Luke Green

Luke Green with Tom Webb, therapy technician.

Luke Green was injured in a high school hockey game in February 2005 and was paralyzed below his shoulders. He had an incomplete injury, meaning that he had some functioning below the level of the injury. He and his parents held onto hope that Luke would regain complete movement.

"The window of opportunity to regain mobility and sensitivity is approximately two years," says Ronald Reeves, M.D., director of the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program at Mayo Clinic. "Patients like Luke who have incomplete spinal cord injuries respond very well to intensive therapy."

Luke has made and continues to make great strides in his recovery. After four months of rehabilitation at Saint Marys Hospital, Luke was able to participate in his high school graduation ceremony. With help from two of his fellow students, he stood and walked across the stage to receive his diploma, to a standing ovation from the crowd.

Six months after the injury, Luke walked, supported by another person and a crutch. Seven months after the injury, Luke left home to attend college. He lives on campus and continues intense outpatient physical therapy nearby. Every week brings progress.

"Luke's recovery has been spectacular," says Sherilyn Driscoll, M.D., the physiatrist (a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation) who coordinated Luke's care at Mayo Clinic. "We told him from the start that he had a good chance for regaining movement and that his progress would be guided in part by his determination and willingness to work hard. He rose to the occasion and continues to inspire his medical team with his inner strength."

Luke and his family credit his recovery to several factors. The care Luke received in intensive care immediately after the accident helped reduce swelling and prevent further injury. The four months of highly specialized, comprehensive treatment Luke had in the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program helped him progress toward his goal of walking and functioning independently.

Another important component in his recovery was Luke taking charge of his medical situation.

"The Mayo Clinic staff was great about answering his questions and helping him grasp complicated medical concepts," says Kathy Green, Luke's mother. "Luke wanted to know what every test and medication was for. I think he needs everything to make sense to him so he can justify the hard work physical therapy requires.

"He didn't want to postpone college because of his accident and rehabilitation," says Kathy. "The only limitation his medical team has told him is no more contact sports. Luke is determined that be the only limitation."