A Light for Others

After Spinal Cord Injury, Community is Everything to Long-Time Restaurateur Kevin Haggerty

Don’t let the name fool you: Sadler’s Ordinary is anything but your typical restaurant.

Nestled in Marlborough, Connecticut, the 80-seat restaurant is a favorite among locals and out-of-area visitors alike.

While menu favorites like chicken pot pie and beef Wellington keep guests coming back, it’s the warm hospitality served with every meal that truly sets Sadler’s apart.

“We’re kind of like Cheers,” says Kevin Haggerty, owner and former head chef of Sadler’s Ordinary. “We get to know everyone’s name. Once you’re here, you’re part of the family.”

Five years ago, when a spinal cord injury changed his life, that same family rallied together to offer Kevin, a pillar of the community and a friend to all, their support in every way possible.

Life, Interrupted.

On July 24, 2019, Kevin and his wife, Nancy, were eagerly entering into a new chapter in their lives.

The couple were looking forward to transitioning into their “dream” retirement home in Matunuck, Rhode Island, and were hosting family to celebrate. The next week, they were set to travel to Thailand for their son’s wedding, a three-week-long trip that would mark Kevin’s first true vacation in nearly a decade. In the months ahead, he had plans to retire after almost 30 years as Sadler’s head chef.

Kevin remembers the “gorgeous” weather that evening as he and his son drove to the beach to swim and body surf, activities they often enjoyed together.

“The surf was up, the waves were good,” he recalls. “I couldn’t wait to get in.”

But the first wave he caught was powerful, lifting him up high before slamming him headfirst onto a sandbar.

“The surf started pulling me back out and there was nothing I could do. I thought I was going to drown.”

His son and an off-duty lifeguard noticed Kevin face-down in the water and very carefully towed him to shore.

“My skin was on fire with pins and needles,” Kevin recalls. “I kept thinking, ‘Please, God … please save me.’”

“A Community to Grow in”

A C4-C5 incomplete spinal cord injury had changed Kevin’s life in an instant. The 65-year-old had lost all feeling from the shoulders down and could only take shallow breaths. An individual with an injury of his level, doctors explained, had up to a 30 percent chance of regaining movement or sensation.

After two weeks in a Providence hospital, Kevin was transferred to Gaylord Hospital where he spent the next 100 days working with his physical therapist, Tim, and occupational therapist, BJ, who he described as “relentless.”

“Every day, I read the words on the therapy gym wall: ‘You haven’t come this far to only come this far.’ It pushed me to keep going. I never plateaued; I was always striving to get better.”

Throughout his Gaylord stay, Kevin benefited from the expertise of Dr. David Rosenblum whose ability to connect with his patients and explain the complexities of spinal cord injuries, set realistic expectations, and offer encouragement left a lasting impact.

“He was amazing,” Kevin says. “He helped us understand what to expect and what was possible.”

As he struggled with his physical challenges, Kevin also faced an immense emotional battle as he began to process his new reality.

“There were two ways I could have approached my situation,” he says. “I could have said, ‘woe is me’ and given up, or I could be a bright light for others.”

Kevin chose the latter.

He quickly became known throughout Gaylord Hospital as an ambassador of positivity. When he wasn’t at therapy, he would sit in the hospital’s front lobby, greeting visitors with a cheery, “Welcome to Gaylord!”

“Everyone knew who Kevin Haggerty was!” he laughs.

Kevin also befriended fellow patients, celebrated their victories, and listened to their disappointments and setbacks. It was important to him that no one felt alone in their recovery journey.

“Gaylord gave us all a community to grow in,” Kevin says.

Planting the Seeds of Kindness

A beloved pillar of the Marlborough community, Kevin was always someone who quietly took care of others.

If a friend lost a loved one, he’d be the first to show up with cookies and sandwiches. During the holiday rush, he would ferry cider and treats to the Marlborough post office to lift workers’ spirits.

After the accident, Kevin’s community was determined to show its love and support in return. Friends and neighbors rallied together as they raised funds to purchase a van, build a wheelchair ramp, and make his home accessible. For the past five years, the KevStrong “You’ve Got a Friend” golf tournament has raised thousands of dollars to help offset the cost of the aides who continue to assist Kevin daily.

“I believe that when you plant the seeds of kindness, you never know when you may reap the harvest,” he says, gratefully.

Kevin visits Sadler’s Ordinary daily, rolling through the dining room to greet guests, share stories, and connect with friends new and old.

“This is better than anything my doctor could prescribe,” he says. “Being here, surrounded by friends, sharing a laugh … it’s everything.”

Despite the challenges he has faced since the accident – including a three-year period spent bedridden battling non-healing pressure wounds – Kevin says that his strong faith in God and commitment to “being a source of light” for others has gotten him through some of the hardest times.

He continues to regularly follow up with the many friends he met at Gaylord Hospital. Whether offering a kind word, checking in on their progress, or simply letting them know they are not alone, Kevin is on a mission to uplift and encourage others along their own recovery journeys.

“The hardest part of this kind of injury is accepting and surrendering. It takes a while, but once you get there, the healing begins. It’s taken me years to find that out, but if you open your heart and your soul and let people in, they will want to rush in and help you.”

“It’s not easy to get there,” he says. “The emotional toll is real. You’re only fooling yourself if you say you don’t have negative thoughts.”

“But you have to fight to stay positive,” he urges. “You have to find the light … no matter what.”