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Rachel, Rob and their four kids — including two-year-old Lucy — were coming home from a party on a winter’s night when they were hit by a car traveling at high speed.
The entire family was injured in the car accident, but Lucy’s injuries were the most severe. She experienced a spinal cord injury, a fractured femur and a large break between the base of her skull and first vertebra. She was barely able to use her right arm or hand, she could not sit up on her own — and she was unable to walk.
“We were told they were unsure if she would ever recover,” said Rob. “Having to make that call to my wife was probably one of the harder things I ever had to do in our life.”
However, after first stabilizing at Chicago’s Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Lucy then came to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to begin her rehabilitation journey. It was when she arrived that Rachel was first able to picture Lucy relearning how to walk.
Cheering for Lucy’s New Abilities
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During the month and a half that Lucy was in inpatient care at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, each day was marked by improvement in her recovery. Her care team tailored her pediatric rehabilitation to help her gain new skills — from first moving her elbow and then her hand, to using a crocodile walker and beginning to walk unassisted.
“The physical therapists and occupational therapists were fantastic at working with Lucy’s needs and really helping create a program that was tailored to her,” said Rob.
Throughout it all, Lucy participated in therapy with enthusiasm, joy and a smile on her face, and, for every new ability Lucy gained, her care team was there to cheer her on.
“It was amazing that they cared so much about her because, as a parent, all you really want is for someone to see your child the way you see them,” said Rachel.
Starting DayRehab & Going Home
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Following a month and a half of inpatient rehabilitation, Lucy transitioned to DayRehab — and returned to the loving, bustling life at home with her three siblings.
“The benefit of DayRehab is that Lucy gets to be home with the family, while still getting the intensive care that she so needed,” said Rob.
In DayRehab, Lucy achieved milestones like learning to walk on her own, riding a balance bike and continuing to build leg strength and balance techniques.
Now, as Lucy continues to make progress, Rachel said their family doesn’t want to take anything for granted.
“I know she is going to keep getting stronger and be the big girl she wants to be,” said Rachel. “Nothing else matters, because we’re all home.”
