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Erica

Erica’s Story: Women’s Sled Hockey Pioneer & Gold Medalist

Erica achieved one of her dreams: winning gold at the first-ever World Para Ice Hockey Women’s Championship. She credits Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s adaptive sports programs for making it possible.

Patient Story

Gio's family

Gio’s Story: Ready for Takeoff After SCI

With hard work and determination, as well as the support of his expert care team and family, GIo has made tremendous progress throughout his spinal cord injury recovery while meeting important personal, professional and travel goals.

Patient Story

Beckett

Beckett Thrives in Pediatric Rehabilitation While Living With Rare Disease

Beckett’s story highlights how pediatric rehabilitation can help children with rare diseases make great gains after experiencing significant setbacks due to illness.

Patient Story

Samra

Back to Books: Samra Rediscovers Reading After Functional Vision Loss & FND Diagnosis

Samra shares more about her journey with FND and functional vision loss — and how OT helped her gain strategies to improve her vision and return to reading.

Patient Story

Pablo sailing

‘Fear Nothing’: Pablo Discovers Adaptive Sports & Community After Stroke

Pablo came to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for stroke rehabilitation, with a focus on regaining functional and cognitive abilities he had lost, including mobility and speech. During two months of intensive inpatient rehabilitation, followed by several months in outpatient therapy, he made significant progress as he relearned to walk and talk.

Patient Story

Lisa

Lisa’s Story: From Stroke to Self-advocacy

Patient Story

Sherri

Sherri Embraces Quality of Life & Adaptive Cycling Amid Brain Cancer Journey

Sherri went to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for intensive inpatient rehabilitation, under the care of physiatrists and therapists with expertise in treating patients with cancer.

Patient Story

Christy

Christy’s Story: Resilience & Reinvention after Spinal Cord Injury

Patient Story

Chuy walking

Celebrating Patient Journeys: Stories of Hope, Healing & Independence

During the season of giving, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is celebrating the rehabilitation journeys of five patients — Chuy G., Mitch W., Michele L., Andrew M. and Tracy D. Their experiences reflect what’s possible when world-class clinical care and scientific discovery come together to facilitate better, faster patient recoveries.

Patient Story

Declan

Declan’s Journey With CP Leads to a ‘World of Possibilities’

Declan started coming to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab as an outpatient after receiving an early diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) at 18 months old. Now, at age 7, he recently completed intensive inpatient rehabilitation after a life-changing surgery to address muscle spasticity caused by CP — and he continues in DayRehab to improve his mobility, function and independence.

Patient Story

Molly riding a recumbent bike

Molly Discovers Hope & Community at Military Sports Camp

Military sports camp is one of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s quality-of-life programs, which are offered at no cost or low cost thanks to the generosity of donors. In 2024, 34 individuals participated in military sports camp, with all costs — including flights, lodging, meals, transportation and instruction fees — completely covered.

Patient Story

Cassandra and physical therapist

Cassandra’s Story: Back on Her Feet While Managing Chronic Pain

Cassandra H., 63, has spent a lifetime on her feet. She was a clinical pharmacist and worked on her feet most days while helping patients. As a young woman, she played volleyball, basketball and ran track. She has continued to enjoy physical activities like bowling, golfing and exercising.

Patient Story