.

“Michael and I were able to use every rehab technique under the sun,” said Ben Kiesler, OTR/L, who has been working with Michael since the beginning of his rehab stay. “We developed an exercise routine he liked performing and we shocked his muscles to help him regain his strength early on. The majority of our sessions focused on getting comfortable with his balance and practicing techniques for living independently.”

“I used to be scared to death to [do things like] lean over to do a pressure release because I was so scared I was going to flip out of my wheelchair,” Michael adds. “And then one day I said, you know what? I’m going to practice this until I get it right.”

In June, Michael was one of the first patients to transfer from VCU Health to Sheltering Arms Institute. He began losing his fears and finding hope as he started to see some of his muscles return. “As he got into the routine of rehab and started seeing gains, he really challenged himself to push further and he started talking about all of the things he was excited to do, like joining the wheelchair rugby team or renting an apartment. He became very forward thinking and I was so glad to see that,” added Ben.

“Here at Sheltering Arms Institute, they have a lot of neat machines that helped me get even more movement back since I’ve been here,” he says about the state-of-the-science technologies. “The [Hocoma] Lokomat is awesome! I was looking at it thinking, ‘How in the world am I going to do this?’ They hook me up to a harness, lift me up in the air, and lower my feet down onto a treadmill… I can really kick my leg out like I’m walking and I thought that was so awesome.”

Throughout his recovery, Michael has been steadfast in documenting his progress, being sure to record videos almost daily to help him reflect on how far he’s come and to send his family updates. “I went from not being able to do anything and now I’m walking with a walker. [I hope that] families whose sons or husbands or mothers have a spinal cord injury, they can look at these videos and maybe my story will help motivate them and give them hope.”

Michael and his care team have also placed a lot of emphasis on exercises that help him learn new ways to be independent such as practicing cooking, learning to lie on his back, using the restroom by himself, and bathing himself. “I can transfer onto my wheelchair, roll myself into the shower, do a lateral transfer onto the bench, shower, dry off, get back in the chair, get back in the bed, get dressed, and hop back in my chair again,” he says of his routine.

He hopes to live on his own, become a peer mentor for other spinal cord injury survivors, and one day, walk again. “Being able to show my moves, my skills on the mat to another wheelchair person—that is great. I want to devote my time into coming back here and helping other spinal cord injury patients. God has given me a gift of making people laugh and putting smiles on people’s faces, so that’s my job, that’s what I do.”

Woman Survives Months-long Battle with COVID-19

08.18.2020

This story originally appeared on NBC12 (WWBT)

August 18, 2020
By: Jasmine Turner

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – After nearly 10 weeks in the hospital battling COVID-19, a New Kent woman is looking forward to returning home to her family.

“I am supposed to go home on Friday if everything goes well,” explained Corinne Townsend. “I’ve had to learn how to swallow, to walk, to talk, it’s crazy. It’s not worth not wearing a mask over because everything can be taken from you in a second.”

The 30-year-old wife and mother of two started feeling sick in early June. She says she had been taking as many precautions as possible and has no underlying medical conditions.

Corrine and her husband run a family business, and she says her husband was diagnosed as asymptomatic, other employees were asymptotic or had mild symptoms. Corrine experienced the virus much worse than anyone else.

“I started just feeling weak, I have two little boys, so picking them up became hard. I started coughing really hard,” she explained. “I actually [spoke with] a webcam doctor and they said ‘you probably have COVID, keep an eye on it.’ I self quarantined. I never had a fever. One night I went to go to the restroom, I passed out on my way back, and my husband found me with my eyes in the back of my head.”

Corrine was taken to the hospital at 84% oxygen, she says doctors expected her to stay in the hospital for 12 days, but it just continued to get harder to breathe.

She posted about her struggles on Facebook, urging the community to take the virus seriously.

“They made the decision to put me on the vent,” she said. “I knew at that point my lungs were bad enough and my body was sick enough and I knew I had to rest, but the idea of resting like that was terrifying. I was so worried I wasn’t going to wake up or my lungs wouldn’t let me breathe on my own.”

She texted family and friends saying she was unsure if she would survive, and for three and a half weeks, Corrine was motionless on a ventilator.

“I had a collapsed lung, my heart stopped, I had chest tubes. Of course, I don’t remember but it was really traumatic for my friends and family,” Corrine said.

While she remained in the hospital, family and friends were able to receive updates through a Caring Bridge site.

Last week, Corrine was transferred from VCU Medical Center to Sheltering Arms Institute in Short Pump where she is set to wrap up a week of rehabilitation.

“It’s a very humbling experience,” she said.

She remains on a strict physical therapy and occupational therapy schedule at Sheltering Arms Institute, to help regain strength in her legs as well as strength in her lungs. Right now, Corrine can only stand for 2-3 minutes without feeling exhausted.

“It’s so important [to wear a mask] because you’re not just protecting people you know, they may take it to somebody else and somebody else,” she said. “When COVID first came out I never thought I would be this sick. It wasn’t that I was downplaying COVID, I just never thought it would happen to me.”

While visitors were not allowed during her hospital stay, Corrine is grateful to the hospital staff that did and have continued to step in as her family during her recovery. Through tears, she described what the doctors and nurses have meant.

“I cannot thank the doctors and nurses enough. My journey became their journey too. To see them crying and cheering for me – that chapter was good, I survived. I know I have further to go but I can’t thank them enough,” said Corinne.

When she gets out of the hospital, Corrine says she first wants to hug her children but also wants to continue to share her story to hopefully protect someone else from the virus.

“I want people to know how serious this is,” she explained. “[I know] you’re going to have to go through this – you have to help other people in the process. You have to get people to understand how serious this is because you don’t want to see anyone else go through this.”

Grand Opening of Dallas Disbro Ability Center

08.17.2020

A Spinal Cord Injury Recovery and Complex Care Unit in the New Physical Rehab Hospital

RICHMOND, Va. — Sheltering Arms Institute, a collaboration with VCU Health, is pleased to announce the grand opening of the Dallas Disbro Ability Center today, Monday, August 17. This spinal cord injury and complex care recovery unit within the hospital features a dedicated gym with advanced rehab equipment and technology, patient education, nutrition and therapy rooms, and a bodyweight support system for gait training outside of the gym.

The unit is named in honor of Dallas by The Luck Family, who made a historic gift to the $50 million Capital Campaign for Convergence, which helped fund the construction of the new hospital. “My wife Lisa and I were excited by the technology, sophistication, quality of life, and how this place will change lives forever,” said Charlie Luck, CEO of Luck Companies. “Dallas has been a true inspiration for so many, especially to those with spinal cord injuries. My family and I thought it was fitting that this specialty unit at Sheltering Arms Institute would bear his name.”

Dallas, a friend of The Lucks, survived a diving accident at age 26. He sustained a C5 spinal cord injury, which necessitates the use of a wheelchair most of the time. Following the accident, Dallas decided to live larger than his injury and give back to others with disabilities. After the surprise unveiling of the plans for the center in March, Dallas said, “I could not hold back the tears and was overrun with emotions… It was a moment that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I am truly honored and eternally grateful. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Dallas Disbro Ability Center and I look forward to being part of it!”

The spinal cord injury and complex care unit is one of four specialty units within the new hospital that provides state-of-the-science, individualized rehab care for various injuries and illnesses. The 212,063 square foot facility, constructed specifically for physical rehabilitation and research, has all private spacious patient rooms, a 9,251 square foot main therapy gym and three satellite gyms, and state-of-the-art patient care technology and rehabilitation equipment.

“The Luck Family and Dallas Disbro exemplify the passion and commitment that Sheltering Arms Institute has for providing the best rehabilitative care and reinventing rehabilitation for life beyond limits,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. “With input from experts, patients, and their families, we have created a hospital that is unique to the Mid-Atlantic region with the most advanced technology and environment for healing and recovery.”

Sheltering Arms Institute is located on 46 acres in the West Creek Medical Park near Short Pump, easily accessible from major highways including 288, 64, and 95.

About Sheltering Arms Institute

Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science, regional physical rehabilitation hospital, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that will facilitate superior outcomes for patients. All outpatient services for both parent organizations will operate separately for now and into the foreseeable future. For more information, please visit our About Us Page.

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Attachments:

CONTACT:
Stephanie Sulmer
Public Information Officer
804-342-4329 (o) or 804-201-5808 (c)
ssulmer@shelteringarms.com

New Brain Injury Unit to Serve Mid-Atlantic Region

07.22.2020

Sheltering Arms Institute, a collaboration with VCU Health, is pleased to announce the grand opening of its secure brain injury unit on Monday, July 27. Features include a dedicated gym on unit with equipment and technology for all disciplines, vector track on unit for gait training outside of gym, and patient education and therapy rooms. Previously, many patients with spinal cord or brain injuries have been referred out of state for treatment. Now, central Virginia’s best experts in complex, specialty physical rehabilitation are all under one roof.

The brain injury unit is one of four specialty units within the hospital that provides state-of-the-science, individualized care for various injuries and illnesses. On June 13, Sheltering Arms Institute began a phased opening as Sheltering Arms and VCU Health relocated existing beds from both organizations’ hospitals. The unit’s opening marks a major milestone in serving the needs of people throughout the state of Virginia.

“Our multidisciplinary care team including brain injury specialty physicians and therapists, medical psychologists, therapeutic recreation specialists, and more provides comprehensive services to treat complex brain injuries as well as secondary complications as a result of the injury,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Kunz. “We are one of only a few secure brain injury units in the entire commonwealth.”

The 212,063 square foot facility is constructed specifically for physical rehabilitation with features including all private patient rooms, a 9,251 square foot main therapy gym and three satellite gyms, state-of-the-art patient care technology and rehabilitation equipment, research space and more. The $95 million project was funded with $45 million in tax-exempt financing through Goochland Economic Development Authority and purchased by SunTrust (now Truist) and a $50 million capital campaign including a lead gift by the Sheltering Arms Foundation of $25 million.

“Our vision is to reinvent rehabilitation for life beyond limits. This is an opportunity for all of us to serve the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. “We’re now offering clinical care, supported by research, to ensure patients benefit for the rest of their lives and are able to get back to living in their community.”

Sheltering Arms Institute is located on 46 acres in the West Creek Medical Park near Short Pump, easily accessible from major highways including 288, 64 and 95.

About Sheltering Arms Institute

Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that will facilitate superior outcomes for patients. All outpatient services for both parent organizations will operate separately for now and into the foreseeable future.

Attachments:

Sheltering Arms Institute Nears Grand Opening

06.10.2020

Sheltering Arms Hospital and VCU Health are pleased to announce the grand opening of their collaboration on a destination rehab facility, Sheltering Arms Institute. The 114-bed, state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation facility is situated on 46 acres in the West Creek Medical Park, just west of Short Pump near the Broad Street Road and Route 288 interchange.

The new hospital combines the strengths of both organizations to provide exceptional care for individuals who have survived strokes, spinal cord injuries and brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various illnesses and injuries.

“This grand opening brings our goals of combining advanced technology, research, and evidenced-based clinical care together under one roof to fruition in order to offer our patients the best possible outcomes for success,” said Mary Zweifel, president and CEO of Sheltering Arms. “The opening of this new facility has been years in the making and we’re thrilled to now open the doors and provide a new avenue of access to leading-edge thinking, research, teaching, and clinical practice,” added Paul Wesolowski, Chief Operating Officer of VCU Health System.

From June 13-28, Sheltering Arms and VCU Health are relocating existing beds from both organizations’ three current hospitals – Sheltering Arms Hanover (40 beds), Sheltering Arms South (28 beds), and VCU Health (46 beds). Moving patients in phases allows for the most effective accreditation and regulatory reviews, which are standard requirements at a new hospital.

The 212,063 square foot facility was constructed specifically for physical rehabilitation with features including all private patient rooms, multiple specialty units, a 9,251 square foot main therapy gym and three satellite gyms, research space, state-of-the-art patient care technology and rehabilitation equipment, and more.

About Sheltering Arms Institute
Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that will facilitate superior outcomes for patients. All outpatient services for both parent organizations will operate separately for now and into the foreseeable future. For more information, please explore ShelteringArmsInstitute.com.

Sheltering Arms Institute to Hold Virtual Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

05.12.2020

Sheltering Arms Hospital and VCU Health will hold a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony for their brand-new, 114-bed, destination rehab facility Sheltering Arms Institute.

Thursday, June 4, 2020
12-12:30 p.m. – Virtual Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
www.ShelteringArmsInstitute.com or facebook.com/ShelteringArmsInstitute

Sheltering Arms Institute is situated on 46 acres in the West Creek Medical Park off Broad Street Road, just east of the state Route 288 interchange in Goochland County. The state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation facility is the only hospital in central Virginia constructed specifically for physical rehabilitation with 212,063 total square feet, all private patient rooms, five specialty units, a 9,251 square foot main therapy gym and three satellite gyms, research space, state-of-the-art patient care technology and rehabilitation equipment, and more.

The new hospital combines the strengths of both organizations to provide exceptional care for individuals who have survived strokes, spinal cord injuries or brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various illnesses and injuries.

Sheltering Arms Institute is on schedule to open its doors on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Sheltering Arms Institute Hires CRO and CNO

07.24.2019

After completing an extensive search, two key senior leadership roles have been filled for Sheltering Arms Institute.

“I’m very excited about the future for SAI with these leaders on board,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. “In addition to their professional and clinical experience, their commitment to servant leadership will be tremendous assets as we pursue our vision of reinventing rehabilitation for life beyond limits.”

Matt Wilks, PT, MSPT, NCS, has been hired as VP, Chief Rehabilitation Officer of Sheltering Arms Institute. Currently, he is the Associate Vice President of Rehabilitation and Wellness Services at Sheltering Arms and, over the past 22 months, has served as a Transitional Team Leader on the SAI project. Matt has a successful track record of leading cross-functional teams, developing leaders, delivering on complex administrative goals, implementing programs that improve patient and clinician satisfaction, as well as partnering with teams that develop industry-leading clinical and administrative programs. He is engaged with and is frequently asked to speak to national organizations and professional associations affiliated with rehabilitation medicine.

Misty Woodward, RN, BSN, MSM, has been hired as VP, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Sheltering Arms Institute. Currently, Misty is the CNO for facilities at Maria Parham Health, a Duke LifePoint Hospital, in Henderson, NC. Those facilities include a 102-bed acute care hospital with an inpatient rehabilitation unit, an 11-bed freestanding emergency department, as well as a 13-bed geriatric behavioral health unit. Her outstanding background in nursing and management demonstrates a track record of leading operational improvements, implementing innovative programs and increasing staff engagement.

Sheltering Arms Institute Names Chief Medical Officer

06.04.2019

RICHMOND, Va. (June 4, 2019) — Sheltering Arms Institute, a collaboration with VCU Health, announced today the appointment of Richard Kunz, MD as chief medical officer. Kunz currently serves as an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the VCU School of Medicine. He is also the medical transitional team leader on the Sheltering Arms Institute project.

Kunz earned his bachelor of science in psychobiology and a master’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from the University of Southern California. Additionally, he holds his doctorate of medicine from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he completed a clinical fellowship in brain injury rehabilitation.

“We are confident that Dr. Kunz will successfully lead the continued development of a transdisciplinary rehabilitation team that delivers on our vision to reinvent rehabilitation for a life beyond limits,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. “His leadership experience in medicine, hospital operations, and administration will be valuable assets. Additionally, his enthusiasm for advancing person-centered care and elevating the quality of rehabilitation care will play a leading role for the organization.”

Scheduled to open summer 2020, the new rehabilitation facility situated on 46 acres in the West Creek Medical Park off Broad Street Road, just east of the state Route 288 interchange in Goochland County. The joint venture combines the strengths of both organizations to provide exceptional care for individuals who have survived strokes, spinal cord injuries or brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various neurological diseases and disorders.

Sheltering Arms and VCU Health will consolidate several of their locations to create one 114-bed hospital. Sheltering Arms Institute will combine 68 beds from Sheltering Arms’ two inpatient hospitals, located in Midlothian and Mechanicsville, with 46 beds from VCU Medical Center located in downtown Richmond. All outpatient services for both organizations will operate separately for now and into the foreseeable future.

About Sheltering Arms Institute
Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital, to bring together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs of VCU Health. The institute, opening summer 2020, will blend advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that will facilitate superior outcomes for patients. For more information, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com.

CONTACT:
Stephanie Sulmer
Associate VP, Marketing and Business Development
Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Centers
804-342-4329 (o) or 804-201-5808 (c)
ssulmer@shelteringarms.com

Michael R. Porter
Associate VP, Public Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University
804-828-7037
mrporter@vcu.edu