Chad Martin

Chad Martin, a husband and father of two young children, was taken to Methodist Hospital Stone Oak for Guillain-Barre Syndrome in March of 2022. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that affects the nerves. After arriving at the hospital, he became paralyzed from the neck down and it was discovered that all of his nerves had died and his muscles had atrophied. The rest is a blur to him. After spending two weeks fighting for his life, he was discharged and directly transferred to Methodist Hospital Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center for his rehabilitation journey.

Upon arriving at the rehabilitation center, it was a very dark time for Chad. He felt hopeless and defeated. He had the daunting task of relearning how to complete common everyday tasks, such as walking, talking, and writing. Reflecting on the start of his journey, Chad shared, “The first day I was wheeled into the rehab therapy gym, my therapist looked me in the eyes, and said, “We are going to do this.” From there, they helped me stand up for the first time in weeks. It’s a moment that makes me tear up when thinking about it.”

The motivation Chad had to push through his seven-week rehabilitation journey stemmed from his family and the daily encouragement he received from his therapists and nurses, whom he describes as the long-lost family he had never met. The staff’s attitudes, personalities, and dedication to his customized care plan made him feel like family. Taking the opportunity to really lean into Chad and learn his personal goals and what made him tick. Which in the end, helped push him to meet his number one goal, being able to pick up his two children again.

On his last day at Methodist Hospital Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center, Chad had the opportunity to walk independently and ring the bell to celebrate the end of his treatment journey. Tearfully saying, “It was a super emotional and very proud moment. I didn't think I would ever walk to that bell when I first got there. I was overwhelmed with emotions and it’s a moment that I would put up there with meeting my children for the first time.”

Chad hasn’t take a single minute for granted in the year since his diagnosis. The entire experience was a factory reset for his priorities and showed him what was really important in his life. He wakes up every day thankful for his second chance at life and encourages others on their rehabilitation journey to not get complacent or stagnant. His final piece of advice is, “As tough as it is, don’t feel sorry for yourself. Step up to the plate and do what the therapists ask. It is time to go!”