I just read the book Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun for my graduate classes. This book tells some obvious aspects of leadership but it also keenly narrows in on what everyone should follow. As we near the middle to the end of NRN Month here at the Reeve Foundation, I recognize that in their own rights, our NRN patients are truly leaders.

Some comparisons of Attila to the hundreds of patients:

- Committed: Just as Attila was, they posses such courage and strong commitment to their well-being, to get better, to drive their own potential. They are so resilient in their passion to succeed. Father of four, Mike DePetris, is a NRN participant at Magee Rehab in Philadelphia. He is commited to working hard so he can get back to enjoying activities with his family.Read More

We are nine days into celebrating NRN Month here at the Reeve Foundation. I've never shyed away from admitting that some of my favorite pieces I've written are about our NeuroRecovery Network participants. These indivudals living with SCI are driven and determined to improve their health and well-being.

Here's a story about another Frazier Rehab NRN patient, Luke Vogel, who is just as dedicated as any other.

A two month stay turned into a two year commitment for Luke Vogel.

“Standing is just great for me,” said Vogel. He was 16-years-old when he broke his neck in a skiing accident in Denver. He is paralyzed from the chest down.

“It’s been a world of change, like I was saying, I got injured when I was 16, went through high school and decided to forgo college and come here and I’ve been here for almost two and a half years,” said Vogel.

Watch the video of Luke in action!

Read more incredible stories and support the NRN!

Janelle
 

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Here a remarkable story of determination, tenacity, and love from ABC News about Janne Kouri, of NextStep Fitness, a Reeve Foundation Community Fitness and Wellness Facility:

"There were many times he came to me and said, 'You know, you don't need to do this. You don't need to be here,'" Susan said. "I promised him that as long as his heart and his mind stayed the same that I would love him."

That love would change everything, giving Kouri the determination to move forward with his life. As his health returned, the reality of his paralysis was grim and treatment options were bleak.

Finally, the couple found their ray of hope. In their research and after months of Susan traveling around the country visiting rehab centers, they discovered Dr. Susan Harkema at the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute in Louisville, Ky.

Harkema helped develop a cutting-edge therapy known as "loco-motor training," which teaches the spinal cord how to control motor functions like walking, through repetitive motion. The late actor Christopher Reeve was among her first test subjects to utilize the training; the therapy has now helped hundreds of spinal cord injury victims.

"Dr. Harkema was the one person that told us, 'There is hope for recovery,'" Kouri said.

Read the rest and watch the video of Janne's journey.

Learn more about NextStep Fitness.