Bryan Conroy was working as a framer on a roof in Arizona when he stepped on a piece of plywood that crashed to the ground 16 feet below. He knew instantly that he was paralyzed, and that was the moment when his future became much more unknown.
One of the first times Bryan found strength and solace was in Craig's Therapeutic Recreation department just after he arrived at Craig in October 2019. Together with his wife and two kids, Bryan and his family made hanging plant arrangements. His young son in particular was anxious about what the future held for his father, so this time together helped the family feel united, hopeful and supported. This important initial moment of bonding echoed throughout Bryan's stay at Craig since he was able to take those hanging plants that his family worked on and hang them in his room. His wife and kids weren't able to stay at Craig during his entire rehabilitation, but their plants were always there as a constant reminder of their love and support.
Therapeutic Recreation (TR) is an activity-based therapy that can include all kinds of different activities, from gardening to skiing to video gaming. TR helps patients return to their former interests or find new ones as a way to achieve rehab goals and create a foundation for a full and satisfying life. What is truly transformative about TR is that it gives patients hope: it helps people realize that their lives as they knew them before their injury aren't over.
As a father and a husband, Bryan was worried about what his injury meant for his future. "Your brain runs wild with the unknown after an injury," he says, "and therapeutic recreation gives you something you know in all of the unknown." TR was integral to his sense of well-being and community, as well as his hope for the future.
After his initial planting session, Bryan took advantage of the TR program as much as possible. He fulfilled a lifelong dream of conquering his fear of drowning and learning how to scuba dive. He went ice fishing for the first time in his life. He got to ride a snowmobile and attend his first NFL game. These outings were more than just fun–they pushed Bryan's limits physically, mentally and emotionally. They involved challenges like using a public restroom in a stadium for the first time post injury, transferring from a wheelchair to a snowmobile and rolling quickly and efficiently to keep up with high-energy kids. Each outing tested Bryan's strength, wheelchair skills and more, ultimately helping him feel prepared for when he would return home to Arizona and plan family outings with his wife and children.
In addition to the skills and experiences Bryan gained from TR, he is particularly grateful for the relationships and support networks that were nourished through various therapeutic recreation activities. A trip to a local diner or an evening of playing video games at Craig were opportunities to bond with his family as well as other patients. Bryan built an entirely new community of support with people who have similar injuries to his, friendships that he says will be "lifelong" despite the distance.
Bryan discharged from Craig in February 2020 and is back home in Arizona.