Well - Spring 2014 - (Page 10)

REHABILITATION: Reclaiming Life The UNC Center for Rehabilitation Care provides customized treatment in a new, convenient location. PHOTO: PAUL BRALY, TARHEEL IMAGES T 10 wo years ago, Ajah Sturdivant was an active 16-year-old. She was a varsity cheerleader at Chapel Hill High School, ran track and field, and played lacrosse. She also worked with the Town of Chapel Hill as part of a youth program. All of that changed on Aug. 19, 2012. Ajah was a passenger in a car that was involved in an accident. She had a spinal cord injury that damaged her C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae and required spinal fusions. After surgery, Ajah's injuries left her needing a wheelchair and months of physical rehabilitation. "My ultimate goal is to be back on my feet and walk," says Ajah, who is working on strengthening her legs. "I'm willing to try anything. I don't give up easily." The UNC Center for Rehabilitation Care (CRC) opened last fall in the former Borders building off of U.S. 15-501 and provides outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation services to patients dealing with injuries, congenital conditions or diseases. Heather Walker, MD, medical director of spinal cord injury rehabilitation at UNC Health Care and Ajah's outpatient rehabilitation physician, says the new location offers convenience to patients in wheelchairs. "At the hospital, patients had to contend with a parking deck, stairs and walkways.The new Center is much easier to navigate." For Ajah and her mom, Melissa, the Heather new location is easier to get to than the Walker, MD hospital. "It's very convenient for us," says Melissa. Now that Ajah receives physical therapy twice a week, convenience is key. With the therapy Ajah receives at the Center, she is making significant progress. "Her greatest accomplishments are her upper body strength and her ability to transfer in and out of her wheelchair, as well as her improved core balance," says Melissa. Ajah also has benefited greatly from the Spring 2014 Well Ajah Sturdivant receives physical therapy twice a week at the new UNC Center for Rehabilitation Care.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Well - Spring 2014

Well - Spring 2014
Contents
UNC Health Care News
The Gift of Sound
Creature Comforts
Rehabilitation: Reclaiming Life After Injury
New Blood Pressure Guidelines
Nutrition
Calendar

Well - Spring 2014