George Boamah: A Second Chance
The first time George got onto a motorcycle, he woke up in the ICU. He was without a helmet and sustained serious injuries that severely impacted his mobility. George opened his eyes for the first time after one month in the ICU. He felt defeated before coming to Hospital for Special Care. It was going to be a long road to recovery, but his team told him to “give yourself a chance.” So he did.
Now, he’s working on walking – something he thought he would never be able to do. The first time he stood up without holding onto a walker, he started dancing. The entire therapy gym cheered with him and his spirits were high. He says now, “I have been given a second chance. Hospital for Special Care, is the best place to come.”
Ally Gomes: Learning to Laugh Again
Ally and her family had reached crisis. Ally has autism spectrum disorder and was unable to express her needs in a safe and healthy way, leading to unsafe behaviors. Ally’s mom, Jackie, says her family reached rock bottom; they no longer knew how to help their daughter. Jackie sought out help from Hospital for Special Care.
Ally was admitted to the Autism Inpatient Unit where she received medical care, behavioral interventions, and learned healthy coping skills. Jackie’s family also attended regular caregiver training sessions. “You have to apply an approach that is totally different than what you’ve been doing before because what we were doing before wasn’t working. We hit rock bottom. So, we subscribed to everything that they taught us.”
After three months, Ally was able to transition back home with her family with newfound emotional, behavioral, communication, and daily living skills. “Hospital for Special Care reached her, and we knew we got our girl back.”