His life changed in an instant.

In May 2023, just as he began a new job with CN Rail, Kofi was involved in a life-altering accident. Kofi and three colleagues were in a taxi when the side of the vehicle where Kofi was sitting was hit by a driver running a red light. One moment Kofi was chatting with his colleagues, the next he was waking up in a haze of pain and confusion.

“I realized I couldn't move my legs and I felt this really sharp pain in my neck,” Kofi recalls. “I couldn't feel my body. That's when it hit me, that I was paralyzed.”

Kofi was rushed to the hospital and soon learned the extent of his injuries. He had broken three vertebrae and suffered severe compression on another. His left clavicle and humerus were also fractured from the devastating collision. His recovery would be long and challenging, but Kofi’s determination never wavered.

“I didn't wanna accept the fact that I was paralyzed,” says Kofi. “All I kept thinking about was my family.”

Getting back on his feet

After spending nearly three months in hospital, Kofi began his journey at Hamilton Health Sciences’ Regional Rehabilitation Centre(RRC), a facility specializing in complex rehabilitation services for patients with traumatic injuries like Kofi’s. This marked a new phase in his journey—one focused on regaining as much mobility and independence as possible.

When Kofi arrived for his first day of therapy at the RRC, his physiotherapist, Diana, confidently told Kofi that she was going to have him walking – not one day, but that very same day.

“I give her a look like, you must be crazy,” remembers Kofi.

But sure enough, with the help of a comprehensive set of equipment, Diana and the team got Kofi standing and taking his first few assisted steps within a few hours.

A game-changing technology

At the RRC, Kofi was introduced to a range of therapies and assistive devices designed to help him relearn to walk. One piece of equipment that would soon play a transformative role in his recovery was a brand new, donor-funded exoskeleton.

Conventional physical therapy for patients like Kofi involves gradually reintroducing walking motions to help the brain relearn movements, often taking months or years. Exoskeletons are battery-powered robotic suits that assist individuals to stand and walk by triggering muscle and joint activation in the legs, even when the connection between the brain and muscles is damaged.

“The exoskeleton helped me stand tall again,” Kofi shares.“It was a game-changer.”

Introducing the exoskeleton was a pivotal moment in Kofi’s rehabilitation journey – and it wouldn’t have been available without donor generosity.

As the year comes to a close, your continued support of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation can help more patients like Kofi walk again and rebuild their lives. Donate today.