A rainy drive home from school in September 2018 ended up being a life-changing one for Tate Little. Tate was in a car accident in which he suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma state for several weeks after. Wanting a facility that specialized in brain injury, Tate’s family chose On With Life.
Tate was admitted into the Disorders of Consciousness program, where the On With Life staff worked with him every day to move his arms, legs, hands and feet to help his brain create new pathways for motion. They also conducted tests on a regular basis to test Tate’s consciousness.
“December 26, 2018, is a day our family will never forget,” said Tate’s mother, Joyce Little. “This is the day Tate passed the test and truly started to make progress toward his recovery.”
During his time at On With Life, Tate worked towards talking again, gaining strength in his legs, and adjusting to using the left side of his body to carry out daily functions. Tate set two goals for himself after he discharged: to graduate with his high school class and to walk without assistance.
“Tate’s coaches and friends have kept him positive during his recovery,” said Joyce. “The constant possibility of a better future is what keeps him going.”
Tate recently graduated from high school with a 3.4 GPA and was able to take a few assisted steps during his graduation ceremony with the help of two of his friends. He will attend Kirkwood Community College in the fall with plans to transfer to a four-year university in the future.