Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

On behalf of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, thank you for supporting SkyRise Chicago 2024! Congratulations to our 2,190 registered participants who climbed to Skydeck Chicago at the top of the Willis Tower, handcycled the distance or participated virtually. Together, you helped us pass our goal and raise $1.4 million! We are grateful to all of our participants, volunteers and donors who made this happen. See you next year! Skyrisechicago.org

Trick or Treat! Shirley Ryan AbilityLab pediatric patients had a day full of Halloween fun, visiting our team members' trick-or-treating stations all around the hospital. Learn about how we care for pediatric patients: bit.ly/40qj9Bb #halloween #trickortreat #pediatrics

We are so excited to attend the American Nurses Credentialing Center ANCC Magnet Conference this week! Look for our nurses at booth #2055 to see what we have in store this year. #ANCCMagnet #NursingLeadership

Jasper F. fell 40 feet while attending a climbing camp in rural Virginia. She shattered both ankles and wrists, and sustained a severe spinal cord injury leaving her partially paralyzed from the waist down. She spent several months engaged in intensive inpatient and DayRehab therapy at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Now, she will attempt to climb more than 1,353 feet to Skydeck Chicago at the top of the Willis Tower. Show your support for Jasper and others as they reach new heights by making a donation at skyrisechicago.org.

It’s a purrfect day when our Shirley Ryan AbilityLab volunteers spend time with the rescue cats and kittens PAWS Chicago! These volunteers have aphasia — a condition that can occur suddenly after a stroke. Although it does not affect intelligence, it does impact a person’s ability to speak and understand language. They’ve been volunteering for the last year, overcoming communication barriers while working side-by-side with other volunteers. In the process, they’ve helped spread awareness about aphasia. The kitties? They just lap up the attention … and they get the playtime and socialization they need before adoption. 🐱 Learn how we care for people with aphasia: bit.ly/3C2aGtI #PurrfectDay #NationalCatDay #WorldStrokeDay

After a stroke, brain injury or other conditions affecting the brain, patients turn to our Brain Innovation Center for healing and recovery — where our doctors and therapists are experts in brain conditions, our research scientists are discovering new treatments and cutting-edge therapies, and our goal is to restore patients’ lost abilities. “When we care for someone, we figure out where their problems really lie — and then we target our therapy to address those problems,” said Richard Harvey, MD, clinical chair of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Brain Innovation Center. Visit our website if you or your loved one may benefit from our Brain Innovation Center. bit.ly/3Ahfc77 #Stroke #TBI #TraumaticBrainInjury #StrokeAwareness #WorldStrokeDay

SkyRise Chicago celebrates ability in all forms! Case in point: check out this special SkyRise moment captured last year between David Eigenberg of NBCUniversal’s Chicago Fire and HBO’s And Just Like That… and Lewis K., who sustained a #spinalcordinjury and traveled 8,000 miles from Kenya for Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s care. David and Lewis are participating in SkyRise once again on Sunday, Nov. 3: David will climb to Skydeck Chicago at the top of the Willis Tower and Lewis will handcycle the equivalent. In the process, both will show their support for Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Whether climbing, handcycling or participating virtually, there are many ways to get in on the action! Join David, Lewis and more than 2,000 others by registering today at skyrisechicago.org.

This week, 24 employees from Northern Trust’s Abilities Business Resource Council volunteered at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. They assembled and delivered care packages to our inpatient floors, where they were able to visit with our patients. Thank you, Northern Trust, for your commitment to service and for being a bright spot in our patients’ day! #NTgivesback

Four Shirley Ryan AbilityLab doctors — CEO Pablo Celnik, MD; Daniel Goodman, MD; Prakash Jayabalan MD, PhD; and Leslie Rydberg, MD — recently visited lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to advocate on behalf of the Association of Academic Physiatrists. They discussed several issues, including the nation’s physician shortage, continued patient access to telehealth, support for rehabilitation research, and how climate change impacts people with disabilities. “These discussions are so important because physiatrists play such a critical role in helping people with different impairments improve their function and quality of life. By putting in place policies that support us, it benefits our patients as well,” said Dr. Rydberg. Read more on our blog: bit.ly/3UmEF66

In recognition of #NationalPhysicalTherapyMonth this October, follow a day in the life of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab PT Mary Yonkaitis. From helping stroke survivors recover strength and mobility to playing music on the floor that keeps everyone moving and motivated, she packs a lot into one day to help our patients achieve their best outcomes! Thanks to Mary and all of our PTs — this month and every month! Read more: bit.ly/4eX4Fgj