Josh didn’t hesitate when it came time to choose where to go for inpatient rehabilitation.
“Early on, my surgeon said that Gaylord Hospital was the place for spinal cord injury,” he says. “Nurses, family, everyone said the same thing. By the time I arrived, I already had a lot of confidence in Gaylord’s expertise.”
In October 2025, the 39-year-old was involved in a car accident so severe that the force of impact ejected him from his seatbelt, causing a level T2 complete spinal cord injury. Doctors said Josh would likely never move or regain sensation below his level of injury again.
After weeks in the ICU, Josh came to Gaylord Hospital, where he spent two months in intensive inpatient rehabilitation before transitioning to Gaylord’s new SCI Day Treatment Program. Today, he spends three days a week in the intensive outpatient program, building strength and mobility and learning the skills needed for greater independence in his daily life.
Josh says he feels fortunate to have benefited from the many cutting-edge, donor-supported technologies that have helped propel his recovery at Gaylord. One such tool is the ARC-EX non-invasive spinal cord stimulator, which delivers targeted stimulation to restore movement and other functions in individuals with spinal cord injury. The advanced technology is helping many patients, like Josh, achieve meaningful gains in their recoveries.
“Using the ARC-EX is wild,” Josh says. “It’s trying to wake things up again, and it definitely works.”
After one of his first occupational therapy sessions using the ARC-EX, Josh noticed something remarkable the very next day: he could wiggle his hips. It was the first movement he had experienced below his level of injury since the accident.
“I could hardly believe it,” he says, smiling.
“I don’t want to stop … because this program gives me hope.”
This content is for educational purposes only and is meant to provide general information. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns about your health. In case of a medical emergency, contact your doctor or call 911 right away.