INJURED - Shepherd Center

Letter from James Shepherd
Dear Friends,
With the start of this new year, it’s time for Shepherd Center to pause and reflect
on the faith and values that motivate so much of our work and your generosity.
Amidst economic uncertainty, it is our faith and values that provide the steadfast
anchor we need to sustain hope for a brighter future – both for ourselves and others
in need. It is tempting in these tumultuous times to give way to fear. But faith in
something beyond ourselves inspires the confidence we need to continue to share what
we have with people who are facing some of life’s most difficult circumstances.
At Shepherd Center, no matter the state of the economy, we have patients who need
our help and the community’s help. They need it perhaps more now than ever because
a growing number of people are uninsured or underinsured.
Our underinsured patients and those who become our voluntary charity cases often
depend upon the kindness and generosity of their friends – and even compassionate
strangers in their communities – to help provide things they need for their return
home. These folks – whether part of a church, civic organization or workplace, or as
individuals – help with home and workplace modifications, home maintenance and
medical equipment needs, among other things.
When I talk to patients, they often tell me how amazed they are about the number
of people who join their circle of support. These supporters have no expectation of a
reward. They just want to help. They draw upon their faith and values, and often give,
even when they are struggling financially and physically themselves.
Shepherd Center augments this kind of community support through the Marcus
Community Bridge Program, which identifies $6 of community-based support for
every $1 it spends on easing the patient’s transition back home. For example, a nurse
who is a quadriplegic wanted to return to her job in nursing home administration, and
Bridge partnered with her employer to get adaptive computer equipment and provide
transportation.
When people see these kinds of efforts happening in their own communities, they
come to appreciate the work Shepherd has done for someone close to them, and they
often, in turn, become Shepherd donors and volunteers.
It is this kind of widening and unwavering circle of support that will sustain
Shepherd Center and our patients through difficult times, and, I hope, ultimately
inspire your hope in the future, as well.
Warm regards,
James H. Shepherd, Jr.
Chairman of the Board
Photo by Gary Meek
THE MAGAZINE OF SHEPHERD CENTER
WINTER 2009
Shepherd Center
2020 Peachtree Road, NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
404-352-2020
spinalcolumn@shepherd.org
www.shepherd.org/publications
Editor
Jane M. Sanders
Design
Soloflight Design
Contributing Writers
Sara Baxter, Amanda Crowe, Kayla
Eubanks, Dean Melcher, Anne Pearce,
Cathy Rosenthal, Bill Sanders, Scott
Sikes
Contributing Photographers
Leita Cowart, James E. Fitts, Jack
Kearse, Gary Meek, Lauren Nicole,
Poané, Annemarie Poyo, Jeff Willhelm
Board of Directors
James H. Shepherd, Jr., Chairman
Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., President and CEO
Emory A. Schwall, Vice President
William C. Fowler, Treasurer
Stephen B. Goot, Corporate Secretary
Alana Shepherd, Recording Secretary
Members
Fred V. Alias, Gregory P. Anderson,
David F. Apple, Jr., M.D., Brock
Bowman, M.D.*, Wilma Bunch*, James
M. Caswell, Jr., Sara S. Chapman,
John S. Dryman, Mitchell J. Fillhaber*,
David H. Flint, Stephen B. Holleman*,
Michael L. Jones, Ph.D.*, Tammy
King*, Donald Peck Leslie, M.D., Bernie
Marcus, Joseph R. Moderow, Julian B.
Mohr, Charles T. Nunnally III, Sally D.
Nunnally, Clyde Shepherd III, J. Harold
Shepherd, Scott H. Sikes*, James E.
Stephenson, James D. Thompson,
Goodloe H. Yancey III
*Ex Officio
Spinal Column is published quarterly by
Shepherd Center, a private, not-for-profit
hospital specializing in the treatment
of people with spinal cord injury and
disease, acquired brain injury, multiple
sclerosis and other neuromuscular
disorders, and urological problems.
E-mail change of address information or
request to be removed from our mailing
list to spinalcolumn@shepherd.org, or
by mail to Shepherd Center, Attn: Spinal
Column Mailing List, 2020 Peachtree
Road, NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30309.
Please include mailing label. Spinal
Column accepts no advertising. Spinal
Column is a registered trademark of
Shepherd Center.