They made us cry, cheer and beam with pride.
They are the stories and media moments that defined 2021.
From COVID patient successes, a Guillain-Barre patient’s determination to conquer a 5k obstacle run, and even an on-campus dream-wedding-come-true, we’re counting down our twelve favorite stories from the past year.
January:
Nick Napoli has the need for speed – and doesn’t let disability stand in his way of participating in the Gaylord Sports Association’s adaptive skiing program.
February:
Gaylord respiratory therapists Emily Woodward and Helen Young explain how outpatient pulmonary therapy services can help people with long-COVID - like 27-year-old Mark Zurlis - breathe easier.
March:
John Kozin thought he had a cold in early January, but wound up in intensive care within a week. Meet Gaylord’s 200th COVID patient.
April:
How do employers navigate the challenges of helping workers with lingering COVID-19 side effects? Dr. Jerrold Kaplan, Gaylord physiatrist, weighs in.
May:
Injured in a skiing accident, Katie LaPierre was determined to return to the profession she loves - nursing. “Katie’s Comeback” features her journey to recovery and the special bond she forged with her “sisterhood of nurses” at Gaylord.
June:
Guillain-Barre Syndrome left him paralyzed. Months later Greg Whitehouse competed in the Gaylord Gauntlet as the 2021 Featured Adaptive Athlete. Read about Greg Whitehouse’s recovery and watch his story on Inside Edition.
July:
From the front lines of COVID … to a different kind of challenge … meet the COVID Crusaders of the 2021 Gaylord Gauntlet!
August:
Mary Salemi, who was hospitalized for nearly a year after acute respiratory distress syndrome, was able to fulfill her duties as her sister’s maid of honor thanks to the “Think Possible” spirit of Gaylord staff who created a magical “dream wedding” for Mary’s family.
September:
Top workplace AND top leader? Yes, please!
Hearst Connecticut Media named Gaylord Specialty Healthcare as “Top Workplace” and President and CEO Sonja LaBarbera as “Top Leader” in its annual Top Workplace Awards. We couldn’t agree more!
October:
Hundreds of news outlets across the world – including CNN – shared the incredible story of Robby Walker, a Florida resident flown to receive life-saving ECMO treatment at Hartford’s Saint Francis Hospital. It was at Gaylord where Robby began to walk and undergo intensive rehabilitation to prepare him for a safe return home. “Gaylord gave my life back!”
November:
Glenn Merritt, one of Gaylord’s youngest COVID patients, told the Good Morning America audience how contracting the virus before he became eligible for the vaccine led to months of intensive rehabilitation at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare. Though a link is not available, you can learn more about Glenn’s recovery on NBC.
December:
After sustaining a spinal cord injury last fall, 19-year-old UNH freshman Natalie Matarazzo is determined to move forward in her recovery, one step in Ekso at a time.