Rehabilitation is a journey and each patient has a path from the devastation of injury to the moment in therapy when they take their first step, speak their first word, and cook breakfast on their own. These are stories of triumph over adversity, but they are also a chronicle of how CNS helps people regain independence. Diverse in background and severity of injury, our patients share one thing in common – they found dignity and hope at CNS.
On September 19, 2022, Kevin Nicosia, a hard-working father of four, was enjoying a motorcycle ride just 1 mile from his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana when he suddenly crashed. As he was airlifted to the local hospital, Kevin was only able to recall his wife’s name, Annette, and her phone number.
Gerald Sanders enjoyed the weekend with his family when he didn’t feel right and checked into Dignity Health’s Marian Regional Medical Center on March 24, 2024. He was dehydrated, vomiting, and had elevated blood pressure. Gerald suffered a stroke early the next morning.
On September 7, 2019, 22-year-old Emily Owen was walking her dog on their usual evening route through her small-town college neighborhood. With just one semester left before graduation, Emily’s life halted in an instant when she was struck by a car. Her dog, Teddy, passed away at the scene, while Emily fell into a near-coma and was rushed to the hospital. She sustained multiple injuries, including multiple hematomas and a diffuse axonal injury – a severe type of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Jinesh Patel, a 39-year-old lawyer, had been working at his dream job as a patent attorney for a software technology company in Austin, Texas for just over a year. But on February 12, 2023, when he was at a Super Bowl party with his wife and two young children, Jinesh went into cardiac arrest. He was in a coma for weeks, and a lack of oxygen to the brain caused an anoxic brain injury. Jinesh was left with severe cognitive impairments, including an inability to read and short-term memory loss.
An avid swimmer, Andrew Chi regularly swam 2 miles in the ocean in Santa Monica, California. During a typical swim on a hot summer day in July 2023, Andrew suddenly lost feeling in his left arm. He suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures. After being saved in the ocean by his friends, Andrew was rushed to the hospital for an emergency craniotomy and remained in the ICU for ten days.
This Father’s Day, Teresa (T) Shubin reflects on her father’s unexpected injury and shares gratitude for his second chance at life. “My dad is not the same dad, but he’s loving and respecting who he is now,” she says. T’s father, 74-year-old David Rechnitzer, worked full-time in the medical field, loved spending time with his grandchildren, and was building his dream home. One morning in August 2023, David struggled to wake up and was incoherent. David had suffered a series of strokes overnight that put his busy life on hold.
After a successful career in corporate business, consulting, and accounting, Carol Meyer retired in April 2022. She and her husband Geoff were ready to begin their year-long global travel adventure. But in early 2023, Carol had noticed irregular sleep patterns through her Fitbit sleep tracker. She was soon diagnosed with heart arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, a major risk factor for stroke.
Donna Oakey began her career with Antelope Valley Medical Center in 1986, starting as a billing clerk then working her way up to a management level role. On the morning of January 20, 2015, Donna was getting up to go to work when something felt a little different. Donna experienced a brain aneurysm and her friend immediately called 911. Donna suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and spent the next month at UCLA hospital under a medically induced coma.
Former CNS patient Dr. Michael (Mike) Petersen – an Austin-based medical expert with over 20 years of health industry experience – suffered a stroke in June 2023, which has reshaped his perspective on life. Mike accepted a new position as Chief Medical Officer of Aetna CVS Health just one month prior to his stroke. As a lifelong advocate for health equity and the patient experience, Mike was driven to recover as soon as possible. After six months of intensive post-acute brain injury rehabilitation at the Centre for Neuro Skills, Mike defied all odds and successfully returned to work in February 2024.
Tom Roberts never thought he would return to a normal life after suffering a traumatic brain injury thirty years ago. In 1993, 25-year-old Tom had graduated college, married his wife, Deana, and was working as a mechanical draftsman. But on May 30, Tom fell from a horse while roping calves and hit his head. He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he was intubated and remained in a coma for 19 days. The fall had caused a right cerebellar bleed and a traumatic brain injury.
At just 17 years old, Samarth Kunhody was a Boy Scout, took advanced high school classes, and was eagerly applying for colleges to pursue a degree in Data Science. But while touring prospective colleges in Southern California in July 2022, Samarth felt the worst headache of his life. Samarth suffered a stroke and was quickly admitted to Miller’s Children Hospital, where doctors discovered he was born with a brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation). This tangle of vessels in the brain had ruptured, causing hemiplegia (one-sided weakness) and cognitive deficits.
Leroy McClure Jr. led an active lifestyle at age 61. Leroy ran his own non-profit educational consulting business, had opened charter schools for students with autism across Texas, and became the first African American language therapist. He also worked out five days a week and enjoyed spending time with his eight grandchildren. But on the morning of July 30, 2021, Leroy was lifting weights at the gym when his head began to hurt, and he started slurring his words. Leroy was suffering a hemorrhagic stroke due to a ruptured brain aneurysm.
When he was 24, Matthew Dudley needed just one more semester to graduate from the University of Texas, Arlington. On December 23, 2004, Matthew was driving to his parents’ house to celebrate Christmas along with his twin brother and wife at the time. Matthew’s car collided head-on with an 18-wheeler truck that left him with a fractured spinal cord, two broken legs, and a traumatic brain injury.
Former CNS patient Craig Northcutt has proudly worked for his Native American tribe, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, since 1994. But on September 7, 2012, Craig was severely injured in an ATV accident while deer hunting with his best friend, James. When Craig flipped out of the ATV, his head began to bleed, and he fainted. James immediately called 911 and started performing CPR until paramedics arrived. During Craig’s airlift to a nearby hospital, his brain bleed resulted in a stroke.
As an elementary school principal in Bakersfield, Ken Durbin has been a passionate advocate for youth education and has been heavily involved in the local community over the past 30 years. But on July 2, 2020, Ken suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke amidst the COVID pandemic, resulting in severe physical and cognitive deficits, including loss of speech, difficulties with vision, and balance issues.
In the summer of 2016, Ray Ydoyaga was training for an upcoming 250-mile bike ride in Europe. The avid cyclist had done this before, completing challenging routes in the Czech Republic, Montenegro, England, France, and Croatia. However, on August 1st, Ray had a cycling accident, leaving him with a severe spinal cord injury. Ray began inpatient treatment at Centre for Neuro Skills’ San Francisco location in October 2016, after several months in the hospital.
Born and raised in Orange County, Trice Barto worked her way to the top and became a successful unscripted television producer. She produced well-known television shows such as America’s Next Top Model, Hell’s Kitchen, and Wipeout. But in March 2016, Trice suffered a stroke that put her life and career on hold. Just one month after her stroke, Trice was admitted to the day treatment neurorehabilitation program at CNS’ Los Angeles clinic where she began intensive neurorehabilitation therapy.
Christie, a 36-year-old Digital Marketing Manager, was living a happy life with her boyfriend and dog. But everything changed when she suffered a stroke which left her with cognitive deficits, weakness and emotional dysregulation. In March 2022, Christie reluctantly started therapy at the Centre for Neuro Skills' Dallas clinic. With the help of intensive neurorehabilitation, counseling, and her family's support, she began to regain her confidence.
Sara and Tim have been married for 38 years, have four children, love to travel the world together and have one unique thing in common: Sara and Tim both live with aphasia. In 2004, Sara experienced a stroke at the age of 42 that impaired the right side of her body and caused severe aphasia. In 2021, Tim had a fall and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and also developed aphasia.
Stephen Smith, a loving husband with two young sons, lived a busy life working full-time, watching his sons’ baseball games, and adventuring outdoors with his wife, Jordyn. But on July 28, 2020, Stephen fell 40 feet from a bucket truck at work and sustained a traumatic brain injury. The injury left Stephen with behavior problems and multiple cognitive deficits, including impaired memory, attention, and processing. Stephen began his recovery journey at Craig Hospital in Colorado, where he received acute care for his injury. However, when Stephen stopped receiving therapy, Jordyn quickly noticed a downward spiral in his behavior and mental health. Stephen’s case manager recommended Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS) for post-acute neurorehabilitation.
Just days before the end of Gretchen’s study abroad program in Paris–two months away from her high school graduation–she experienced a food allergy reaction that changed the course of her life. Gretchen ultimately suffered a cardiac arrest due to anaphylactic shock. Her condition was further complicated by a bronchial spasm, and she became anoxic for about 4 minutes on the way to the hospital with the paramedics. After 3 weeks in the Parisian hospital, Gretchen was medically evacuated to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Upon arriving at CNS in February of 2019, Gretchen was diagnosed with anoxic brain damage, quadriparesis with severe deformities in all her extremities.
“Use it or lose it,” Amy says to her daughter, Sabrina, as a reminder to use her left hand while baking at home. More than 20 years after Sabrina’s brain surgery, the two reflect on their unique experiences at Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS) and how this journey has shaped their mother-daughter relationship.
Nicole Paredes, a mother of three children, expresses gratitude and reflects on the challenges she has overcome in the last six years after suffering a stroke during her pregnancy. Nicole came to CNS, where she relearned how to speak, walk, and care for her baby through intensive neuro rehabilitation. Six years later, Nicole is excited to celebrate Mother’s Day with her husband, two boys, and youngest daughter, who will turn six years old next month.
Gwen Jackson was always heavily involved in her local community in Houston, Texas. From working with the homeless population to starting a cancer foundation in memory of her father, Gwen found her purpose in life: to take care of others. However, Gwen was diagnosed with COVID and then cervical cancer. She experienced two strokes and a mild heart attack. Her cognitive abilities, physical mobility, vision and mental health were severely impaired as a result.
Mark and Lori met in 2009 on a blind date set up by their mutual friend. Now, 14 years later, Mark and Lori have been happily married for over 3 years. However, in December of 2021, Mark and Lori’s lives changed unexpectedly–Mark fell at home. He was rushed to the hospital where he had an emergency craniotomy and suffered a stroke as a result. In July 2022, Mark came to Centre for Neuro Skills’ Bakersfield clinic, where he began intensive neurorehabilitation therapy, including aquatic therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and counseling.
Anticipating a choir concert and project deadline at work, Silas was knocked off his feet when he experienced a stroke at age 36. “I had a headache and was feeling a little off, but I didn’t think anything of it,” said Silas. “My wife, Kathryn, realized that something was seriously wrong after receiving a text from me that didn’t make sense.” After seeing his text, Kathryn rushed home and found Silas sitting on the floor, struggling to speak. “When I saw the left side of his face was drooping, I knew he was having a stroke,” said Kathryn. “I knew that time is brain function with strokes, so I called 911 right away. I was probably on the phone with them 15 minutes after his stroke began. He was in surgery within two hours, which is about as fast as you can hope for in that situation.”
As a former freelance filmmaker and DJ, Marz Holden-Montini lived a creative, spontaneous lifestyle and traveled frequently. However, Marz suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall in June 2020 that paused his career endeavors. Marz was confined to a wheelchair and experienced auditory and visual difficulties as well as cognitive impairments. Marz came to the Centre for Neuro Skills’ Los Angeles clinic shortly after, where he relearned how to walk again and overcame many challenges.
Having survived Covid, Kristi Hall was relieved to resume her life of work, marriage, and caring for her puppy. But on April 27, 2021, Kristi felt a pop at the base of her head. The pain intensified until she started screaming. “When I stood up, I’d lost all control of my right side,” she recalled. “I don’t remember much after that because I was in a coma.”
Formerly a commercial interior designer, Brittany came to CNS in 2019, having suffered a brain injury caused by a car crash while she was working in Palm Springs. Her injuries included two brain bleeds, a constricted right hand, slurred speech and cognition deficits. The impact also caused double vision, which her therapy team addressed by consulting a neuro optometrist who prescribed special lenses.
It was a clear March morning in 2018, and apprentice lineman Nick Holloway was headed west on I-20 with a crew of electrical workers. Suddenly, his truck axel broke loose, scraping against the asphalt and tilting the cab. Within seconds the utility vehicle swerved and flipped over five times. Co-workers following him witnessed the crash, kicked in the windshield, and pulled Nick and his crew out. When Nick arrived at Centre for Neuro Skills’ Fort Worth clinic, he had no recall of the crash but suffered two brain bleeds, a subdural hematoma, pelvic fractures, imbalance, and memory lapses.
With four young kids at home and a husband who travels, Elizabeth Ackerman was Supermom. She juggled school, errands, and homework help with ease. But in December 2021, she suffered a stroke, which required a craniectomy and hospitalization. In an instant, this competent woman lost her ability to walk, speak, cook, and play with her children, aged three to 11.
This Mother’s Day Lachelle Mays is sure to feel gratitude in the depths of her soul. “I have my baby back,” she says. Her son, Jerry Mathis, survived a horrific car accident in 2020, when he was broadsided by an 18-wheeler on his way to work. He was following Lachelle to the aircraft components factory where they’re both employed. At a four way stop, Lachelle pulled forward. Within seconds she heard a terrifying crash. In the rearview mirror, she watched as her son’s car was destroyed by a truck.
On a typical day, Les Tapia is on construction sites overseeing seven crews of workers who seal and waterproof concrete in Dallas. While driving his truck to a job site, Les suffered a ruptured aneurysm, called 911 on his own, then endured a 14 second seizure in the ambulance. After two months in a coma, he was stabilized and came to Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS) Dallas, where he learned to eat, bathe, reason, and even dance with his wife again.
On a frigid Dallas night in 2012, Nancy Beasley’s life took a radical turn that changed everything in an instant. It was Dec. 30 and Nancy was intoxicated. As she drove onto an overpass, her car bounced off a barrier wall and plummeted onto a freeway 90 feet below.
Even as a toddler, Blake Hyland was a gymnastics wonder. Tumbling on pre-school mats and home carpeting, he summersaulted his way through childhood and became a star gymnast in his hometown of Waco, Texas. But on Feb. 18, 2014, while running down a tumble ramp, he flipped in the air, landing partially in the foam padded pit and partially on the surrounding concrete. The injury was severe, causing massive strokes in his temporal lobe, followed by a host of physical and cognitive impairments.
At just 20 years old, Mingjia Wang had the shock of his life. One morning he was lifting weights at the gym, but by afternoon his left arm was numb, and his face began to droop. “I also had the worst headache of my life,” he recalled. Within hours he was in surgery for a craniectomy. Mingjia suffered a stroke. “In the blink of an eye, I'd lost my friends, my school, and the life I had ahead of me,” he said.
Luke Armstrong, a college senior in the Construction Science Department, survived a plane crash in August 2020. According to Armstrong, he was with his girlfriend, Victoria Walker, and her family, when the plane crashed. Armstrong said that he was found by someone who was in the area at the time and waiting with him until emergency responders arrived.
At CNS, returning patients to their highest level of skills is a priority. “We Are Innovative” is a company pillar, and the journey of attorney Skip Scott emerged (in legal parlance) as Exhibit A. Skip practiced his courtroom eloquence in “Reconnecting the Dots,” a lecture and PowerPoint he developed and presented before a group of fellow patients at the CNS Dallas clinic, where he recovered from a brain tumor and stroke. His case manager, Diane Lokay-Nickell, facilitated the idea, which resonates with CNS’ tailored care approach.
In September 2016, 29-year-old accountant Kimberly Torella woke up feeling extremely dizzy. She assumed the symptom was related to her hypoglycemia, a condition in which blood sugar (glucose) levels drop below average. So, she went about her morning as usual – eating breakfast and dropping her son off at Cub Scouts. Kimberly's dizziness persisted, however, and she also began experiencing an intense and excruciating headache. This caused her to seek treatment at her local urgent care, where she was misdiagnosed and sent home. "I went to sleep that night, and when I woke up, the left side of my body was paralyzed," Kimberly said.
At CNS, we believe that families are central to the recovery process, and their efforts have been all the more vital during the current public health crisis. Their trust and support have enabled CNS to meet challenges and continue delivering the highest quality care. Susan Clark, a family member of a patient at CNS Fort Worth, shares her experience with her brother's transition into CNS' post-acute brain injury rehabilitation program during the pandemic.
Former CNS patient Timothy (Tim) Omundson – a Los Angeles based actor, respected and beloved for his roles in movies and popular television shows, suffered a massive stroke in 2017, which changed his life forever. After many months of post-acute, intensive brain injury rehabilitation at CNS, Tim overcame his physical and cognitive deficits and returned to his successful acting career.
On the evening of February 14, Valentine's Day, 2017, Brent Freeman was heading home on his motorcycle on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles when he was struck by a car, ejected from his bike, and sent flying headfirst into another vehicle. Brent was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center in critical condition. He sustained internal injuries, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and multiple skull fractures, causing brain bleeding and swelling. And he was placed into a medically induced coma for several weeks to help protect his brain from further damage.
Los Angeles-based Casey Dake has worked as a talented film and video editor for his entire career. Video editors are valued for their advanced digital technology skills and personal qualities such as creativity, patience, and attention to detail. But when Casey suffered an acquired brain injury (ABI) in 2018, he was left with severe cognitive impairments that affected his ability to meet the demands of his profession. Not only was Casey able to overcome his deficits, but he also returned to work as a full-time video editor upon completion of his CNS program - which had been his main goal since sustaining a brain injury.
When rock climber Matthew Little came to CNS, he was confined to a wheelchair and wondered if he’d ever scale a mountain again. His life was climbing, taking in the vistas of sky, clouds and pines, and breathing in the crisp air at the top of a peak. Matthew described himself as a weekend warrior, driving to the desert to rock climb routes in Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and the Eastern Sierras. Turns out he was indeed a warrior of determination, with the help of CNS’ therapy team.
Carla Elliott’s family thought she would be bedridden for life when she suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after an accident at work. Not only did Carla defy all odds and achieve an amazing recovery, she successfully returned to work. Carla says the skills she learned at CNS and the support of her family have enabled her to return to a productive life post-injury, “CNS saved my life, and my positive attitude comes from being so grateful to be able to drive a car, walk, talk, and have a job,” she says. "I re-learned all of these skills at CNS.”
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury is monumental for anyone. But for CNS patient JD, he had to face another issue while in rehabilitation. JD was addicted to heroin, cocaine, and meth-amphetamine when he came to the Bakersfield facility eight years ago. He’d fallen from a tree while working at a car wash, and his brain injury - coupled with drug dependencies – meant that he had to face two devastating maladies.
Merlyn Frank and his son, Bryson, love motorcycles, racing, and just about anything that roars on two wheels. But they have something else in common that’s rare among sons and fathers. Merlyn endured a traumatic brain injury in 2008 after falling from a roof while working. Nearly 10 years later, Bryson’s motorcycle spun out on a low sided freeway exit, causing a brain injury - the second in the Frank family. Both were treated at Centre for Neuro Skills’ Bakersfield facility and both recovered successfully.
18-year-old Kailey Tesdahl was admitted to CNS’ inpatient program in August 2017, after suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) - the result of a car accident that occurred on her way to high school graduation. After hospitalization and months of intensive rehabilitation at CNS Dallas and CNS Fort Worth, Kailey progressed from being non-verbal and unable to walk to collecting her diploma in May 2018. The community involvement and interest in Kailey’s story were overwhelming.
Justin has spent his career in a highly specialized profession – the collecting and selling of rare coins, jewelry, and watches. He’s a numismatist, a unique job that demands intricate calculation and finance skills. But after sustaining a traumatic brain injury at work, those skills were suddenly impacted by an accident that upended his life.
Former CNS patient Bryson Frank has had a passion for motorcycles as long as he can remember. The Bakersfield native started riding dirt bikes at a young age and obtained his motorcycle license when he was 17. But Bryson’s world turned upside down on May 11th, 2017, when he was on his way to college classes. “I was going around a bend when my bike slide slid out from under me,” he recalled.
Bryson was flung from his motorcycle, and it landed on top of him. When the ambulance arrived, they found him trapped under his bike, unconscious.
In August 2017, Kailey Tesdahl was admitted to the inpatient CNS Dallas program. The 18-year-old had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from her involvement in a car accident on her way to high school graduation that June. After spending 30 days at Texas Rehabilitation Hospital, Kailey made her way to CNS - due in large part to the many healthcare professionals in the community who worked together to establish a continuum of care following her injury.
On June 5, 2017, Kailey was on her way to her high school graduation in Burleson, TX. The excited young woman was dressed in her blue graduation gown, ready to join her friends. However, in a cruel twist of fate, she and her sister were struck by another car that had run a stop sign. Kailey was left unconscious and in critical condition.
On an evening in March 2018, successful music executive, Nuel Cho, was out in Los Angeles with three friends, two of whom were longtime acquaintances from Korea, where he was raised. After a few hours catching up, the friends waited for taxies to head home. Nuel insisted his friends jump in the first set of taxis and he continued walking down the street to find another cab. “That’s the last thing I can remember,” Nuel said.
When a stroke patient returns to work, it’s a celebration for all who played a role in their rehabilitation. In the case of Paul Carroll, a CNS maintenance department employee in Bakersfield for 17 years, it’s a profound full circle. His journey from employee to patient to employee again began on St. Patrick’s Day 2016. He’d suffered a headache for a few days, and the day before St. Patrick’s Day he completed a full day’s work in the maintenance department, went home and ate dinner, but had problems with swallowing, dizziness, and speech.
Betty came to CNS in 2011, having endured multiple orthopedic and complex medical problems and several spine surgeries resulting in pulmonary emboli and development of metabolic encephalopathy. These complications restricted her mobility and impaired her problem-solving and cognitive skills. Betty couldn’t articulate thoughts or verbalize needs. She was at a seventh grade level in math, reading, and writing. She lacked the home safety awareness and self-care to live on her own.
Nearly 15 years after his injury, Dale has two award winning albums, and has been inducted into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. Sometimes lives must be rerouted after brain injury. With the onset of spring, Dale’s story is a touching reminder of man and nature’s ability to renew and begin again. He is truly inspirational.
As an experienced police officer, Ed knew the dangers inherent in working the streets of a big city. By day, he was a detective in one of the nation’s largest police departments, investigating financial and property crimes. By night, he occasionally he worked as a security presence at a local club. Then one evening every officer’s worst nightmare unfolded. An altercation with a customer led to an unthinkable act of violence. The enraged patron confronted Ed in the parking lot, ran over him with his car, and dragged him under the chassis, which caused broken bones and brain damage. As a crime fighter, Ed was now the victim, and had fractures and a brain injury as proof.
The bond between a mother and daughter deepens with life experiences. For Renee and Lauren Brashear it was a catastrophic event that strengthened the bond by creating a new level of devotion, commitment, and love. Lauren’s traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation has given new meaning to their celebration of Mother’s Day this year, as Lauren’s recovery is the ultimate gift for Renee.
In honor of Mother’s Day, we share the incredible case of Nicole, a young mother, who was admitted to CNS’ residential program after suffering a stroke seven months into her pregnancy. On June 18th 2017, 31-year-old Nicole started feeling chest pains while at her sister’s house in Midland, Texas, as she was celebrating Father’s Day with her husband and two young boys. She was soon rushed to the emergency room of a nearby hospital. “I remember telling my husband that my head hurt. I was in and out of consciousness. Then my speech started to slur, and that’s all I can remember,” says Nicole.
When Randy Hafdell had an aneurysm in 2014 his life became a chaotic nightmare. His wife and two children faced some terrifying prospects. How severe was his brain injury? Would it cause permanent damage? Could he work again? A grim fear set in as he was helicoptered to the hospital on that May morning, after a CT scan revealed a massive bleed that required a craniotomy.
A self-proclaimed workaholic, D.L. had been putting in long days at her job as a set designer. She began having severe headaches, which she suspected was caused by mounting stress. As the pain and intensity increased, she decided to seek help from her chiropractor, who administered a cervical spine manipulation.
An over-achiever at 16, Katie was an A student who’d been accepted into the Junior Olympics water polo team while considering which university she’d attend for nursing school. She thrived on success and was a rising star in school athletics. But her life plunged into pain and confusion when she was elbowed in the temple by a competitor during an intense match with a rival team.
