Search Results

Being a first-time parent can be a whirlwind. Of course, you feel the excitement and joy, but the feelings parents are often afraid to talk about are their fears of the unknown.

In just a single moment, everything can change. For Marissa and Johan, that moment came when a casual Sunday afternoon in March 2018 turned into a day they will never forget. And while their story begins with one of their darkest days imaginable, it became one of hope, caring and peace.

Lake Mary, FL (November 9, 2021) – A new era of healthcare is unfolding in Seminole County with the groundbreaking ceremony for Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital.

Despite only a 10% chance of survival and a 99% chance he would be in persistent a vegetative state, the team continued delivering treatment as if Austyn would make a 100% recovery. Soon, their constant care paid off, and just 50 hours after the accident, Austyn opened his eyes. And to make the moment even more miraculous, his family could tell he recognized them. “We were like, ‘Austyn is still in there,’” Karolina said. “Everyone kind of jumped on board after Austyn opened his eyes and we had every resource you could think of.”

Tommy, a loving husband, father and grandfather, lives in Apopka with his wife, Denise. Nearing fifty years of marriage, Tommy and Denise have supported each other throughout much of their lives. In 2004, they met a challenge they never anticipated when Tommy was shot in the stomach while working as a delivery driver.  Taken to Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center for surgery, Tommy’s family rushed to be by his side. 

All his life, James (JD) has had a love for sports and staying active. Decades ago, as a recent college graduate, JD joined the Army to find structure, continue his commitment to athleticism, and be the best version of himself. However, JD’s military experience was riddled with injuries, one of the worst being a fractured pelvis and back issues sustained from falling 100 feet from a helicopter. JD would suffer the pains of his past for years, until one day, he’d had enough.

I have always really enjoyed being physically active. I used to play racquetball, water ski, snow ski, snowboard. But over time, I couldn’t enjoy those activities anymore because it was just too much for my knee. When it got to the point where I would have to sit out for two days afterward because of the pain, it just wasn’t worth it. I kept lowering the level of my activities.

Now a Central Florida resident, Ellis called Cleveland, Ohio home as a child. Because he was raised in the Forest City’s white winters and 80-degree summers, he enjoyed a variety of sports growing up such as skiing, baseball, hockey and football to name a few. But overtime, Ellis’ extremely active lifestyle began to take a toll on his body even in his young age, as he was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease. Osgood-Schlatter causes knee pain in growing children who are very active and results in a painful lump below the kneecap. Though this condition can be resolved and usually doesn’t lead to additional issues, he would find himself experiencing similar problems well into adulthood.

The moment she landed, she knew. Something wasn’t right. Kelley had performed the calypso leap countless times, usually sticking her landing, and even taught the move to her dance students. This time, however, her right foot failed her. The worst scenarios immediately crept into her mind. “If something were to go wrong, that’s it,” she thought. “My job is done.” Her trip back home to Florida was supposed to be a break from the rush of life as a performer and dance instructor in New York, not another stressor. But by morning, the dancer faced excruciating pain she couldn’t ignore.

They had me practice walking on uneven surfaces in the on-site garden, going up and down stairs with a walker, and doing domestic activities like putting dishes away in a staged kitchen that is part of the rehab program facilities. I thought it would take two weeks before I was ready to return home, but it took me just one week because they had prepared me so well.