Harris Abramson - The day of my accident, I was riding my bike when a car turned in front of me unexpectedly. I hit it broadside, flipped over my handlebars and landed on the fender in a seated position. Afterward, I couldn't feel or move my legs at all, and my back was in excruciating pain.  read more . . .

Johan deRoos - The stroke affected Johan's right side, and the communication center of his brain. It resulted in aphasia, a condition that impairs his ability to speak fluently. Johan's wife, Susan, has been his coach and advocate through every aspect of care at Drake Center - the month of inpatient therapy, the many months of outpatient therapy, and the five research projects in which Johan has participated. read more . . .

Mo Dunne - I had my stroke in the middle of the night. When my alarm clock went off that morning, I got out of bed but could tell right away that something was seriously wrong-the right side of my body wouldn't work. I dragged myself over to the phone to call a friend, and when she answered,  my words came out garbled. She rushed over to my house and called 911. The paramedics took me to the hospital, and an MRI confirmed that I'd had a stroke. read more . . .

Gary Flesch - "After my stroke, I couldn't even sit up at first, and I couldn't use my left arm or walk. The doctors made a point of telling me, 'You had a BIG stroke.' They were trying to help me understand that I might never be the way I was. But I've always been hardheaded and stubborn, so I thought, 'The heck with that, we'll just see what happens.' read more . . .

Kevin Flynn - When I came to Drake Center following surgery at University Hospital, I had almost no movement below my neck. I guess I could have laid around and felt sorry for myself, but the therapists at Drake didn't let me. We began rehab the very first day, and it was clear from the beginning that we were there to work. read more . . .

Jason Johnson - I wrecked my motorcycle on my way to work in 2001. My bike had landed on top of me, breaking my back in two places, and if the paramedics hadn't gotten to me so fast I probably would have died from my injuries. I'd lacerated my kidneys and liver, and I had too many rib fractures to count. The nerve damage to my arms was so severe I couldn't even use them. Worst of all, I was permanently paralyzed from the waist down. read more . . .

Dart Lumpkin - "It was one of those fluke things, being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The guy snuck up on me and Jeff while we were getting into my truck, and he started demanding money and shooting. He shot me seven times--in both legs, my left hand and my abdomen. read more . . .

Holly Tylicki - After several surgeries at University Hospital, Holly was transferred to Drake Center. She had large, open wounds on her legs, and doctors thought she would need more skin grafts. They also said she might lose one of her legs and never walk again.  read more . . .