Movin’ OnA weddingstory 6

Vol. 30, No. 2 • 2014

A new PEAK at Craig 10

Indego® debuts 14

Redefining ROI 16

New patient rooms 18

Alumni stories + more

THE LATEST FROM CRAIG HOSPITAL

Movin’ On is published two times a year by Craig Hospital for current and former patients, their families, case managers, insurance representatives, physicians,

professionals in the field of rehabilitation, volunteers, donors and friends

of the hospital.

PRESIDENTMichael L. Fordyce

MEDICAL DIRECTORThomas E. Balazy, MD

EDITORLisa Stites

CONTRIBUTING WRITERJordan Ames

DESIGNThe Write Design

Craig Hospital is licensed by the State of Colorado and accredited by

The Joint Commission.

It is the policy of Craig Hospital to afford equal opportunity for employment to

all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability and veteran

status. We are committed to this policy. We will take affirmative action to ensure that all employment decisions are based

only on valid job requirements and that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects

of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, training, transfer or

promotion, compensation, benefits, social functions, and decisions regarding

continued employment.

On the cover: Congratulations to Craig grad Kaleb Wilson and his bride, Brittany.

© 2014, Craig Hospital3425 S. Clarkson Street

Englewood, CO 80113-2811303.789.8000

www.craighospital.org

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Dear Friends,

Every day there are milestones being made at Craig Hospital. We work for and celebrate the first time a patient says a word, feeds herself, takes a step. We see transformations happening daily within these walls, and right now even our walls are changing.

Over the next few years, we are adding approximately 85,000 square feet of new space and renovating the existing 135,000 square feet. It’s been a welcome challenge to navigate new rooms and floors. Our staff has handled the changes like they do their work — with grace and understanding.

We are getting closer to our larger goal of a brand-new Craig Hospital. If you haven’t seen the changes taking place, I invite you to visit our new website to see what we’ve been up to. Visit craighospital.org/expansion for a look.

As you will read in this issue of Movin’ On, we have opened the doors to a new PEAK Center and new patient rooms. While we have completed the first phase of this multiyear campus expansion and renovation, we still have much to do.

We are so excited about the progress we are making and what this means for our patients and their families. We appreciate your support and look forward to sharing more exciting updates with you.

Warm regards,

Mike FordycePresident and CEO

Letter from the president

Kathy Hulse, clinical care manager at Craig Hospital, accepts an award from CEO Mike Fordyce on behalf of the family of Bill McKown, a Craig graduate who in his lifetime unselfishly served his community and others who have disabilities. See story on page 21.

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Contents

Craig newsCraig in top 10 for 25 consecutive years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4SCI medicine fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Physicians in top doctors survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Craig’s new website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

AdvancementsIndego® exoskeleton debuts at Craig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Redefining ROI Campaign supports campus expansion and renovation . . . . . . . . 16New patient rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Measuring Craig’s economic impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

FoundationFamily block party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21President’s Circle dinner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Craig Hospital/RE/MAX, LLC Golf Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Save the date! PUSH 2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

AlumniProfile: Talaria Haast Andemicael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Colorado business owner gives back in honor of his friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Alumni updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Challenge grant encourages alumni and families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Coming upTBI Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

6A wedding story

10A new PEAK at Craig

Craig is a national center of excellence that provides specialized and comprehensive rehabilitation and research for individuals and their families who are affected by spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Craig is a federally designated SCI and TBI Model System by NIDRR and a Magnet® Recognized Hospital, 2005–2010 and 2010–2015. Craig treats patients from nearly every state each year.

Craig is a nonprofit, freestanding hospital committed to providing the highest-quality treatment available. Our staff commitment and expertise, clinical excellence, state-of-the-art facilities and programs, and personal caring make us uniquely qualified to meet this commitment.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation• Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury

Rehabilitation Programs• Inpatient Ventilator Dependent and

Weaning Programs• Outpatient Re-evaluation Programs• Outpatient Therapy and Follow-up

Clinic Services• Medical and Surgical Programs• Rehabilitative Neurosurgical Programs

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Rehabilitation• Inpatient Brain Injury Rehabilitation• Outpatient Brain Injury Programs

PEAK Center at Craig Hospital• Wellness and Fitness Center

SCI and TBI Research• Federally designated Model System for

SCI and TBI by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research (NIDRR)

• TBI Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center

Craig Hospital Foundation• Supporting Craig Hospital’s patients,

programs and facilities

If you are interested in making a patient referral to Craig, please contact Laura Brown, admissions director, at 303-789-8344 or admissions@ craighospital.org. If you would like to make a donation or would like information about planned giving, please contact the Craig Hospital Foundation office at 303-789-8650.

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CRAIG NEWS

Craig Hospital’s director of psychology, Les Butt, PhD, ABPP, as well as former Craig president Denny O’Malley, MHA, were the recipients of two esteemed awards at this year’s 2014 Educational Conference of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP). The conference, Gateway to the Future of SCI, was held in St. Louis.

Butt received the James J. Peters Distinguished Service Award and gave a talk titled Keeping Rehabilitation Real: Apparent Dichotomies and the Search for Balance. “By kismet or serendipity, I interviewed at Craig Hospital and my life forever changed,” he said during his talk.

“I believe if not for Craig my life would be so much poorer. I would never have been provided the stage on which to clinically dance.”

O’Malley, who serves as executive director of the ASCIP’s governing board, received the ASCIP Leadership Award at the conference.

Craig Hospital is an institutional member of ASCIP. Many Craig employees presented at the conference, which provided clinical education on key areas of spinal cord injury practice and research.

U.S. News and World Report ranked Craig Hospital a top 10 rehabilitation hospital in the United States for the 25th consecutive year. Craig has ranked among the top 10

every year since the rankings began in 1990. Rehabilitation physicians from all over the U.S. participated in the survey that resulted in the rankings. Craig was ranked 7th in the U.S. for rehabilitation. Craig also was ranked 3rd best of all hospitals, regardless of specialty, in Denver and in Colorado.

“This is truly a remarkable accomplishment for an independent, non-university hospital that specializes in two diagnoses. Craig Hospital is proud to be ranked a top 10 rehabilitation hospital for the 25th year,” says Mike Fordyce, president and CEO of Craig Hospital. “Craig is a jewel in Colorado and the nation, and it’s a resource that Coloradoans should cherish and support. I am proud of the thousands of Craig graduates who have made successes in their lives following catastrophic injury. I am also proud to be part of the dedicated and talented staff who help our patients achieve such extraordinary outcomes.”

Les Butt and Denny O’Malley receive special recognition

Dr. Butt

SCI medicine fellowshipCraig Hospital and the University of Colorado Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation have partnered to offer a new spinal cord injury medicine fellowship. The new one-year fellowship is scheduled to begin in July 2015.

“Craig Hospital’s patient population, experienced clinicians and cutting-edge research department create the perfect educational environment to advance the field of neurorehabilitation,” says Bill Scelza, MD, Craig Hospital’s spinal cord injury fellowship director.

In the top 10 again!

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Outreach clinics provide valuable serviceThree clinics are organized each year by Craig’s Clinical Care team to ensure that outpatients with spinal cord injuries receive necessary follow-up care. Craig clinicians Mark Johansen, MD, Kathy Hulse, LCSW, Dana Polonsky, PT (shown above), Michelle Graf, OT, and Maureen Preston, NP, met with Craig grads at the clinic held in Casper, Wyoming, in July. A similar clinic was held in Grand Junction, Colorado, in September.

Originally a grant-funded program, the outreach clinics have become a vital resource for Craig grads who may not be able to make it back to the Denver area for re-evaluation. The program has become an important part of Craig’s outreach and is now included in the annual budget.

Three Craig docs in top doctors surveyDrs. Tom Balazy, Mark Johansen and Alan Weintraub were ranked in 5280 magazine’s Top Doctors 2014 survey, which was released in August. The results include a list of 333 doctors in 95 medical specialties. The list is the result of a peer survey asking physicians who they would trust to treat them and their families. Congratulations, docs!

Walk to Victory over ParalysisA team from Craig participated in the Walk to Victory over Paralysis to benefit the Craig Hospital and Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network® (NRN). The event took place July 18-19 in the PEAK Center at Craig Hospital. Twelve hospitals from across the country simultaneously participated. Craig participants raised more than $16,000.

PEAK 5k More than 50 people participated in the second annual PEAK 5K, raising more than $4,000 for the PEAK Center at Craig Hospital. Sherown Campbell, a Craig NRN participant, walked the entire 5k plus an extra mile!

25 years and counting!Craig Hospital celebrated staff members who have been at the hospital for more than 25 years with a special lunch this summer.

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CRAIG MOMENT

A lanky redhead with a shy smile, Kaleb Wilson stands out in his bright green wheelchair. He’s quiet at first. Brittany is his complete opposite. Her personality and energy bubble over. They tease each other while they share their story. Their chemistry is obvious.

Like most love stories, Kaleb’s and Brittany’s has had its ups and downs. They were only teens when they met on a mission trip to San Diego. He was a recent high school grad from a small

rural Wyoming town. She was a high school junior who lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their long-distance relationship spanned many states and years. She went on to college; he went on to the Coast Guard. They broke up. They got back together.

In November 2012, one month after they had reunited, their relationship was put to the ultimate test.

Kaleb had just marked his third year serving in the U.S. Coast Guard in New Orleans. He was preparing for the next big step in his career — attending the competitive AST “A” to become a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer.

A $100 bet changed his life forever. On November 10, 2012, Kaleb was dared to jump off a pier while at a festival with friends. He says that, as a typical 22-year-old, he didn’t hesitate to dive in headfirst. He hit the bottom, shattering his C6, C7 and T1, sustaining a spinal cord injury. He was taken to the Level 1 Trauma Center at Interim LSU Public Hospital in New Orleans.

“The original surgery was supposed to take two hours and it ended up taking five. It was a lot of panic for everyone. Why hadn’t we heard anything? Why is he still in there? Is he OK?” Brittany recalls of the day she received the worst call of her life.

She purchased a one-way ticket to New Orleans and told her friends and family, “I’ll be back when I’m back.”

The first few days in the hospital were grueling. Brittany was with Kaleb’s parents at his bedside. She says some of those first intense days were spent

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A wedding story

Watch Kaleb’s and Brittany’s wedding on our website: craighospital.org/wilsonwedding

Kaleb and Brittany work together on uneven surfaces at the Mike Utley Terrain Park outside Craig Hospital.

figuring out where she belonged in Kaleb’s bigger picture.

“I was trying to figure out where my place was. It was a lot of growing in a tiny hospital room.”

Kaleb arrived at Craig Hospital during the week of Thanksgiving. For Brittany it was an eye-opening experience.

“It’s hard to find something to be thankful for when you first get here. It was hard to be away from family. When you first get here you’re surrounded by wheelchairs, and that’s not what you want your life to be,” she says.

They faced a tough reality, not sure of what Kaleb’s future held. Brittany says they eventually became part of a larger family.

“It’s hard and scary when you’re new. You never know where life will take you, but it’s definitely enchanting when you’re in it. From the outside looking in, you never understand — but from the inside looking out, you never want to leave,” she says of Craig.

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She really pushed me to do things I needed to do. Especially through the wedding, being there, being the main reason I wanted to walk her down the aisle. Just there for a lot of moral support when things weren’t easy.

—Kaleb Wilson, ’12, Douglas, Wyoming

Kaleb’s wedding shoes for the couple’s “rustic romantic”-themed wedding fit in his

braces. He practiced walking with them with his therapists months prior to the big day.

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Moving forwardApril 2013 was a big month for the couple. Kaleb had recently completed his rehabilitation at Craig and was accepted into the NeuroRecovery Network (NRN) program. He also proposed to Brittany.

“She really pushed me to do things I needed to do. Especially through the wedding, being there, being the main reason I wanted to walk her down the aisle. Just there for a lot of moral support when things weren’t easy,” Kaleb says.

Standing and dancing at the wedding became his rehabilitation goals. Kaleb’s NRN team customized his therapy with the wedding in mind. He even tested his wedding shoes during therapy.

In June 2014, a teary-eyed Kaleb stood at the alter and walked his bride down the aisle. The two danced together on their wedding night.

“I was just really happy to see the smile on her face and how happy she was. That we were both standing. It just made it real. This all paid off. It was great, surreal.”

What’s nextKaleb completed his 200th NRN session this year and is now doing outpatient therapy at Craig. The couple says college and house-hunting are in their near future. Like all newlyweds they are excited about what’s on the horizon. They realize there will be challenges, such as having children, but together they are ready. Kaleb started working at Home Depot in October.

“He always was [himself]. I don’t think we ever skipped a beat. I made sure we spent a lot of time as the two of us. It was hard and I was angry and frustrated. Why us? He was always so positive and laughing. Who does that? It’s weird!” Brittany says as she grins at her new husband.

More about the NeuroRecovery Networkcraighospital.org/NRN

Kaleb completed the NeuroRecovery Network (NRN) program at Craig in 2014. NRN is an outpatient intensive therapy program designed to improve functional mobility, independence and quality of life through physical and occupational therapy for people who have sustained spinal cord injuries.

Craig Hospital joined the cooperative network of six cutting-edge rehabilitation centers across the nation in 2012. The NRN is part of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation (in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and was founded in 2004 to translate the latest scientific advances into effective, activity-based treatments. Craig Hospital has a special staff of dedicated professionals who received specialized training in order to deliver standardized treatment.

It was hard and I was angry and frustrated. Why us? He was always so positive and laughing. Who does that? It’s weird!

—Brittany Wilson

WEDDING AND ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS © HAYLEY BLACKSTONE

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A new PEAK at Craig

We’re excited about being able to offer new equipment and services in this beautiful new space.

—Candy Tefertiller, PT, director of physical therapy at Craig Hospital

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Three large abstract wheelchair-art paintings hang on the north wall overlooking a light and airy room with floor-to-ceiling windows. The quiet hum of the new equipment is barely audible when paired with the thumping of gym music and friendly banter and words of encouragement between therapists and patients.

By 11 a.m. on any given day, the gym is buzzing with activity and energy in the new PEAK Center at Craig Hospital.

The gym is equipped with new state-of-the-art technology and two new therapy pools.

“We’re excited about being able to offer new equipment and services in this beautiful new space,” says Candy Tefertiller, PT, DPT, ATP, NCS, Craig Hospital’s director of physical therapy. “The new PEAK helps us provide the newest in technology and therapy for our patients and PEAK members.”

The new PEAK Center was part of the first phase of the multiyear campus expansion and renovation project. The phase also included new patient rooms and nurses stations on the third and fourth floors. Phase two, which started in August, includes the completion of the interiors of the south half of the new fourth floor Spinal Cord Unit. The new bistro, SCI therapy gym and Adaptive Technology Lab are scheduled

to be completed by February 2015. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2016.

A look at what’s new in the PEAK

Two new pools for aquatic therapyCraig Hospital patients and PEAK Center clients now have more options for aquatic therapy. The new fitness and wellness center features two therapy pools — a standard pool for swimming and a new, state-of-the-art HydroWorx® pool with a treadmill for locomotor training.

Phase one of the multiyear campus expansion and renovation project is complete

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HydroWorx® 1200The HydroWorx® 1200 series features an adjustable floor, providing patients easy access to the water without a lift. The entire floor of the pool doubles as a variable speed treadmill, to provide more repetition of walking during a therapy session. Therapists will be able to view and analyze a patient’s walking pattern using the pool’s underwater cameras and viewing monitors.

“This new pool will allow us to use aquatic therapy more effectively and in later stages of the recovery process than we are currently able to,” Tefertiller says.

The HydroWorx® pool includes a water-resistant, handheld remote control and resistance jets for swimming or deep tissue massage.

Alter G® The Alter G® is a state-of-the-art anti-gravity treadmill used to help patients gain mobility, develop strength and fitness, and increase range of motion and natural movement — all while minimizing stress on injuries.

Erigo® ProThe new Erigo® Pro further improves mobilization and verticalization of patients with circulatory, neurological or musculoskeletal conditions through integrated functional electrical stimulation. Craig Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the United States to implement the Erigo® Pro in its daily clinical routine.

From top: The BITS™, the HydroWorx® 1200 pool and the Alter G® anti-gravity treadmill are among the state-of-the-art tools for therapy available at the PEAK Center.

RT600 FES step and stand systemTHE RT600 FES step and stand is an upright FES stepping therapy system that activates 16 muscle groups. The RT600 incorporates software-controlled motors in each footplate to provide the user with a “virtual ground” for dynamic weight bearing. The FES is automatically adjusted to help utilize muscle contractions to enhance local blood circulation during the standing session.

Bioness BITS™The BITS™ system is a technological rehabilitation platform for physical, occupational and speech therapy. The portable touchscreen display is designed to meet the diverse needs of physical, occupational and speech therapy in one easy-to-use device. The initial software application is designed to evaluate and improve abilities for individuals with disabilities resulting from traumatic injuries and movement disorders, as well as to improve performance in competitive athletes.

BITS™ offers seven main therapies with a total of 16 different programs.• Eye-hand procedures • Metronome • Rotator procedures • Letter chart programs• Rapid eye movement procedures • Visual motor programs• Memory recall procedure

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Craig Hospital launched a new, fully responsive website in September. The new site has been designed and developed to be more user-friendly, easier to access on the go, and more attractive to search engines.

An analysis of Craig’s web analytics and research showed that a significant number of site visitors were family members of prospective patients accessing the site from their smartphones or tablets while deciding where to send their loved one for rehabilitation. The new site automatically “responds” to each mobile device’s screen size, presenting relevant content in an easy-to-find, visually interesting way.

The bright and story-driven nature of the new design will increase reach and engagement, and “put a human face” on Craig Hospital through patient videos, stories and bold imagery. It has fewer drop-down menus, making content easier to find and access, and providing a more efficient user experience that can be more effectively measured.

In the coming months, the site will continue to evolve and grow to become a go-to source for spinal cord and traumatic brain injury information and inspiration.

The URL of the website remains the same: craighospital.org. The Craig Hospital blog will move to craighospital.org/blog, though the current craighospitalblog.org will redirect for the next year to the new URL.

Have a lookCraig patients painted the murals for the PEAK Center in Therapeutic Recreation.

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ADVANCEMENTS

Craig Hospital is the first of five leading rehabilitation centers within the United States to receive Indego® exoskeleton as part of a multicenter study. Indego® offers people with impaired mobility a new level of independence by allowing them to stand and walk. The device enables clinicians to conduct over-ground, task-specific gait training.

A selected team at Craig Hospital has been trained by experienced Indego® trainers from Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which serves as Parker Hannifin’s lead rehabilitation center for clinical testing of the device.

“We are very excited to start this trial at Craig Hospital, where the team here will play a critical role in the collection of meaningful performance data,” says Achilleas Dorotheou, head of the human motion and control business unit for Parker. “Our objective is to bring Indego® to market to enable people who were told they would never walk again to stand upright and walk, providing a new level of independence. We will be working with the best and most respected rehabilitation clinicians and researchers in the country, gathering evidence that not only demonstrates the safety of Indego® but proves its tangible clinical and economic benefit.”

Indego® debuts at Craig Hospital

“At Craig Hospital, it’s important that we not only have the highest quality care, but also provide our patients with the latest in technology and research,” says Mike Fordyce, president and CEO of Craig. “We look forward to working with the new Indego® and seeing how it can help those we serve.”

Indego® is available in the United States only for investigational use until FDA approval has been obtained, which is anticipated in mid-2015. The other centers that have been selected to participate in the Indego® trial are the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, NYU Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation and Shepherd Center.

The Indego® exoskeleton offers people with impaired mobility a new level of independence. FDA approval is anticipated in mid-2015.

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By projects’s end, Craig will have added approximately 85,000 square feet of new space, renovated approximately 135,000 square feet of existing space in its West Building, and connected the West and East buildings to create a unified campus with a cul-de-sac main entrance and an accessible garden plaza area.

Campaign supports campus expansion, renovation

Craig’s new entrance and welcome desk.

RedefiningImpactIndependenceInnovationInvolvement

ROI

In 2011, Craig Hospital began a major campus expansion and revitalization project to bring the quality of its physical facilities in line with the world-class staff, patient outcomes and high quality of care Craig provides to its patients and their families.

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The renovation and expansion project is estimated to cost $90 million. The hospital is funding $40 million of the project through cash reserves and the sale of bonds. The Craig Hospital Foundation is raising $50 million through the “Redefining Return On Investment (ROI)” capital campaign.

The addition to the West Building — housing the PEAK Center, offices and new patient rooms — opened in August. The next phase of construction, scheduled for completion in February 2015, will finish the interiors of the south

half of the new fourth floor Spinal Cord Unit. The new bistro, SCI therapy gym and Adaptive Technology Lab will be built during this phase. The entire project is scheduled for completion in September 2016.

The Craig Hospital Foundation continues to raise funds for this phase of the project. As of September 8, 2014, $37 million of the $50 million goal has been raised for the capital project. Additionally, more than $16.6 million of a separate $18 million goal has been raised for Craig Hospital unrestricted

funds and programs such as Therapeutic Recreation, Community Reintegration, the Nurse Advice Line, Patient and Family Housing, and more.

The new Craig patient drop-off and entryway opened in August.

Follow our progress online or make an online donation at craighospital.org/foundation/roi-campaign.

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When the new addition opened in August, patients with spinal cord injury moved into new rooms on the addition’s third and fourth floors.

Previously, many patient rooms were designed for double and triple occupancy, with shared dormitory-style bathrooms. Shared patient rooms don’t allow patients and their families the privacy and calm environment they need to rest and recover. These problems have been addressed in the new room design. “Healthcare design is all about providing the correct space that enhances staff workflow and positive patient experiences,” says Diane Reinhard, RN, MBA, vice president of patient care services and CNO of Craig Hospital.

“In our new patient rooms we have incorporated the correct elements for an amazing environment for our patients and staff.”

When the project is complete, all Craig Hospital patient rooms will be private.

New patient rooms enhance privacy, convenience

Previously, many patient rooms were designed for double and triple occupancy.

The rooms promote a healing environment for patients and family, as well as provide a space for our staff to work at their highest potential.

—Diane Reinhard, RN, MBA, vice president of patient care services and CNO of Craig Hospital

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The new rooms have:• Dedicated family areas• Large private bathrooms with showers• Large windows to allow for plenty of

natural sunlight• Higher ceilings for better and more

strategically placed patient lift tracks, which allow patients to be transferred from the bed to the bathroom

• Charging stations for power wheelchairs

• More privacy for family interactions and conversations with physicians and therapists

• Full environmental controls for each patient room

• Adaptable stimulus environments for patients

Reinhard says patient feedback about the new rooms has been very positive. “The rooms promote a healing environment for patients and families, as well as provide a space for our staff to work at their highest potential,” she says.

Jennifer Biggs Arnold, RN, MSN, CNRN, associate chief nursing officer, also hears positive feedback from patients. “Everyone knew the new rooms were coming, but they were very pleasantly surprised,” she says. “They were so pleased with the private bathrooms, the brightness of the new units and the views.”

The new patient rooms include space for visitors.

The Craig Hospital Foundation is currently soliciting donors to underwrite these new rooms. For a gift of $100,000 to the Redefining ROI Campaign, the donor may name the room, or choose to honor a friend or loved one through the naming. These gifts can be paid over three years and may entitle the donor to a 25 percent Colorado state tax credit through the Enterprise Zone program. For more information about supporting the Redefining ROI Campaign and naming a patient room, please contact foundation@craighospital.org or 303-789-8650. Every new patient room has a private, accessible bathroom.

The impact of Craig Hospital is often measured in “intangibles,” such as the hospital’s ability to help patients and their families find independence, inspiration, self-confidence and self-sufficiency.

Now a new study quantifies the other side of Craig — the benefits to the Colorado economy that can be directly attributed to the hospital’s operations.

The study, Craig Hospital: Economic Contribution on the Region and the State of Colorado, FY2012–FY2016, was conducted by the Business Research Division of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. The study examined the measurable — jobs, wages, operating expenditures, capital expenditures and visitor spending — to illustrate the supply chain impacts of the industry and demonstrate the scope and reach of the hospital within Colorado.

The hospital commissioned the study to provide nonbiased, third-party research to Craig Hospital and its constituents — including governments, residents and businesses — about the economic contributions of the hospital to Arapahoe County, the Denver Metro region and the state of Colorado.

The study, which was presented to senior management in June,

showed that the economic impact of Craig Hospital operations on the state totaled $155.6 million in 2013.

Another $23.9 million can be added to that figure for construction-related

impacts resulting from the current expansion/revitalization project. Over the five years FY2012–FY2016, the total impact related to operations is expected to reach nearly $1 billion.

Additionally, the report found that:• In FY 2013, Craig

Hospital employed 955 full-time and part-time workers, nearly 97% of whom reside in Denver metropolitan statistical area counties. The impact of Craig employees spending their salaries is estimated to add $53.5 million to the economy each year.

• Craig Hospital purchases a vast majority of goods and services within the state and locally in the Denver Metro region. Nearly six of every seven dollars spent by Craig Hospital on

nonlabor operations stays within the Colorado economy.

• Given that roughly half of Craig Hospital patients come from out of state, there is an additional contribution from nonresident patient families and visitors. Based on survey

responses, total out-of-state visitor spending for lodging, food, transportation and other expenses in Colorado due to Craig Hospital is $620,237 per year. Craig contributes more to the economy than a community hospital due to the higher level of visitor spending.

Mike Fordyce, president and CEO, says the report illustrates that Craig has a significant economic impact on the city, state and region.

“Craig has always served the community through life- changing rehabilitation work,” he says. “It’s gratifying to see that our stand-alone, nonprofit hospital also extends its reach far beyond our patient base and is a driving force in the Colorado economy.”

To read the full report, visit craighospital.org/uploads/Craig-Hospital-Economic-Impact-Study-Final-Report-2014.pdf.

New study quantifies the economic impact of Craig Hospital

$155.6million

+ $23.9 million

20$1 billion

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FOUNDATION

More than 400 Colorado-area Craig graduates and their families came back to Craig on September 13 to reunite with other grads, Craig family members and staff. They ate a delicious lunch provided by Craig Hospital, played games in the Family Fun Zone, and shared resources and stories. The event was hosted by the Craig Hospital Foundation’s Community Engagement Team.

The Community Engagement Team creates and deepens meaningful connections between Craig and its patients and families; develops opportunities to raise awareness about the mission of the Craig Hospital Foundation; and strengthens the culture of philanthropy among the Craig family and the wider community.

Award presentedAt the event, the first Craig Hospital Foundation Bill Johnson McKown Community Engagement Award was awarded posthumously to Bill McKown. This award will be given annually to

recognize a Craig graduate who has been especially engaged in the Craig family or similar communities. The award recognizes volunteerism, peer- to-peer interactions and commitment to the disability community.

A native of Great Bend, Kansas, McKown lived with quadriplegia for 38 years. He passed away on March 19. He spent six months at Craig Hospital in 1975 following a car accident that caused a C4 spinal fracture.

McKown was a champion for handicap awareness. Shortly after his accident, Kansas Senator Bob Dole had him appointed to Jimmy Carter’s President’s Commission for the Handicapped, which laid much of the groundwork for what later became the Americans with Disabilities Act. McKown was active in many community organizations. He served as president of the Great Bend Jaycees and separately as president of

the local Kiwanis; he was named State Jaycee of the Year and State Kiwanis member of the Year. McKown was an active Boy Scout throughout his life, serving as a scoutmaster and camp director and on numerous local and national committees. He was one of the longest-serving members of the prestigious Philmont Ranch Committee and was awarded the Silver Buffalo award, the highest award an adult can receive in scouting.

McKown was a good friend to many fellow Craig grads, keeping in touch and offering encouragement and assistance. According to Kathy Hulse, his outpatient clinical care manager, he was an example of how individuals with spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries can live full and meaningful lives.

Craig hosts family block party

Members of the Foundation’s Community Engagement Team who helped plan the event.

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Nearly 85 members of the Craig Hospital Foundation’s President’s Circle and Frank Craig Society attended the annual recognition dinner on October 2 at Cherry Hills Country Club.

The President’s Circle dinner was established to recognize and thank individuals, corporations, foundations and others who support Craig Hospital with an annual gift of $10,000 or more. In 2013, the dinner was combined with the Frank Craig Society event, which recognizes the 173 individuals and families who are providing for the long-term support of Craig Hospital through a bequest, trust, charitable gift annuity, life insurance policy or retirement account.

At Craig, each patient is surrounded by a team of specialists, including a doctor, psychologist, clinical care manager, PT, OT, speech therapist, recreation therapist, nurse, tech and more. These team members coordinate their work to meet the unique needs of each patient.

The 2014 dinner included a presentation by Dr. Mark Johansen’s team, including Craig staff members Dr. Les Butt, Adele Stalder, Karen Jensen, Candace Boyd, Tom Horan, Maggie McKone and Sara Manley.

During the dinner presentation, titled This Could be You: A Personal Approach to Rehabilitation, the panel asked the audience to imagine that they were the victim of a diving accident. Each team member then walked the audience through what they could expect at each stage of recovery, explaining their specialty and how it fits into the bigger picture of the Craig model of care.To watch a video of the presentation, visit vimeo.com/108401746. Password: thiscouldbeyou

President’s Circle dinner:This could be youPresident’s Circle and Frank Craig Society members get a glimpse of rehab at Craig

Clockwise from top left: Penny and Fritz Trask; Dr. Mark Johansen; Terrance McWilliams, vice president for military and veteran affairs, El Pomar Foundation, speaks with Al Troppmann and a guest.

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Save the date!February 27, 2015Craig Hospital’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the annual PUSH dinner, will be held February 27, 2015. The 2015 event will honor Denver attorney Steve Peters and Columbine High School shooting victim Patrick Ireland.

Proceeds from the PUSH dinner fund Craig’s Programs of Excellence — such as Therapeutic Recreation, Adaptive Technology, Music Therapy, Community Reintegration, and education and tutoring programs — which are generally not covered by insurance. PUSH funds also support research, including ongoing clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes, reducing long-term complications and enhancing quality of life for those affected by spinal cord and traumatic brain injury.

The PUSH paddle auction raises funds for the Craig Hospital Foundation’s Patient Assistance Funds.

A variety of corporate sponsorships and individual tickets are available at

craighospital.org/PUSH.

More than 100 golfers gathered on July 24 for the 17th Annual Craig Hospital/ RE/MAX, LLC Invitational Golf Tournament at the spectacular Sanctuary golf course in Sedalia, Colorado.

Through the kindness of Craig supporters Dave and Gail Liniger, founders of RE/MAX, LLC and owners of the Sanctuary, this event has raised more than $2 million in net proceeds over the last 16 years. Tournament proceeds benefit Craig’s Programs of Excellence and provide important support for patients and their families.

David Ortiz, chief warrant officer 2, U.S. Army, spoke at the morning brunch, sharing the story of the helicopter crash in Afghanistan that left him paralyzed. He spoke about his experience as a Craig Hospital outpatient and the gains he has made because of the PEAK Center.

To see photos from the tournament, visit craighospital.org/events/2014- sanctuary-tournament.

Golfers treated to inspiration and spectacular scenery at 17th annual tournament

U.S. Army veteran and Craig Hospital graduate David Ortiz.

Craig Hospital CEO Mike Fordyce, at right, with friends at the event.

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Talaria Haast Andemicael was a Craig patient from July to November 2001 following a car accident in the Badlands of South Dakota.

She had been on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend and her best friend when a gust of wind caught the car. She overcorrected and the car flipped four times. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and compound fractures in her C1, C2 and C4 vertebrae. She was transferred to Craig when she emerged from her month-long coma.

Profile: Talaria Haast Andemicael

ALUMNI

Haast Andemicael made a full recovery and reconnected with her boyfriend, Menkerios, six years after the accident. They married in 2012. The couple recently purchased a paver to support Craig’s Redefining ROI capital campaign. She shares her story here.

What do you remember about your time at Craig? I definitely have fond memories of Craig: LeeAnne, Kristy and Jennifer were my PT, OT and ST, and I will never forget them. Dr. Weintraub was my doctor and he was wonderful.

My dad put playing cards in the spokes of my wheelchair so everyone could hear me coming. At least I was always on time for my appointments, because it would have been embarrassing to be late!

Also, there was the day when I completed a small stained glass picture frame that my mom still has on her kitchen table. All the art projects as well as field day were wonderful.

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The couple, a month before the accident; her aunt surveys damage to the car; Haast Andemicael and her stepfather at Craig’s Field Day in 2001.

In what ways do you feel that Craig helped in your recovery?Craig helped me recover fully into the person who I was before the accident. I was very, very lucky. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember that. My injuries were very severe, but I was able to bounce back because I was young and determined, and because my family was so supportive.

Craig allowed me to comfortably be myself again. Nothing was hidden from me. I was able, as I began to heal, to partake in the decisions of my recovery. I was a part of many meetings and when I spoke, people listened. I value that above all else. Not only did Craig provide me with the tools I needed to recover, but it also allowed me to grow in areas I never had imagined.

I had never been a very organized person, and Craig made me realize what I could do if I embraced a side of myself that I never knew existed. To this day, my planning and organizational skills trump most others’.

Why did you decide to invest in a Craig paver? Why was giving back to Craig important to you?I have always wanted to come back. I want to visit and I want to tell people there that anything is possible. I actually saw Dr. Weintraub several years ago in San Francisco at a function

I have always wanted to come back. I want to visit and I want to tell people there that anything is possible.

—Talaria Haast Andemicael, ’01, San Francisco, California

Their wedding day in 2012.

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Make your mark on the new Craig Hospital with a paver or bench

Supporters of the Redefining ROI Capital Campaign may purchase personalized engraved benches or pavers that will be placed in the new garden area, a visible location where patients, families and staff will gather for therapies and respite. Honor a friend, family member or special caregiver in a lasting way or inspire Craig grads and visitors through your engraved sentiment. Pavers start at $500 and may be paid in installments through June 2015.

For more, see craighospital.org/ foundation/benches- and-pavers.

that centered around a documentary about an Olympic hopeful snowboarder named Kevin Pearce. His accident had just occurred, while mine was closer to a decade ago. I actually never met anyone who had been to Craig and was very surprised about the sudden camaraderie that we had between us. Kevin was fresh out of Craig, and he told me that I gave him hope. Having a TBI is sort of like being in a club, you know? Anyway, Kevin told me that with me he “couldn’t tell” that I had had one. That made me cry, and I’ll never forget hugging him, thanking him and telling him that it just takes time and not to ever give up.

And when it’s time for you to leave and continue on with your life, I promise there will not be a day that goes by that isn’t because someone — a doctor, a family member, even a fellow patient — believed in you.

—Talaria Haast Andemicael

Tell me about your paver inscription. What is the meaning behind it?The paver reads “every every day,” and to me, I want it to remind the people there that they are so lucky to be in a place like Craig. Every day you are getting closer to your goal, every day you achieve something, every day you have someone there for you, every day you are a part of the Craig family. And when it’s time for you to leave and continue on with your life, I promise there will not be a day that goes by that isn’t because someone — a doctor, a family member, even a fellow patient — believed in you.

Haast Andemicael, Menkerios and their friend Brennan, at left, hiking in Yosemite 12 years after the accident.

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Nate Arnold loves Colorado and all the outdoor opportunities it offers. The recent graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver formed Sik Dayz, a Colorado apparel company that both celebrates the Centennial State and gives back to the community — and Craig Hospital.

Arnold’s line of tanks, tees, hoodies and hats are influenced by snowboarding, skateboarding and hockey lifestyles common in Colorado. He developed the business plan for Sik Dayz in his marketing coursework in college.

The company has sponsored several music events with a portion of the proceeds going to the Craig Hospital Foundation. The company also partners with Plant It 2020, an organization that plants a tree for every Sik Dayz product sold.

Arnold’s commitment to Craig was inspired by his lifelong friend, Andrew Hondo Sanders.

Sanders was a professional snowboarder and snowboard instructor living an active lifestyle in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, when he broke his neck in a snowboarding accident in 2007. He was airlifted to Swedish Medical Center where he underwent surgery that fused his C3 and C4 vertebrae. Sanders was on a ventilator and could only wiggle his big toe when he was transferred to Craig Hospital for rehabilitation.

Several months later he was able to walk out of Craig. His first stop after leaving the hospital? Red Rocks Amphitheater for a Widespread Panic concert.

Arnold believes that Craig helped his friend get back to the active lifestyle he previously enjoyed, and he wants other patients to find the same success.

“These types of injuries occur far too often from the extreme activities that many of us enjoy on a daily basis,” says Arnold. “It’s extremely important to help the patients at Craig Hospital along their very difficult and lengthy journey to recovery.”

Arnold plans to continue to donate a portion of his proceeds from future events.

“My goal is to get a big group of people together who are enjoying life, sharing music and raising money to help people who need it the most.”

Founder of Colorado apparel company gives back to Craig Hospital

To learn more about Sik Dayz apparel, visit sikdayz.com or follow @sikdayz on Instagram.

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Jay LaPointe, ‘04, Loveland, Colorado, now a competitive cyclist, made it a step closer to his dreams of joining the U.S. National Paralympic Team after finishing first in the U.S. Road Nationals on July 4. The nation’s top amateurs and paracyclists competed for the Stars-and-Stripes jersey in Madison, Wisconsin.

In 2004, LaPointe was on track to enter the Pro Motocross ranks. He sustained a spinal cord injury while practicing at a motocross track in Berthoud, Colorado. Eight months after his injury he took his first steps. In 2011, he pedaled 300 miles from the Colorado/Wyoming border to the Colorado/New Mexico border.

LaPointe has become an advocate for others with spinal cord injury. He has an active website and blog where he shares his journey and encourages others. He also mentors newly injured Craig patients. He has been training for the last two years on how to control a racing tricycle. He says one of the most difficult issues he deals with is regulating his body temperature. He has joined up with USA Cycling Coach Rick Babington, who has been coaching Paralympic athletes since 2005. LaPointe is an active member of the PEAK Center at Craig. We hope we’ll be cheering him on in Rio in 2016!

Syl Scorza, ’96, Orange City, Iowa, is an inspiration. He has lived with paraplegia for 70 years.

“I’d like to report that I’m still able to get to church, football and volleyball games, since I’m in fairly good health for a 90-year-old,” he says.

Scorza lives with his wife, Phyllis, in Orange City where he taught at Northwestern College for 31 years. He first came to Craig in 1996. Congrats on turning 90!

Jordan Ostlund, ‘04, Gillette, Wyoming, his wife Lexi and big brother Anderson, age 2 1/2, welcomed twins Crew and Creed to their family in September. The Ostlunds own a real estate business.

Judi Davis, ‘65, Medford, Oregon, came to Craig with a spinal cord injury from a gunshot. She says Marilyn Quintana, a speech therapist at Craig, “taught me how to succeed in the ‘real world.’” Davis moved back to Oregon where she was a teacher, earned a master’s degree at UC Berkeley, and volunteered at the Southern Oregon Historical Society.

Summer Fisher, ’86, Austin, Texas, came to Craig after sustaining a TBI in 1986. She says, “I believe that my family and I were told that I would continue to get more mobility and improve in all ways over the following 10 years. However, I’m happy to say that not only did I continue to improve for those 10 years, but I’m continuing to improve after 28 years.”

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They are lovingly referred to (or refer to themselves) as the Boys of Summer. Each year Colin Hefert, Matt Pruden, Shane Ellis, Alex Watters and Jordan Ostlund schedule their re-evaluations at the same time in the summer.

They have pulled together these mini-reunions for the last 10 years — every year since they were first at Craig together. At that time they were all in their late teens or early twenties.

“Your life was flipped upside down. Being able to relate to other people, seeing you’re not alone, and to lean on each other for support is really important. It really made the transition easier,” Watters says.

The five have also grown close to their therapists, nurses and physicians. They’re known around Craig for their pranks, such as faking bedsores or wearing funny undergarments.

“You build relationships,” Ostlund says, “and it’s fun to come back every year and see how people are changing or how families are growing.”

The boys of summer

Being able to relate to other people, seeing you’re not alone, and to lean on each other for support is really important.

—Alex Watters, ’04, Sioux City, Iowa

Send us your updates! Please send your ordinary and extraordinary news (with your complete address, phone number and year you graduated from Craig) to: Alumni Update, c/o Craig Hospital Administration, 3425 S. Clarkson Street, Englewood, CO 80113, fax: 303-789-8219, e-mail: lstites@craighospital.org.

Challenge gift encourages Craig grads and families to give Craig benefactors Mary and George Sissel have challenged Craig graduates and their families to leave their own legacies of giving. The couple will match graduate’s gifts to the Campaign up to a total of $100,000. Mary is a member and past chair of the Craig Hospital Foundation Board, a current member of the Craig Hospital Board and chair of the capital campaign. She and George chaired the 2012 Craig Hospital PUSH event.

“When we first stepped into the halls of Craig Hospital, we were overwhelmed and inspired by the spirit of hope and determination that we saw in the patients and their families. We’ve seen miracles happening in those halls. Now we want to inspire the graduates and families to share in the satisfaction of building an even greater Craig Hospital for future patients by participating in this exciting campaign. We look forward to matching their gifts.”

To donate, visit donate.craighospital.org.

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Craig Hospital will host the third Brain Injury Summit for professionals in the specialized field of brain injury rehabilitation January 11-14, 2015, in Vail, Colorado. This state-of-the-art-and-science, three-day event will feature nationally and internationally recognized leaders practicing in clinical brain injury treatment, rehabilitation and research.

The conference will begin with remarks from renowned neuropsychologist and director of the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Jennie Ponsford, PhD. Ponsford is coordinating one of the world’s largest longitudinal outcome studies, tracking more than 2,000 patients over 20 years following traumatic brain injury. Her talk is titled Achieving Meaningful Outcomes: The Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitationist’s Challenge.

Geoffrey T. Manley, MD, PhD, will close the conference with the presentation, Pulling It All Together: Crossing the Bridge between Translational Neuroscience and Best Clinical Rehabilitation Practices. Manley is the chief of neurosurgery at San Francisco General Hospital and professor of neurosurgery at the University of California San Francisco. He is a trauma neurosurgeon with clinical interests in brain injury, spinal cord injury and neurocritical care. His translational research interests span from the laboratory to the bedside.

“The 2015 Brain Injury Summit provides an important opportunity for applicable education and networking within the brain injury professional provider community. We anticipate this meeting will stimulate important discussions and exploration into crucial topics necessary for evidence-informed treatment and meaningful research of brain injury in the future,” says Alan Weintraub, MD, medical director of the Brain Injury Program at Craig Hospital.

Learn more about the conference at braininjurysummit.org.

Craig Hospital to host Brain Injury Summit 2015 in Vail

COMING UP

PHOTOS © VAIL CASCADE RESORT

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November13 World Kindness DayNational Family Caregivers Month

December10 Human Rights Day

2015January11–14 Brain Injury SummitNational Winter Sports TBI Awareness MonthNational Blood Donor Month

February9–15 Random Acts of Kindness Week27 Craig Hospital PUSHTherapeutic Recreation Month

March8–14 Patient Safety Awareness WeekBrain Injury Awareness MonthNutrition Month

April6–12 National Public Health Week12–18 National Volunteer WeekOccupational Therapy Month

May 6–12 Nurses Week10-16 Hospital WeekNational Youth Traffic Safety MonthNational Mobility Awareness MonthMental Health Month Motorcycle Safety and Awareness MonthTrauma Awareness Month

Calendar

Craig Hospital is working hard to Go Green. You can help us! Look for weekly tips on our Facebook page and join us in our #GoingGreen efforts. If you wish to have your name removed from the mailing list, please call 303-789-8019 or e-mail lstites@craighospital.org.

3425 S. Clarkson StreetEnglewood, CO 80113-2811

www.craighospital.org

Craig Hospital’s 2015 PUSH dinner will honor Denver attorney Steve Peters and Columbine High School shooting victim Patrick Ireland.

PATRICK IRELAND: CHRISTOPHER AND DANA REEVE INSPIRATION AWARDIreland is a financial advisor with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. In 1999 he was shot twice in the head, and once in the foot, during the Columbine High School massacre. He rehabilitated at Craig Hospital. His experience and his positive, can-do attitude have led to the opportunity to share his story of strength, courage and overcoming obstacles to a variety of business, youth and school organizations. Along the way, Ireland has been working on a book describing the life lessons that can be learned from this tragedy. He believes that there is still good in the world regardless of negative news, that perseverance can lead to achieving greatness, and that we all have a choice to live as a victor on a daily basis.

STEVE PETERS: DAVE AND GAIL LINIGER SPIRIT OF CRAIG AWARDPeters sustained a spinal cord injury in 1980. He was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1983 and has practiced in Colorado ever since. He is a former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado and received the Director’s Award from the U.S. Department of Justice in 1994. Peters is a member of the Northwest Colorado Bar Association, the ABA White Collar Section and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a past chair of the Craig Hospital Board of Directors, a member of the Craig PUSH Committee. He is a trustee of the National Sports Center for the Disabled. He is an elite monoski racer. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Kansas State University and received a law degree from Duke University.

Proceeds from the PUSH dinner fund Craig’s Programs of Excellence and support research. The PUSH paddle auction raises funds for the Craig Hospital Foundation’s Patient Assistance Funds, which help patients with minimal income or inadequate insurance to travel to and from Craig, purchase equipment and remodel homes for accessibility, train caregivers and meet other urgent needs.

A variety of corporate sponsorships and individual tickets are available at craighospital.org/PUSH.

Save the date! February 27, 2015