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Justin Norris sustained life-threatening injuries while responding to the Road 739 fire in Arapahoe, Nebraska in April of 2022. He came to Madonna to rebuild his strength. From the beginning, the family man demonstrated his grit and determination to return home as soon as possible.
An aspiring lawyer, Shantel Thompson’s dreams of helping her community were put on hold after the unthinkable happened. She was shot and suffered a spinal cord injury. Shantel recovered at Madonna, fueled by her strong faith as she healed. She also shifted her focus to regaining strength and reclaiming her independence. “I don’t want that one moment to define me for the rest of my life,” Shantel said. “I still want to go on and become a great lawyer, have my own family one day, and help the people of my community.”
Spinal cord injuries affect an estimated 17,730 indiviuals each year in the U.S. Madonna cares for hundreds of these patients annually, and we are committed to improving their independence and quality of life. In honor of National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, we spoke with Diane Ulmer, OTR/L, the program manager for Madonna’s specialized Spinal Cord Injury Program.
Survivors of a spinal cord injury may have to navigate life differently after an injury, but it doesn't mean an end to the passions or hobbies they once enjoyed. Kraig Kettler suffered a spinal cord injury as a teen. Years later, he credits much of his active lifestyle to his attitude and the care he received at Madonna's Lincoln Campus.
The INDEPENDENT is a quarterly magazine published for friends of Madonna highlighting patient stories, development and acquisition of new technology, Madonna Foundation events and more. To be added to the mailing list to receive a copy, visit the link below.
Interested in sharing your Madonna recovery story or providing our team with an update on your progress since leaving our hospitals? Visit the page below.