Meagan Ricci: Tenacity and Faith after a Spinal Cord Injury

Mike Kyrsiuk: Running with the Wrong Crowd Nearly Killed Me

In this episode of the Gaylord Think Possible podcast, Megan Palmer, OT, and Gaylord's ThinkFirst Program coordinator, interviews  Mike Kyrsuik. Mike talks about nearly life-ending injuries from a car accident when he was a 17-year-old varsity baseball pitcher ready to graduate from high school in 1974.  Mike had always been a responsible student until earlier that year when he started hanging with what he described as “the big crowd,” a group of popular jocks who often cut classes together.   Having regarded himself as a “social nobody” for years, Mike was flattered that the group had accepted him into their fold. After all, he reasoned, he was a senior, and it was finally his time to shine. But running with the big crowd exacted a hefty toll. He was invited to join the group on an impromptu road trip across the state border to buy beer. Mike politely declined, citing his unfinished paper at home. Refusing to take no for an answer, the boy even offered Mike the shotgun seat in his tiny Triumph T6.  That decision would change Mike's life forever. Mike has written a book about his experience and life titled "The Big One." For more information, see  Mike's website [https://www.shootforthesun.com/]. Link to his story and experience at Gaylord [https://www.gaylord.org/Patients-Families/About/News/News-List/the-big-one#article]   Gaylord WEBSITE [https://www.gaylord.org/] Gaylord FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/gaylordspecialtyhealthcare] Gaylord YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/user/GaylordHealthcare]

Officer David Petersen: Teens and Impaired Driving

Officer Dave Petersen, a police officer with the New Milford, Connecticut, Police Department for the past 12 years,  has witnessed the results of traumatic accidents where every second matters in saving lives. He is on the crash scene reconstruction team and is a drug-recognition expert who shares some of the technical and intuitive skills used in detecting how an accident occurred or if a person has used drugs. With a family of his own, he shares impactful life lessons and discusses how to talk to teens about dangerous situations and how to keep teens safe. Tune in for this special ThinkFirst edition. Gaylord WEBSITE [https://www.gaylord.org/] Gaylord FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/gaylordspecialtyhealthcare] Gaylord YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/user/GaylordHealthcare]

Meagan Ricci: Tenacity and Faith after a Spinal Cord Injury

Gaylord's ThinkFirst Program is part of the National ThinkFirst Association [https://www.thinkfirst.org/], which is committed to educating youth about the devastating and life-altering consequences of poor decisions that can lead to a serious brain or spinal cord injury. In this episode of the Gaylord Specialty Healthcare "Think Possible" podcast,  32-year-old Meagan Ricci, shares her journey of being paralyzed from the waist down. Just 18 months ago, Meagan was in a car accident that resulted in a T6 incomplete spinal cord injury from a car accident. Today, she is miraculously walking and back to coaching her gymnastics team.  Tune in to experience the hope and passion for life that got Meagan back on her feet and how faith has carried her through the toughest times. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a long-term acute care hospital in Wallingford, Connecticut.  www.gaylord.org. [https://www.gaylord.org/] To learn more about ThinkFirst at Gaylord [https://www.gaylord.org/Patients-Families/Conditions-Services/ThinkFirst] Learn more about the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation [https://www.thinkfirst.org/] Gaylord WEBSITE [https://www.gaylord.org/] Gaylord FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/gaylordspecialtyhealthcare] Gaylord YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/user/GaylordHealthcare]

Amy Beckwith: How my daughter's accident and traumatic brain injury changed our lives

Gaylord's ThinkFirst Program is part of the National ThinkFirst Association [https://www.thinkfirst.org/], which is committed to educating youth about the devastating and life-altering consequences of poor decisions that can lead to a serious brain or spinal cord injury. In this episode, Megan Palmer, OT, and Gaylord's ThinkFirst Program coordinator, interviews Amy Beckwith.  Amy's 19-year-old daughter was in a drunk driving accident eight years ago that resulted in a diffuse axonal brain injury a type of traumatic brain injury which changed their family forever. Amy shares a mother’s story of hardship, struggles, adjustments, and triumphs in the aftermath of the accident and through the years of Courtney's recovery. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a long-term acute care hospital in Wallingford, Connecticut.  www.gaylord.org. [https://www.gaylord.org/] To learn more about ThinkFirst at Gaylord [https://www.gaylord.org/Patients-Families/Conditions-Services/ThinkFirst] Learn more about the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation [https://www.thinkfirst.org/] Gaylord WEBSITE [https://www.gaylord.org/] Gaylord FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/gaylordspecialtyhealthcare] Gaylord YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/user/GaylordHealthcare]

Matt Solomon: Making Hard Choices after Multiple Sports-Related Concussions

Gaylord's ThinkFirst Program is part of the National ThinkFirst Association [https://www.thinkfirst.org/], which is committed to educating youth about the devastating and life-altering consequences of poor decisions that can lead to a serious brain or spinal cord injury. In this episode, Megan Palmer, OT and Gaylord's ThinkFirst Program coordinator, interviews Matthew Solomon a high school student who had to make some hard choices after receiving several concussions while playing football. Matt talks about the factors affecting his decision and wants to encourage other athletes who may be facing similar decisions. With mounting evidence of potential long-term effects from repetitive concussions, Matt's story and struggle to make the best decisions for his health resonates with student-athletes and parents alike. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a long-term acute care hospital located in Wallingford, Connecticut.  www.gaylord.org. [https://www.gaylord.org] To learn more about ThinkFirst at Gaylord [https://www.gaylord.org/Patients-Families/Conditions-Services/ThinkFirst] Learn more about the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation [https://www.thinkfirst.org/] Gaylord WEBSITE [https://www.gaylord.org/] Gaylord FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/gaylordspecialtyhealthcare] Gaylord YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/user/GaylordHealthcare]