At 16 years old, Draven Rose arrived at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals facing a challenge few teenagers ever expect to encounter. After sustaining an incomplete spinal cord injury in a rollover car accident, the once independent, outdoorsy York, Nebraska, teen entered Madonna’s specialized pediatric rehabilitation program to begin the difficult process of relearning how to move, walk and regain his independence.
While the road ahead was uncertain, Draven approached rehabilitation with a mindset that quickly stood out to his care team.
“From day one, he took ownership of his injury,” Lauren Cox, OTD, OTR/L, Draven’s occupational therapist, said. “He said, ‘I’m in this situation. This is where I’m at and I’m going to deal with it and I’m going to push myself and get as far as I can.'”
When Draven first arrived at Madonna, he required significant assistance with mobility and activities of daily living. Working alongside a physician-led care team that included physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation nurses and other specialists, he began rebuilding strength, coordination and confidence.
“I stood the first day I was here,” Draven said. “I stood and took one step. It was a tiny step, but I couldn’t feel anything in my feet or legs.”
From that first step forward, Draven became an active participant in his rehabilitation journey. Rather than simply following a treatment plan, he worked collaboratively with his therapists to set goals and challenge himself to achieve more.
“He would even set his own goals,” Haley Haefner, PTA, Draven’s physical therapy assistant, said. “I’d come to him and he’d be like, ‘Can we actually do this today?’ He was definitely a part of the collaborative approach of his care plan.”
As Draven’s abilities improved, so did the scope of his therapy. What began with sitting on the edge of the bed or transferring to his wheelchair, progressed to standing, balance activities, walking and stair training. Specialized technology helped speed up recovery, with the LiteGait bodyweight support system and Solo Step harness keeping Draven safe and supporting him as he retrained his leg muscles. The Madonna ICARE by Soprtsart elliptical further assisted him in being aware of where his body was in space.
“The ICARE helped his propulsion with gait and helped him bring his weight forward and control where his legs are going when he’s taking steps,” Haefner said.
While his physical progress took off, Draven continued to navigate through both physical and emotional challenges.
“The journey of being here having to relearn how to walk, having hard days, and just knowing I can’t move as good as I used to be, it was just mentally hell,” Draven said.
But Draven pushed through the tough days with a positive attitude and a smile.
“He hardly ever says anything negative, and if he does, it’s followed up with a positive,” Cox said. “He might say, ‘This didn’t go well, but I was able to do it.’ That’s been really inspiring to see.”
Independence was very important to Draven as a 16-year-old who wanted to get back to driving. used Madonna’s driving simulator to test out adaptive hand controls and improve his reaction time with a traditional accelerator and brake. He also tested out the Firefly adaptation on his wheelchair that allowed him to traverse terrain that his chair typically could not access.
“You could tell he was in his element when he played with the Firefly,” Jessie Franks, CTRS, a Madonna recreation therapist said. “He asked if he could go full speed and he did it safely. He was so happy to not have to rely on others while being outdoors.”
While rehabilitation demanded hard work, Madonna’s pediatric unit also provided Draven with a community. Surrounded by peers navigating life-changing injuries and illnesses of their own, he found opportunities to connect, encourage others and gain perspective from those with shared experiences.
“He was a supportive peer for all ages on the unit,” Franks said. “From the little guys to fellow teenagers, he was somebody that I think a lot of people could rely on and was kind of like the captain of the unit.”
Over time, as he saw more physical progress, Draven’s confidence continued to grow.
“You could just see Draven being comfortable with himself, with where he was at,” Franks said. “He met a lot of different peers and past patients, and I just think he really blossomed while he was here.”
Today, Draven moves forward with new skills, greater independence and a renewed perspective.
“I am who I am either way,” he said. “This accident didn’t change who I am, how I am, how I think. It just changed me physically.”
With exceptional maturity for a teenager and a heart for others, Draven’s care team says his future is bright.
“I just have no doubt he’s going to keep pursuing his goals,” she said. “I have no doubt he’s going to get where he wants to go.”