After 40 years of dedicated service in neurorehabilitation, including many years in acute rehabilitation and a decade as Craig Hospital’s workers’ compensation manager, Perry Ann Williams has announced her retirement this August. “Retirement is bittersweet. I would like to recognize and thank the countless patients, families, acute neurorehabilitation professionals, trauma hospital teams and workers’ comp professionals I have had the privilege of working with over these last decades,” Perry Ann reflects. Perry Ann leaves her position in the capable hands of Tracey Jensen, a certified brain in ..read more

“For 20 years, I depended on others to drive me around,” 39-year-old Ashley Weber says. “But finally, I can drive myself and my 14-year-old son, Collin. While Collin never thought I’d be able to do it, he didn’t realize just how motivated I was to get behind the wheel again.” She adds, “I couldn’t do it without support from Craig’s Driving and Adaptive Transportation Program. They have given me so much freedom and independence—and truly expanded my world.” An Unimaginable Detour Back in December 2002, Ashley has just finished her first semester of her second year at Morgan Community College a ..read more

Two weeks after Tanner Ifrid graduated from San Diego State University in May 2023, his family and friends headed to Mexico for a fun, celebratory weekend. But halfway through their trip, Tanner was involved in a serious accident when the side-by-side ATV he was riding in flipped over. Tanner was quickly life-flighted to a California hospital for a five-hour surgery to stabilize his spine. One week later, he transferred to Craig Hospital for two months of spinal cord injury rehabilitation. “I felt extremely lucky to be at Craig, but it was a difficult time for me,” he explains. “I had t ..read more

Adam McCullough used to be an avid hunter in his home state of Minnesota. He also loved biking and playing team sports, including football and basketball. But after his accident in 2016, Adam realized that these activities would no longer look the same for him. “And that’s why I turned to video gaming,” explains Adam, age 33. “I have played video games my entire life. After my accident, gaming provided a great escape from the harsh reality of my disability.” Finding Independence The day after Christmas in 2016, Adam was driving when he hit an icy patch in the road, causing his car to flip. Du ..read more

The Craig Hospital Foundation is proud to announce Jim Johnson as its new Hope & Homecomings Campaign Chair. Jim’s renowned leadership in the construction industry and Colorado philanthropy is fostered by his 35+ years of experience leading GE Johnson Construction Company and his passion for giving back to the community. “Craig is a very special place where I always leave feeling hopeful about the future,” said Jim Johnson, president and CEO of GE Johnson. “I’ve known many Craig Hospital graduates over the years, and I’m honored to support Craig’s brightest ideas to expand access and acce ..read more

We are thrilled to announce that Craig Hospital Research Scientists Susie Charlifue, Ph.D., FASIA, FISCoS, FACRM, and Jenn Coker, Ph.D., MPH, FASIA, have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) research and rehabilitation by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA). Susie has been inducted as the new president of ASIA, and Jenn has been selected as a Fellow of ASIA (FASIA) Award recipient and elected to its Board of Directors. Founded in 1973, ASIA is a multidisciplinary organization that brings together physicians, researchers, therap ..read more

For many people, work is a significant part of their lives. In addition to earning an income, employment allows individuals to develop a sense of identity and pride, establishes important social connections, and increases self-esteem and independence. For 45-year-old Alan Payne, teaching art at Annunciation Catholic School in Northeast Denver provided him with a sense of meaning and purpose. Not only did he find pleasure in providing for his family, but teaching art also meant helping young students find joy and creativity—something he loved. It’s also a job that Alan is desperately trying to ..read more

The days are longer, the grass is greener, and at Craig Hospital, patients are spending more time outdoors as they work with plants in the hospital’s therapy gardens. Since 1982, Craig has offered horticultural therapy through its donor-supported Therapeutic Recreation Program for spinal cord and brain injury inpatients and outpatients. Equipped with the knowledge of adaptive tools and techniques, horticultural therapists teach patients and families that gardening is an accessible activity that welcomes hobbyists and novices alike. Mattie Cryer joined Craig in 2023 as a horticultural therapi ..read more

Back in 2004, Summer and Matt Van Kam were married in the garden at Craig Hospital. At the time, Matt’s brother, Ryan, was a patient at Craig after sustaining a spinal cord injury—and the young couple didn’t want Ryan to miss their wedding, originally scheduled for later that summer. Fast-forward almost two decades, and the Van Kams returned to Craig with their 16-year-old son, Shaun. A Second Colorado Visit On the morning of October 6, 2023, Shaun was driving to school in Doddridge, Arkansas, when he was T-boned by an 18-wheeler hauling gravel. He was rushed to the nearest hospital and then ..read more

“When I think about what Craig Hospital’s Teen Rehabilitation at Craig (TRAC) program meant to me as a mother—and the impact it has had on my teenage son’s life—I get emotional because it has meant everything to us,” Jennifer Ahrens shares. “TRAC is one of the parts of Dean’s rehabilitation program that gave him pieces of his life back that he could enjoy,” she says. “For me as a parent, the TRAC program gave me hope that my son would experience the things he loved to do again—but in a different way.” A Spring Skiing Accident Fifteen-year-old Dean was skiing at a Colorado ski area in Apr ..read more