Winter 2013 - Shepherd Center

A Return to Work After TBI 

FULLY 

InVOLVED 

also inside 

Closing the gap in cost and care + tailored technology 

Healing power of music + i’ll be back + animal therapy 

ShepherdCenterMagazine.org Winter 2013

Shepherd Center Magazine: 

Spinal Column ® 

Winter 2013 

Shepherd Center 

2020 Peachtree Road, NW 

Atlanta, Georgia 30309 

404-352-2020 

magazine@shepherd.org 

www.ShepherdCenterMagazine.org 

Editor 

Jane M. Sanders 

Design 

Soloflight, Inc. 

Contributing Writers 

Sara Baxter, John Christensen, Amanda 

Crowe, Rachel Franco, Phillip Jordan, Katie 

Malone, Florina Newcomb, Cara Puckett, 

Scott Sikes, David Simpson, Matt Winkeljohn 

Contributing Photographers 

Leita Cowart, Louie Favorite, James Fitts, 

Austin Holt, Leslie Johnson, Gary Meek, 

Meg Porter, Brian Tipton, Jeremy Wilburn, 

Mark Riechers 

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., C. Duncan Beard † , Brock 

Bowman, M.D. * , Wilma Bunch * , James M. 

Caswell, Jr., Sara S. Chapman, Clark Dean, 

John S. Dryman, Mitchell J. Fillhaber * , David H. 

Flint, Stephen B. Holleman * , Michael L. Jones, 

Ph.D. * , Tammy King * , Donald Peck Leslie, M.D., 

Douglas Lindauer, Sarah Morrison * , 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 

† 

Emeritus 

Shepherd Center Magazine: Spinal Column 

is published quarterly by Shepherd Center, a 

private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in 

the treatment of people with spinal cord injury, 

brain injury and multiple sclerosis. E-mail 

change of address information or request to 

be removed from our mailing list to magazine@ 

shepherd.org, or by mail to Shepherd Center, 

Attn: Shepherd Center Magazine Mailing List, 

2020 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 

30309. Please include mailing label. Shepherd 

Center Magazine accepts no advertising. 

Spinal Column is a registered trademark of 

Shepherd Center. 

About the Cover: Former brain injury patient 

Lamar Matthews-Webb of Statesboro, Ga., 

has returned to his job as a firefighter (story 

on page 12). Photo by Jeremy Wilburn 

Dear Friends, 

As you start this new year, I hope you were able to contribute in 2012 to charitable 

causes that are near and dear to your heart. Entering this year, I hope you will consider 

giving to one or more of five Shepherd Center programs we are emphasizing in our 

2013 fundraising efforts. Those programs are patient and family housing, therapeutic 

recreation, assistive technology, injury prevention and the SHARE Military Initiative. 

These programs are so vital to the rehabilitation of our patients, yet insurance 

companies rarely deem them medically necessary and therefore don’t cover these 

services. So we depend upon donor contributions to fund these programs. And we 

depend upon a cadre of dedicated volunteers who work with staff members in the 

Shepherd Center Foundation to raise these funds through their committee work. These 

volunteers are key to our efforts to educate and focus their peers on the benefits of 

these programs. 

On- or near-campus housing, for example, allows patients’ family members to be 

near them while they undergo rehabilitation at Shepherd Center. Having family members 

nearby provides much-needed support to patients and allows patients’ loved ones 

to more easily participate in family training and education that will assist them as 

caregivers. Without the presence of their family members, patients’ spirits may sag. 

Having them nearby boosts their mental well-being and lets their family participate in 

the care and education their loved one receives. 

Therapeutic recreation (TR) helps patients re-engage in sports activities that contribute 

to a healthy lifestyle post-injury. There are mental health benefits to TR, as well. Assistive 

technology gives patients the tools they need to remain productive and involved. These 

tools help patients return to school, work and life in their communities. Together, these 

programs lead to better outcomes for patients – both physically and psychologically. 

Meanwhile, Shepherd Center has expanded its injury prevention efforts. Our mission 

has long extended beyond just caring for the injured. It also incorporates prevention 

of injuries, particularly among young people, but also among an increasingly active 

aging population. 

And the SHARE Military Initiative, our comprehensive rehabilitation program for 

military service members who have sustained a brain injury in Iraq or Afghanistan, 

continues to need your support. We need more than $70,000 a month to cover the 

gap in insurance reimbursement for the services provided in this program. 

As we focus our fundraising efforts on these programs, we always remember that 

the patients are the unsung heroes. Even with the excellent clinical care they receive 

at Shepherd Center, they are the ones who must sweat and toil to get through 

rehabilitation successfully. They are our inspiration. 

Warm regards, 

James H. Shepherd, Jr. 

Chairman of the Board 

Spinal Column ® 

A Letter from James Shepherd

Winter 2013 • Shepherd Center 

Contents 

6 

14 

16 

20 

22 

features 

The Irony of Brain 

Injury 

Appearance sometimes belies 

lingering cognitive effects. 

student design project 

Tailored technology may help 

surgeon with SCI return to practice. 

two families, two 

injuries each 

Families learn to cope and rebuild. 

i’ll be back 

Store manager vows to return to 

work after a shooting. 

closing the gap in cost 

and care 

Patients find funding vehicles and 

resources to pay for gap in care. 

2 

5 

26 

28 

30 

48 

Departments 

short takes 

medical staff profile 

Ford Vox, M.D. 

Patient profile 

Nick Malloy 

alumni profiles 

foundation features 

honorariums & Memorials 

Photo BY louie favorite 

Gifts of Generosity 

If you would like to make a gift to support the work you have 

read about, please contact Scott H. Sikes at the Shepherd 

Center Foundation at 404-350-7305 or visit shepherd.org. 

Shepherd Center Magazine Online 

Shepherd Center’s Spinal Column ® magazine is available at 

ShepherdCenterMagazine.org. Go online to view stories, features, 

profiles and more with expanded photo galleries and additional content.

Sshort 

takes 

Urologists with Diverse Expertise 

Staff Shepherd Center’s Urology Clinic 

The Shepherd Center Urology Clinic is 

being staffed by three new urologists 

with a wide range of expertise. The 

urologists, who are consultants from 

Piedmont Physicians Urology Specialists 

in Atlanta, are available one to two days 

a week in the outpatient clinic and plan to 

expand to a full-time, on-call presence at 


“We are really excited about this new 

partnership between Piedmont Physicians 

and Shepherd Center,” says Nikhil Shah, 

D.O., MPH, who is practicing in the clinic 

along with Rajesh Laungani, M.D., and 

Matthew Sand, M.D. “We are offering a 

diverse urological practice that will work 

to meet the needs of Shepherd Center’s 

patients with spinal cord and brain injuries, 

MS and other conditions.” 

The urologists are treating conditions 

such as incontinence, neurogenic 

bladder, erectile dysfunction, infertility 

and urinary tract infections. Their 

combined expertise includes minimally 

invasive surgery, robotic surgery, 

urologic disease prevention and prostate 

cancer research. 

Shepherd Center Medical Director 

Donald P. Leslie, M.D., says: “Drs. Shah, 

Laungani and Sand bring a wealth of 

expertise to our patients. We are fortunate 

to have them as partners in caring for 

the specific needs of our patients. They 

are truly a welcome addition to our 

clinical team.” 

Piedmont Physicians Urology 

Specialists plans to add three more 

physicians to its practice in 2013. Among 

those specialists will be a neurourology 

expert who will lead the practice’s efforts 

in providing state-of-the-art care to 

patients with conditions such as those 

treated at Shepherd Center. 

To make an appointment in the 

Shepherd Center Urology Clinic, call 

Outpatient Services at 404-352-2020. 

More information is available at 

www.shepherd.org/outpatients. 

Jane M. Sanders 

Foundation Will Launch New Website 

This winter, Shepherd Center 

Foundation will launch a new website: 

www.Foundation.Shepherd.org. The 

new site will feature easier navigation for 

donors and volunteers to find essential 

links and information, interactive blogs 

and messaging, and a calendar that 

will update visitors on both hospital 

and foundation events. 

The Foundation website will also 

incorporate postings from Shepherd 

Center’s Instagram, Facebook and 

Twitter feeds. 

Foundation.Shepherd.org will 

better describe the hospital’s charitable 

needs and volunteer opportunities through 

visuals, testimonials and video. Visitors 

will see how their gifts directly impact 

Shepherd Center’s patient programs, and 

foundations and corporate donors will be 

able to access downloadable documents 

for grant-making. 

The new website will also update 

readers on upcoming events and 

late-breaking developments in the 

Foundation and hospital. 

Follow 

@shepherdcenter 

on Instagram. If 

you’re a former patient, we want 

to see you! Share your picture at 

#innovationcannotbeparalyzed. 

Special thanks goes to Resource 

Branding & Design for their great work 

in design and implementation, says 

Dean Melcher, director of development 

operations. 

Photo BY leita cowart 

2 • ShepherdCenterMagazine.org

Achievements 

ASIA Celebrates Lesley Hudson’s Lifetime of Achievement 

Lesley hudson, m.a. 

gary ulicny, ph.d. 

Long-time Shepherd Center researcher Lesley 

Hudson, M.A., will be honored this summer 

as the first woman to receive the American 

Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) Lifetime 

Achievement Award. She is the 23rd recipient of 

the award from ASIA, which promotes spinal cord 

injury education and research. 

Hudson has been involved with ASIA since 

1979 and has been executive director of the 

organization, which is headquartered at 

Shepherd Center, since 2006. Her involvement 

began as a part-time meeting planner after 

she did an outstanding job coordinating the 

organization’s 1979 meeting, which was held at 

Shepherd Center. From that year forward, she 

has organized and managed every meeting, 

in addition to fulfilling her duties in research at 


“Working at Shepherd and ASIA has been a 

perfect combination,” Hudson says. “The two jobs 

integrate well, and I have been able to blaze trails.” 

Another of Hudson’s major career 

accomplishments was establishing Shepherd 

as a Model System of Care for spinal cord injury 

in 1982. Funded through the U.S. Department 

of Education’s National Institute on Disability 

and Rehabilitation Research, the program at 

Shepherd has been renewed through every 

five-year grant cycle, bringing $13 million to 

Shepherd’s research efforts. 

Hudson will be recognized with the Lifetime 

Achievement Award at ASIA’s 40th anniversary 

conference in Chicago in June 2013. “Winning this 

award is nothing short of spectacular,” she says. 

“It’s one of the greatest things that’s ever happened 

to me and validates nearly 40 years of my life.” 

Researchers Honored at Annual Rehabilitation Medicine Conference 

ron seel, ph.d. 

Several Shepherd Center researchers and 

administrators were honored this past fall at the 

annual conference of the American Congress of 

Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM). 

Shepherd Center CEO Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., a 

past president of ACRM, was inducted as an 

ACRM Fellow. Ron Seel, Ph.D., director of brain 

injury research, was honored as a Distinguished 

Member. And spinal cord injury research 

program coordinator Leslie VanHiel, PT, DScPT, 

received the award for Best Scientific Poster. 

Also, 11 Shepherd Center staff members gave 

research presentations, including symposia talks 

and scientific posters. 

Staff Recognized for Their Involvement with Epilepsy Foundation 

leslie vanhiel, pt, dscpt 

rob godsall, ph.d. 

Rob Godsall, Ph.D., coordinator of clinical 

neuropsychology services in Shepherd Center’s 

Outpatient Clinic and the Multiple Sclerosis 

Institute, recently received the Ben Caraway 

Distinguished Volunteer Service Award from the 

Georgia chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation. 

The award recognized Dr. Godsall’s 

involvement for the past 16 years following his 

retirement from various Epilepsy Foundation 

boards, most predominantly on the Professional 

Advisory Board (PAB), for which he served as 

chair for the past two years. 

Dr. Godsall’s involvement with the Epilepsy 

Foundation relates to the occurrence of posttraumatic 

epilepsy in people who have sustained 

a brain injury. In his career at Shepherd, Dr. 

Godsall has treated this patient population. 

Another Shepherd Center employee, Phoebe 

Whisnant, a part-time art therapist, was also 

involved with the Georgia chapter of the 

Epilepsy Foundation through a recent event 

called Studio E, an art therapy program for 

people with seizures. 

Spinal Column ® / Winter 2013 • 3

Sshort 

takes 

Shepherd Center Announces 

Therapeutic Recreation Events for 2013 

Shepherd Center’s Therapeutic Recreation 

(TR) Department encourages former 

patients and their families to participate in 

upcoming events this year. 

The annual adaptive snow skiing trip 

organized by Shepherd Center and 

SkiMore Tours is set for Feb. 28 to March 

5 at the National Ability Center in Park City, 

Utah. The trip includes private adaptive 

ski instruction, equipment, lift tickets, 

accommodations and airport transfers. It is 

open to people of all skill levels and abilities, 

as well as family and friends. For more 

information, contact Katie Murphy at 404- 

350-7465 or katie_murphy@shepherd.org. 

The annual Adventure Skills Workshop 

(ASW) is scheduled for May 17 to 19 at 

Lake Martin in Jackson’s Gap, Ala. The 

event includes adaptive waterskiing, 

scuba diving, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, 

four-wheeling, swimming, target shooting 

and wall climbing. ASW is held at Camp 

ASCCA, a wheelchair-accessible facility. 

The cost is $200 per person and includes 

meals, lodging and instruction. 

The annual Wheelchair Division of 

Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race is set 

for July 4. Showcasing more than 100 

wheelchair athletes, the Peachtree is one of 

the most competitive 10K wheelchair races 

in the country. A qualifying time is required. 

In late summer, Shepherd therapeutic 

recreation specialists, in partnership with 

Divers@Sea, will lead an adaptive diving 

trip to the Caribbean. This all-inclusive trip 

includes round-trip airfare from Atlanta, 

hotel stay, boat dives and airport transfers. 

It is open to all skill levels and abilities, as 

well as family and friends of former patients. 

HSA certification is required. 

Advance registration is required for these 

events. For more information, contact 

Therapeutic Recreation manager Kelly 

Edens at kelly_edens@shepherd.org or 

404-350-7793. Or visit shepherd.org/tr. 

Former Patient 

Organizing Fishing Rodeo 

for People with Mobility 

Impairments 

A fishing rodeo for people with 

mobility impairments is set for Sept. 

19-21, 2013 at Point Cadet Marina, an 

accessible facility in Biloxi, Miss. 

Former patient David Sherrer of 

Purvis, Miss., runs the nonprofit Qchair’s 

Traveler, which promotes travel and 

recreation for people with mobility 

impairments. Qchair has partnered with 

Disability Connection, which provides 

education, events and special projects 

for people with disabilities, to organize 

the Mobility-Impaired Fishing Rodeo. 

The organizers hope to register 

about 100 participants from across 

the Southeast and Midwest. There will 

not be an entry fee. Organizers have 

a grant from a corporate sponsor to 

cover the costs of advertising the event, 

and they are working to get corporate 

sponsorships to cover the costs of 

renting boats and buying supplies for the 

rodeo. Sponsorships may also provide 

eight stipends for participants in need. 

The stipends would cover participants’ 

travel expenses, Sherrer says. 

Participants will compete in categories 

determined by upper-extremity ability 

and strength. The categories are similar 

to Paralympic divisions. 

An entry form will be available in early 

2013 at www.qchair.com/Fishing.html. 

For information on participating in or 

sponsoring the event, contact Sherrer at 

david@qchair.com. 

Abilities Expo Set for 

Feb. 8-10 in Atlanta 

More than 3,000 visitors – people with 

disabilities, their families, caregivers, 

seniors, wounded veterans and healthcare 

professionals – are expected to attend 

Abilities Expo on Feb. 8-10 at the Georgia 

World Congress Center in Atlanta. 

Admission is free, and show hours are 11 

a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 8 and 9 and 11 a.m. 

to 4 p.m. on Feb. 10. 

Abilities Expo includes exhibits, 

workshops, celebrities, events and 

activities to appeal to people of all ages 

with the full spectrum of disabilities, 

including physical, learning, development 

and sensory disabilities. Complimentary 

wheelchair repair will also be available 

onsite during show hours. 

“It is our privilege to provide this 

forum for the community of people with 

disabilities in Atlanta to come together 

and gain access to life-enhancing 

technologies, education and resources,” 

says David Korse, president and CEO of 

Abilities Expo. 

For more information, visit 

www.abilitiesexpo.com/atlanta. 


Pstaff 

profile 

Ford Vox, M.D., 

Physiatrist, 


Interviewed by Jane M. Sanders 

INTERESTING FACTs: 

Ford Vox, M.D., 

Physiatrist, 


Q: Why did you decide to become a doctor 

and then specialize in physical medicine and 

rehabilitation (PM&R)? 

A: My interest in medicine began due to my interest 

in science. I thought about becoming a physician, 

but I also wanted to be an English professor. As an 

undergraduate, I took a lot of science classes, but 

also took philosophy and political science classes. 

I’ve always had broad interests and maintained 

that throughout my career. 

After college, I went into medical school not 

knowing what specialty I wanted to pursue. 

I got some early experience with inpatient 

rehabilitation. That patient population was very 

compelling to me. There is a lot of dire need. It 

is very rewarding to be able to help patients who 

need neurologic rehabilitation. 

I am drawn to brain injury rehabilitation because 

brain science is one of the most interesting areas 

in medicine today. So much remains to be known, 

and I hope I can contribute to the field. There is 

a lot of uncharted territory in the practice of brain 

injury rehabilitation. A lot of what we do is more 

experimental in nature in the sense that each 

patient is treated based on his or her own unique 

constellation of injuries. 

Q: From the patient’s standpoint, what qualities 

make you an excellent physician? 

A: By nature, rehabilitation physicians see their 

patients for weeks or several months. We care for 

them during the entire course. It’s a unique field of 

medicine that makes it possible to treat patients at 

a high level for such an extended time. 

I rely on this time with my patients and their 

families as my number one advantage. I focus on 

building therapeutic relationships with patients and 

families. That is key in rehabilitation. 

Also, I try to stay open-minded in my patients’ 

treatment plans. As you become an expert in 

treating a particular condition, it’s easy to start 

seeing your way as the only right way and neglect 

other ways. But I remain open to the input of 

families and therapists. 

Q: Shepherd Center is known for some 

distinctive approaches to the practice of 

rehabilitation medicine. What aspects are most 

professionally rewarding to you and effective in 

producing excellent patient outcomes? 

A: Shepherd Center has so many more additional 

resources than the average rehabilitation hospital, 

which is trying to make do on insurance payments 

alone. Those resources include our dynamic 

therapeutic recreation program and our wellintegrated 

psychological services, which are very 

important to patients and families. 

As an attending physician at Shepherd, I have 

relationships with a wide array of consulting 

specialists that allow me to expand the services I 

can offer to my patients during their rehabilitation 

course. It allows for more continuity of care and 

more comprehensive care. 

Q: How do you offer hope to patients at 

Shepherd? 

A: By now, I’ve seen most every type of injury 

before. I’ve seen people of different ages and 

levels of injury severity and they have come 

through it. I am able to see through what seems 

like insurmountable challenges at the time. I’ve 

seen patients in follow-up appointments one or 

two years after the injury, and they are continuing 

to make remarkable gains. I’ve seen people who 

were in a vegetative state for several months, and 

they have recovered to the point of returning to 

college. Of course, we cannot guarantee that, but 

it does offer grounds for giving hope to patients 

and families. 

Experience: 

Medical director 

of brain injury 

rehabilitation at New 

England Rehabilitation 

Hospital in Woburn, 

Mass., 2011-2012; 

Clinical assistant 

professor, Tufts 

University School of 

Medicine, Boston, 

Mass. 

Physiatry Residency: 

Washington University 

in St. Louis School of 

Medicine 

Fellowship: 

Boston University 

School of Medicine 

Medical School: 

University of Alabama 

Undergraduate Degree: 

Rhodes College, 

Memphis, Tenn. 

Random Facts: 

Dr. Vox and his wife 

Lisa have moved 

10 times since they 

graduated from 

college. 

Though Dr. Vox is from 

Alabama, he didn’t like 

barbecue until his wife 

(who’s from Memphis) 

showed him “the good 

stuff.” 

Dr. Vox says he never 

got around to checking 

his own cholesterol 

until he was in his 

mid-30s – well after his 

wife got him hooked 

on barbecue. Doctors 

really are the worst 

patients, he adds. 

More online at 

ShepherdCenterMagazine.org 


Former patients 

reveal how their 

often-normal 

appearance belies 

the lingering 

cognitive effects 

of brain injury.

The Irony of 

Br i In u y 

r j n a 

David Aschmann is a cheerful and engaging 32-year-old single father 

of two young boys. He had a great job with a Boston software firm 

that sent him to places like London and Tel Aviv. But four years ago on 

a business trip to Paris, David was hit by a motorcycle and spent 28 

days in a coma. When he regained consciousness, he had no memory 

of the accident and was surprised to learn he had two sons. 

By John Christensen 

Photos by louie favorite 

When he returned to the United States, 

David spent 13 months doing inpatient 

and outpatient rehabilitation in New 

England and three more years undergoing 

day program and outpatient therapy at 

Shepherd Pathways, Shepherd Center’s 

post-acute rehabilitation program for 

people with a brain injury. Now, he says: 

“Things are very different. I’m learning to 

live a new life.” 

David, who lives in Atlanta, is one of 

more than 5 million people in the United 

States who have a brain injury, the leading 

cause of death and injury for people under 

the age of 45. Brain injuries are notable, in 

part, because unlike most injuries, which 

are visible – a broken leg requires a cast, a 

wound needs stitches – brain injuries are 

often invisible. 

David looks normal, and in many ways, 

he is normal. But the lingering effects of his 

injury include struggles with processing 

speed, confusion and memory loss. Going 

back to his old job is not feasible for David, 

but he is volunteering at his children’s 

school. He has some difficulty with tasks 

that were easier for him before his injury, 

but he says he finds fulfillment in being 

involved at the school. 

The disconnect between appearance 

and reality is confounding not only to those 

who have a brain injury, but also to people 

around them. Where people with visible 

disabilities often get the benefit of the 

doubt, those with brain injuries often do not. 

“The assumption is that when people 

with brain injuries get out of the hospital, 

they should be OK,” says Terri Kohn, 

a licensed professional counselor at 

Shepherd Pathways. “If you look as good 

as before, the expectation is for you to be 

the person you were before. But that’s not 

the case, and friends and family may think 

you’re lazy, selfish and disinterested. The 

brain-injured person may not initiate tasks 

or participate in the family as before, and 

it can cause anger and frustration for other 

family members.” 

Some people have a full recovery while 

others have lingering effects physically, 

emotionally and cognitively. The goal of 

rehabilitation is to optimize a patient’s 

independence and quality of life in the 

home and community. 

“Brain injuries are very complex, and 

simply getting someone who’s been in 

a coma to walk again, and feed, bathe 

and take care of their self is a huge 

step forward,” says Debbie Page, a 

vocational rehabilitation case manager 

at Shepherd Pathways. 

Kohn and Page are part of a rehabilitation 

team that includes a physician, speech, 

physical and occupational therapists, 

therapeutic recreation specialists, nurses 

and case managers. The team also 

includes the patient, family and others close 

to the patient. 

“It is always a challenge to get everyone 

on the same page,” Page says. “We work 

hard to help patients and families move 

through their understanding of brain injury 

and adjustment to changes in their lives as 

they transition back to school or work.” 

Kaela Matthews-Webb of Statesboro, 

Ga., says that when her firefighter husband, 

Lamar Matthews-Webb (see sidebar), was 

treated at Shepherd Center for a traumatic 

brain injury (TBI), the education and 

counseling she received – individually and 

in groups – was invaluable. 


Shepherd Pathways brain 

injury support group 

members draw strength 

from one another. 

Pictured are: (front row, 

left to right), Kim Guest, 

Bonnie Short, Catherine 

Thurmond; (second row) 

Adam Byrd, Keith Wilson, 

Michael Kaplan; (back 

row) David Aschmann 

and Shawn Webb. 

“They broke down the science of the brain and 

explained what had happened,” she says, “and they 

told me the plan, where they wanted to go. It helped me 

manage it all and understand that when he got frustrated 

as he progressed, it was normal and would get better. 

And it did. Shepherd’s whole approach put me more at 

peace. They were just awesome.” 

For people who are unable to return to work or 

school, Kohn conducts support groups that provide a 

comfortable and supportive environment where they 

can come to terms with the changes in their lives. 

“Their issues are the typical ones we see with brain 

injury – things like a lack of insight into their condition,” 

Kohn says. “They think, ‘I’m fine.’ But by the time 

they get to a group, they’re more aware of what’s 

involved. They have already been home and found 

that things that used to be easy are challenging. They 

go through a grieving process and learn how to cope 

with anger, sadness and anxiety.” 

One such group meets weekly for two hours with 

Kohn in a conference room at Shepherd Pathways. 

This past fall, nine of them talked about their 

frustrations and the importance of the group to them. 

Bonnie Short, 64 of Alpharetta, Ga., was injured 

in a motorcycle accident, then treated and released. 

After six months of cognitive problems and losing 

her job, she was diagnosed with a brain injury and 

referred to Shepherd Pathways. Although unable 

to find another job, working with a therapist and 

attending the group have given her hope. 

“This is the only place where people understand 

what I’m going through,” Bonnie says. “It’s a beautiful 

thing where we share and we can laugh. We’re not 

isolated and alone.” 

Seated next to her is Kim Guest, 50 of Roswell, Ga., 

who sustained a brain injury after a fall in 2010. Two 

years later, she still had recurring headaches and 

inner ear problems that made it difficult to think, talk 

and keep her balance. Her impairments required her 

to make a list to remind her what to do in the shower: 

Wash hair, rinse hair; wash body, rinse body; etc. 

Even now, watching television makes her nauseous. 

A trip to Walmart is so disorienting that Kim’s husband 

must wear a bright orange shirt so she can find him. 

“My career was about people,” Kim says. “I was a 

hotel and restaurant administrator, but now it’s difficult 

to go to a restaurant and have dinner.” 

Like some brain injury survivors, Kim finds social 

settings difficult. “I can’t keep up with all the people,” 

she says. “If I go to a wedding, I sit in a corner 

facing the wall so I can only see one or two people. 

Otherwise, it’s overwhelming.” 

Keith Wilson, 53, of Atlanta, was hit by a car 

while vacationing in the Cayman Islands in 2001 


The disconnect between appearance and reality is confounding 

not only to those who have a brain injury, but also to people 

around them. Where people with visible disabilities often get 

the benefit of the doubt, those with brain injuries often do not. 

Photos by Louie favorite 

and has been a member of the group since. 

Although he looks fit and healthy, he is unable 

to return to work and has had to deal with the 

suspicion that he is malingering. 

“I was like a child and had to relearn things all 

over again,” he says. “I wanted to take leaps and 

get back to where I was, but I kept climbing that 

hill and sliding back down again. That hurts. That’s 

the hardest thing.” 

Randy Nguyen, 20, of Norcross, Ga., was 

beaten in 2011 by five inmates while he was in jail. 

He spent seven weeks in a coma and a year later 

still experienced short-term memory loss. 

“I’ll pack a lunch the night before I’m going out 

and put it in the refrigerator,” he says, “and five 

minutes later, I’ll get up and check to see if I’ve got 

everything. When I check it, everything’s there, but 

I keep checking like it’s going to disappear.” 

Despite his experience as an executive before 

his injury, David Aschmann says his memory loss 

and lag in processing speed prevent him from 

taking on tasks that require leadership. 

“I forget certain aspects and may not 

comprehend something until the next day,” he says. 

“Other times, I’ll sit there listening to people talk and 

I have no idea what they’re saying. It takes my brain 

a while to catch up. Some days, I’m quicker than 

others. People get confused when they see that. 

They have no clue what brain injury is about.” 

Bonnie’s injury so affected her cognitive skills 

that she found it difficult to respond to things such 

as a simple, two-sentence email. 

“What I think it says is never what it really means,” 

she says. “I get the words, but I’m not comprehending 

them right. And I can’t trust what I hear, either. It may 

not be what people are actually saying.” 

The problem, Kohn tells them, is that their brains 

are not properly processing visual and auditory 

cues. “With these cognitive problems say ‘I’ll get 

back to you,’” she suggests, “but you’ve got to 

remember to get back to them. Jot it down, and 

after you process the information, then respond.” 

Atlantan Michael Kaplan, 68, sustained a stroke 

during an operation that caused his brain injury. He 

has learned to repeat what people say to him. “And 

they say ‘correct,’” he says. “Otherwise, I lose it.” 

One of the most confounding aspects of brain 

injury is that it can cause opposite reactions in 

different people. Shawn Webb, 24 of Carrollton, Ga., 

for example, sustained a TBI after being electrocuted 

at a construction site. Once easy-going, Shawn says 

that now: “Certain things set me off. My temper is 

worse than it used to be.” 

Bonnie has had a similar experience. Before her 

injury, she says, “I had no highs and no lows. I never 

had any anger. Now, anger is the only thing I feel on 

a regular basis.” 

On the other hand, Randy says he used to get 

mad easily. “But since my injury, it’s totally changed.” 

The changed behavior– whether anger, 

confusion, memory loss or something else – 

caused by brain injury is often as hard on the 

family as it is on the person with the injury. 

“The family may be aware of the problem long 

before the person is,” Kohn says. “But patients 

don’t have that awareness at first, and it takes 

them a while to catch up. And the family wonders 

what to do with them.” 

“Sometimes they don’t want to have much to do 

with you,” Keith says. 

His relationship with his wife was so difficult that 

he suggested they separate. “I hurt her more in six 

months than I had in nine years,” Keith says. “I told 

her I didn’t feel like I was a good husband. She 

says I’m the best husband in the world, but I don’t 

feel that way. My pride’s been taken away.” 

Kim explains: “When someone says something 

to me, a lot of times I’m not sure what I heard or 

that I understood it, and I ask them to say it again. 

And if I still don’t understand, they look at me 

like, ‘What the hell’s wrong with you?’ I know my 

daughter is frustrated with me, because I used 

to be the mother with all the balls in the air. Now, 

most of the balls are on the floor, and she doesn’t 

understand that.” 

Shawn adds: “I get emotional and speak my 

mind, and it usually hurts people’s feelings. My 

family says I’ve changed, and I have. I come 

across as being an (expletive). I don’t mean to, but 

it’s the first thing that comes to mind. I don’t filter it.” 

Bonnie says: “I used to be a sweet, soft-spoken 

doormat kind of person.. Now I’m temperamental 

and outspoken. Things come out of my mouth 

before I can stop them, and I’m tired of my 

husband telling me to control what I say.” 

Kohn reassures them that their emotions are 

part of the process of grieving the loss of their old 

way of life. Reclaiming a sense of self and security 

in a world where everything seems upside down 

can be terrifying. 



Shepherd Pathways 

licensed professional 

counselor Terri Kohn leads 

a support group for people 

dealing with the lingering 

effects of brain injury. 


Victoria Middleton, 24, 

of White, Ga., sustained 

a brain injury in 2009. 

After rehabilitation, she 

returned to the University 

of South Carolina and 

rejoined the school’s 

equestrian team. Victoria 

graduated in 2012 with 

a degree in marketing. 

“Those feelings come up, and you may be angry 

or sad for a minute or 20 minutes, and then for 

three hours everything’s OK,” Kohn says. “It’s 

an emotional roller coaster. As you recover, the 

hills of the roller coaster are not as dramatic, 

but that doesn’t mean they’re not there. Brain 

injury can happen to anyone any time. It doesn’t 

matter how old you are, what sex you are, your 

race or financial status. In that moment, your life 

changes dramatically, and the road to recovery is 

exhausting cognitively, physically and emotionally.” 

As one client told Kohn, “Brain injury isn’t for sissies.” 

The good news, David says, is “the emotional 

roller coaster levels out. You have to give it some 

time. It takes a whole lot of adjustments that will 

eventually become normal to you. At first, it seems 

like you’re in hell, but in time, it becomes normal, 

and you become comfortable with that type of life. 

It gets better.” 

Indeed, in time, some not only adjust to their 

new normal, but are actually grateful for the new 

direction their lives have taken. 

Kim says one of the casualties of her new life is 

perfectionism. “I used to be surrounded by needy 

people, and I did all the giving,” she explains. 

“Now, I’m the one who’s needy, and I have to be 

OK with the way things are. It doesn’t matter if 

things are perfect as long as they happen. That’s 

change, and that’s good.” 

Randy says before his injury, “I was either 

gonna end up in a grave or prison. Luckily, 

someone was watching over me and said, ‘That’s 

not where I want you to be.’” 

The stress of his job caused Keith 

to drink heavily, and his injury was 

“a godsend that got me off that bad 

road and on a very good road,” he 

says. “The way I look at life now is 

totally opposite. I know who truly 

loves me and who my true family is.” 

Michael adds: “I can’t really point 

to where it happens but you finally 

accept that what you were before 

was a different person. Someone 

said God has us starting over, and 

that previous life wasn’t all that 

great. Actually, mine was pretty bad. 

I was doing a lot of things I didn’t 

want to do. This group made me 

realize that I didn’t like all that. I’ve 

gone through this brain injury, and 

now I’m human.” 

David says the anger and 

confusion he felt in the first few years 

after his injury is gone. “I’ve gotten 

comfortable with the way things are,” 

he says. “I might be slow, but before, 

I was in a miserable marriage, and 

my sons were in foster care. Now, 

I’ve got custody of my sons, and 

we’re a happy family.” 

Returning to School 

Former patient struggles with 

a brain injury, but pushes 

hard to finish college. 

At Victoria Middleton’s first group session during 

her inpatient brain injury rehabilitation at Shepherd 

Center, she was surprised to learn that she wasn’t 

17 years old after all. She was 20. 

“That’s when I learned why I was there,” she says. 

Victoria, now 24, of White, Ga., was injured in 

July 2009 when a horse she was bathing reared 

and yanked a hitching post from the ground. The 

post struck her in the head, and when she fell, her 

head struck the concrete floor. 

She spent three days in a coma and 10 

days in intensive care before transferring to 

Shepherd Center, where she completed inpatient 

rehabilitation and two months of outpatient 

therapy at Shepherd Pathways, the hospital’s 

post-acute rehabilitation program. 

Throughout her therapy, Victoria’s intention was 

to return to the University of South Carolina, but 

in her first year of rehabilitation, she attended a 

college close to her home so she could continue 

her therapy. 

At first, she had a hard time adjusting. She 

says, “I thought, ‘I can do whatever I want.’” 

But she had lost control of her left side and 

had difficulty walking. She also found she could 


Photos by gary meek 

only run for 15 seconds on a treadmill. But her 

therapists at Shepherd kept pushing her, and now, 

she’s grateful for it, she says. 

By the time she returned to the University of 

South Carolina in 2011 and rejoined the equestrian 

team, her fitness level was much better and so 

was her ability to adjust to the changes in her life. 

Although an indifferent student, Victoria thrived 

upon the support of tutors and academic specialists 

and the encouragement of her teammates. 

“They all wanted me to do well,” Victoria says, 

“so I wanted to do well for them.” 

Victoria was fortunate to be enrolled in a 

university that supported her transition back to 

school. Colleges and universities that receive 

federal funds are required by the Americans with 

Disabilities Act to accommodate people with 

disabilities. Michell Temple, interim director of 

the Office of Disability Services at Georgia State 

University in Atlanta, says that usually means 

giving students extended time on tests, allowing 

them to use note-taking services and books in 

alternative formats. 

“We try to create an environment that is acceptable 

and inclusive,” Temple says. “We want all students, 

regardless of background, race, ethnicity or disability 

to complete college. We want our students judged on 

their abilities, not their inabilities.” 

The key, Temple says, is that the students 

themselves must be willing to acknowledge 

their disability and tell the university what 

they need. Professors are generally receptive 

to such requests, but sometimes need help 

understanding. 

“Because brain injuries are invisible, there’s 

usually a learning curve for them,” Temple says. 

“It’s not that professors resist it. They may not 

understand. Very rarely does a professor refuse to 

provide approved accommodations.” 

Now graduated with a degree in marketing, 

Victoria says she has a new perspective on life. “I 

don’t sweat the trivial things so much,” she says. “I 

wanted to figure out who I was, and I’m very happy 

with who I am today.” 

Victoria even used her injury as an asset after 

graduation, telling prospective employers: “I can 

work hard and here’s proof: I’ve been to hell and 

back.” John Christensen 


1. 

Returning to Work 

Shepherd Center’s vocational rehabilitation program helps patients with 

a brain injury and their employers in the return-to-work process. 

The first time Tim Grams saw Lamar Matthews- 

Webb after his accident, Lamar was in a wheelchair, 

unable to walk and barely able to talk. He was 

listless and despondent, not even a shadow of the 

Statesboro, Ga., firefighter Tim knew him to be. 

“It was heartbreaking,” says Tim, the chief of the 

Statesboro Fire Department. “I honestly didn’t think 

we were gonna get him back. My first thought was, 

‘He’ll never be able to come back to fightin’ fire.’” 

That was in May 2011, shortly after Lamar 

sustained a traumatic brain injury in a traffic 

accident while in New Jersey. But over the next 

several months, the city, Tim and Lamar’s fellow 

firefighters went out of their way to support him. 

Tim and three other firefighters drove to New 

Jersey to help, and while Lamar was undergoing 

rehabilitation at Shepherd Center, his co-workers 

donated their sick time so he could continue to 

receive paychecks. They also paid for a wheelchair 

and hotel rooms, and constantly supported Lamar 

and his family. 

The questions were: Would Lamar learn to walk 

again and process information and be fit enough 

to return to a job that demands a high level of 

fitness, clear thinking and the ability to act quickly? 

Could he be relied upon when his life and the lives 

of others were at risk? 

Returning to work from a brain injury isn’t always 

an option, and it’s seldom easy even when it is 

possible. Debbie Page, a vocational rehabilitation 

case manager at the post-acute rehabilitation 

program Shepherd Pathways, says Shepherd 


Photos BY jeremy wilburn and gary meek 

Center is the only hospital she knows of that has 

a vocational rehabilitation program, which actually 

manages the patient’s return to work. 

And it’s been remarkably successful. Of 267 

recent Shepherd patients who were employed or 

in school before their brain injury, 128 returned to 

work or school within a year. 

“We’ve been successful with police officers, 

firefighters, physicians, CEOs and almost any other 

occupation you can think of,” Page says. 

In many cases, Shepherd Center therapists even 

accompanied clients back to work to help with 

their transition. 

“Most people are left to work it out with their 

employers themselves,” Page says. “But it’s 

very difficult to get back to work without help. 

Employers don’t know what to do, and they are so 

relieved that someone is coordinating a person’s 

return to work.” 

Lamar’s initial challenges included loss of 

strength in his legs, poor balance, slow reaction 

time, anxiety and high blood pressure. 

Medication calmed him, and Shepherd’s 

therapists, he says, “inspired me to do so much 

work so I could have a full, normal life with my 

family and two active boys. They’re awesome. 

Their whole setup is awesome. I really appreciate 

what they did. It was one of the most humbling 

experiences of my life to go from the active life of 

a firefighter to being almost helpless. I thought 

I would never return to work or be even close to 

where I am now. I am truly blessed.” 

Lamar returned to work in spring 2012 beginning 

with a half-day of administrative duties. His schedule 

gradually increased until he was back working a full 

week, but not yet fighting fires. After a final visit to 

Shepherd Center, however, he was cleared to climb 

ladders and fight fires without restrictions. And 

shortly after his return, he and another firefighter 

rescued a man from a burning building. 

“That made me feel good about my job,” he 

says. “I knew I was as good as before.” 

George Walker, 33, of Marietta, Ga., a hearing 

officer for the Georgia State Pardons and Parole 

Board, returned to work just four months after he 

was beaten in July 2010 by a parolee. 

“My assault shook up the entire agency,” George 

says. “It was so unexpected, and they were rooting 

for me to come back to work. But I was worried 

about it. I’d had a brain injury. Could I do this?” 

He could. In fact, he found there was nothing he 

couldn’t do and no barrier to what his employer 

expects him to do. “The biggest thing is I have to 

sleep more,” George explains. “That took a while 

getting used to. I was a go-go person, but now 

without sleep, I’m not at my top.” 

What Lamar learned at Shepherd Center gave 

him more of a sense of urgency and purpose at 

work. “Training and safety is key to me, and staying 

healthy, too,” he says. “I got back into the gym and 

I watch what I eat. Those folks at Shepherd are 

number one in my book. I’ll be forever in their debt.” 

Tim says the experience taught him the 

employer’s attitude is critical when someone like 

Lamar returns to work. 

“People who have careers like ours don’t do 

it for the money,” Tim says. “It’s a calling and 

an important part of their life. But if it’s not there 

for them to work for, I don’t think they’ll have the 

motivation to recover. It’s a long, difficult road, 

and Lamar will tell you it’s not easy. From the 

city’s standpoint and ours, it was never an option 

to walk away. Six or eight months after his injury, 

Lamar said, ‘I’m gonna do it.’ We stayed involved 

appropriately, and he embraced the challenge.” 

Now, Lamar has a new appreciation for his job. 

“He excelled so quickly that he’s overseeing a 

company for us,” Tim says, “and I hope he plans 

on testing for a promotion in the near future. From 

what he was to what he is now is just a miracle. It’s 

unbelievable.” John Christensen 

2. 

1. Lamar Matthews- 

Webb of Statesboro, 

Ga., returned to his job 

as a firefighter after 

undergoing rehabilitation 

at Shepherd Center for a 

brain injury. 2., 3. George 

Walker of Marietta, Ga., 

returned to his job as 

a hearing officer after 

rehabilitation at Shepherd. 

He enjoys spending 

time with his daughters 

when he’s not working. 



3. 


Garrett Cuppels, M.D., was in the prime of his life. At 

35, he was an avid runner, surfer, sailboarder and 

saltwater fisherman. He was also an up-and-coming 

orthopedic surgeon practicing in Delray Beach, Fla. 

He loved caring for his patients and tried to approach 

each case with empathy. 

“I remember when I was an attending at the VA, I 

had to amputate a diabetic patient’s gangrenous leg 

below the knee,” he recalls. “I met with the family prior 

to the procedure, and they could see I was tearing 

up. It wasn’t something I wanted to do, but it ultimately 

would save his life.” 

Dr. Cuppels faced his own tragedy in 2010 when 

he sustained a complete T-10 spinal cord injury (SCI) 

in a fall. Paralyzed from the waist down, he suddenly 

found himself a patient. 

After completing his rehabilitation at Shepherd 

Center, Dr. Cuppels was eager to return to work. But, 

even though he had full use of his upper body, he 

says the orthopedic practice that hired him told him 

they could not keep him on after his injury. 

“When I was recovering, I assumed my job would 

be waiting for me, but they didn’t accept me back,” 

says Dr. Cuppels. “I told them ‘My hands and my 

1. 

1. 


head still work,’ but they had already decided, so I 

had to start looking for a job.” 

At a crossroads, Dr. Cuppels not only faced the 

challenges of adjusting to everyday life, but his life’s 

work and passion suddenly seemed beyond his 

reach. However, the kindness and ingenuity of a few 

strangers soon would help change this. 

In the doctor’s quest for job prospects, a team of 

biomedical engineering students at the University 

of Wisconsin-Madison heard about his story. They 

decided to take on Dr. Cuppels’ case and build what 

they call a standing paraplegic, omni-directional 

transport, or SPOT device. 

“We are trying to give Dr. Cuppels his life back,” 

says researcher James Madsen. “Getting him back 

into the operating room will make a huge difference 

for his wellbeing and sense of independence.” 

They believe their one-of-a-kind design will allow 

Dr. Cuppels to safely and comfortably maintain a 

standing position so he can again move quickly and 

precisely during surgical procedures. 

2. 3. 

PhotoS by Mark Riechers, UW-Madison 

College of Engineering 

How it Works 

Commercially available standing chairs either have 

a front wheel, mid-wheel or back wheel design, so 

there is no way to move sideways – something that 

would hinder Dr. Cuppels’ ability to move swiftly and 

smoothly in the OR. With this new system, the students 

say he will be able to move in any direction. That’s 

because it is outfitted with four wheels controlled by four 

independent motors, giving him full range of motion. 

“He can move forward, on a diagonal, sideways. 

He can rotate in place. Nearly every movement 

you can think of is possible,” says Bret Olson, an 

undergraduate student, and design team member. 

There is a standing mechanism that will allow 

Dr. Cuppels to transfer from his wheelchair and 

a hydraulic pump to move him into the standing 

position. He will be able to control his movements 

with a joystick and a computer interface that will allow 

him steady use of both hands during procedures. 

The team has spent much of the past year making 

sure the device fits Dr. Cuppels’ needs and integrates 

safety features. For example, the researchers are 

making sure the platform doesn’t tip over as Dr. 

Cuppels leans over. An in-person test session in 

Wisconsin in November 2012 allowed the team to 

make further modifications, but they otherwise talk 

during a weekly session on Skype – something that 

continually reenergizes the researchers, they say. 

The Importance of Technology 

“We know technology is hugely important at 

different stages of SCI rehabilitation,” says John 

Anschutz, manager of the Assistive Technology 

Center at Shepherd Center. “Individual patient needs 

are often what inspire the most innovative and 

creative technology.” 

Dr. Cuppels’ desire to get back to the operating 

room and care for patients has inspired the team. 

“They have taken such care with this project. It’s 

really amazing,” Dr. Cuppels says. “It renews my faith 

in people. I feel lucky and blessed.” 

And, as Anschutz adds, it’s not just creating a 

device that moves. The prototype needs to be 

fashioned to Dr. Cuppels, remain stable as he 

leans over the operating table and support the fine 

precision of a surgeon’s hand. Of course, making 

sure the platform fits the operating room presents its 

own set of challenges. 

The team has tried to anticipate these challenges. 

For example, they have asked: Will it fit through 

doorways, is it the right height and will other OR 

equipment get in the way? They have examined 

whether the device follows FDA regulations and can 

be easily sanitized in between cases. 

Of course, other issues are bound to arise as the 

prototype is tested in the OR. Madsen says that, as with 

other bumps along the way, they will persevere. He and 

the team are hopeful their creation will eventually help 

people with paraplegia in other jobs, as well. 

“They have done a phenomenal job,” Dr. Cuppels 

says. “They’ve talked to people in ORs to ensure the 

device will comply with strict regulations. They have 

called companies to secure donations. Even if this 

doesn’t become the first paraplegic robotic surgeon 

per se and I’m at square one, I think these guys have 

created something that crosses a lot of boundaries. 

I hope it will encourage others with SCI to consider 

medical school and even surgical careers. The 

device may also benefit people in other occupations 

where they need this level of precision.” 

The prototype costs around $13,000, which has 

been partly supported by donations from companies. 

For the students, the project lets them apply 

what they have learned to a real-world setting and 

know they are helping someone. For Dr. Cuppels, it 

provides hope that he will return to work. 

For more information or to help, visit 

http://fundly.com/uwbiomedicalengineeringdesign/. 



1. University of 

Wisconsin-Madison 

engineering students and 

faculty work with former 

Shepherd Center patient 

Garrett Cuppels, M.D., 

to adjust the Standing 

Paraplegic Omnidirectional 

Transport 

(SPOT) device in a 

student lab on campus. 

2. Dr. Cuppels and a 

student researcher test 

the device in the UW 

Health Simulation Center. 

3. SPOT is ready for tests. 

Spinal Column ® / Fall 2012 • 15

Two Families, 

Two Catastrophic 

Injuries Each 

Former Shepherd Center patients and their families are 

learning to cope and move on after double tragedies. 

By Matt Winkeljohn 

Photos by louie favorite 

Most of the time mothers just know, but Karen Masters didn’t know when she sent a text message to her son 

asking when he’d be home. She thought it was him ringing three minutes later. 

It wasn’t. A passerby found Ben Masters after Karen’s 16-year-old son drove off a rural road near the 

family’s northwest Georgia home. 

More than one life has changed since Ben, now 18, sustained an incomplete C-7 spinal cord injury (SCI) in 

2011. Lives changed again when his brother, David Masters, 21, sustained a severe brain injury when thrown 

from a pickup truck on May 6, 2012. 

Like their sons, Karen and Rob Masters and their 14-year-old daughter live differently. They couldn’t 

have known in advance how this kind of accident – let alone two – can change roles. The family’s time at 

Shepherd Center helped them evolve. 

“With Benjamin, it was like having a 16-year-old infant at first because I was doing everything for him,” Karen recalls. 

“As the infant grows, he becomes more independent. Shepherd did a great job of preparing me for that transition.” 

“Transition” is a great word, and Erical Barnes is also living it twice over. 

Soon after she found her 16-year-old son, Vernon Lundy, thrown from an SUV and lying in brush just off a 

rural road near their east-central Georgia home, she had a feeling life would be changing. 

“The first thing he said was, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Momma,’” Erical recalls. “Then he said he couldn’t feel his legs.” 

Vernon had sustained a complete T-9 to 10 SCI; he was paralyzed from the waist down. That was May 20, 2012. 

By June 21, Erical knew better about how life would change. 

“Thirty one days after Vernon was injured, I get a phone call that my other son was in an accident,” Erical 

recalls. “The first thing I said on the phone was, ‘See if he can feel his legs,’. We were in Vernon’s room at 

Shepherd Center, getting ready to take his sister out for her birthday.” 

Jaiylon Lundy, 18, sustained a complete T-8 SCI in an accident that happened when he tried to pass a 

logging truck outside Sparta, Ga. He is paralyzed from about the chest down. 

This is the story of four young men, a mysterious mistake made driving home, a drunk driver, a deer at road’s 

edge, a logging truck, many people pitching in to help and questions that don’t produce perfect answers. 

“I’m more or less like, it’s happened for a reason. I don’t know that reason,” Erical says. “I have always 

raised the kids, five kids. . . went to work, done whatever I needed to do, and it’s not going to change. We’ve 

got to get up and still get to moving.” 


1. Jaiylon Lundy, 18, of 

Sparta, Ga., navigates 

the hallway at Hancock 

Central High School. 

He and his brother, 

Vernon Lundy, 16, both 

sustained spinal cord 

injuries in separate 

car crashes and 

completed rehabilitation 

at Shepherd Center 

in 2012. 2. Vernon 

prepares for dinner at 

home with his mother, 

Erical Barnes. 

Mostly, this is also about transitions like Karen Masters, 

47, described. Changes – good ones – continue. 

Vernon and Jaiylon have returned to Hancock 

Central High School in manual wheelchairs as a 

sophomore and senior. David Masters has returned 

to Shorter University in Rome as a junior. Ben is a 

senior at Coosa High School near Rome. 

Ben recently regained movement in his left thumb 

and can transfer himself to and from his wheelchair. 

“At first, I could barely move my arms,” he says. “They 

were very, very weak.” 

Ben works the cash register on Sundays at a Rome fast 

food restaurant. He grins. “I enjoy that,” he says. “I really do.” 

1. 

2. 

There Is No Perfect Plan 

You won’t find an ace formula for families to cope 

with a spinal cord injury (SCI) or brain injury, and 

certainly not two. But don’t look for Erical Barnes, 

40, to hang her head trying to figure everything out. 

She returned to work in early September 2012 as a 

rural postal carrier in Hancock County. 

“You just never know what the next day is going 

to bring,” Erical says. “Why would you be feeling 

sorry? It’s not going to change anything.” 

Help is required, though. Erical’s father, a 

contractor, adapted the doorways and a bathroom 

for his grandsons in the family home. Her mother 

helps drive the boys. Both wheelchairs do not fit in 

one vehicle. 

Fundraisers in and around Sparta helped pay 

some construction costs, and a local church helped 

build a ramp to the house. That, Erical says, is a 

sign of God’s love. 

Erical’s insurance through the United States 

Postal Service has been gracious, but there are 

still bills like the $17,000 or so balance for Vernon’s 

air ambulance flight to the hospital. Uncertainty 

remains about Jaiylon’s air ambulance bill. 

Similarly, attitudes are not measured out evenly. 

Vernon will occasionally roll over a friend’s toes 

intentionally. He jokes. Jaiylon, who was a threeyear 

starting cornerback on his school’s football 

team, is more subdued. 

“I think Vernon’s outlook is: ‘We’re the same 

people; our legs are just not the same,’” says 

Hancock Central football coach Zachery Harris. 

“I think Jaiylon is moving toward that. Vernon is 

moving a little quicker.” 

Vernon is not one to mope. “I don’t get real 

emotional because I know God has a plan for me,” 

he says. “I’ve always been the kind of person who 

likes to have fun, but my brother has changed a lot. 

I don’t think he likes people to see him like that.” 

Vernon participated in the driving rehabilitation 

program at Shepherd Center to learn to drive using 

hand controls. Jaiylon has shown no interest. 

Jaiylon was on the sidelines, in jersey, for football 

games this past fall. “I wish I could be out there [on the 

football field],” he says. “Before I got hurt. . . I wanted 

to be an engineer, mechanical. I don’t know what I’m 

going to do now. I just like to be to myself now.” 

Sometimes, Erical just doesn’t know what to do. 

Yet she keeps telling her boys: “This doesn’t change 

it. You can still do what you want. I talk to Jaiylon. 

He tells me I repeat stuff.” 

Vernon has amended his dream. Where he 

wanted to go to the NFL, he now wants to be a 

physical therapist, “and help other people, have my 

own gym.” 

Dogged Determination 

Ben Masters was heading home that night from 

a friend’s house when his mother got the call. There 

were no other vehicles or passengers involved. No 

alcohol or drugs. 


Rob Masters, 47, says, “We may never really 

know what happened.” 

As with the Lundys, doctors stabilized Ben’s 

spine. It was the day after he started in his first 

varsity football game. He was an all-state-caliber 

wrestler as a sophomore. 

Hundreds or thousands of T-shirts and stickers 

have been sold for Ben and David, and there have 

been other fundraisers. That helped buy Ben a 

functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycle that 

insurance would not cover. “It helps with circulation, 

muscle tone, elasticity,” Ben says.“It’s great.” 

One of Rob’s high school classmates, contractor 

Joey Smith, combined two bedrooms into one in 

the Masters home, and enlarged and equipped a 

bathroom for Ben. Joey did the work at cost, or less, 

as several suppliers donated materials. 

While that was happening in fall 2011, Ben’s 

classmates, teachers and parents traveled to 

Shepherd Center – a frequent occurrence – to 

decorate his room for homecoming, complete with 

a disco ball. 

Ben returned to school in February 2012 about 

six months after his accident. The high school has 

installed a special door, and a para-professional 

assists him in class. He works on an iPad, and 

teachers often email notes to him. 

This past fall, he went to the real homecoming. 

Looking ahead, he sees himself pursuing a 

chemical or biomedical engineering degree at 

Georgia Tech or Southern Polytechnic University. 

Ben has had a couple of staph infections and 

additional surgeries, yet he’s getting better at 

everything. On occasion, he has asked his mother 

to back off and adjust her role again. With both a 

motorized and a manual wheelchair, he favors the 

do-it-yourself model, although fatigue and terrain 

dictate its use. 

“Everybody wants to do things on their own,” Ben 

explains during one of his twice-a-week outpatient 

therapy sessions at Shepherd Center. “The first 

thing I relearned was to eat by myself. Then, 

grooming skills, brushing teeth, bathing, shaving. 

Most of the time I can get in the shower on my own 

and get dressed on my own.” 

David Masters’ changes haven’t been physical, 

and he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. 

His accident occurred in Gulf Shores, Ala., where 

he and schoolmates were celebrating the end of 

a Shorter school year. The Masters note that in 

Alabama – unlike Georgia – it is not illegal to ride in 

the bed of a pickup truck. 

He doesn’t remember a driver plowing into the 

truck. Friends and family have told him the driver 

tested drunk. A few boys went flying, and David’s 

head became landing gear. 

After being transported to Baptist Hospital in 

Pensacola, Fla., he spent days in a medically 

induced coma. Part of his skullcap was removed to 

relieve pressure. 

Damage to his brain’s left side chiefly affected 

David’s speech and verbal skills. Whether reading, 

listening or speaking, more work is required now. 

He says, “I wasn’t a good speller before, but having 

a brain injury sucks.” 

While continuing speech therapy in Rome, David 

is taking two classes toward an accounting degree. 

He played baseball and football in high school, 

where he started at quarterback as a senior. He 

doesn’t forget that. 

“Who was player of the game for the Temple game?” 

he asked his family, grinning because he knows. 

When he became aware of his missing skull, 

David repeatedly asked about, “my bark,” as 

if he were a tree. For a while, he referred to his 

omnipresent grandfather, Johnny Mills (who drives 

Ben to nearly every therapy session), as, “that old 

man.” A big day finally came. “Johnny called me 

one day and said, ‘Guess what?’” recalled the boys’ 

grandmother, Ellen Mills. “He called me, ‘Paw Paw!’” 

Cognitive reconditioning continues at home. 

Karen, 47, is a third grade teacher. When she asks 

David her principal’s name, comedy ensues. 

“Uh. . . Hamilton?” he asks. “No,” Karen responds. 

“It is Dr. Anderson.” 

David is lightning quick with a retort. “Well, that’s 

because it’s a dude,” he says. His eyes twinkle and he 

grins as he says, “If it was a cute girl, I’d remember.” 

The Masters are rising. In September, David 

became licensed to drive again. Soon afterward, 

there he was, facing his father: “Can I have a few 

bucks?” he asked, “and the keys to your car?” 

Rob Masters handed them over to a smiling son 

who has a leg up on a new life. 

“We’ve always tried to let our kids be 

independent,” Rob says. “We’ve tried not to thrust 

ourselves into the middle of everything they do. 

That continues. I hate the phrase, ‘It is what is is,’ 

but. . . it is. You don’t get a reset button. You’ve got 

to move on.” 

2. 

1. Ben Masters, 18, 

of Rome, Ga., and his 

sister Mary Ellen, 14, 

enjoy time at home. Ben 

sustained an SCI in 2011, 

and his brother David, 21, 

sustained a brain injury 

in 2012. 2. The brothers 

completed rehabilitation 

at Shepherd Center. 

1. 




Back 

I’ll Be 

1. 

Store manager shot in armed robbery 

vows to return to work and family after 

completing rehabilitation for a spinal 

cord injury. 

By David Simpson 

When he puts his hand on his side, Albert McDuffie can feel the 

armed robber’s bullet resting just beneath his skin. 

“I don’t even think I’m going to take it out,” says Albert, 31, 

of Washington, D.C. “It’s just something that happened. I don’t 

look at it as a bad thing. I just look at it as a life-changer.” 

Life changed for Albert on April 13, 2012 at the Rite-Aid 

drug store he managed in D.C. He complied with an intruder’s 

demand that he open the cash drawer, but Albert was shot 

anyway. The bullet ruptured his spleen, nicked a kidney and 

sprayed bone debris into his spinal cord. (The robbery was 

caught on video, and police arrested a suspect soon afterward.) 

A T-11 incomplete spinal cord injury paralyzed Albert from 

the waist down. After receiving acute care at Washington 

Hospital Center, Albert’s workers’ compensation carrier referred 

him to Shepherd Center. He was admitted on April 25, and 

attentive care started within minutes of his arrival, he recalls. 


3. 

4. 

2. 

Photos by Louie favorite 

“I met doctors, nurses, therapists, the counselor who then 

saw me every day,” Albert says. “I’m lying in the bed, and I’ve 

got probably eight to 10 people in my room with me. Everybody 

introduced themselves and put their name on the board. 

That stuck with me right there because it let me know I was in a 

caring facility.” 

His treatment began with therapists stretching his legs. He 

couldn’t feel anything, but on the third or fourth day, there was 

a “flicker” in his right thigh. 

“I didn’t see it, but my occupational therapist saw it, and 

my aunt saw it,” Albert says. “I was like ‘What happened?’ and 

I looked down and saw it. I was like ‘Wow!’ That put a smile on 

my face.” 

He learned to use a wheelchair, but he was determined to 

walk. He tackled that goal in Shepherd’s day program, moving 

to an apartment in the adjacent Woodruff Family Residence 

Center with his mother just a month after arriving at the hospital. 

Before long, Albert was on the parallel bars doing what he 

calls “the Frankenstein walk.” He started walking slowly and 

stiff-legged like the movie monster because of long braces 

to help support his weight. And like the monster, he got an 

electrical boost from an electrical stimulation device called the 

Bioness L300 Plus. 

“I have electrodes connected to my right leg – two attached 

to my thigh and a sensor in my left foot,” he explains. “So 

when I take a step with my left foot, it knows my right foot is 

back. It knows to trigger the electrode to tense the muscle.” 

With the mechanical and electrical help, plus a therapist 

behind him to help move his legs, he made quick progress. In 

three weeks, he graduated again to Shepherd Center’s Beyond 

Therapy ® program, commuting from an apartment he shares 

with his mother less than a mile from the hospital. 

His fianceé, Elysia Morgan, is in graduate school in California, 

so he has had to rely on two visits and many video chats 

with her and their 1-year-old daughter, Aaliyah. 

5. 6. 

“I was at first very apprehensive about being so far away from 

him,” Elysia says, “but the staff at Shepherd Center has been an 

extended family to him. They’ve embraced us and our daughter.” 

Albert got a boost in the summer when his 11-year-old son, 

Jeline, and 10-year-old nephew, Daevian Grinnage, arrived 

from Washington for a long visit. The family went to Six Flags 

over Georgia to celebrate Albert’s 31st birthday in July 2012. 

At Shepherd, the boys helped Albert do his exercises. 

He could see constant progress. When he entered Beyond 

Therapy ® , he could use a walker for “maybe seven or eight 

steps, and I was done.” By October 2012, he was using a 

walker with no hands-on assistance from a therapist. The 

electrical stimulus continued, but he estimated “the quads on 

my left are pretty much 100 percent, and the quads on my right 

are probably 70 percent.” 

He was thrilled on the day he could walk from one end of the 

Shepherd Center basketball court to the other, he recalls. 

Albert misses home and family, but he is determined to stay 

in Beyond Therapy ® as long as his improvement continues. He 

says Rite-Aid has promised a job when he can return. And he 

has started looking at coursework to finish his college degree. 

Career goals and motivation are important in tailoring each 

client’s therapy, says Heddi Silon, director of workers’ compensation 

care at Shepherd Center. 

“He’s a strong, very motivated, independent man,” Silon 

says of Albert. 

He has kept the resolution he made to be strong when he 

saw the shocked expressions of family and co-workers in the 

intensive care unit on the day of the shooting. 

“My whole outlook was, I’m still here, I’m still alive. I’ll beat 

this. I’ll be back 100 percent, no doubt,’” Albert adds. 

1. Albert McDuffie, 31, 

of Washington, D.C., 

sustained an SCI in April 

2012 when he was shot 

during a robbery at a Rite 

Aid store he managed. 

He is undergoing 

rehabilitation, including 

aquatic therapy at 

Shepherd Center. Albert 

has strong support from 

his family (2, 4, 6), 

including his mother, 

fiancee and children. He 

is participating in Beyond 

Therapy ® now (3, 5). 




illustration by Justine beckett

Closing the Gap 

in Cost and Care 

Finding resources and identifying funding 

vehicles make all the difference in a patient’s 

financial well-being – and peace of mind. 

By Sara Baxter 

It is an irony best classified as cruel: An injury to 

the spinal cord or brain not only turns a person’s 

physical world upside down, it also brings the 

complexity and anxiety of financing treatment and 

accommodations for a catastrophic injury. 

The sad truth is that most families are unprepared 

for the harsh financial consequences of such an 

injury. Insurance policies typically cover several 

weeks of rehabilitation care, but the average stay at 

Shepherd Center is nearly six weeks. 

“Generally speaking, there is a mismatch 

between the costs of catastrophic care and the 

insurance coverage people have to cover those 

costs,” says Mitch Fillhaber, Shepherd’s vice 

president of managed care and marketing. “As 

a result, people are surprised to find out what 

catastrophic care costs.” 

Further complicating the issue is the gap in 

coverage for related costs such as caregiving, 

ongoing therapy, adaptive technology, home 

modifications and transportation. So patients and 

families have to think creatively about how best 

to generate funds to help cover costs – and how 

to make sure every available dollar is spent in the 

smartest way possible. 

Creative fundraising often begins at the 

local level – with patients and their families and 

friends organizing community support. Former 

Shepherd patients tell stories of receiving funds 

from golf tournaments, bike rides, carnivals 

and other fundraising events held in their honor. 

Contributions take the form of cash or equipment. 

Several nonprofit organizations and social 

networking sites exist to help people generate and 

accept donations (see sidebar). 

Foundations and nonprofit organizations can 

also be a resource to help cover expenses. Former 

Shepherd patients Cindy Donald and Travis Roy 

have set up foundations that provide grants for 

equipment and therapy. Other foundations around 

the country do the same. The challenge is to conduct 

thorough research to identify a match between a 

foundation’s focus and the patient’s need. 

Finally, government assistance can add support 

in the form of Supplemental Security Income 

(SSI) and Social Security Disability Income 

(SSDI), and through Medicaid and Medicare. 

People with disabilities who have very minimal 

income and resources may qualify for Medicaid 

and SSI, and those who have been gainfully 


Because closing the gap 

between cost and care affects 

the quality of life for 

patients, Shepherd Center is 

working to become a greater 

resource in this area. 

employed and paid into the Social Security system 

may qualify for Medicare and SSDI. 

In most cases of catastrophic care, patients 

must rely on some combination of public 

assistance and help from other sources, such as 

personal income, donations or grants. The added 

irony: One can cancel the other out. For example, 

if a patient’s assets from any source – grants, 

donations, settlements, inheritance or other – 

exceed $2,000, then Medicaid and SSI benefits 

can be lost. 

This means that if a person is on Medicaid 

and SSI and receives an outright distribution 

of settlement money from a lawsuit or from a 

fundraiser or grant, he or she loses SSI and 

Medicaid government benefits. The same is not 

true for Medicare and SSDI, however. Those 

benefits are not “means tested,” meaning they are 

not constrained by income thresholds. 

Thus, identifying techniques that maximize 

the value of every dollar is crucial. One way to 

protect means-tested government benefits is to 

set up a special needs trust (SNT), which provides 

financial support to individuals with disabilities 

while allowing them to remain eligible for public 

benefits. Funds placed into the trust aren’t counted 

as an eligible resource and can be used to cover 

medical costs and other quality-of-life expenses. 

“Patients who become eligible for Medicaid and 

were injured because of the fault of someone else, 

or those who have community support, should 

consider asset protection through a special needs 

trust,” says Liz Schoen, Shepherd Center’s former 

general counsel. SNT funds can generally be used 

for everything except food and some shelter items. 

“That could include Shepherd’s Beyond Therapy ® 

program, recreational therapy, a modified vehicle, 

even a trip for the patient and a caregiver,” Schoen 

explains. “The trust supplements what government 

programs won’t pay for.” 

Special needs trusts generally fall into two 

categories depending on whether the trust is 

funded with assets of the trust beneficiary or 

someone else. First party SNTs are funded with 

assets that legally belong to the beneficiary. The 

trust is irrevocable, meaning it can’t be revoked or 

terminated, and the beneficiary must be under the 

age of 65 and classified as “disabled” under the 

Social Security Administration definition. If funds 

remain in the SNT after the death of the beneficiary, 

they must first be used to reimburse Medicaid for all 

benefits paid out during the beneficiary’s lifetime. 

A third party SNT is funded by assets that don’t 

belong to the beneficiary, such as those from a 

family member, friend or money raised through 

fundraisers. Also irrevocable, third party SNTs do 

not give Medicaid any claim to remaining trust 

assets upon the death of the beneficiary. 

While SNTs help protect funds, they can be 

complex. “Many lawyers don’t know how to 

set these up,” says Kristen Lewis, an attorney 

at Atlanta firm Smith, Gambrell & Russell who 

specializes in estate planning and SNTs. “It is 

imperative to find counsel who is experienced 

in this complex area and who knows the proper 

language to include in the trust document.” The 

trust document, she explains, details how the 

SNT assets can and cannot be used, and it 

must adhere to ever-changing Social Security 

Administration regulations. 

A trustee, appointed in the trust document, 

is needed to administer and manage an SNT. 

“A trustee can be an individual, attorney or 

corporation, such as a bank,” explains Bill Frazier, 

senior vice president of SunTrust Bank, who 

oversees a national division handling SNTs. “When 

choosing a trustee, you need to make sure it’s a 

good fit from an economic, investment and skill set 

standpoint. Trustees need to be knowledgeable in 

special needs trusts.” 

Another option for those whose assets may 

be more modest is a pooled SNT trust. (See the 

sidebar for a list of those types of trusts.) 

Georgia’s Department of Community Health 

(DCH) must approve each SNT application in the 

state, and the DCH turns to HMS Government 

Services, a private firm, to review applications. 

William Overman, who directs Georgia’s trust 

unit for HMS, says once the trust is established, 

his office tracks the accounting, making sure all 

disbursements are within the law. 

“We look at every single SNT application to make 

sure all the legal requirements are met when the 

trust is set up,” Overman says, “and then we review 

it each year.” 

Because closing the gap between cost and care 

affects the quality of life for patients, Shepherd Center 

is working to become a greater resource in this area. 

“Right now, the legal team at Shepherd can help 

patients with powers of attorney and advance 

directives,” Schoen says, “but the hospital wants to 

do more to help protect our patients. In the future, 

Shepherd Center hopes to bring in experts such as 

Kristen Lewis, Bill Frazier and Bill Overman, who 

can explain special needs trusts and direct patients 

and their families to people who can help.” 


Fundraising Options: Where to Go for Help 

It can be daunting when facing all the expenses needed to care for individuals living with brain and/or spinal 

cord injuries. But there is help. Patients can supplement their treatment funds through grants, fundraisers and 

contributions from generous individuals. Here is a list of resources. 

Foundations 

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation 

www.christopherreeve.org 

This foundation does not give grants 

to individuals, but serves as a great 

resource for people with paralysis. Click 

on the “Paralysis Resource Center,” and 

there is information on every aspect of 

being paralyzed, as well as a way to find 

resources in your area. 

Dreams of Recovery Foundation 

www.dreamsofrecovery.org 

When former Shepherd Center patient 

Cindy Donald discovered that most 

insurance programs wouldn’t cover 

the cost of Shepherd’s revolutionary 

Beyond Therapy ® program, she decided 

to take some of the money that had 

been donated to her to pay for a friend’s 

therapy. Out of that gesture, the Dreams 

of Recovery Foundation was born. The 

foundation now gives grants of up to 

$15,000 to pay for therapy programs not 

covered by insurance, equipment for the 

improvement of everyday life and grants 

to institutions for research. 

Travis Roy Foundation 

www.travisroyfoundation.org 

A year after former Shepherd Center 

patient Travis Roy was paralyzed 

from the neck down while playing in a 

collegiate hockey game, he started a 

foundation to help others with spinal 

cord injuries improve their quality of 

life through adaptive equipment. The 

Foundation raises about $500,000 

a year and makes 70 to 100 grants 

annually, ranging from $1,000 to $7,000 

to provide adaptive equipment, such 

a voice-activated software, ramps and 

stair platforms. 

Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust 

Fund Commission 

www.bsitf.state.ga.us 

404-651-5112 or 888-233-5760 

Created by a Georgia constitutional 

amendment, the Trust Fund for Brain 

and Spinal Injury is designed to provide 

for things that are not covered by private 

insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, and 

funds are provided only once all other 

means of payment have been exhausted 

or refused. Outstanding medical bills, 

medical insurance premiums and 

medication costs are not eligible for a 

grant, but things like physical, cognitive 

and behavioral therapy, adaptive 

equipment, tutoring, caregiving, vehicle 

modifications and home modifications 

are eligible. Application guidelines are 

available on the website. 

To get a broader list of foundations 

that give grants to people with 

disabilities, visit the listing on the 

Foundation Center’s website at http:// 

foundationcenter.org/getstarted/topical/ 

disabilities.html. 

Fundraising Outlets 

HelpHOPELive 

www.helphopelive.org or 800-642-8399 

Formerly NTAF, works with families and 

volunteers throughout the United States 

to start successful fundraising campaigns 

for people who are facing a transplant 

or have sustained catastrophic injuries. 

Funds raised are tax-deductible and are 

sent to and held by HelpHOPELive in 

regional restricted funds. Disbursements 

are then made to the individual to 

pay for uninsured medically related 

expenses, such as specially equipped 

vans and durable medical equipment, 

home modifications, home health care 

services, physical therapy and insurance 

premiums and co-payments. 

MedGift 

www.medgift.com 

Medgift is a combination social 

networking site and gift registry for 

patients and people who care about them. 

Patients can set up a personalized home 

page, share updates and provide a gift 

registry of needs. Contributors can pay 

for hospital expenses and other needs 

and wishes. Patients can also ask for 

non-monetary gifts, such as babysitting, 

prayers, transportation and visits. 

Fundly 

www.fundly.com 

Fundly is an online fundraising 

management website for political 

campaigns, nonprofits and individual 

fundraisers. Like MedGift, individuals can 

set up a customized fundraising page 

and promote the campaign through 

Facebook, Twitter and email. Fees are 

based on a percentage of the donations. 

Other Resources 

Home Modifications 

The Council for Disability Rights 

lists fundraising sources for home 

modifications at 

www.disabilityrights.org/mod3.htm. 

There is also a downloadable PDF of 

home modification resources available 

on the Reeve Foundation website. 

Also, see a previously published 

Spinal Column magazine article at: 

www.shepherdcentermagazine.org/ 

spring-2012/accessible-living/. 

Transportation 

www.nmeda.org or 800-833-0427 

National Mobility Equipment Dealers 

Association (NMEDA) is a nonprofit 

trade association of mobility equipment 

manufacturers, dealers, driver 

rehabilitation specialists and other 

professionals dedicated to improving 

the lives of people with disabilities and 

assisting with driving independence 

using wheelchair-accessible vehicles. 

Community Trusts 

When considering a special needs trust 

to protect government eligibility, it might 

be beneficial or necessary to put funds 

into community or pooled trusts, rather 

than an individual trust. In many cases, 

these trusts can provide comprehensive 

special needs trust services, including 

service as a trustee, co-trustee or 

trust administrator. Here are a few that 

provide those services: 

Georgia Community Trust: 

www.georgiacommunitytrust.com 

Family Network on Disabilities: 

www.fndfl.org 

Secured Futures: 

securedfutures-snt.org 

The National Foundation for Special 

Needs Integrity: 

www.specialneedsintegrity.org 


Ppatient 

profile 

1. 

Healing 

Power 

of Music 

Rising country music 

singer-songwriter 

Nick Malloy 

battles through 

spinal cord injury 

rehabilitation to 

return to the stage. 

By David Simpson 


PhotoS by Louie Favorite and brian tipton 

Nick Malloy needed his left arm to work again. He 

needed the muscles strong and delicately toned. 

He needed to play chords like B minor. 

“That’s a pretty tough one – where you’ve got to lay 

your first finger on all the strings, pressing down on 

the frets,” says Nick, a former patient from Macon, Ga. 

“You have to use a lot of power in your hand.” 

Nick fell asleep at the wheel and crashed his 

car on his 23rd birthday – March 28, 2012. He 

sustained an incomplete T-8 spinal cord injury, 

multiple fractures and wounds to his left arm and 

hand. The resulting paralysis in his legs seemed 

a secondary issue to him when he arrived at 

Shepherd Center on April 18. For a country music 

singer-songwriter who used a guitar like an 

extension of his body, the severe tissue damage to 

his arm represented a crisis. 

When he was 12, Nick picked up a guitar at a 

friend’s house. His parents gave him one of his 

own at Christmas. At 13, he saw his friend’s band 

perform in Macon. That clinched it. “I started 

playing bars at 15,” he recalls. 

Nick had a full calendar of bookings through 

summer 2012. Working in country music means 

long hours on the road. He was coming off trips to 

Alabama and Atlanta and operating on two hours’ 

sleep when he played a show in Macon the night of 

his crash. 

On the way home, fatigue got the better of him. 

He doesn’t remember his car hitting the tree, the 

six hours pinned inside until he was discovered or 

his first weeks of surgery and intensive care at the 

Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG). 

For rehabilitation, MCCG referred Nick to 

Shepherd Center, where Lisa Gerdes, RN, was his 

admitting nurse. 

Macon television news anchorman Frank Malloy, 

Nick’s father, recalls: “I was scared to death, and I 

know Nick was, too. Lisa was just wonderful from 

the first moment – her manner, her smile. We met 

so many people like that, just so encouraging. As 

parents, that meant the world to us.” 

Gerdes says Nick couldn’t bear to look at his 

heavily scarred arm, which was an obstacle to the 

painful rehabilitation it needed. And then there was 

his appetite. 

“He would sometimes go a whole day and eat a 

forkful of rice, and that was it,” she says. Getting 

Nick to eat became a group project. 

Nurses shopped for food to entice him. Family 

members brought old favorites from home. It took a 

month or more, but Nick’s appetite slowly returned. 

Meanwhile, he was coping with his paralysis. 

He recalls a tough two months when he thought 

he wasn’t making progress. “Everybody said they 

could see it I,” he recalls. “I couldn’t.” 

Feeling frustrated and unwilling to even look at 

his arm, Nick and the therapists had to break up the 

“really severe and intensive scar tissue” in his arm 

with painful massage and stretching, Gerdes says. 

“Slowly, as the weeks went by, I worked with Nick 

to help him be OK with looking at his arm,” Gerdes 

recalls. “A lot of the process was not forcing him 

too much.” Nick remembers turning the corner 

emotionally in his last two weeks of inpatient therapy. 

Nick graduated from inpatient care to day 

program rehabilitation on June 14. During that 

program, he began living with his mother in the 

Woodruff Family Residence Center adjacent to 


His left arm improved, and the splint came off 

his hand. But he still had not held a guitar since 

the accident when his friends in Macon staged 

a benefit concern for him on June 1. At country 

music star Dierks Bentley’s request, C.F. Martin & 

Co. donated a guitar to be auctioned off. 

“Those are the best guitars in the world,” Nick 

says. But he didn’t expect his friends to plop it into 

his arms. 

“They were like, ‘Play it,’” he recalls. “And I 

thought, ‘I don’t know if I can, but it is a Martin 

guitar. I’ve got to play it.’” 

So as his friends cheered, Nick started 

strumming, first some easy 

chords. Then the tough ones 

like B minor. All of them came 

back to him – and his left hand 

– like old friends. 

“I was kind of tearing up,” he 

says. “I thought I could never 

play guitar again.” 

Nick played a concert in July 

2012 for fellow patients, family 

and staff at Shepherd Center. 

He went home on Aug. 10, but 

played Sept. 8 at a Nashville 

fundraiser for Shepherd 

Center’s Beyond Therapy ® - 

Tennessee. 

Back at home, Nick looks 

ahead. His spinal cord injury 

was incomplete, meaning 

“there’s a 75 percent chance of 

regaining some function in my 

lower extremities,” he explains. 

He plays guitar and thinks 

about writing new songs. 

“I’ve definitely got a lot more 

emotions going on than before 

the wreck,” Nick adds. “I think 

some good stuff will come out 

of this, for sure.” 

3. 

1. Nick Malloy, 23, of 

Macon, Ga., sustained 

an SCI in a car crash 

in March 2012. He has 

returned to performing 

as a country music 

artist. 2. Nick performs 

for patients at Shepherd 

Center. 3. Nick 

performs at Shepherd 

Center’s Beyond BBQ 

fundraiser in Nashville. 

2. 




Aalumni 

profiles 

2 

1 

4 

3 

From Near 

and Far 

Former Shepherd Center 

patients from across the 

nation report on their 

productive lives post-injury. 

By Phillip Jordan 

1 

Arash 

Iranmanesh 

Madison, Ala. 

Arash Iranmanesh, 25, of Madison, Ala., 

had fainted a few times before Halloween 

2008. “I had a few episodes before, but 

they weren’t a big deal,” he says. “A little 

confusion, but nothing else. I just got 

back up.” 

On Oct. 31, 2008, Arash passed out 

again – this time after playing basketball 

with friends at the University of Alabama’s 

recreation center in Tuscaloosa. He slipped 

into a coma after falling when he passed 

out. The prolonged period of time without 

oxygen led to an anoxic brain injury. 

“I don’t remember anything from 

that night until Nov. 25,” Arash says. 

“Halloween to Thanksgiving.” 

After receiving several weeks of acute 

care, he entered Shepherd Center’s 

inpatient brain injury rehabilitation 

program. “I was learning how to walk, 

how to talk, how to eat,” Arash says. “I 

was really starting over.” 

He continued his recovery in Shepherd 

Pathways’ outpatient rehabilitation 

program before returning home. 

Adjusting to a slower pace to allow his 

brain to continue to heal at home was 

difficult. “I had been in college where 

you’re doing stuff all the time,” Arash says. 

“Class, sports, going out with friends. 

Even at Shepherd, you’re doing stuff 

every day, working to get back. Once 

you’re released, it’s a lot of downtime. 

A lot of sitting around, waiting as you 

continue to heal.” 

Arash feels like he finally returned to 

his life in January 2012, when he enrolled 

in a biology course at the University of 

Alabama at Huntsville. Having lost his 

ability to read because of his brain injury 

– “it’s like a type of dyslexia that keeps me 

from putting letters into words and words 

into sentences” – Arash uses auditory 

textbooks now. This past fall, he took two 

classes and decided to major in biology. 

“Going back to school has been great,” 

he says. “Being active again. Simply 

going from doing nothing to doing 

something just makes your whole life 

more meaningful.” 


2 3 4 

Michael 

Toyryla 

Spencer, N.Y. 

Deborah 

Krupp 

Roswell, Ga. 

Michael 

Leitson 

Acworth, Ga. 

Michael Toyryla (pictured above at 

left), 36, of Spencer, N.Y., never felt the 

chilly water of Cayuga Lake the day he 

nearly died. Mike’s grandfather had 

passed away Easter weekend 2010, and 

relatives had gathered at an Ithaca, N.Y., 

lakehouse to celebrate his life. 

It was unseasonably warm, and Mike’s 

wife suggested a leap in the cold lake 

one day. “I didn’t realize the lake level was 

so low before I dove in,” Mike says. The 

impact “turned everything off, like a light 

switch,” he recalls. He couldn’t breathe 

or move. Family members rushed in, 

keeping him stable in the numbing water 

until a medical helicopter arrived. The 

cold kept his swelling down, but he 

sustained an incomplete C-5 to -6 spinal 

cord injury, leaving him with quadriplegia. 

Mike’s rehabilitation brought him 

to Shepherd Center for three months. 

“When they opened the doors, I knew I 

was in good hands,” he says. “It seemed 

like they were asking the impossible 

some days, but as you start seeing 

results, you start trusting them more.” 

Mike was a working musician before 

the accident, performing in a pair of 

bands. He doesn’t have the finger 

dexterity to play guitar as he did before. 

Mike’s oldest son has inherited most of 

his guitar gear. “He’s got my amps, my 

guitar collection,” he says with a laugh. 

“It’s worked out pretty well for him.” 

Two things Mike can still do well are 

writing music and singing. He can stand 

for a two-hour show again and can 

sing what he writes for his pop project, 

the Tijuana Danger Dogs. The band 

recently released a five-song EP on 

iTunes and is promoting it through their 

band’s Facebook page (www.facebook. 

com/49dogs). 

“The energy and response from the 

crowd in that first show after the injury 

was such a rush,” Mike says. “I’ve been a 

musician since I was a kid, and it was the 

coolest thing to feel that sensation again.” 

Deborah Krupp, 56, of Roswell, Ga., 

knew she wasn’t going crazy. She’d 

begun having seizures after switching 

medicine for diabetes. Doctors told 

Deborah she was epileptic. Deborah’s 

eyes became so light-sensitive that she 

wore multiple pairs of sunglasses and a 

hat outside. She lost her job. 

“I started seeing a psychologist. I knew 

something was wrong, but I couldn’t 

figure it out,” Deborah says. “Am I going 

nuts? Am I sick, or what?” 

A neurologist referred Deborah to 

Shepherd Center. She was diagnosed 

with hemiplegic migraines, trigeminal 

nerve damage and impaired speech due 

to aphasia. She had also experienced a 

mild stroke. Proper medication helped 

Deborah manage her migraines. Bluetinted 

glasses provided eye relief. 

“The Shepherd staff called me their 

Humpty Dumpty and said they were 

putting me back together again!” she 

says. “Nobody else took the time 

to examine me the way they did at 

Shepherd. They really saved my life.” 

She did biofeedback therapy and 

acupuncture. Today, Deborah goes to 

the Shepherd Pain Institute for weekly 

pain-management classes for breathing 

techniques, yoga and meditation. 

During rehabilitation, Deborah began 

designing jewelry. With the help of her 

husband and friends, Deborah opened a 

jewelry business called GemAssist 

(www.gemassist.org). Part of her profits 

goes to Shepherd Center to support 

brain and spinal cord injury research. 

“I wanted to create something that 

would educate people,” she says. “So I 

made a brain-injury awareness pendant.” 

Deborah gave one to Shepherd’s cofounder, 

Alana Shepherd, who provided 

space in the Shepherd Apothecary, 

where Deborah could sell them. 

“Wearing this is like the pink ribbon is to 

breast-cancer awareness,” she says. “I 

want to make this a national symbol of 

hope for people with brain injuries.” 

Michael Leitson, 23, of Acworth, Ga., didn’t 

understand what was happening. A mild 

headache had turned into something more. 

Blurred vision. His right arm felt asleep. 

When his speech began slurring, Michael’s 

dad took him to the hospital. 

“I had no idea what a stroke was, or 

even the symptoms of a stroke,” Michael 

says. “I thought strokes only happened 

to people my grandparents’ age.” It took 

about 25 hours for the entirety of his stroke 

to take place – the cerebral cavernous 

malformation slowly but methodically 

paralyzing his right side. 

Movement came back slowly in the 

months that followed. Learning to walk 

again was Michael’s greatest challenge 

while at Shepherd Center. “I could not 

walk for 10 feet without sitting down due to 

exhaustion,” he recalls. “I couldn’t believe 

that I had to completely relearn something 

that I’ve done my whole life.” By the time he 

left Shepherd after a month’s stay, he was 

no longer dependent on a wheelchair. 

Michael’s right arm remains a work in 

progress, but his body is back in motion. 

Exactly three years after his stroke, Michael 

completed his first half-marathon. It was 

exhausting, and the last mile was just plain 

cruel, “but crossing the finish line was truly 

one of the greatest feelings I received in my 

entire life.” 

Michael recently graduated Magna Cum 

Laude from Kennesaw State University 

with a bachelor of science degree in 

mathematics. He’s proud that he earned 

his degree in four years, despite time lost 

to his stroke and rehabilitation. His next 

challenge: a master of science degree in 

applied statistics. 

“Every day that has passed since my 

stroke, I am more and more thankful to be 

alive,” Michael says. “My favorite quote is 

from Eleanor Roosevelt: ‘Life is what you 

make it. Always has been, always will be.’” 




DONOR PROFILE 

Howard and Irene Stein 

32 

ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY 

SHEPHERD CARES 

GIVING TO SHEPHERD IN 2013 

BIG GAME BASH PREVIEW 

Game Ball Relay 

PATRON PARTY 

LEGENDARY PARTY 

shepherd CENTER cup 

SHEPHERD SMASH 

HONORARIUMS 

MEMORIALS 

33 

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35 

38 

38 

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44 

46 

48 

50 

3 0 • ShepherdCenterMagazine.org

Notes from 

scott h. sikes 

Shepherd Center Foundation Executive Director 

A Heartfelt Thank You to Donors for Investing in Shepherd Center 

Photo by LESLIE JOHNSON 

Photo of scott sikes by louie favorite 

Thanks to you, our generous donors, we have provided tens of millions of dollars 

of specialized patient care and services to patients’ families for nearly 38 years. 

Thousands of patients have come from all 50 states and more than 50 foreign 

countries in the past four decades and benefited from your gifts. 

Your generosity helped us grow from just six beds when we opened in 1975 to 

152 beds today. That is a 2,344 percent increase. You wonderful people who have 

been donating since 1974 – when James Shepherd first had the concept of this 

hospital in his mind – could not have imagined what a tremendous return there would 

be on your “investments” (gifts) in this charitable enterprise. Tell your friends that 

you are an investment genius! 

You have helped us lead the way in spinal cord injury/illness and brain injury 

research. You are helping us pioneer treatments for multiple sclerosis and chronic 

pain, too. Because of your support for our broad continuum of care, our patients 

experience dramatically better than average outcomes across all measures, including 

rates of return to work, school and home. We have served tens of thousands of 

patients. This means your gifts have positively touched tens of thousands of patients’ 

lives, as well as those of their families and friends. 

You may not have thought of yourself as an investment genius, but here’s an 

example of one of the many thousands of positive outcomes you helped create 

through your “investments” (gifts) to Shepherd Center. Some years ago, a young 

man came to the hospital with a spinal cord injury he sustained in an accident. 

Before the accident, this fellow had a good career ahead of him. The accident 

changed that and gave him what our chairman, James Shepherd, often calls a “hard 

left turn that you weren’t expecting.” 

At Shepherd Center, this young man eagerly pursued various sports via our 

Therapeutic Recreation Program. After graduating from Shepherd, this young man 

went to law school, graduated, passed the bar, became a lawyer, then a county 

commissioner and he served as a state court judge – all the while participating in 

various wheelchair sports. Through these positions of trust and authority in his 

community, he positively touched thousands of lives. 

So, your gifts to programs like Therapeutic Recreation have an investment impact or 

“return on investment” that far exceeds what you or anyone else might have expected. 

Thank you, donors, from our current and past patients, families, volunteers, staff and me. 

Now that you know you are an investment genius, if you would like to make 

additional “investments” in the future of others, please contact me at 404-350-7305 

or scott_sikes@shepherd.org. 


d 

donor profile 

Howard and Irene Stein 

Atlanta couple supports Shepherd Center in gratitude for the rehabilitation 

care their son received at Shepherd Center for a spinal cord injury. 

By Matt Winkeljohn 



Howard Stein, left, and 

his wife Irene give to 

Shepherd Center in honor 

of the care given to their 

son Bruce Stein, M.D., 

right, who sustained 

an SCI in 2011. 

Howard and Irene Stein of Atlanta have known of and 

been kind to Shepherd Center for many years, and 

they now know the staff on a more personal level. 

Their son, Bruce Stein, M.D., sustained an 

incomplete C-3 spinal cord injury in December 2011, 

and the family has spent countless hours at the 

facility since as he has undergone rehabilitation for 

quadriplegia. 

The Steins made a contribution to Shepherd not 

only to honor the work done with their injured son, 

but also out of respect for the hospital’s rehabilitation 

professionals as human beings. 

“We had knowledge of Shepherd Center for 

many years,” Howard says. “The staff members are 

wonderful people, and now we feel very close to 

them. These are people we would like to know better. 

They run a wonderful institution in helping others.” 

Howard and Irene have made multiple charitable 

donations to Atlanta institutions since moving 

to Atlanta in 1976. The Brooklyn natives are very 

involved at the High Museum of Art, where Howard is 

a life member of the Board of Trustees. 

They have admired the passion of Shepherd 

Center staff members in working with their son, who 

recently progressed to using a walker. 

“They integrate all of the needs of the patient so 

they can get back to as close to normal as possible,” 

Bruce says of Shepherd Center. “I go five days a week 

for neurorecovery work. My 

hands are getting better 

use. I can use an iPhone 

and feed myself in a limited 

fashion. I hope to get back 

to my practice, although I 

won’t do surgery again.” 

Howard and Irene, who 

will celebrate their 65th 

wedding anniversary in 

February, enjoy traveling 

and collecting art. They’ve 

added friends at Shepherd. 

“Bruce had the most 

serious type of damage to 

his spine,” Howard says. 

“He was a very athletic type, 

and he’s doing everything 

in his power. He has made 

progress. Not every day 

is a good day; that goes 

without saying. We take 

care of Bruce. He needs 

help. He still has his office, 

and hopefully one day he 

will return to work. 

“We’ve got to pray and 

hope,” Howard adds. “We 

have a strong relationship 

with the High Museum, 

and we hope that we 

can build the same with 

Shepherd.” 

Photos by GARY MEEK 


Animal-Assisted Therapy 

Animals help people with spinal cord and brain injuries along the road to recovery. 

By Rachel Franco 

Photos by gary meek 

While many of us primarily think of animals as fun, furry 

friends to play with, many therapists and spinal cord 

and brain injury patients at Shepherd Center consider 

them important members of the therapy team. 

Just ask Kellie Cosby, an animal-assisted therapy 

provider and owner of Cosby’s Therapy Animals. 

Kellie, along with her late partner, Bill Reynolds, 

largely initiated an animal-assisted therapy program 

at Shepherd Center in 1991. Funded by generous 

donors, Shepherd’s animal-assisted therapy program 

pairs specially trained animals with spinal cord and 

brain injury patients to assist in their rehabilitation. 

Animal-assisted therapy is effective because 

it disguises therapy as play, Kellie explains. It is 

enjoyable for both the patient and the animal – not to 

mention Shepherd’s employees, including therapists 

Kati Vines and Nate Schurman. 

Therapists and patients see the animals every 

Wednesday, when Kellie brings her therapy dogs 

to the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and Spinal Cord 

Injury (SCI) units. Cosby’s Therapy Animals is 

an asset to these units because of Kellie’s vast 

knowledge of different breeds and their capabilities; 

the extensive training she provides her dogs 

from puppyhood throughout adulthood; and her 

outgoing and calming demeanor that brings out the 

best in both patient and dog, therapists say. 

“Kellie makes everyone feel very comfortable,” 

says Kati Vines, a physical therapist in the SCI Unit. 

“She’s great at using the dogs to get someone who 

may be a bit timid at first to open up. Working with 

the dogs gives patients joy, and they look forward to 

seeing Kellie and her dogs each week.” 

Kellie works closely with each therapist to match 

the right dog with the right patient to ensure each 

patient’s therapy goals are met. In the SCI Unit, 

for example, Kellie has patients groom the dog, 

play tug of war with him or walk the dog as they 

roll along in their wheelchair. These activities help 

patients improve balance, upper-arm endurance 

and range of motion. 

In the ABI Unit, in addition to participating in the 

above-mentioned activities, patients also work 

on bolstering their speech and tactile stimulation 

by issuing commands to the dogs, petting 

them or visually tracking the dogs. Patients also 

experience a sense of calm when they are around 

the animals. 

“Some ABI patients can demonstrate agitated 

behavior, which interferes with their ability to 

participate in structured therapy sessions,” says 

Nate Schurman, a recreation therapist in the ABI Unit. 

1. 

2. 

“After we pair them with the dog, they just completely 

relax. It’s awesome to see that change happen.” 

Kellie enjoys seeing these positive changes 

happen, too, and is thrilled that she and her dogs 

can contribute to patients’ rehabilitation. “Shepherd 

Center is such an amazing place, where the 

doctors, therapists and other staff never give up on 

the patient,” Kellie says. “I’m honored to be part of 

the program after all of these years.” 

She looks forward to serving Shepherd Center 

in the future and, in doing so, she says, honoring 

the legacy of her late partner, Bill, who also gave 

so much to the animal-assisted therapy program 

before he passed away in late 2011. 



1. Kellie Cosby, left, of 

Cosby’s Therapy Animals 

introduces one of her 

therapy dogs to SCI 

patient John Johnston 

of Clayton, Ga., right, 

who is assisted by 

physical therapist Kati 

Vines. 2. Brain injury 

patient Steven Myers of 

Roanoke, Va., walks with 

Kellie’s therapy dog. 


Shepherd Cares 

Shepherd Center Employees Pledge Record Amount 

through Employee Giving Campaign 


employees celebrate 

their annual giving 

campaign at a picnic. 

Employees contributed 

$127,000 to purchase 

therapeutic equipment 

for the hospital. 

It’s evident to anyone who has spent even the 

shortest amount of time at Shepherd Center that its 

employees genuinely care about the hospital where 

they work. But few patients and family members 

may realize just how generous Shepherd Center 

employees are. 

Every September, Shepherd Center employees 

are asked to give back to the hospital through 

the ShepherdCares Employee Giving Campaign. 

Since the first ShepherdCares campaign in 2003, 

employees have given a portion of their paychecks 

amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars 

to help purchase rehabilitation equipment and 

technology and fund Shepherd Center programs. 

This past fall was no different. 

“I am truly amazed every year at the generosity of 

our employees that it means so much to them to give 

back to the hospital,” says Midge Tracy, director of 

Volunteer Services and chair of the ShepherdCares 

Committee. “This year, they really came through with 

many new employees pledging within the first few 

months on the job and even family members offering 

to give us money, if needed, to reach our goal.” 

This year’s campaign raised a record total of 

$127,000, far exceeding the goal of $100,000. The 

money will be used to purchase three Bioness 

L300 Plus Systems for electrical stimulation of 

muscles and an Armeo Spring for hand therapy. This 

equipment can be used by both the spinal cord and 

brain injury programs at Shepherd to help patients 

strengthen weakened muscles and regain the use of 

affected limbs. 

Each ShepherdCares campaign incorporates a 

fun theme to get employees excited about giving 

back. The 2012 campaign, which kicked off on 

Sept. 13 with an employee cookout, featured an 

Olympic/Paralympics theme and encouraged staff 

to “Get in the Games” by pledging. For the “Opening 

Ceremonies,” CEO Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., and Shepherd 

Center facility dogs Bentley and Frosty, all honorary 

chairs of the campaign, led the senior management 

team, clad in togas, into the employee cookout. 

“I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard as when 

I saw our CEO followed by our senior management 

team parade into the garden dressed in togas,” 

Midge says. 

Employees also got in the spirit of the games by 

participating in friendly competitions, such as tug-ofwar, 

toga decorating, Bocce ball and relay races. 

Midge and an advisory committee of about 15 

employees began planning the 2012 campaign 

in February. 

“It takes 12 to 15 employees volunteering 

hundreds of hours to pull this off,” she says. “And it’s 

volunteering – they gave up their lunch hour to help.” 

q Katie Malone 

Committee 

Many thanks to ShepherdCares 2013 

Advisory Committee staff members: 

Matt Abisamra 

Brandon Clift 

Kathryn Farris 

Katie Malone 

Rebecca McWalters 

Kendra Moon 

Renee Prince 

Chris Ravotti 

Gloria Rice 

Ben Rose 

Cara Roxland 

Beth Sasso 

Alex Seblatnigg 

Christine Willis 

Sponsors 

Hotel partners, vendors and community businesses donate raffle prizes each year. The 2012 

campaign prizes included two iPads, hotel stays in Orlando and Vero Beach, Fla., Callaway 

Gardens, Atlanta, and the north Georgia mountains, and a variety of gift cards to local businesses. 

Thanks to these businesses for their generous contributions: 

Accord Services 

Country Inn & Suites 

CrossFit North Atlanta 

DoubleTree Buckhead 

DoubleTree North Druid Hills 

ExtendedStay Deluxe Lenox 

ExtendedStay America 

Clairmont 

Fairfield Inn & Suites 

Buckhead 

Hyatt Place Buckhead 

Integrity Medical 

McGriff, Seibels & Williams 

Residence Inn Midtown 

Southeast Medical 

TownePlace Suites 


Six Shepherd Center Programs 

That Need Your Gifts in 2013 

The Shepherd Center Foundation is 

focused in 2013 on raising money for six 

donor-funded programs at Shepherd 

Center. Please choose to support one 

or more programs financially this year. 

In this section, there is more information 

on each program and the fundraising 

committees and goals for each effort. 

For more information about giving to 

Shepherd Center and/or to make a 

gift online, visit www.shepherd.org/ 

foundation. 

1Family Housing Fundraising 

Campaign 

Leadership 

Juli Owens, Campaign Chair 

Goodloe Yancey, Honorary Chair 

Campaign Committee 

Ruth Anthony 

Millard Choate 

Brenda Smith 

Jim Stephenson 

Fundraising Specifics: 

Annual Need: $640,000 

Quasi-Endowment Goal: $1,400,000 

TOTAL FYE 2013 Goal: $2,040,000 

Purpose of Family Housing Program: 

For patients with a brain or spinal cord 

injury, having their family and loved ones 

nearby is imperative to their successful 

transition to community, home, work and/ 

or school. Shepherd Center offers 

complimentary housing for 30 days for 

families who travel more than 50 miles for 

1. 2. 

their loved one to receive care at 

Shepherd Center. This support is crucial 

and appreciated by families as it enables 

them to focus on their loved one getting 

better and allows them to avoid the 

financial burden and stress that come 

with leaving home to get the best care. 

Complimentary housing is also offered 

for Day Program patients as a way to 

experience what they have learned in the 

inpatient setting and put it to work in a 

safe, fully accessible environment. The 

housing program helps alleviate stress 

and uncertainty as patients transition 

back to their home and community. 

Overflow housing is provided at 

Shepherd Place just down the street from 

the Shepherd campus. To provide a 

peer-support community for military 

patients, housing is provided at Biscayne 

Place, an apartment complex within two 

miles of Shepherd Center. Also, Shepherd 

Center partners with 28 local hotels to 

provide discounted rates for families once 

the 30-day period has expired. 

Family members often say that by 

staying in the Woodruff Family Residence 

Center and Shepherd’s other housing 

facilities, the hospital has alleviated the 

stress and worry of trying to find and pay 

for a place to stay. Plus, they are so close 

to their loved ones at the hospital, it gives 

them a sense of security and convenience 

they wouldn’t have had otherwise. 

In 2011, the Housing Program served 1,925 

family members and Day Program patients. 

Therapeutic Recreation 

2 Fundraising Campaign 

Leadership 

Mike Stephens, Campaign Chair 

Dr. David Apple, Honorary Chair 


Suzanne Dansby 

Kelly Edens 

Molly Lanier 

Duane Morrow 

Dan Reeves 

Catherine Skeen 

Dr. Carter Smith 

Wesley Snapp 

Liz Willis 


Annual Need: $1,600,000 

Quasi-Endowment Goal: $3,400,000 

TOTAL FYE 2013 Goal: $5,000,000 

Purpose of Therapeutic Recreation 

Program: 

One of the best ways to adjust to lifestyle 

changes caused by a disability is to 

participate in meaningful recreation 

activities. Research shows that positive 

recreation time can increase health and 

physical fitness, self-confidence, 

development of skills and competence, 

social interaction, quality of life and 

overall well-being. 

The Shepherd Center Therapeutic 

Recreation (TR) Department provides 

patients an opportunity to participate in 

activities that challenge expectations and 

stereotypes. The goals of the program 

are to improve physical, cognitive and/or 

social functioning, and to return the 

individual to a lifestyle that is as 

independent, active and healthy as 

possible. These goals are achieved 

through leisure counseling/education, 

Photos by Louie Favorite and Leita Cowart 

1. Patients and family members 

enjoy the recreation room in 

the Woodruff Family Residence 

Center adjacent to the hospital. 

2. Former patient Ben Huntzinger 

participates in kayaking during a 

therapeutic recreation session. 


leisure skill instruction and community 

reintegration. At Shepherd Center, each 

patient admitted to an inpatient or day 

rehabilitation program is assigned a 

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist 

(CTRS) as part of the treatment team. The 

CTRS determines when and at what level 

therapeutic recreation services are 

appropriate. The CTRS will set functional 

goals based on the individual’s interests, 

needs and abilities. 

Leisure counseling and leisure 

education are provided to individuals or in 

group sessions where individuals learn 

about and discuss issues relevant to 

having a disability. Topics can include, but 

are not limited to, community accessibility 

issues, problem-solving techniques, 

disability rights and laws, self-advocacy, 

stigma management, societal attitudes 

and stereotypes, ideas for handling 

discrimination, assertiveness, air travel and 

other transportation options, the value and 

benefits of recreation, the meaning of 

wellness, time use change after a disability, 

time management/use after hospital 

discharge, community resources, and 

recreation resources. 

Leisure skill instruction is provided to 

individuals or in group sessions where 

individuals explore past or new recreation 

interests. The person with a disability 

learns how to pursue these interests 

through the use of adaptive equipment, 

adaptive techniques, activity modification 

and/or a variety of resources. One of the 

TR Department’s signature programs is the 

annual Adventure Skills Workshop, a 

three-day outdoor camp that includes 

adaptive waterskiing, scuba diving, fishing, 

canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, fourwheeling, 

swimming, target shooting, wall 

climbing and more. 

Last year, the Therapeutic Recreation 

Department served 4,426 people through 

23 programs/activities in the inpatient, day 

and outpatient programs. This program is 

a critical component of a patient’s therapy 

regime at Shepherd Center. But most 

insurance companies do not cover the 

cost of the program’s activities. Each year, 

Shepherd Center relies on support from 

the community to sustain this program, 

allowing patients to see what opportunities 

are available to them in new and exciting 

ways following an injury. 

SHARE Military Initiative 

3 Fundraising Campaign 

Leadership 

Rives Cary, Campaign Chair 

Bernie Marcus, Honorary Chair 


Jimmy Alston 

Laura Armstrong 

Norris Broyles 

Virginia Carron 

Bob Cunningham 

Carol Curtis 

Clark Dean 

Tom Garr 

Bob Hope 

Jim Mobley 

Gwin Oliver 

Rowland Radford 

Bill Saling 

Spencer Smith 

Renee Whitley 



TOTAL FYE 2013 Goal: $850,000 

Purpose of SHARE Military Initiative: 

The SHARE (Shaping Hope and Recovery 

Excellence) Military Initiative was started in 

2008 to provide rehabilitation care for 

servicemen and women who sustain a 

traumatic brain injury (TBI) while serving 

the United States during the wars in Iraq 

and Afghanistan. Over time, the program 

has come to focus primarily on mild TBI, 

which causes significant physical, 

behavioral and cognitive deficiencies. 

1. 

According to the Department of Defense, 

more than 169,000 service members have 

been diagnosed with mild TBIs since 2000. 

These injuries are considered to be the 

“signature injury” of these conflicts. 

SHARE provides a comprehensive 

curriculum specifically tailored to meet the 

needs of each client. Services include 

complimentary housing, physical, 

occupational, vocational and speech 

therapy, life coaching, therapeutic 

recreation, and legal, financial and 

psychological counseling, among many 

other programs. In addition, SHARE staff 

members assist clients with a return to 

work and/or school, provide peer support 

through military volunteers and assist 

clients in navigating the VA system and the 

Med Board process. 

All of these activities are available in one 

centralized location and supervised by the 

same medical team so all aspects of a 

client’s care are working in concert with 

each other, as opposed to the more 

fragmented system many of SHARE clients 

have experienced throughout their time in 

other military treatment systems. 

SHARE typically treats approximately 

eight to 12 service members at a time, with 

an average length of stay in the program of 

10 weeks. SHARE patients come from all 

service branches and receive their care at 

no cost to them or their families. On 

average, insurance providers pay only 38 

cents of every dollar’s cost of care, leaving 

Shepherd Center Foundation to raise 

about $70,000 a month to keep the 

program running. 

4 

Assistive Technology 

Fundraising Campaign 

Leadership 

Toby Regal, Campaign Chair 

Bob Hagemeyer, Honorary Chair 


Doug Lindauer 

Valery Voyles 

2. 

1. SHARE Military Initiative 

patients participate in a diving 

excursion at the Georgia Aquarium. 

2. Former patient Jason DiSanto 

uses assistive technology to learn 

to navigate his wheelchair. 


Photos by louie favorite, gary meek and donn jones 



Quasi-Endowment Goal: $540,000 


Purpose of Assistive Technology: 

Assistive technologies are devices, 

software and smartphone apps that help 

people with disabilities improve their ability 

to function and control their environment. 

The Assistive Technology Center at 

Shepherd Center provides patients with 

new technologies that support their goals 

for recovery and independence. A 

hallmark of Shepherd Center’s 

rehabilitation care has been staying 

abreast of advances in these 

technologies. This includes custom-made 

wheelchairs, remote controls to open 

doors, computer software that responds 

to a person’s voice or eye commands and 

hand controls for automobiles. 

Shepherd Center’s experienced 

assistive technology professionals review 

patients’ goals and then prescribe 

solutions that will improve safety, 

independence and quality of life. These 

solutions range from commercial, 

off-the-shelf products to customdesigned 

systems. 

Last year, the Assistive Technology 

Center served 2,607 people through the 

Seating Clinic, Adaptive Driving 

Program, and Adaptive Computer and 

Technology Program. 

5Beyond Therapy ® Tennessee 

Fundraising Committee 

Leadership 

Andrew Kintz, Chairman 


Moll and Charlie Anderson 

1. 

Kendrick Armistead 

Nancy and Richard Chambers 

Jill Cothron 

Peggy and Dick Fitzgerald 

Tootie Haskins 

Scott Hawes 

Connie Kimbro 

Randy Lindsey 

Brandie Pounds 

Donna Richardson 

Scot Ware 

Tracey Williams 

Lee Williams 

Carol Ann and Tommy Wilson 




Purpose of Beyond Therapy ® : 

Beyond Therapy ® is an intensive, 

neurological rehabilitation program 

created by Shepherd Center. It integrates 

the disciplines of physical therapy and 

exercise physiology. The program 

facilitates neurological and functional 

recovery in people who have sustained a 

neurological insult, such as a spinal cord 

injury, brain injury or stroke, and have 

exhausted traditional means of outpatient 

therapeutic intervention. 

Beyond Therapy ® patients include 

people with: 

• Neuromuscular disorders 

• Spinal cord injury 

• Traumatic brain injury 

• Stroke 

• Multiple sclerosis 

• Cerebral palsy 

• Parkinson’s disease 

Beyond Therapy ® is based on research 

suggesting the central nervous system is 

capable of synaptic plasticity and 

anatomical reorganization through 

“activity-based” therapy. This is called 

neuroplasticity. Beyond Therapy ® 

combines the concepts of athletic 

training and physical therapy to 

2. 

promote neuroplasticity. 

Traditional therapy programs are 

designed to help patients become as 

independent as possible using 

compensatory strategies and training on 

how to care for themselves after discharge 

from the hospital. In contrast, Beyond 

Therapy ® focuses on promoting lifelong 

wellness and maximizing muscle and 

neural return through a program of intensive 

strengthening and motor-patterned activity 

concentrating on weaker muscles and 

nerve connections that may have been 

ignored in the initial phases of recovery. 

Optimizing recovery, toning seldom-used 

muscles and decreasing secondary 

complications that typically occur among 

people with neurological disorders are 

central objectives of the program. 

Donations to Beyond Therapy ® 

Tennessee provide scholarships for 

patients without insurance. 

6Injury Prevention 

Fundraising Campaign 

Leadership 

Tommy Malone, Campaign Chair 


George Fryhofer 



Quasi-Endowment Goal: $300,000 


Purpose of Injury Prevention: 

Historically, Shepherd Center’s Injury 

Prevention Program has focused on 

educating children in the metropolitan 

Atlanta area about seatbelt and headrest 

use in cars, helmet use on bicycles and 

motorcycles, and never diving into water 

headfirst. Today, our vision is to expand our 

prevention efforts to include all ages, as well 

as expand our efforts across the nation. 

Through the expanded Injury Prevention 

Program, Shepherd Center will provide 

materials and expert instruction to 

schools, employers and organizations on 

the simple steps that can prevent 

catastrophic injuries. 

1. A patient participates in Lokomat 

therapy at Beyond Therapy ® - 

Tennessee. 2. Shepherd Center staff 

members lead an injury prevention 

program at a middle school. 


Shepherd Center Society’s 

Big Game Bash Set for Feb. 3 

Shepherd Center Society (SCS) is gearing up for 

another event-filled year. 

The fifth annual Big Game Bash starts off the year 

on Sunday, Feb. 3. Always a big hit for SCS members, 

Big Game Bash serves as a membership drive, and 

friends are welcome to attend and find out more 

about the group. The party at the Bobby Jones Golf 

Clubhouse will include tailgate food, plenty of drinks 

and, of course, the Super Bowl on a giant TV screen. 

As SCS plans for 2013, it’s important to note the 

success of the 2012 events. The SCS Executive 

Committee worked hard to raise funds for Shepherd 

Center and to increase awareness for the hospital. 

Membership increased dramatically with SCS having 

more than 250 members in 2012. 

Big Game Bash 2012 was enjoyed by more than 

200 people and had 11 local restaurants contributing 

food for the event. 

More than 500 guests enjoyed spectacular food 

and wine at Summer in the City 2012, the group’s 

marquee event. 

The Tailgate was attended by 1,000 football fans 

and raised awareness for Shepherd Center. 

Everyone enjoyed themselves at the Happy Hours 

that took place in local bars and restaurants every 

other month. The Happy Hours provided a great way 

to get to know about SCS. The socials increased 

membership and provided a good way for members 

to network and get to know each other. 

Overall in 2012, Shepherd Center Society raised 

more than $50,000, which helps fund Shepherd 

Center’s SHARE Military Initiative. SHARE provides 

a continuum of rehabilitation care for soldiers 

who have sustained a traumatic brain injury while 

serving the United States on active duty in Iraq or 

Afghanistan. Funds for SHARE are raised through 

SCS membership, donations, sponsorships, auction 

items and event ticket sales. 

As 2013 begins, SCS is emerging as one of 

Atlanta’s top professional groups focusing on 

engagement, fundraising and having a good time for 

a great cause. 

For more information about the Big Game Bash or 

SCS, please visit www.scs-atl.com. q Florina Newcomb 

The 2012 UGA Game Ball Relay 

The 2012 Game Ball Relay, a fundraising march of the UGA vs. Buffalo game ball from Shepherd 

Center to UGA raised money for Shepherd’s SHARE Military Initiative. 

1. 2. 

1. Pictured left to right are John Jones, Sr., 

James Shepherd, and GBR 2012 organizer 

John Jones, Jr. 

2. UGA Legends Charley Trippi, second from left, Vince Dooley, U.S. Olympic gold 

Medalist Missy Franklin and Jamie Shepherd, along with former Shepherd patient 

and UGA student Chance Veazey, present the game ball to the official for kickoff. 

Photos by Sam Janjua and Gregg Hudson 


Patron Party 2012 Guests Celebrate 

Southern Style 

With Patron Party Chairman Sally Dorsey planning 

the entire affair, the 2012 Patron Party was nothing 

short of spectacular! 

“Splendor in the Garden, Southern Style” reflected 

on the “American Splendor”-themed Legendary 

Party 2012 and gave guests a sneak peak at what 

the ball held in store. The beautiful home of John 

and Elaine Carlos was transformed into a gorgeous 

garden party. 

More than 200 Patrons and Sponsors of The 

Legendary Party were greeted upon arrival by butlers 

in white serving jackets and were handed signature 

“Mint Julep” and “Sally’s Hard Lemonade” drinks. 

Tony Conway of A Legendary Event made sure 

guests were treated to a true Southern feast. Linen 

hemstitch napkins were placed beside silver 

platters of Southern favorites, including chicken 

salad and pimento cheese sandwiches, mapleglazed 

ham biscuits with orange marmalade 

and pickled pepper shrimp with okra. As guests 

made their way to the garden, they sampled 

Southern fried chicken with cayenne-spiced honey 

with green beans and creamy macaroni and 

cheese, herb-marinated butcher’s tenderloin with 

blackberry wild rice, and bourbon-braised pork loin 

with apple horseradish cream and jalapeño corn 

bread. Of course, the dessert had to be as fantastic 

as the meal. Gourmet smores, peach cobbler 

shots, and red velvet cupcakes finished off a truly 

delicious meal. 

Legendary Party Chairman Kay Quigley thanked 

the guests and introduced a surprise performance. 

Robert Ray and friends put on a fantastic Southern 

show, singing favorites like “Midnight Train to Georgia” 

and “Eye on the Sparrow.” q Florina Newcomb 

1. Chairman Kay Quigley and 

Robert Ray, center, with performers 

at the Patron Party. 2. Dick Smith, 

John Carlos, Brenda Smith, Elaine 

Carlos and Bill Torres, M.D. 3. 

Bill and Lynn Shearer and Jenny 

and Bob Pruitt. 4. Honorary 

Chairman Donald P. Leslie, 

M.D. and Chairman-Elect Karen 

Spiegel. 5. Cara and Jon Roxland 



2. 

1. 

Photos by james fitts 

3. 4. 5. 


40 • ShepherdCenterMagazine.org 

Photo by james fitts

Legendary 

2012 

Party 

“American Splendor” Celebrates Patriotism and 

Raises Funds for SHARE Military Initiative. 

Another gorgeous Legendary Party evening proved 

successful! The “American Splendor”-themed ball, 

held on Nov. 3 at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, was 

attended by more than 550 guests dressed in their 

finest formal attire. The theme, chosen by Chairman 

Kay Quigley, celebrated the triumphs of our country, 

while appreciating our history and saluting the 

service and sacrifice of our military personnel. 

The Legendary Party, Shepherd Center’s largest 

annual fundraising event, was founded in 1989 by 

Sally Tomlinson and has provided 24 years of 

dazzling evenings and exceptional fundraising efforts. 

This past November, the patriotic evening started 

with cocktails amidst American flag artwork and 

elegant drapery provided by Tony Conway’s A 

Legendary Event. Walking into the ballroom was 

reminiscent of walking into a splendid state dinner at 

The White House. Tall silver candlesticks lit the room, 

and vases were filled with blue and white 

hydrangeas, all elegantly set against a gorgeous 

curtained backdrop. 

And what can be more American than a jazz bar? 

The Ritz-Carlton’s plaza ballroom was turned into a 

classic American nightclub where guests enjoyed 

Facing page: 

Chairman Kay 

Quigley and 

Chair-elect 

Karen Spiegel 

This Page: 

U.S. Army 

Color Guard 

presents 

the National 

Ensign. 


1. Left to right are Craig and 

Kay MacKenzie and Patron 

Party Chair Sally Dorsey 

with Herb Miller. 2. Patron 

Chairmen Bill and Cindy 

Voyles, Host Committee 

Chairman Jack Sawyer, 

Ron Quigley, Chairman Kay 

Quigley, Host Committee 

Chairman Bill Torres, 

M.D., and Mary and Felton 

Norwood. 3. Honorary 

Chairmen Faye and Lewis 

Manderson, Alana Shepherd, 

Chairman Kay Quigley and 

Honorary Chairman Donald 

P. Leslie, M.D. 4. Barbara 

Joiner, Jeré Garde and 

Fundraising Co-Chairman 

Lisa Fuller. 5. Fundraising 

Co-Chairman Carol Tomé 

and her husband Ramon 

Tomé. 6. Elizabeth Allen, Jack 

Sawyer and Georgia Ritchie 



Manhattans and cordials and danced to caberet 

and jazz music by Robert Ray. 

A special surprise performance livened the 

evening as bugler U.S. Army Specialist Christopher 

Neverve and the Marietta Recruiting Company 

Color Guard led everyone into the ballroom with 

traditional military marches. As guests were seated, 

the voices of the Sons of Lafayette Male Choir 

filled the room. Everyone was awestruck as the 

choir sang “Amazing Grace” and the hymns of 

each branch of the U. S. military. 

Guests dined in style on warm Maine lobster 

salad with beurre blanc and raspberry vinaigrette, 

caramelized veal with truffle celeriac mousseline, 

asparagus, and osso bucco sauce with gremolata. 

Dessert was a chocolate praline Napoleon with dark 

and white chocolate cream and raspberry sauce. 

Shepherd Center President and CEO Gary 

Ulicny, Ph.D., thanked Kay for the outstanding 

vision and effort she put into planning this event 

and thanked Honorary Chairmen Lewis and Faye 

Manderson and Donald Peck Leslie, M.D., 

Shepherd Center’s medical director, for their 

faithful support of the hospital. Kay also thanked 

the Honorees for their commitment and, the 

Legendary Party Committee, as well as The 

Legendary Party’s Patrons and Sponsors, whose 

support raised money for Shepherd Center’s 

SHARE Military Initiative. After dinner, guests 

enjoyed dancing to the band Right On and playing 

popular casino games. 

The Legendary Party 2012 raised more than 

$840,000 for Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military 

Initiative. Planning is already under way for The 

Legendary Party 2013. For information or to join 

the committee, contact Florina Newcomb at 

florina_newcomb@shepherd.org or 404-350-7302. 

For photo galleries and more information, see 

www.TheLegendaryParty.com. Florina Newcomb 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 


The Legendary Party 2012 Committee 

Chairman 

Kay Quigley 

Chairman-Elect 

Karen Spiegel 

Honorary Chairmen 

Lewis and Faye Manderson 

Donald P. Leslie, M.D. 

Patron Chairmen 

Ruth and Tom Anthony 

Cindy and Bill Voyles 

Fundraising Chairmen 

Lisa Fuller 

Carol Tomé 

Patron Party Chairman 

Sally Dorsey 

Ladies and Gentlemen’s 

Committee Chairmen 

Karen and John Spiegel 

Publicity Chairman 

Brenda Smith 

Host Committee Chairmen 

Leslie McLeod 

Jack Sawyer 

Bill Torres, M.D. 

Ball Favors Chairman 

Heather Flint 

Committee at Large 

Carol Abreu 

Elizabeth Allen 

Jane and David Apple, M.D. 

Meg Arnold 

Cyndae Arrendale 

Jan Bennett 

Eula Carlos 

Merry Carlos 

Carol Cetrino 

Sara Chapman 

Nina Cheney 

Caroline Cohen 

Sherri and Jesse Crawford 

Peter Dames 

Suzanne Mott Dansby 

Tarasa Davis 

Faye Donaldson 

Diane Drake 

Eileen DuBose 

Angie Garde 

Carol Goodman 

Debbie Goot 

Connie Hawn 

Anne Hux 

Barbara Joiner 

Jessica Jones 

Emily Kendrick 

Caroline Leake 

Jayne Lipman 

Stephen Lore 

Dominique Love 

Billi and Bernie Marcus 

Cathy Matthews 

Beverly Mitchell 

Dorothy Mitchell-Leef, M.D. 

Elizabeth Morris 

Linda Morris 

Mary Norwood 

Phyllis Nygaard 

Juli Owens 

Debbie Pirrung 

Jenny Pruitt 

Lois Puckett 

Ron Quigley 

Georgia Ritchie 

Margaret Rodbell 

Lovette Russell 

Vickie Scaljon 

Emory Schwall 

Alana and Harold Shepherd 

Dana Shepherd 

James and Linda Shepherd 

Mary Ann and Dell Sikes 

Valerie and Scott Sikes 

Jane Skinner 

Donna Slappey 

Pam Smart 

Claire Smith 

Rebecca Smith 

Gloria Stone 

Karen Sturm 

Carolyn and Rhett Tanner 

Carol Thompson 

Sally Tomlinson 

Susan Tucker 

Jane and Gary Ulicny, Ph.D. 

Sharon Umphenour 

Terry Vawter 

Krist Voyles 

Valery Voyles 

Pam Wakefield 

Patty Waszkowski 

Glynn Weakley 

June Weitnauer 

Susan White 

Charity Whitney 

Jane Woodruff 

Cecilia Wright 

Pam Yarborough 

The Legendary Party 2012 Sponsors and Patrons 

Photos by James Fitts 

Presenting Sponsor 

The Home Depot, Inc. 

Platinum Sponsors 

The Ruth and Talmage Dobbs, Jr. 

Foundation 

Lewis and Faye Manderson 

Philanthropists 

Cooper Global Chauffeured 

Transportation Services 

PNC Wealth Management 

The Charlie and Moll Anderson 

Family Foundation 

John and Elaine Carlos 

Carol and Ramon Tomé 

Ted Turner 

Benefactors 

Biogen Idec 

BNY Mellon 

Brand Fever 

Choate Construction Company 

Cobbie’s Sauce, LLC 

The Coca-Cola Company 

Genuine Parts Company 

Genzyme 

Kay Quigley, Atlanta Fine Homes 

Sotheby’s International Realty 

Davis, Matthews, & Quigley, 

Attorneys at Law 

Malone Law Office 

The Physicians of Shepherd Center 

Wilmington Trust 

Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Dames 

Mr. and Mrs. Toby Regal 

Charity and Michael Whitney 

Jane Woodruff 

Gold Sponsors 

The Atlanta Falcons 

Bank of North Georgia 

Crawford & Company 

Ernst & Young 

The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead 

The Tom and Edwina Johnson Family 

Foundation 

Elizabeth and Carl Allen 

Dr. Rives and Beth Cary 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Crawley 

Jennifer and David Kahn 

Dr. Abner and Carol Moore 

Mr. and Mrs. McKee Nunnally 

Warren and Mary Sewell 

Mrs. J. Lucian Smith 

Joe and Melody Thomas 

Sally G. Tomlinson 

Silver Sponsors 

Atlanta Galleria/Childress Klein 

Properties 

Budget Rent A Car of Atlanta 

Cedar Street Advisors 

Fidelity Bank 

Piedmont Healthcare 

Robert B. Lipman Foundation 

A Friend 

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Abreu 

Scott and Betsy Akers 

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Arnett 

Chris and Merry Carlos 

Helen and Jimmy Carlos 

J. Richard and Nancy Chambers 

Ms. Suzanne Mott Dansby 

John and Kelley Deushane (11Alive) 

Vivian and Sam DuBose 

Cindy and Bill Fowler 

Pete and Brenda S. Garcia 

Jeré and Angela Garde 

Stephen and Debbie Goot 

Mr. and Mrs. William Hanger 

Mr. and Mrs. John B. Harrison 

Mr. and Mrs. William C. Hatcher 

Lou Brown Jewell 

Mr. and Mrs. Justin P. Jones 

Ann and Michael Kay 

Donald Peck Leslie, M.D. 

Mary Beth Lester 

Kay and Steve Lore 

Richard and Shirley McGinnis 

Elizabeth and Chris Morris 

Sandra and Larry Prince 

Emory Schwall 

Mr. John R. Seydel 

Bill and Lynn Shearer 

Alana and Harold Shepherd 

Brenda and Dick Smith 

Charles and Griff Smithgall 

John and Karen Spiegel 

Carol and Jim Thompson 

Bill and Cindy Voyles 

Mrs. Valery Voyles and 

Mr. Robert Jordan 

June and John Weitnauer 

Susan and Tony White 

Patrons 

Epps Aviation 

Lubo Fund 

Mr. and Mrs. John G. Alston, Sr. 

Dr. and Mrs. David F. Apple, Jr. 

Ms. Cyndae Arrendale 

Diane and Albert Ashkouti 

Dr. Evis Babo and 

Mr. Steve Weizenecker 

Chantal J. Bagwell 

Faye and John Donaldson 

Bo and Eileen DuBose 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Michael Evert, Jr. 

Sandy and George Fryhofer 

Joann and Tom Gallagher 

Jan Gillespie 

Carol L. Goodman 

M. Scott Hardin II 

Robin and Hilton Howell 

Eric and Barbara Joiner 

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Kattos 

Mr. and Mrs. David P. Lagi 

Dr. and Mrs. Willis E. Lanier 

Charles and Hope Machemehl 

Susan and Jim McCaffrey 

Mrs. Hugh C. McLeod III 

Dr. Dorothy E. Mitchell-Leef and 

Mr. Forrest I. Leef 

Rick and Ellen Moman 

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Morris 

Debbie and Lon Neese 

Mary and Felton Norwood 

Carol Ann and Phil Noyes 

Phyllis and Jim Nygaard 

Dr. and Mrs. David S. Owens 

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Pirrung 

Jenny and Bob Pruitt 

Mr. and Mrs. Clyde A. Rodbell 

Dr. and Mrs. William M. Scaljon 

Linda and James Shepherd 


Carolyn and Rhett Tanner 

Michael and Anita Thomas 

Ann Titelman 

Gary and Jane Ulicny 

Ben and Krist Voyles 

Glyn Weakley and Robbie Colgin 

Cecilia and Allen Wright 


Golf Tournament and Tee-Off Party 

Raise Funds for Shepherd Center Patients 

October’s Shepherd Center Cup and Tee-Off Party 

were a great success and raised more than $225,000 

for the Shepherd Center Foundation’s Annual Fund. 

This event is a fall favorite, offering a cocktail party and 

auction, as well as a great tournament for serious and 

recreational golfers. 

The Tee-Off Party was hosted by Buckhead 

residents Linda and Tom Morris in their lovely home. 

The Oct. 7 party was on a beautiful and cool Sunday 

evening, and guests were able to enjoy the party as 

they dined on Avenue Catering’s delicious crab and 

fried green tomato sliders and pulled pork wraps, 

while bidding on exciting live and silent auction items. 

Highlights of the auction were a turkey hunt in south 

Georgia, an all-inclusive trip to Tasmania, and an 

original painting of Lady Liberty by Steve Penley. 

The tournament was held on Oct. 8 at Cherokee 

Country Club. Golfers enjoyed a delicious grilled 

lunch as they warmed up. 

Before the shotgun start, golfers were treated to 

a special event hosted by Matt Kinney and Milton 

Williams of Critical Care MedFlight. PGA golfer Chris 

Kirk and PGA Coach of the Year Todd Anderson 

put on a swing clinic for the golfers. Critical Care 

MedFlight and Crown Sports Management work 

together as sponsors for Chris Kirk, as well as current 

Tour champion Brandt Snedeker. Todd Anderson 

is Brandt Snedeker’s coach and teacher, and Todd 

serves as the head teaching pro at Sea Island, Ga. 

After Todd’s son, Tucker, sustained a brain injury in a 

car accident in September 2012, Critical Care MedFlight 

and Crown Sports Management worked together to 

bring Chris and Todd as part of a special experience at 

the tournament to help raise awareness for Shepherd 

Center and the rehabilitation expertise it provides. 

All of the golfers enjoyed this special addition to the 

tournament, followed by a highly competitive round 

of golf. For this year’s Tee Gift, golfers had a choice 

between a new pair of Foot Joy shoes, Titleist Duffle 

bag or Foot Joy rain jacket. All enjoyed great round of 

golf for a great cause. Cara Roxland 

1. 

2. 

1. Matt Kinney of 

Critical Care MedFlight 

and 2012 Shepherd 

Center Cup Chairman 

Hunter Amos at the Tee- 

Off Party. 2. Boynton 

and Elizabeth Smith and 

Buckner Smith enjoy the 

party. 3. Todd Anderson, 

left, and Chris Kirk 

explain the elements 

of the perfect swing. 

4. Shepherd Advisory 

Board member Joe 

Ferrell on the putting 

green before tee-off. 

5. Committee members 

Street Nalley and John 

Rooker and golfer Rich 

Vann enjoy the putting 

clinic on the driving 

range before teeing off. 



3. 

4. 5. 

Photos by austin holt and leslie johnson

Shepherd Center Cup 2012 Golf Tournament Results 

North Course 

1st: Team from Primerica – Duane Morrow, David Chadwick, 

Gary Wright, Joel Gephart 

2nd: Team from Yates Insurance Agency – Daniel Yates, Krunch 

Kloberdanz, William Brakebill and Patrick Abernathy 

3rd: Team from Bennett Thrasher – Cory Bennett, Brian Hamm, 

Jared Insley and Scott Hutchinson 

Low Gross Team: Tom Morris, Linda Morris, Davis Smith 

and Brett Barron 

SoUth Course 

1st: Team from The Regal Group – Toby Regal, Charlie 

Wickliffe, Cory Phillips and Ed Williams 

2nd: Tony L. White, Lawson Spence, John Koontz and 

Jeff Koontz 

3rd: Team from Georgia Power Charitable Giving – Jeff Petrea, 

Mike Anderson, Sam Aube and Matt Aube 

Low Gross: Team from Georgia Highway Contractors 

Association – David Moellering, Tom Tidwell, Tommy 

Tidwell and Michael Williams 

Shepherd Center Cup 2012 Committee 

Chairman 

Hunter Amos 

Shaler Alias* 

Charles Beard 

Duncan Beard* 

William Brakebill 

DuVall Brumby 

Jim Caswell 

Hamilton Dickey 

John Dryman* 

Brent Dutson 

Mina Elmankabady 

Emily Farinholt 

Angela Giametti 

Paxton Griffin 

Catie Haynes 

Kennedy Hicks 

Elizabeth Jennings 

Krunch Kloberdanz 

Doug Lindauer 

Philip Mize 

Duane Morrow 

Street Nalley 

McKee Nunnally 

Lois Puckett 

Toby Regal 

Jamie Reynolds 

John Rooker* 

Amy Salloum 

Kevin Sessions 

Dana Shepherd 

Bradley Sosebee 

Frank Spears* 

Gary Ulicny, Ph.D.* 

Winston Wiant 

Jeremy Wing 

Daniel Yates 

* Denotes Past 


Cup Chairman 

Shepherd Center Cup 2012 Sponsors 

Tee-Off Party Presenting 

Sponsors 

Alphin Family Gift Fund 

Choate Construction 

Company 

Tee-Off Party Sponsors 

Avenue Catering Concepts 

Bank of North Georgia 

Biogen Idec 

Course Sponsor 

Amerisure Insurance 

Medalist Sponsor 

Coloplast 

Critical Care Medflight 

Primerica 

State Bank & Trust 

Charity and Michael 

Whitney 

Team and Hole Sponsors 

Atlanta Property Group, LLC 

Baker Audio 

Batchelor & Kimball 

Beard-Shuford Financial 

Group 

Bennett Thrasher 

Coventry Health Care of 

Georgia 

Ed Voyles Automotive 

Georgia Highway 

Contractors Association 

Billi Marcus 

Milner, Inc. 

The Regal Group 

Repay Real Time 

Electronic Payments 

Rooker Co. 

Schreeder, Wheeler & Flint, 

LLP 

Sewell Printing 

Don Sherrill 

SunTrust Commercial 

Dealer Services 

Turner Broadcasting 

Yates Insurance Agency 

Team Sponsors 

ATG Rehab 

John Beiser 

Corey Companies 

Davis, Matthews & Quigley, 

P.C. 

The Dryman Team AND 

TRANSWESTERN 

GPC Charitable Giving 

Heery International, Inc. 

HIMformatics, LLC 

J.E. Wilson 

Construction Company 

Momar Incorporated (3) 

Morgan Stanley – 

The Frank Group 

Piedmont Heathcare 

Pittman Construction Co. 

E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. 

SunTrust Robinson 

Humphrey, Inc. 

Turner Broadcasting 

Tony L. White 

Hole Sponsors 

BB&T 

Carter 

Chappell Construction 

Group, Inc. 

Diversified 

Genuine Parts Company (2) 

Kauffman Tire 

LCG Associates, Inc. 

McGriff, Seibels & Williams 

Jack and Barbara Nicklaus 

In honor of Cam Harison 

and Mark Shea 

SONS Automotive Group 

Zaxby’s Buckhead 

Patrons 

Mr. and Mrs. John. G. Alston 

David and Tricia Collie 

Isdell Family Foundation 


Laura and Carter Smith 

Special Thanks To 

Todd Anderson 

For hosting a swing clinic 

on the driving range 

Chris Kirk 

For lending his time and 

talents at the tournament 

Milton Williams and Matt 

Kinney from Critical 

Care MedFlight 

For transportation of Chris 

Kirk and their important 

sponsorship that brought 

The Golf Channel, Chris 

Kirk and Todd Anderson 

together as our special 

guests at the tournament 


Shepherd Smash Quad Rugby 

Team Captivates Attention 

By Meg Porter 

It’s balanced perfectly. The 14-pound ball weight is just inches from his face. 

I am seeing this through the lens of my camera, shuttering ever so often when his 

arms push the weight out and then bring it back in. I observe the concentration 

on his face, the quivering of his biceps when he pushes and balances, the motion 

repeated several times. There is no grip in his fingers or wrist movement, just the 

forearm muscles pushing his hands together to hold the weight in place, hands 

threaded through special pockets on the sides of the weight to help with stability. 

1. 


Photos by meg porter 

“Smile for the camera,” I say, and then I’m 

rewarded with a beaming, cheerful grin. Snap. 

Another picture to add to my growing collection. 

I am a professional photographer, but recently, I 

have been volunteering and taking photographs at 

Shepherd Center. The images I’ve taken move me 

more than any pictures I’ve taken before. 

I first met the hospital’s “Smash” quad rugby team 

members at practice in early September 2012. I had 

never seen a rugby game, much less a wheelchair 

rugby game. Some team members maneuvered 

through cones in figure-eight patterns; one was 

pulling a square block loaded with weights; and 

others were lifting weights. I was completely floored. 

These men were renegades on wheels. 

After shooting photos at practices for several 

weeks, I knew the team fairly well. I could predict 

when Scott, the coach, was going to randomly dive 

his chair into another player – just by seeing the grin 

on his face. He coaches in a quiet, serene sort of 

way. Then there’s Rob, a gold medalist on the 2009- 

2010 USA Wheelchair Rugby Team, who blazes 

around the court like a madman. Combine those two 

with Duane, who is talented in his own right, both 

athletically and motivationally, and these three are 

powerhouses in the game. 

Yet, the team’s core rests in the other players. 

Talbot brings a ferocious hit when trying to snag the 

ball from the opposition. Nate and Sam are quick 

and persistent on defense. James uses strategy to 

block opponents. Mike, Zac and Reid are fairly new, 

but all three have an inner determination to make 

things happen. They work together cohesively, a 

collective dance of metal and muscle. 

I came into this environment thinking it would 

be just another photographic opportunity and a 

chance to meet people, but it turned into far more. 

When I see the Smash play, this thought always 

crosses my mind: Don’t hold back. It’s echoed in 

everything I capture with my camera. It’s represented 

by the scuffs on the players’ wheels, the dents and 

scratches in their chairs, the clash of metal as they 

careen into one another. I see it on their faces. It is 

grit and determination. These guys don’t hold back. 

Yes, they have quadriplegia, but I don’t see them as 

disabled. They know how hard one must push to 

succeed, to be the best at something, to persevere 

far beyond what each of us believes is possible. They 

are incredible. They are Smash. 

More photos are posted at: 

http://megporterphotography.com/?p=3648. 

4. 

2. 

3. 

5. 

1. Shepherd Smash 

players practice their 

offensive and defensive 

moves in a scrimmage 

game. 2. Coach Scott 

Stokes takes a short 

break on the court 

and has a laugh. 3. 

Determined to stop the 

ball from advancing, 

Talbot Kennedy pushes 

hard against Robert 

Deller. 4. A race to the 

goal, players Duane 

Morrow and Kevin Stahr 

charge forward to head 

off Robert Deller before 

he gets to the goal. 5. 

Waiting to push, a player 

rests before game action. 


h 

Honorariums 

Honorees are listed first in bold print followed by the 

names of those making gifts in their honor. This list 

reflects gifts made to Shepherd Center between 

Aug. 1, 2012 and Oct. 31, 2012. 

Elizabeth and Carl Allen 

Cara and Jon Roxland 

John Hunter Amos 

Isdell Family Foundation 

Tucker Anderson’s Recovery 

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Bankston 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kerns 

Mr. Scott Prince 

Mr. John Rosborough 

Ed, Jeanne and Jessica Andre 

Miss Carolyn Hobson 

Jessica Andre 

Ms. Alexis Haber, Katie Hart, 

Caroline Simpson, Maegan Pearce 

and Mark Sutton 

Ashley N. Ashkouti 


Diane and Albert Ashkouti 


Margaret Balliet 

Mrs. Peggy S. Tingley 

Dr. Gerald S. Bilsky 

Mr. and Mrs. David P. White 

Frank E. Blasingame 

Mr. and Mrs. Milton Jacobson 

Pedro Bravo 

Ms. Tamika Kendrick 

Gena M. Bryant’s Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew P. Worrell 

Marianne and Casey Cagle – On 

the birth of Anna Kate Cagle 

Mr. and Mrs. James H. Shepherd III 

Shan Cooper 

Turknett Leadership Group 

Anita T. Crean 

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Ayoub 

Ms. Jamie Lou Hawthorne 

Ms. Susan K. Murphey 

Mary and Gary Crouse 


James A. Curtis 

Mr. and Mrs. James M. Wells III 

Chad K. Davis 

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth B. Lee 

Victoria Denson 

Mr. and Mrs. Prem Rajani 

Tom Duggan’s Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Reynolds 

Derek N. Dyer 

Mr. Quittis P. Ammons 

Ms. Betty Jean Porter Anderson 

Ms. Marian Bartholomew 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Dill 

Mrs. Vicki Foster 

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Heyward, Jr. 

Mr. Kurt Powell 

Jacob Dyles 

Ms. Beth Miller 

Ms. Sarah Massie Neeley 

Ms. Patricia Zimmerman 

Dr. Robert M. Fryer’s Birthday 

Beth, Tammy, Kathy, Monica, Nancy 

and Alex 

Chico Garcia 

Give With Liberty Employee 

Donations 

Roger W. Goss’s Retirement 

Patton Albertson & Miller, LLC 

Bonnie Hardage – Thanks and 

best wishes in your new position. 

Dr. David F. Apple, Jr. 

Cam Harison 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Nicklaus 

Caroline G. Hazel – Raleigh’s Run 

Mr. Thomas G. Bell III 

Miss Ina Browning 

Ms. Margaret Clinard 

Mr. Nat Cutler 

Ms. Lucy Dabney 

Ms. Madeleine Maury Downing 

Mr. Nicholas Ducharme-Barth 

Ms. Rhonda Fried 

Mr. Wesley Gottesman 

Mr. Allen W. Groves 

Ms. Hillary Hardy 

Mr. and Mrs. John T. Hazel, Jr. 

Mr. William R. Hazel 

Mr. and Mrs. Jackson J. Hill III 

Mr. Richard Jenner 

Ms. Eliza Karp 

Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. King 

Ms. Laura LeBow 

Mr. Richard Lee 

Ms. Taylor Luckey 

Dudley, John and Brian Macfarlane 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. McDaniel 

Ms. Jordan McDaniel 

Mrs. Ann G. McKinney 

Ms. Holly McWane 

Mrs. Ashley Merrill 

Gabby Michnoff 

Ms. Karen A. Moschetto 

Ms. Susanne Nobles 

Ms. Allyn Potts 

Ms. Kathleen L. Redfern 

Ms. Schattenfield 

Ms. Emily Scott 

Ms. Louise Stellmann 

Ms. Cynthia Tenney 

Mr. William Theus 

Ms. Eliza Valentine 

Mr. Bucka Watson 

Ms. Ella R. Wheat 

Mrs. Julie Whitsett 

Ms. Phoebe Willis 

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Wilson 

Miss Emily Zigman 

Louise Hill’s Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. Bud S. Moss 

Mrs. Lynda S. Moss 

E. Russell Holladay 

Mr. and Mrs. James M. Caswell, Jr. 

Kadee and Ryan Hoyt – On the 

birth of Hailey Kathrone Hoyt 


Betty and Billy Hulse 

Mr. and Mrs. A. Russell Chandler III 

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hussman 

Mr. and Mrs. H. Lamar Mixson 

Mr. Jim Neal 

Mr. and Mrs. C. Mark Pirrung 

Mr. and Mrs. James M. Shepherd, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ian Walker 

Katie Hutchison 

Ms. Mary K. Hodgson 

Harini Indrakrishnan 

Dr. and Mrs. Bhuvanendram 

Indrakrishnan 

Mike Jacobs’s 50th Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Carlos 

Elizabeth Jennings 

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth B. Lee 

Greg Jones 

Mr. Alexander D. Volk 

Lee Kaufman’s Recovery 

Mrs. Sam Arogeti 

Deborah G. Krotenberg 

Ms. Miriam Beckerman 

Mr. and Mrs. Alan Fersko 

Chris Lee 

Coast Composites, Inc. 

Dr. Donald Leslie’s Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. Philip S. Beeson, Sr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Chapman, Jr. 

Dr. Donald Leslie – 2012 

Legendary Party Honoree 

Mr. and Mrs. James S. Grien 

Mr. and Mrs. Mark P. Hartigan 

William Millard Choate’s Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Boudoucies 

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Goldberg – 

A Peaceful and Happy New Year 

Mr. and Mrs. Joshua D. Shubin 

William Raleigh Hazel 

Mr. and Mrs. Fitz Johnson 

Carol Lindenbaum’s Recovery 

Mr. and Mrs. Milton W. Brannon 

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis E. Moll 

1. 

2. 


Mr. and Mrs. Mac Peden 

Boca Grande Garden Club 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Moore 

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Reefe 

Mrs. Jean Woods 

Keith Locy 

Ms. Denise Lange 

Charlie Loudermilk’s Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Chapman, Jr. 

Truesdell G. Madden’s Recovery 

Mr. and Mrs. William C. Hatcher 

Faye Manderson’s 75th Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Phillips 

Bernard M. Marcus’ Recovery 

Mr. and Mrs. Julian B. Mohr 

Mr. and Mrs. Irving M. Shlesinger 

Ben Masters 

The Camp Family Foundation, Inc. 

David Masters 

The Camp Family Foundation, Inc. 

Jessica and Patrick McEwen – On 

the birth of Claire Anne McEwen 


Laura H. Meyers 

Mr. Cary Meyers 

Deanne “Dedi” Mohr’s Recovery 

Mrs. Barbara H. Smith 

James Moore 

Ms. Julie Loncich 

Duane M. Morrow 

Ms. Willorene B. Morrow 

Heidi and David Nagel – On the 

birth of Elliot Scott Nagel 


Dr. Foad Nahai 

Mrs. Jane Marsden 

Inez Neff – For her encouragement 

over 75 years 

Ms. Shirley Torti 

Craig L. Powell’s Birthday 

Mrs. Janet Powell 

April and John Rooker – On the 

birth of Lola Ambrose Rooker 


Allen Rosenthal 

Mrs. Nancy Isenberg 

Stan Schube 

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Arogeti 


Mark Shea 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Nicklaus 

Iris Shemaria’s Recovery 


Alana Shepherd 

The Tom and Edwina Johnson Family 

Foundation 

Sarah and Jamie Shepherd – 

On the birth of Anne Preston 

Shepherd 

Mr. and Mrs. Shaler Alias 

Stephen B. Shepherd’s Birthday 

Bickers Consulting Group, LLC 

Roz Shore’s 70th Birthday 

Ms. Raina Zapler 

Joel E. Simmons – For the memory 

of Debbie McSpadden 

Mr. Charles D. Prescott 

Matt Simmons 

Mr. William F. Ryan 

Dr. Arthur J. Simon 

Mr. Bruce Center 

Anne Miller and Doug Smith – On 

the birth of Mary Louise Smith 


Lawrence E. Smith’s Recovery 

Mr. and Mrs. Scott R. Abercrombie 

David E. Snell 

Ms. Gloria A. Johnson 

Mr. and Mrs. Howard S. Stein – For 

a Peaceful and Happy New Year 

Mr. and Mrs. Joshua D. Shubin 

Gavin Templeton 

Ms. Gail Millward 

Jodie Tharp’s 31st Birthday 

Beth, Randy, John Hollis and Sumner 

Tackett 

Graddie O. Tucker’s Birthday 

Mr. and Mrs. Scott L. Tucker 

Gary R. Ulicny – Congratulations 

on Your Fellowship in ACRM! 


Wesley A. Varda 

Ms. Catherine F. Gammon 

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Varda 

Joan Ventresca – With Gratiutude 

Ms. Irene Coleman 

Our Veterans and Heroes 

Mr. and Mrs. Will Loving 

Jordan Weise 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. DiCarlo 

Beth and Ernie Wetzler – On the 

birth of Henry David Wetzler 


3. 

James Rusty Wilkes 

Mr. and Mrs. James R. Wilkes 

Laurie Wood 

Mr. Michael C. Ransdell 

Jane Woodruff – With great 

affection and admiration 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. D’Huyvetter 

Julie and Presley Yates – On the 

birth of Louise Margaret Yates 


Ms. Lee Zell 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Zell 

1., 3., 4. Shepherd Center 

patients participate in the 

hospitals’ Olympic Games 

opening ceremonies in 

August 2012. 2. Peach 

Corps Pals, the youngest 

volunteers at Shepherd 

Center, prepare to serve 

hamburgers, hot dogs and 

ice cream to more than 

150 patients, their family 

members and friends at 

their annual fall cookout. 

4. 

3. 


m memorials 

Deceased friends of Shepherd Center are listed first in 

bold print followed by the names of those making gifts 

in their memory. This list reflects gifts made to Shepherd 

Center between Aug. 1, 2012 and Oct. 31, 2012. 

Evelyn D. Anderson 

Mr. and Mrs. James Lebow 

Laura and Karl Anschutz 

Ms. Esther L. Abisamra 

Ms. Hope Abisamra 

Casey Babin 

Georgia Assoc of Home 

Inspectors (GAHI) 

Cora Banks 

Mr. Mulkey McMichael 

Louise Beck 


James T. Bell 


Irving Berland 

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry A. Broussard 

Cris Black 

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Sardinia 

Eugene H. Boeke, Jr. 


Marybe Brunner 

The Raymond Lippincott Family 

Robert L. Bunnen 

Mrs. Lindsey Hopkins III 

Ann D. Caldwell 

Bill Gremillion Memorial Radio Club 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Brown 

Ms. Dianne Caldwell 

Mr. Frank Caldwell 

Miss Jane A. Caldwell 

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Calvert 

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen C. Cooper 

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene J. Craven 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dutton, 

USAF Ret., K4AFR 

Mr. and Mrs. Roy C. Ezell 

Mr. and Ms. Stanley Glowacki 

Mr. and Mrs. Colin V. Harris 

Mrs. Robert J. Howard 

Mr. and Mrs. Ronn Johnson 

Mr. and Mrs. H. Louis Lester, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Vinson L. Martin 

Mr. Irvin M. Massey, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. William P. Merritt 

Mr. and Ms. A. Raymond Moore 

Mr. and Mrs. Roy A. Nance 

Ms. Carol J. Olsen 

Mr. and Mrs. George E. Reagan 

Mr. and Mrs. J. Harold Shepherd 

Shepherd Center Volunteer Services 

Mr. and Mrs. Tim Snyder 

Dr. and Mrs. James J. Thomasson, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Terrence M. Tracy 

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry S. Troutman 

Mr. and Mrs. John S. Wilson 

Hector Cassinelli 

Ms. Tonika Todorovich 

Robbie Cocchianello 

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Askew 

William E. Courington 

Mr. and Mrs. David Courington 

George W. Crist III 

Mr. Robert H. Hogg III 

Sherrill Dansby 

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cunningham 

Joseph C. Dawkins 

Mrs. Elaine S. Dawkins 

Mary B. Dinos 

Mrs. Frank C. Bowen, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin E. Cowart 

Mrs. Barbara K. Furbish 

Margaret Dirindin 

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Varda 

Dr. Thomas L. Ellis 

Mr. and Mrs. James R. Henderson 

Mark English 

Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Sharpe 

Lee Evans 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Waters 

Samuel N. Evins IV 

Mrs. Nancy R. Paty 

Joseph Evitts, Jr. 

Ms. Connie Halligan 

Mrs. Diane Skinner 

Rudene Farmer 


Sylvia Freedman 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Trauner 

Peter G. Gantsoudes 

Mr. and Mrs. J. Dan Blitch 

Ms. Mary Ellen Moulton 

William B. “Billy” George 

Ms. Mary K. Hodgson 

Mrs. Thomas E. Martin, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce B. Wilson 

Mr. George B. Wolfe 

1. 

Terry Gibson 

Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Mishler 

Reliant Homes 

Sharon W. Goldsmith 

The Riverside Compnay 

Mr. Daniel Stankey 

Alexander “Skip” Gossman 

Cobb County Board of 

Commissioners 

Ms. Christine Gerdes 

Ms. Pam Jeffries 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lowden 

Mrs. Kathryn Sanders 

Mr. and Mrs. David E. Taylor 

Ms. Drea Toretti 

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth S. Voelker 

Nicholas Hardage 

Mrs. Phyllis E. Hardage 

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher R. Hardage 

Patricia Harrell 


Joseph W. Hatch 

Mr. and Mrs. John E. Duggan 

Mr. and Mrs. William A. Hanger 

Hardwick Dunagan & 

Company, P.C. 

Mr. Irvin M. Massey, Jr. 

Mrs. Catherine T. Porter 

Mrs. John L. Root 


Mr. Louis B. Wood, Jr. 

Rosa Hatch 


Mrs. Catherine T. Porter 

Peggy D. Hayes – From Mike 

David’s Co-workers 

Ms. Joanne Hayes 

Bert “Bud” Hene, Jr. 

Always Best Care 

Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. Bedard 

Mr. and Mrs. Craig M. Belton 

Mr. and Mrs. Guy Berger 

BIS Benefits, Inc. 

Ms. Bonny Bivone 

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Bright, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Bryson 

Mr. and Mrs. George D. Butler, Jr. 

Ms. Dorothy J. W. Callahan 


Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cayce 

Mr. and Mrs. Dean A. Coleman 

Ms. Catherine D. Elliott 

EOG Resources, Inc. 

Ms. Noel Faciane 

Frazier & Deeter 

Mr. Roland P. Fredette 

Mrs. Barbara K. Furbish 

Mr. and Mrs. James P. Gilmore 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Gratzer, Jr. 

Ms. Kristin Hankins 

Ms. Martha H. Harrigan 

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Harrington 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Harris 

Mrs. Jean M. Hart 

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Hegwood 

Mr. Earle W. Henn, Jr. 

Ms. Mary Ellen R. Howley 

Ironwood Insurance Services, LLC 

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph H. Jenkins, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Jernigan 

Mr. and Mrs. Will Kinard 

Mr. and Mrs. William Kring 

Mr. C. Alex Lang 

Mr. and Mrs. Leslie C. Leary 

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart A. McKeldin 

Mr. and Mrs. Howard H. McKinley 

Photo by Louie Favorite 


2. 

Photo of Chance Veazey by Pouya Dianat 

Dr. and Mrs. Torey Nalbone 

Mr. and Mrs. Jay Passalaqua 

Mr. J. C. Patel 

Pharr Law, PLLC 

Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Preuss 

Mr. and Mrs. William H. 

Rauschenberg 

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel P. Schrage 

SEBS of Georgia, Inc. 

Ms. Jane A. Seemann 

Mrs. Elisabeth T. Seleskey 

Shepherd Center Volunteer Services 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Smith 

Spalding Woods Bridge Group 

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Stratton 

Mr. and Mrs. Todd A. Stratton 

Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Sutter 

Mr. and Mrs. Terrence M. Tracy 

Mr. and Mrs. Victor B. Wendel 

Hilas Hopkins 

Ms. Kathy H. McCluskey 

Frank W. “Billy” Hulse IV 

Air Serv Corporation 

Mr. Fred V. Alias 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Allen 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Alston III 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Andrews III 

Mr. and Mrs. Shepard B. Ansley 


The Ayco Company, L.P. 

Mr. and Mrs. James R. Balkcom, Jr. 

Mr. and Mr. Michael Balliet 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. Baur 

Ms. Catherine M. Boardman 

General and Mrs. David R. Bockel, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. William A. Bowron, Jr. 

Mr. Wayne N. Bradley 

Mr. and Mrs. John R. Bratton 

Dr. and Mrs. Peter D. Bunting 

Mrs. Hansell G. Burke 

Mr. and Mrs. Borden H. Burr II 

Mr. and Mrs. John W. Burress III 

Ms. Jean F. Caldwell 

Mr. and Mrs. Dan D. Carithers, Jr. 

Michael C. Carlos Museum 

Mr. John E. Cay III 

Chandler Foundation 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cleere 

Ms. Sue Cleere 

Mr. and Mrs. H. Hammond Cobb III 

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman A. Cohen 

Cooper Family Charitable 

Foundation, Inc. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Croft III 

Mrs. Grant R. Curtis 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Davidson, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brian D. Deneve 

Mrs. Mynel Yates DuBose 

Dr. and Mrs. James T. Duncan, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ken M. Dwyer 

Mr. Merritt Dyke 

Mr. and Mrs. John W. Eakin 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Edge 

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Emin 

Ms. Mary C. Erwin 

Mr. and Mrs. R. Marshall Evans, Jr. 

Mr. R.T. Farmer 

Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Fitzgerald 

Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Flowers, Jr. 

Mrs. David Forehand 

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Frazee, Jr. 

Mr. Ben S. Gambill, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Alston P. Glenn 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack F. Glenn, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Glenn 

Grant Thornton, LLP 

Mr. and Mrs. Holcombe T. Green, Jr. 

The Leonard & Jerry Greenbaum 

Family Foundation 

Mr. John H. Carmichael and Ms. Ann 

L. Hagan 

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher R. Hardage 

Mr. and Mrs. Mark P. Hartigan 

Mrs. Reginald Heinitsh 

Mr. Nathan V. Hendricks III 

Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. Hennessy 

Ms. Carey T. Hinds 

HLN 

Mr. William E. Hollan, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Howell I. Hollis III 

Ms. Barbara R. Hoover 

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hopkins 


Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Howard, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. L. Phillip Humann 

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hutzler 

Mr. and Mrs. E. Neville Isdell 

Mr. and Mrs. George J. Jerry 

Ms. Jane H. Johnson 

Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Jones 

Mr. Alfred D. Kennedy III 

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher M. Krebs 

Lanier Goodman Foundation 

LeStanne LTD Opticians 

Mr. and Mrs. Michael B. Levitan 

Mr. and Mrs. David M. McKenney 

Mr. and Mrs. Dalton L. McMichael, Jr. 

Mr. Dean Melcher 

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper N. Mills, Jr. 

Montague Family Fund 

Mr. and Mrs. Donald H. Morgan 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Morris 

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Mulcare 

Mr. and Mrs. Brady W. Mullinax 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Neuhaus 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Noonan 

Mr. and Mrs. John P. North, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin F. O’Gara 

Mr. and Mrs. James O. Patterson 

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Pettway 

Mrs. Allen W. Post 

Mr. Richard M. Powell 

4. 

5. 

3. 

1. Former patient Billy 

Hulse of Atlanta passed 

away in September 

2012. His family and 

friends gave donations 

in his honor. 2. The 

Home Depot Foundation 

gave a $100,000 grant 

to Shepherd Center’s 

SHARE Military Initiative, 

including $25,000 for 

renovation of apartments 

that house SHARE clients. 

“Team Depot” volunteers 

did the renovations. 3., 4. 

Atlanta Falcons football 

players (3) Jonathan 

Massaquio, left, and 

Corey Peters, and (4) Cliff 

Matthews and Tommy 

Gallarda visit patients 

Jacy Todd (3) and Brock 

Johnson (4). 5. Former 

patient Chance Veazey 

prepares to throw the first 

pitch at a Braves game. 

Spinal Column ® / Fall 2012 • 51

m 

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Prickett 

Prime Factors, Inc. 

Prime Revenue 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Reed, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Michael M. Reid 

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Renneker III 

Mr. and Mrs. James N. Reyher 

River Capital, Inc. 

Ms. Frances B. Robinson 

Mr. and Mrs. John W. Rooker 

Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Schiff 

Mr. and Mrs. A. Raymond Schmalz 

Mr. Howard Serkin 

Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Shackelford 


Shepherd Foundation, Inc. 

Mr. James D. Simpson III 

Skytech, Inc. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hatton C. Smith 

Ms. Mary Reynolds Smith 

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Spalding 

Ms. Cynthia S. Sproull 

Ms. Sally F. Stakler 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack P. Stephenson, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Sterling, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Swenson 

Mr. and Mrs. Alex Vare 

Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Walker 

Mr. and Mrs. Mark C. West 

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent West 

Mrs. Thomas R. Williams 

Mrs. Perry Ann Williams 

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Wishnack 

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard W. Wood, Jr. 

Mr. Frank M. Young IV 

Eslyn Jacob 


Toby James 

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Pope 

Richard S. Johnson 

Ms. Virginia Lippincott 

Stephen Katz 

Ms. Danielle Reed 

Ralph “RNK” Kelley 

Ms. Marcy T. Vance 

Gary Glenn Kemp 

Ms. Alice J. Benham 

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Bigham 

Mr. Thom Duncan The Home Depot 

Mr. Charles R. Fairbank 

Ms. Laura Faircloth 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Luey 

Ms. Susan McLaughlin 

Ms. Betsy S. Quattrocchi 

Mr. Worthy C. Sanders, Jr. 

Take On Sports 

Dr. and Mrs. Joe H. Woody 

Marvin Kesler 

American Legion Post 92 

Frank L. King 

Reverend Theodore O. Atwood, Jr. 

Martha Kirby 

Mrs. Janice H. Kane 

Milton Kramer 


John C. Kranyecz, Jr. 

Ms. Michelle Stulack 

Helen Kurland 


Bert Langley 

Mr. John Jones, Jr. 

Adrianne Little 


Lawrence F. McArdle 

Ms. Judith Schulten 

Dotty A. McDougall 


Jewell McSwiney 


John O. Mitchell 

Mrs. John O. Mitchell 

Henry B. Moog 


Alice P. Nelson 


Beth Panos 

Mr. and Mrs. G. Alexander Panos 

Albert N. “Bud” Parker 


Dr. and Mrs. Carter Smith, Jr. 

Preston Parnell 

Bettie and Merv Torme Donor 

Advised Fund 

Mr. Tyler Bolen 

Mr. and Mrs. Eldon L. Bryant 

Ms. Kimberly Byrd 

Mr. and Mrs. John J. Cunning, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Howard E. Furnas III 

Mr. Emmett Kohler 

Ms. Mary A. Logan 

Mr. and Mrs. Walt D. Martin III 

Ms. Pamela McClain 

Mr. and Mrs. George C. McCoy 

Mr. Joel D. Mendelsohn 

Ms. Nancy A. Miller-Borg 

Mr. Matthew Modafferi 

Nlets 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Reynolds 

Mr. Neal Seiden 

Mr. and Mrs. Randall W. Stewart 

Mr. and Mrs. Ted L. Tester 

Kenneth C. Patterson 

Mrs. Charles W. Sprott 

Lorraine Phillips 

Maj. (Ret) and Mrs. Karl V. Marzocchi 

William Barry Phillips 

Dr. and Mrs. Donald E. Hubbard 

John Sharp Pillow 

Beth, Randy, John Hollis and 

Sumner Tackett 

Wesley Renfroe 

Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Davidson 

Dr. Harold Richardson 

Nancy Tharp, Andy, Beth, Jennifer 

and Jodie 

William E. Robinson 

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd R. Andreas 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Barry 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Davis 

Ms. Omelai Davis 

Dr. and Mrs. David O. Ellis 

Ms. Phyllis B. Frankel 

Mr. Lawrence Furst 

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Lanshe 

Mr. and Mrs. Phil K. Long 

Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Morris 

Mr. and Mrs. Roger R. Nelson 

Mrs. Douglas M. Padgett 

Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Piggott 

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Prutz, Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Quammen 

Mr. and Mrs. Dean Rau 

Mr. and Mrs. William C. Rawson 


Mrs. Eddie Van Auken 

Mr. and Mrs. John W. Wakefield 

Justine Rogers 


Sheila L. Rooks 

Mr. and Mrs. Greg L. Barnard 

Mr. and Mrs. Cris A. Bingham 

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Griffin 

Ms. Carol A. Halbleib 

Mrs. Kippy Lewis 

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lichtefeld 

MRS Homecare of Tifton 

Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Riggs 

Mr. and Mrs. Chip Shillington 

Ms. Susan L. Wheatley 

Allan J. Rosenberg 


Jean R. Routh 

Mrs. R. B. Lippincott, Jr. 

William Clyde Shepherd, Jr. 

The Arnold Foundation, Inc. 

Harriet Shind 

Ms. Mollie Peddar 

Anne O. Shippey 

Mr. Hugh Richardson, Jr. 

Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth S. Taratus 

Evelyn Simon 

Mrs. Arleen S. Karlick 

Joan Carol Simpson 

College Park Post Office 

Ms. Hannah Hinson 

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn A. Simpson 

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Simpson 

Jeff Singley 


Simena C. “Mimi” Skandalakis 


Mrs. Judy Zaban 

Mrs. Harry Smythe 

Mrs. R. B. Lippincott, Jr. 

Chris Stone 

Ms. Teresa Fletcher 

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Funderburk III 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Huggins 

Ms. Joyce S. Ward 

Jerry Taitz 


Betty Jane Bolling Tippett 


Mr. and Mrs. Dennis M. Patterson 

David Tomassini 

Ms. Mary E. Ahearn 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Armour 

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bamundo 

Mr. and Mrs. Guilford H. Bartlett 

Ms. Noreen Begley 

Ms. Virginia C. Betti 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Bratica 

Ms. Sarah Burke 

Mr. and Mrs. K. J. Copanos 

Ms. Mary Craig 

Ms. Gloria A. Cullati 

Ms. Martha E. Flinter 

Framingham Baking Co. 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Kistner 

Mrs. Marlene Lauze-Daly 

Ms. Margaret Lefter 

Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Mahan 

Metro West Medical Center 

Respiratory Department 

Ms. Frances Mitchell 

Mr. John M. O’Donnell 

Ms. Joan B. Pehoviak 

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Phillips 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ronconi 

Shields & Company, Inc. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stucchi 

Ms. Rosanne Thomas 

Ms. Josephine Tomassini 

Ms. Ruth A. Tomassini 

Mrs. Carol Wilder 

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth W. Young 

Mary W. Treadway 

Mr. and Mrs. John Jones, Jr. 

Andrew Turner 

Mr. and Mrs. David W. Howe 

Walter Upton 

Ms. Sylvia C. Murray 

Michael C. Waters 

Mrs. and Mrs. Mario J. DeLaguardia 

Rebecca L. Webreck 

Mr. Jack Webreck 

Kathryn Hamrick Wheeler 

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mingledorff 

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Townsend 

John Barnett Woodruff III 

Ms. Elizabeth W. Willis 

John Barnett Woodruff 


John Bart Woodruff 


Milton H. “Jay” Woodside 

Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Cooper 

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon D. Martin 

Margaret S. Yates 

Mrs. Mynel Yates DuBose 

Photos by Sabrina Evans 


The Shepherd Center 

Therapeutic Recreation 

Department hosted 

Casino Night for patients 

and their families in 

September 2012. Bank of 

North Georgia sponsored 

the event, and bank 

executives and staff 

members volunteered 

as dealers and servers. 


Non-Profit Org. 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Atlanta, GA 

Permit No. 1703 

Address Service Requested 

Scan this QR code with your smart phone or go to 

ShepherdCenterMagazine.org to view more photos and content. 

UBS Atlanta’s Private Wealth Management Group Pairs 

Dinner with The Atlanta Opera 

to Support Shepherd Center 

Just as UBS Atlanta’s Private Wealth Management (PWM) Group strives to find meaningful 

ways to serve its clients, the company also tries to find special ways to serve Shepherd Center. 

A global financial institution operating in more than 50 countries, UBS emphasizes a culture 

of giving back. So, after Bernadette Faber, director of business development in the Atlanta 

office, toured and got to know Shepherd Center, she wanted to continue UBS’ tradition of 

giving back by finding ways for UBS Atlanta’s PWM Group to help Shepherd. 

One such way the group has helped Shepherd Center was by hosting an intimate dinner 

for UBS employees and Shepherd patients (and their families) on Oct. 30, 2012. At the dinner, 

held at Shepherd, the attendees dined together; patients shared their recovery stories and 

experiences at Shepherd; and Shepherd staff spoke about the hospital and its culture. 

What made the event particularly unique was the special performance given by Kaitlyn 

Costello, Elizabeth Claxton and Adam Cannedy from The Atlanta Opera. They were 

accompanied by Geoffrey Loff. Bernadette sponsored the singers for the evening. Shepherd 

patients also participated in a brief Q & A session with the performers. 

In addition to providing attendees with an intimate way to get to know each other, the dinner 

further solidified the connection between Shepherd Center and UBS Atlanta’s PWM Group. 

Photo by louie Favorite 

“UBS has demonstrated that they really care about Shepherd Center and our patients,” says 

Jon Roxland, a major gifts officer at the Shepherd Center Foundation. “We really appreciate 

their interest in learning more about how they can help.” 

Bernadette adds, “Hearing about the passion and drive that the Shepherd family has shown is tremendously inspiring and is 

one of the main reasons we want to give back.” Rachel Franco

Winter 2013 - Shepherd Center

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