Man Told He'll Never Walk Again, Now Running
Miracles do occur. They may not happen overnight — they may not even happen over a year — but they happen. When the human spirit wills the physical body to overcome tremendous obstacles, a miracle happens. Chris Ellingsen, a patient at In Motion Physical Therapy in Yorktown, possesses such a spirit.
- From left to right: Ashley Malunas, Mindi Velardi, Rob Finch, Christopher Ellingsen, Lorraine Enright, Jamie Reynolds, Erica Edler, Kathy Stover, Amanda Motel
Eight years ago at age 18, Chris was in a tragic car accident that left him a coma. After being discharged from the hospital, he began rehabilitation. Progress was slow and Chris was confined to a wheelchair for a year. Therapists at the rehab center gave up on him and he gave up on ever regaining his ability to walk. His mother, however, did not give up.
One day mom Loraine Ellingsen stopped by the In Motion rehab center and talked to the therapists. They met with Chris next door at the Victory YMCA and encouraged him to try physical therapy with them. Abandoned by his previous therapists, Chris was skeptical at first. The caring staff at In Motion soon gained his trust and began to challenge him with rehabilitative therapies to help him regain his ability to walk.
Encouraged by the support of the entire In Motion staff, Chris worked hard for five years to overcome his obstacles. At last the miracle came…Chris could not only walk, he could run.
Kathy Stover, physical therapist, submitted a video documenting the young man’s rehabilitation to Kindred Healthcare System. As a result, the Victory YMCA staff won the national Kindred Rehab Award for the Best Clinical Outcomes for treating Chris. They decided to donate the prize a 42-inch flat screen television, to Chris as a way to celebrate his victory over the wheelchair. The television was presented to Chris and his mother at a victory celebration held at In Motion November 14.
Kathy says, “The entire team, including the office staff, has been a part of his success. The day Chris ran, we all cried. Seeing him run was our real prize.”
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