Ana’s rehab journey
The plan after Ana’s stay at the long-term care facility was clear: she would transfer to Craig Hospital—renowned as the best in the world for brain and spinal cord injuries, and ranked #1 in the United States for over three decades. There, Ana would undergo an intense 60-day inpatient rehabilitation program with 5 to 6 hours a day of speech, occupational, and physical therapy. It’s an elite facility with world-class outcomes—but for me, it was just the beginning.
As fate would have it, my undergraduate degree is in Kinesiology. I never imagined it would come full circle like this, but maybe life was preparing me all along to stand by Ana in this fight. I’ve taken on the role of coach, partner, and relentless advocate—guiding her daily exercises, challenging her mind with flashcards, and making sure every part of her brain and body stays engaged. We’re not just doing this to get by—we’re doing this to win.
But even at the best hospital in the world, I’ve come to realize that “gold standard” doesn’t always mean “complete.” Every day, I spend hours buried in research—searching for every possible edge, every progressive therapy that could give Ana a better shot. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Stem cells. NAD+ infusions. Neurofeedback. Mind mapping. These aren’t fringe ideas—they’re tools being used around the world to stimulate neuroplasticity, reduce inflammation, and support cognitive healing. And yet, when I bring them up, many traditional doctors either dismiss them or haven’t even heard of them.
That was unacceptable to me.
How can we accept limits from those who don’t even know what’s out there? How many patients are discharged with half a chance—simply because no one told them there was more that could be done? I’m not letting Ana be one of them. Not on my watch.
Ana will get every chance. Every tool. Every therapy. And we *will* return to that hospital—not as patients, but as a testament to what’s possible when you refuse to settle. I promised the care team they’d see her again—smiling, walking, speaking her mind with that no-filter fire we know and love.
We are not hoping. We are *working*. And we will prove them all wrong.
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