To most, Emily Meyer’s goal may sound easy.
“My goal is to participate and walk up the aisle as a bridesmaid in my brother’s wedding,” said Emily.
That was early November. But it took her 159 days and countless hours of intense therapy using specialized technology like the Lokomat at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals—Lincoln campus to get there. That’s because …“Lying in a bed for three months, it definitely does not make you stronger,” said Emily.
Emily spent time rebuilding muscle in her legs, arms and core after being involved in a car crash in early June. She was thrown from the backseat after a second vehicle hit them at a rural intersection near LaMars, Iowa. Emily suffered trauma to her brain and spinal cord and spent 18 days at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City in a medically induced coma before Madonna.
“I have no broken legs, that would have really put me behind in therapy for walking, so I’m very lucky for that,” said Emily.
That and the Iowa State sophomore says she’s thankful for growing up on a farm with two older brothers.
“Having to load or like lift bales or something for all the guys like I mean everything makes you stronger with everything that you do and that’s for sure,” said Emily.
Excited to be surrounded by family and friends, Emily is dedicated to outpatient therapy back home and college in the fall. An education major, she says hard work and having the right attitude helps.
“Pushing yourself as hard as the therapists ask you to do that helps you a lot to do then you can get back to what you want to do,” said Emily.
Learn more about our complex medical program at Madonna.