Walk to Victory: Meet Greg

Only 4 days left before our 2nd annual Walk to Victory, a 24-hour step-a-thon to raise funds for Magee’s Locomotor Training Program and The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation’s NeuroRecovery Network — and we really couldn’t be more excited! Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, current and former patients and their family and friends will walk on treadmills in our Locomotor Training Clinic for 24 straight hours! Each walker is fundraising to bring greater access to new, activity-based therapies for more patients with spinal cord injury, and everyone has a story to tell.

Throughout the week, we’re going to share a few of those stories with you! Today, meet Greg Snyder.

GregLast summer, Greg was a typical medical student at Jefferson Medical College, excelling in his studies and busy with clinical rotations. Fast forward one year later, Greg is still excelling in medical school — but he is anything but typical. Things changed for him on June 17, 2013 when an accident while hiking with his dog resulted in broken vertebrae and a T9 complete spinal cord injury.

After two spinal fusion surgeries and a lengthy ICU stay, Greg came to Magee as an inpatent and then an outpatient. During his stay at Magee, Greg worked tirelessly to regain his independence. In fall 2013, he was introduced to Locomotor Training. 

“For someone who is newly injured, LT is incredibly encouraging and motivating,” he said. “Every day, the team was ready and waiting, determined to help me reach my maximum recovery. It was nice to be able to work hard to achieve a goal.”

And achieve goals he did! Not only did LT help Greg avoid secondary complications that can be common with his injury, but he was also able to strengthen his core, including lower abs and back muscles.

In total, Greg was able to complete more than 100 sessions of LT — and thanks to the Locomotor Training Scholarship Fund, which was partially funded by last year’s event, he was able to receive LT after his insurance stopped paying for the treatment.

“The only way I could use Locomotor Training was through the scholarship funds, ” he said. “That’s why I am getting involved in this year’s event —I want other people to be able to do what I’ve done.”

Help us reach our goal to provide LT to other people like Greg! To donate to Greg’s fundraising campaign, please click here

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