Patient Story: Greg Fillipek
Naperville resident, Greg Fillipek, was facing a difficult prognosis after being in a coma for nearly three months following a traumatic brain injury. Greg met Liz, a physical therapist at Naperville East, who was able to go above and beyond standard protocol. Watch how Greg and Liz were able to work together to defy the odds, and help Greg reach his goals.
Transcript
Liz: That was good, I give you an 'A'.
Liz: Oh nice.
Greg: Good job.
Liz: Greg initially was injured, and he had a traumatic brain injury but it was a slow brain bleed. He was in a coma for 89 days, and lost complete function of his whole right side. When Greg initially came to our Naperville East clinic, he was in a chair, he wasn't verbal really at that time, and he could barely transfer. I said, "Okay, we just have to take this one step at a time." I had that kind of that commonality of growing up in Naperville myself, so it really seemed like a good fit, and we just meshed from day one. I researched different things that I could try, initially I wasn't even thinking about doing Russian electric stem with him. Thinking about other possibilities, and I had done research on my own. I found out his goal was to walk, I told that was what we're going to focus on, we're going to get you walking again.
Dr. Rozner: I thought that we were going to be at a plateau for the rest of his life. So, it was the gains that he has made since that have just been, I think, unprecented, with the degree of brain injury that he had. I think the relationship that Greg has developed with Liz, has really facilitated that quite a bit. To the point, I believe, that if he had to see someone else - I don't think he would've done as well.
Greg's Mom: The things they've done for Greg, and with Greg, are phenemonal. We can never…. And every thing he does here, during the day, reflects what they have shown him, and helped him with. Liz, by her relationship with him, has given him self confidence. I think that is the best thing he has done.
Greg: ATI was fun for me, because Liz was helpful to me.
Liz: And now, the sky's the limit. My mind is the limiting factor now of what I can think of to do, to be able to challenge him, and get him to keep pushing further.
Greg: Today, I can walk. I mean, I'm a miracle.