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patient-storyFall 2023 | Oct 19, 2023 Navigating a critical illness or injury gives you perspective — and often, healing is buoyed by having a strong sense of purpose. Last fall, Paul Callahan needed surgery to address pressure sores that were not healing with the typical protocols for a person living with quadriplegia. He turned to Spaulding Rehabilitation Nursing and Therapy Center Brighton for his extensive recovery. Paul was highly motivated to complete the healing process — and get back to his role running a therapeutic sailing program that serves more than 1,000 children and adults with disabilities. “Although I had some idea of what to expect, it hit home when I came to Spaulding to attain the goal of physical healing, it would take a significant amount of mental fortitude, too,” Paul says. “Spaulding’s caring, knowledgeable, and compassionate team was a critical factor in accomplishing my goal.” It took 10 weeks of bed rest, highly responsive care, and therapeutic rehabilitation to get Paul back to his power wheelchair again — and most important to him, back to his role helping others in the disabled community. He credits the Spaulding team for bolstering his spirits through the dreary winter months on bed rest and for

Meet Paul C

patient-story
Paul on the dock in his wheelchair with two of the participants in his Sail To Prevail program.

Sharing His Strength

Fall 2023 | Oct 19, 2023

Navigating a critical illness or injury gives you perspective — and often, healing is buoyed by having a strong sense of purpose.

Last fall, Paul Callahan needed surgery to address pressure sores that were not healing with the typical protocols for a person living with quadriplegia. He turned to Spaulding Rehabilitation Nursing and Therapy Center Brighton for his extensive recovery. Paul was highly motivated to complete the healing process — and get back to his role running a therapeutic sailing program that serves more than 1,000 children and adults with disabilities.

“Although I had some idea of what to expect, it hit home when I came to Spaulding to attain the goal of physical healing, it would take a significant amount of mental fortitude, too,” Paul says. “Spaulding’s caring, knowledgeable, and compassionate team was a critical factor in accomplishing my goal.”

It took 10 weeks of bed rest, highly responsive care, and therapeutic rehabilitation to get Paul back to his power wheelchair again — and most important to him, back to his role helping others in the disabled community. He credits the Spaulding team for bolstering his spirits through the dreary winter months on bed rest and for providing superb medical care during his difficult healing process.

Today, Paul is back in action as the CEO of Sail To Prevail. “The Spaulding staff shared their compassion, wisdom, and efforts to help me resume my life once again,” Paul says. “I left Spaulding Brighton and was able to start working right away. There is not a more rewarding feeling than when you help someone achieve their goals, whether it be getting out of a hospital bed or getting out on the water in an accessibly-adapted sailboat for the first time.”

Spaulding patients are compelled to help others — by raising awareness, by raising funds, by participating in research, and by showing up for fellow patients going through similar situations. It is this community that makes Spaulding strong.

Imagine the Possibilities

At a time when scientific advancements can help make the impossible possible, an investment in rehabilitation medicine has never been more necessary — or more promising.

Your gift to Spaulding can make a real difference... starting now.

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