Since the passing of Robin Williams, depression awareness has been on the rise.  Depression is something many of us have heard of and some have even experienced.   Depression, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, unimportant, and often is unable to live in a normal way.   According to a study conducted by Johnathan Silver, MD “20-60% of people with a serious injury experience depression soon after the injury or even years later”.

Depression can result from the chemical changes within the brain or as a symptom of post-traumatic stress.  This can be detrimental to the rehabilitation process following an injury.  Depression, if allowed, can diminish energy and confidence levels of individuals who are adjusting to their new life after a serious injury.  But don’t worry, there are ways to combat depression.  Helpful tips for battling depression are to set a daily schedule, stay involved in activities you participated in previously or engage in new activities to highlight new abilities.  A strong relationship with family and friends is important to mental and physical health as well.

Treatment is usually very successful when symptoms are caught early.  Common signs of depression after an injury are feelings of guilt or loss, loss of concentration, decreased energy, loss of appetite, loss of sleep, diminished desire to participate in social or recreational activities, and thoughts of suicide (Depression, 2014). 

Severe injury, illness, and disability can affect us in a variety of ways – emotionally, cognitively, and socially.  Friends and family members can be directly affected by their loved one’s depression.  Neuropsychology Services at RIKC serves individuals of all ages in helping with the adjustment to disability.  Counseling is available in an individual or group setting for patients and family members.  

Depression.  (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.brainline.org/landing_pages/categories/depression.html

Trimming the Sails for Success

RIKC and Weatherby Yacht Club hosted a day of Adaptive Sailing for the Adolescents in the RIKC Summer Therapy and Day Program Groups.  The afternoon event started with pizza and introductions of boat captains and their new crew members.  The excitement began to rise over lunch and then we were finally able to hit the water.  Crews of 6-7 boarded their boats for the day and then they set sail across the lake.  The sailboats, that were volunteered by their owners for the day, were Cannonball, Raven, and Blue Ayes.  The Cannonball's captain and crew were Bill McGovern and Ray Stanton, Raven was captained by Hanns Hagen and Michelle Stevenson, and Blue Ayes was with Tony White and Paul Stevenson.  

Adaptive Sailing was a great opportunity for participants to learn how to sail while working towards their therapy goals.  Each boat was accompanied by experienced Sailors who not only showed us how to sail but were able to put first time participants at ease. Participants enjoyed a day of sun and fun while therapy focused on arm coordination, visual scanning, problem-solving, balance skills and mobility over different terrains.  

This was the fourth year (of many to come) partnering with Weatherby Yacht Club for this event.  

Bionic Man - Not Just For The Movies

Recently Val Brown from Ekso Bionics visited the Rehabilitation Institute, bringing a wearable bionic suit with her.  A bionic suit? Yeah we get it, right now you are imagining an Astronaut or Iron Man, well not quiet.  The bionic suit is more of an exoskeleton that allows individuals with any amount of lower extremity weakness to stand up and walk with a natural weight bearing gait. (No Arc Reactor needed.) 

Ekso Bionics hit the ground running in 2005 with strong partnerships and research grants.  They were able to apply the current technology to redefine physical limitations and allow patients to achieve remarkable goals.  They didn't just stop at giving wheelchair users a chance to walk with ELEGS they went on to create EKSO, EXOHIKER, and EXOCLIMBER.  As of December 2012 Ekso Bionics helped users take 1 million steps they may not have been able to take other wise.  Starting this year EKSO is now being implemented in rehabilitative and medical facilities across the world.  

So by now I'm sure your next question is who is it for? Ekso is a gait training exoskeleton designed to be used under medical supervision for patients with various levels of paralysis due to stroke, spinal cord injury or disease, traumatic brain injury, and more.  The EKSO does far more than allowing patients to walk when used in rehabilitative settings.  The EKSO retrains the patient a proper gait, step pattern, and step dosage.  The bionic suit also helps the patient support and position the rest of their body.  During the session information is gathered based on steps and balance while in the suit that the patient and their therapist can review before their next session to continue improvement.  Ekso Bionics may be a new technology but it has already brought so much to the lives of patients that thought they would otherwise not be able to walk again. 

Again, thank you Val Brown for coming by with the EKSO last week it was a great experience for our patients and staff!  

All information and more pictures on Ekso Bionics can be found on their website! 

To see the EKSO suit in action at R!KC visit our Facebook page! 

Despite challenges, these two clients found success

There are two stories in this post, each about a client in the TBI Works Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City. These two people beat all odds and are now successfully working!

Kyle Dudley 

Kyle Dudley, 34, was out celebrating his 2003 college graduation. Once he and his friends decided to call it a night, their designated driver began taking them home. Suddenly, their car was t-boned by a drunk driver. The impact caused Dudley’s head to forcefully hit the inside of the car. This resulted in Dudley being in a coma for six weeks and having paralysis in his left arm.

After an extensive stay in the hospital, Dudley went to in-patient rehab where he stayed for one month.

Dudley then worked to recover in therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City (RIKC). The therapists helped him as he began to walk again, chew and swallow whole foods, and talk at the same level as he had prior to the accident.  He then studied music at a vocational rehabilitation school before coming to the TBI Works Program in the Employment Services Department at RIKC in Feb. 2013.

 Music was Dudley’s passion and focus of study before the accident; he still wanted to follow this path. His next step was to find a job in the music field with the TBI Works staff’s help.

After a few months of filling out job applications and  participating in mock interviews, TBI Works Program Coordinator Wendell Wallace noticed Rhino Staging and Event Productions, Inc. was hiring, so he showed Employer Development Specialist Jennifer Grant who helped Dudley pursue this opening. Within a week of giving the company his application, Dudley was hired! He began work in June and is thrilled to be working with what he loves.

“Finding the job was the goal of the entire process,” Dudley said. “The help and effort everyone put into helping me at RIKC was equally important.”  

Arnell Walker

Arnell Walker, 41, spent each day taking care of her five children, working and running errands. On December 2006, though, something happened that would drastically change her routine and life.

While at a family function in Kansas City, Walker was the victim of a drive-by shooting. She was in a coma for two weeks and remained hospitalized three months, during which time Walker experienced two strokes that further impacted her body. Of the many challenges she faced, including learning to walk again, Walker was left with a speech impediment, an inability to read and a lengthy gap of unemployment due to her extensive recovery period.

Walker received extensive rehab services and diligently worked on her own to regain abilities to walk, communicate, cook and take care of her two youngest children.

In 2012, the Missouri Department of Vocational Rehabilitation referred Walker to the TBI Works Program of RIKC's Employment Services Department. The TBI Works staff soon realized what an extraordinary person Walker is. She has a contagious smile and a strong faith. She exercises a strong work ethic and is quick to learn new skills.

"She's just amazingly positive and has this great attitude," said Jennifer Grant, Employer Development Specialist at RIKC.

It's little wonder that when Walker was introduced to representatives of the Human Resources Department at The Intercontinental Hotel KC, a second interview was immediately offered. She was hired the following day, even though the position she applied for was not currently open. Walker enjoys working with great coworkers in a luxurious atmosphere, and her employers appreciate her positive attitude and hard work, making this a win-win for both employee and employer.

Walker's success story is a shining example of the team effort of the TBI Works Program in RIKC's Employment Services Department. Her strength plus the expertise of the program can both be contributed to her success!

Children strengthen spirits and bodies at RIKC!

At RIKC's summer therapy programs, which began in June, children ages 2 to 18 could be seen riding scooters, making sundaes and headed out to field trips.  Yes, it’s therapy with a twist of fun. 

The participants have various types of neurodevelopmental disabilities, including brain injury, tumors and stroke.  Activities during summer therapy programs work on developmental and cognitive skills with an emphasis on constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) and hand-arm bilateral intensive training (HABIT).

One day, the participants lay on their stomachs on scooter boards for an activity. As part of CIMT, their stronger arm was in a cast, requiring more use of their affected arm. Geni Wier, 10, maneuvered to the other side of the room primarily using her affected right arm. Once she and the other children got there, they had to dig through buckets of beans to find different objects. Once Geni found the toy car, she gave it to the volunteer and scooted back to the other side with a look of happiness and pride on her face.

Besides working on their own, the children at the program participate in group activities. Before they used the scooters, they had to clean up the room, picking up toys and pushing tables together, all while still wearing the cast as part of CIMT. Trisha Peters, Geni’s mom, commented that  group work is a great part of the program.

“This [program] is a chance for [Geni] to be around kids afflicted the same way as her,” Peters said. “The activities help the kids figure out how to work together.”

Drennan Gwinn, 8, has been coming to RIKC for five years, and this is his fourth time at the summer program. He had troubles scooting using his affected arm, but the volunteers were helpful and encouraging. With their help, Drennan made it to the other side with a look of relief.

“I like the occupational therapy focus and group setting,” said Stephanie Gwinn, Drennan’s mom. “Of course Drennan likes it, because he likes being around people.”

Janet Padley, pediatric and adolescent coordinator at RIKC, said that before the summer programs were created, people were leaving the state to go to CIMT programs. Now, people have RIKC’s programs for their children.