In May 2023, Jeff Nielsen flew to Las Vegas for what was supposed to be a one-week leisurely trip. However, on his first night there, Jeff took a head-first fall and sustained a spinal cord injury that left him unable to make it back home to Iowa City. Incapable of moving his legs and with minimal function in his hands, finding a way home that wouldn’t break the bank was a tall order. Fortunately, Jeff’s family found On With Life’s inpatient program in Ankeny where not only would he receive the care and rehabilitation he needed closer to home, a staff member was willing to fly to Vegas and help bring Jeff back.
“At the time I fought it tooth and nail,” said Jeff. “I thought, ‘what would a rehabilitation center in Ankeny have that one in Vegas doesn’t’?”
Yet his family insisted, and 10 months after the accident Jeff’s trip to Vegas would finally come to an end. He arrived at On With Life, which Jeff now says was the best decision his daughter ever made.
While Jeff had received some therapy during his six months in an inpatient rehabilitation facility in Vegas, On With Life was different. In Vegas he had been mostly confined to his bed and room. At On With Life, he was getting up daily for therapy sessions, meals, activity groups and outings. Right away his team began working with him to move his feet and un-clench his hands, and slowly he began to progress.
Jeff enjoyed therapy sessions where he could use the FES bike or be in the pool – both of which allowed him to move his legs and gave him a sense of normalcy. He looked forward to music therapy and adaptive fitness sessions and jumped at any chance he had to go on a community outing. Even though the avid Hawkeye fan was forced into an Iowa State shirt, the evening his therapy team took him out to an Iowa State men’s basketball game is one of his fondest memories from the four months he spent at On With Life.
“That is a great example of how the team goes above and beyond,” said Jeff. “Their dedication to persons served is unreal.”
When it came time to discharge, continuing outpatient therapy at On With Life was a no brainer. Jeff now lives at home with a live-in CNA and attends therapy at On With Life’s outpatient clinic in Coralville several times a week, where he continues to strengthen his hands and work towards walking without assistance. What Jeff strives for most is independence and while his journey has been long and tough, he does recognize how far he has come, thanks to On With Life.
“It has been over a year and half now and while I am not fully better, I am making progress,” said Jeff. “I’m excited about where this can still go.”