Andrew Cho has come a long way in three months. He has gone from being paralyzed from the neck down to re-learning how to walk, write, and even balance on a BOSU ball while playing catch. “It’s insane. Yesterday I walked 10 kilometres,” says Andrew. Andrew’s journey through the health care system began in January of this year when he collapsed in his Vancouver apartment. The former pro mountain biker propelled himself across the floor with his chin and used his tongue to activate Siri, a feature on his Iphone. Siri called 911.

Andrew was transported to VGH where he underwent surgery for a bleed in his spinal cord space. After only 2 weeks, he was transferred to the spine program at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre to begin his active rehab. Initially, Andrew needed a power wheelchair for mobility, and struggled to feed himself and use his computer because his hands didn’t work properly. Hard work and luck enabled him to get to Intensive Rehab Day Program so quickly.

Intensive Rehabilitation Day Program at GF Strong

Andrew is now part of the Intensive Rehabilitation Day Program (IRDP) at GF Strong. The four to six week program is an alternative to in-patient care. It began in 2010, and sees approximately 90 clients per year. All of them receive the same therapy that they would get as in-patients, but they are able to sleep in their own beds, eat their own meals and be closer to their families. “The program is geared towards clients who are medically stable and able to take care of their self-care needs, either independently or with family assistance,” says Rhonda Johnston, the coordinator of the Intensive Rehab Day Program Coordinator at GF Strong. “Some of our clients are initially in-patients, and then enter the intensive day program, while others come directly from acute care hospitals. Our aim is to ensure clients are receiving the rehabilitation they need in the most appropriate place.”

Services at GF Strong

Clients have access to physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehab assistants, speech language therapists, social workers and physical medicine specialists. They can also access centralized services at GF Strong including vocational rehab, sexual health, psychology, outpatient nursing, recreation therapy, music therapy, addictions counselling and more.

Front row (left to right): Kathy Thom (GFS Admissions Coordinator), Gillian Coates (Physiotherapist), Farida Lalji (Social Worker), Heather Sinclair (Vocational Rehab Counselor). Back row (left to right): Chris Palmer (Manager), Jonathan Russell (Physiotherapist), Dr Derry Dance (Physiatrist), Rhonda Johnston (Team Coordinator), Stacey Anutooshkin (Occupational Therapist), Dr Sylvia Nay (Psychologist), Karen Wruck (Speech language Pathologist), Julia Baylis (Speech Language Pathologist) and Morio Shiono (Occupational Therapist).

Helping patients regain their quality of life

Physiotherapist Gillian Coates says her goal is to help people overcome their injury and get back their quality of life. “That can be different for everyone. For some people it means having a quality of life where they can take part in social activities. For others, including athletes like Andrew, it may mean being able to run, snowboard or mountain bike.” Andrew Cho intends to do it all.

“I credit my recovery to sheer luck, my treatment, and the support of family and friends,” says Andrew. “There’s also determination and sheer will.” For Andrew, recovering from his spinal cord injury is like learning to ride a bike again: “I know I can ride a bike, in fact, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park opens soon.” He has promised his physiotherapist Gillian Coates that he will stick to the intermediate trails – or at least warm up on them.