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What's Coming Up?
Monday, April 20
Auxiliary Card Party,
Anyone is invited to come
for lunch and card games!
Cost is $10 per person.
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| Mother learns
with SaeboFlex! |
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Michelle in therapy with Lisa Koch, Occupational Therapist.
Michelle, a mother of 3, wants to regain the use of her left hand and arm after a stroke. Everything from dressing her toddler to doing her girls' hair is challenging without the full use of her left side. "Doing laundry drives me crazy," said Michelle. Through SaeboFlex she is working to regain the ability to do the simple tasks as a mom. |
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Did you know?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the head violently hits an object or when something enters brain tissue. Symptoms of a TBI can be anything from a loss of consciousness for a short time to more severe symptoms such as seizures, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities. Every person can be affected differently. |
| The Institute Receives $18,500 donation! |
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(Left to right: Don Muskopf of Rolling Hills, Sara Baker, Dana Chatlin and Susan Brooks of Rolling Hills.)
Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, KS donated $18,500 for our Pediatric Program. We extend our warm thanks to them and their congregation! |
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Donate Here!
You can also call
Dana Chatlin,
816-751-7815 | |
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Greetings!
As you read through our first newsletter, we hope you are inspired by what The Rehabilitation Institute does and how our staff build brighter futures for children and adults with disabilities. Thank you in advance for reading!
Sincerely,
Don Harkins
President and CEO
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Stroke or Brain Injury Patients
Enhance skills with SaeboFlex!
Imagine not being able to open a can, button a shirt or pick up a glass. After a stroke or brain injury, many people have hands, wrists and fingers that do not have the strength and fine motor control to perform simple activities of daily living. Now The Rehabilitation Institute offers a device, called SaeboFlex, to help stroke survivors and others regain lost hand function - even if it's been several years since the onset of the disability. Looking much like a robotic arm, the SaeboFlex is a brace that promotes volunteer movement of the hands and fingers. Through repetitious movements such as voluntary holding and releasing objects, the device helps in retraining the brain to recognize and send signals to the hand for movement. Another device is the SaeboReach. This is attached to the SaeboFlex and extends above the elbow to incorporate using the elbow in movement. Excitingly, people who have had a stroke or brain injury up to 20 years ago may be able to improve their hands and elbow function with these Saebo products. To learn more about SaebFlex, visit: http://www.saebo.com/seaboflex.html. |
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 REHAB SPOTLIGHT
Lisa Koch
Elisabeth "Lisa" Koch, Occupational Therapist, has been with The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City for 11 years. In her tenure, Lisa has worked with adults, children and adolescents. Currently, she provides therapy for individuals in the adult day treatment program. Along with her current position, Lisa has experience working in an inpatient setting and helping people learn to drive following a disability. "Her expert knowledge of traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, strokes and orthotics is outstanding and is a guide for other therapists who work around her," said her supervisor Sara Baker. Lisa is a graduate from the University of Missouri Kansas City where she received her Bachelor's. She went on to receive her Master's of Occupational Therapy from Rockhurst University. She is certified to use SaeboFlex in her therapy with patients who have had a stroke or brain injury. Most recently, she organized a SaeboFlex clinic that introduced this new technique to individuals from the community who have experienced the adverse affects of a stroke. Lisa's commitment to our organization and her patients is shown through her active volunteerism with A Day at the Lake and Race to Nowhere - two events which directly impact individuals served by the Institute.
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Rebuilding Lives: Restoring Hope
A major fundraising effort is underway at the Rehabilitation Institute - our first in 40 years! A group of dedicated volunteers have helped us plan and launch the Rebuilding Lives: Restoring Hope Campaign. Our goal is to raise $5,000,000 for much needed facility renovations and $2,000,000 to strengthen our endowment. We recognize that these are very ambitious goals even in the best of economic times. But given the line of work we are in, we recognize that obstacles are really opportunities in disguise. Gifts to the campaign will help us create a state-of-the-art medical rehabilitation and employment placement center for the 21st Century. Our plan addresses our current and future program space needs and meets our parking challenges without requiring new construction. To find our more about the campaign please call Dana Chatlin at 816-751-7815. | |
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