Before her accident, Shannon Eastman was constantly on the move.
“I was a working mom,” she said. “I worked as a legal assistant. My kids were active in school and I was very active in all the events.”
That all changed one afternoon.
“I was on my way back to work,” Shannon said. “It happened in an area that I travel every day.”
The crash left Shannon with a traumatic brain injury. She was first treated at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas before transferring to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals’ specialized brain injury program for the next phase of her recovery.
At Madonna, Shannon faced a long road ahead with a physician-led plan designed to help her regain movement, memory and independence.
“I didn’t walk,” Shannon said. “I didn’t have that capability. I was in a wheelchair.”
Her physical therapist, Nicole Ford, PT, DPT, CBIS, remembers those early days vividly.
“Her balance was off and cognitively, she had a hard time processing what we wanted her to do,” Ford said. “Her right foot had foot drop, so we had to use a foot flexor brace to help hold it up. Once we started doing more walking, it all kind of fell into place. Her balance, standing and walking improved.”
As Shannon began regaining strength, she started to view her recovery as a test of the same resilience she’d long admired in her favorite superhero.
“One of the first things I remember thinking, was just, this isn’t Wonder Woman,” Shannon said. “I shouldn’t have been injured, right? This shouldn’t happen to me, because I’m Wonder Woman. But it’s been a very positive reinforcement.”
Ford said that mindset became her trademark.
“Wonder Woman was kind of her theme, and it spoke volumes to who she was as a person,” Ford said. “She pushed herself literally every single day. Her drive really got her where she is today.”
To challenge Shannon, Ford drew on Madonna’s cutting-edge technology and individualized approach.
“We used the Proprio 4000, which is a balance platform, to work on all of those ankle strategies, hip strategies, knee strategies,” Ford said. “Then, we used the body weight support treadmill to help challenge her without her having to worrying about keeping herself up.”
But progress wasn’t just about technology, Shannon’s determination became the driving force behind every milestone.
“I’m kind of a person who is an overachiever sometimes,” Shannon said. “I have to give myself the best potential.”
Ford saw that same perseverance every day.
“Shannon was a fireball,” she said. “You give her a task, she was like ‘I’m going to nail it 100% and then give 10% more.’”
That determination was fueled by something bigger than herself – her role as a mom.
“I’ve got kids that are still growing up,” she said. “I’ve got to be the best I can be. I have lot of things I want to do yet.”
Throughout her recovery, Shannon showed her kids what perseverance looks like and demonstrated a strong desire to be present in their lives.
“Her kids were so great,” Ford added. “Each week they saw her getting better. One day, her son said he was so proud of her and I think that just sent her to another level.”
In her specialized therapy sessions, Shannon faced each challenge with focus and courage.
“We’ve been very focused on my balance” she said. “She throws me some curveballs that sometimes I would be like, I don’t know if I can do this, but she knows I can and I do, which makes you feel great.”
Ford kept raising the bar.
“She wanted to do more every single day,” Ford said. “I would add weights, drag the weighted bag to help her propulsion forward, stairs, walk outside on uneven ground, hills, longer distances and increased speed. Every day she’s like, ‘Give me more. I’m not tired, give me more.’”
Now back home and living independently, Shannon is once again active in her family’s busy schedule. Her Wonder Woman mindset continues to guide her and is proof that true strength comes from courage, perseverance and heart.