Portraits of perseverance

Portraits of perseverance are real life stories of individuals who became disabled and with courage and determination fought through recovery to reclaim their lives and employment.

Featured claimant

Dedication to recovery and job earns award
She was in the process of establishing a numbering system for the raw materials used by the manufacturer where she worked in shipping and receiving when dizziness and a ringing in her ears took her off the job. She was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma tumor, the condition occurs in about 1 in 100,000 people. In her case, the tumor grew on her balance nerve and impacted her hearing as well as her balance.

She underwent surgery to remove the tumor, followed by several months of physical therapy to help her regain her balance. She convinced her physicians that she was ready to return to work and once she received the go-ahead, she went back part time for three hours a day. She eventually increased her hours to full time and was able to complete her numbering project which earned an award, for which she was grateful.

Claimant stories

Determination earns national award for Brooklyn Center resident
A 60-year old male has no memory of the accident that not only took him away from the job he loves for an extended period but nearly took his life. He’s been told that he fell down the basement steps at his home and was found incoherent with his eyes fluttering and blood coming from his head and ears. Doctors gave him no better than a 50 percent chance of living through the night and indicated that if he did, he would likely live the rest of his life in a vegetative state as the result of the traumatic brain injury he had suffered. He was diagnosed with a sodium imbalance.

After undergoing surgery to remove a portion of his skull in order to reduce swelling. According to the surgeon, over 90 percent of patients who have the same surgery will ever recuperate to where he was at three months post-surgery. He spent time in three different hospitals/rehab facilities and eventually was able to return to work full time. He is also now volunteering at a rehabilitation facility.

Focus and drive help area resident recapture his life and career
A 35-year old male suffered injuries during a hit and run motorcycle accident in 2007 and was confined to a wheelchair, but through extreme focus and drive, he’s proven to himself and others that life-altering injuries don’t mean the end of a fulfilling and productive life.

As a result of the accident, Daniel suffered a broken back and shoulder, six broken ribs and a deflated lung, along with several other injuries. After his initial hospital stay, he spent 2 1/2 months at home before again being hospitalized for rehabilitation. After months of rehab he was able to return to work and adapted to the challenges that traveling in a wheelchair present. His perseverance allows him to do most everything he did before the accident except stand and walk.