Each Client has a Unique Story

Please tell us a little about yourself and your story. (Diagnosis, impact of lifestyle, etc.) 

 On June 16 2023 I was in a terrible motorcycle accident and spent 4 months in the foothills hospital. I had crushed my spine in two spots that has left me paralyzed from the chest down. I had 8 broken ribs, I punctured both lungs and got a shoulder injury. I got out of the hospital in Oct of 2023 and started Synaptic in Nov 2023.

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Please describe the improvements since starting with us and what your future goals might be. 

 Since starting at Synaptic, I have noticed an increase in my transferring skills I am able to transfer up to 6 inches high of bed. At the start of rehab I was only able to stand for a couple seconds, now I am able to stand for prolonged periods of time without any concerns. When my incident occurred, I hurt my shoulder before starting at Synaptic I had limited range of motion and strength. Now my shoulder has improved drastically and I am able to lift then with some weights and able to get it over my head slightly.

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What do you want others to know who’ve gone through something similar?

 don’t give up on yourself and keep going.

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Please let us know a few of your favorite: Foods, things to do, books etc. 

fun facts: Born and raised in Sask, growing up I am a huge Roughriders fan 

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THINGS I LIKE TO DO  

I love mowing the lawn and also riding baytech around the acreage

My passion for 3D print has helped me come up with creative things to make! 

Waterskiing 

Watching/supporting the jay’s

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I have gained so much strength. I have gotten so much faster at walking since I started at Synaptic. I started out only feeling comfortable using my wheelchair and now I've used it twice since I started.​

My future goal is to be able to use my left arm and hand again. I would love to go hiking and play hockey again. I would love to not need my AFO.

Seeing other clients working on their recovery gives me hope. I want to be able to inspire others in my recovery. I want others to know you should listen to your body, rest when you are fatigued and be patient with yourself.

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It wasn't until I got back home after 6 months in hospital that I realized how much my condition would affect my life. I couldn't be the Mom I had dreamed about being anymore. I was confined to my wheelchair most of the time. I could not help my girls zip up their coats, grab them a snack or tickle them anymore and most of the time I was so exhausted from medication that I would sleep all day. I could not do anything independently, comb my hair, get dressed, cook, do any of my hobbies. I was depressed because I didn't know how it would get any better. It was decided that Synaptic was the only place where I would be going to therapy once I returned home. My fiancée said he didn't care what it was going to take the said that is where I'm going. And I am so glad that it is. I have an extremely supportive family; they have sacrificed so much to help me get where I am today and to be able to attend rehab full time.

Since I started at Synaptic, I am walking with a walker, I am cooking, doing my makeup, and brushing my hair, camping, playing with my girls on the floor, and tickling them every chance I get. I have energy.

I have regained some function of my left arm and my legs get stronger every week. They have helped me accomplish so much and there is still so much more to achieve. The sky is the limit, I would like to run one day, I want to get back to the gym, I want to bike ride again and one day walk down the aisle unassisted. My favourite part about Synaptic is that when I walk in it feels like I am with family. Everyone there is so encouraging and supportive.There has been support for everything I have needed, and I trust everyone there. Synaptic has encouraged me to accomplish things that I didn't even know I was capable of. I am so grateful to everyone that works there, they have given me the most amazing gift of being able to be the Mom I want to be for my kids.

Advice to Others:

I want people in similar situations to know that a positive attitude will take you a very long way. Life is what you make it, so choose to live a good life every day.

After 10 days in ICU at the Harbourview Hospital in Seattle Don was air ambulanced to the Foothills Hospital where he experienced many surgeries and setbacks. As the brain hemorrhage was in the cerebellum Don’s speech, swallowing and balance were greatly affected. Don spent 9 months in hospital (4 of those on Unit 58) and was discharged on January 19, 2018.

Since that time Don has attended various rehabilitation programs in Calgary. He began attending therapy twice a week at Synaptic in September 2020 and is just completing the 14-week PONs program.

Although life is very different for Don, he continues to embrace life and enjoys his scooter rides in Fish Creek Park and spending time with his loving family.

There has been tremendous improvement in his balance and gait and Don looks forward to his time at Synaptic. He has also seen many of the other practitioners available in the clinic such as the speech pathologist, massage therapist, and nutritionist. It is such a benefit that Synaptic offers so many services under one roof.

Don looks forward to continuing his therapy at Synaptic after the completion of the PONs program.

She had difficulties with independent walking, uneven surfaces, and steps. She walked into Synaptic in the fall of 2021 using a Crocodile Walker and since December 2021, it remains in the basement collecting dust! She has worked hard to get this far and we couldn't be more proud of her. Her main goal continues to be able to play with her friends and other children, largely navigating various playgrounds. She wants to jump, run and climb stairs just like everyone else.

Keeping her engaged and appropriately challenged is always an important part of the session.  

Advice to Others (Evie's Mom):

As Evie's mom, I've watched her work hard to do many things that people take for granted. Although she may continue to face challenges throughout her life, I hope her perseverance and joy for the little things stay with her.

My sessions at Synaptic have helped improve my walking and balance. I enjoy the stretching at the beginning of my sessions. My future goals are to improve my balance, walking, and my quality of life.  I find the stretching fantastic. I like the large equipment and big location as most facilities aren’t that big. I think it is necessary for balance and exercise.

Advice for Others
You have to keep working on your balance and walking. Exercise in conjunction with the medication helps.

In the early 2000s, I started experiencing some muscle fatigue and weakness, making it hard to do manual labour anymore. So I got my class one driver's license and began driving a log truck for the next few years until I couldn't do that anymore either.

In the meantime in 2006 I was diagnosed with primary progressive MS. Around 2012 I was also diagnosed with Lyme disease, but if I have that and not MS or I have them both is a discussion for another time!

After my MS diagnosis, my world obviously changed forever. I still haven't totally come to grips with it and maybe I never will, part of me hopes that I never do. I have always intensely valued my independence so that has been the hardest adjustment of all of this for sure.

In 2013 I married my wife Brett and in 2014 we welcomed our son Ransom, they both keep me on my toes lol! We currently operate a 200-head cow calf operation and a 30-head horse operation in Pollockville Alberta. I also have a rodeo breeding stock operation and I supply bucking horses to rodeos throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan.

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Since coming to Synaptic some improvements I've noticed have been in my strength and my stamina, as well as my overall sense of well-being.
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Advice for Others

My advice to anybody that's going through something similar is to not give up, right or wrong don't take it with dignity because it won't take you with any! Research, don't just take what a medical professional tells you at face value and give up. Always question, there is always somebody that will help you. You must be your own advocate! Keep putting one foot in front of the other, literally or figuratively whichever one you can do!

These accomplishments include playing hockey all over North America, co-owning a video production company, having an amazing day job with the team at MindFuel, a university diploma and degree, and many more.​

When I joined Synaptic, I was in a very frustrated state and looking for answers to my questions and solutions to the problems that I had been facing. Some of these problems included tightness, muscle soreness, becoming fatigued easily, and reduced range in areas that used to be quite strong. The first person that I met at Synaptic was Bailey and I am extremely grateful for her. Bailey helped me build a plan to solve these concerns and said we would have fun along the way, and we sure have!

The whole team is so much fun, coming in for sessions every week is something that I always look forward to! I already see so many benefits from the things that I do at Synaptic in my daily activities even if I miss home workouts sometimes (sorry Bailey, ha, ha!) and I can’t wait to see the positive impact it has on my play when hockey starts up again.

Ben's advice for other people going through something similar:

Perseverance is key, you can find the answers that you are looking for if you keep asking questions. Personally, I would recommend asking Bailey, Jill or anyone on the Synaptic team, they’re full of great information :).