After a tragic 2018 car accident left Kathryn Granger paralyzed from the chest down—and resulted in the death of her best friend, Sarah Tucker—Kathryn and her mother, Julie, spent weeks commuting to Fort Worth for outpatient therapy at the Neurological Recovery Center. Amarillo simply didn’t have those cutting-edge resources for someone like Kathryn.
She wasn’t alone in needing those services in the Panhandle, of course, and it left the mother-daughter duo wanting to find a way to meet the needs of others in this area who faced paralysis, neurological injuries or other illnesses. Sister-Bear Foundation grew out of that desire.
“Our mission is to provide hope and independence through neuro rehab and wellness resources for adults living with neurological injury and illness,” says Ruth Brown, executive director of the organization. Sister-Bear offers multiple paths toward that goal. Its Anchor Point Wellness Program focuses on neuro rehab and other physical mobility initiatives through a holistic approach that includes adaptive yoga, nutrition counseling, therapeutic arts and mental health support.
“The expansion of our wellness program has allowed us to reach a lot more people than just our neuro rehab patient population. Our programs now reach their caregivers, their families, their providers,” Brown says. Sister-Bear also works to provide education and advocacy, including a Barrier-Free Businesses program and handicap parking enforcement.
Meanwhile, nearly 200 people use the Foundation’s main piece of equipment, a Lokomat, in partnership with Northwest Texas Healthcare System Therapy Center. This robot-assisted gait training device supports patients in a harness above a treadmill, using computer-controlled technology to move their legs in a walking pattern. People like Kathryn, who have severe injuries, use it to maintain range of motion, improve circulation and enjoy the psychological impact of being upright.
“What we find is that once you get to a certain point in physical therapy, insurance will say you’re never going to improve” beyond a particular recovery point, Brown says. Insurance then stops paying for use of therapeutic technology like the Lokomat. But individuals need to stay ready for future innovations that could eventually improve their mobility. “We can’t just sit at home and sit in a chair and expect to live the best quality of life that we can,” she says.
That $450,000 Lokomat is nearing the end of its technological lifespan, and the Foundation is raising money to replace it. “We also look for gently used medical equipment that is specific to neuro rehab, such as wheelchairs, power scooters and things like that,” Brown says.
She adds that Sister-Bear also seeks volunteers for its Accessible Amarillo and Barrier-Free Business programs. To get involved, visit sister-bear.com.
