Healing in motion: The rhythm of belonging and recovery at Shepherd Center
Rediscovering strength through connection
For Alexi Dodson, that motion began after a life-changing spinal cord injury. She arrived at Shepherd Center with a feeding tube, a tracheostomy, and fears of losing her independence. She left with renewed strength, confidence, wrist-powered mobility, and a deeper connection to herself and the people around her.
“I talk to my body now,” Alexi says. “I thank it for everything it’s endured. When I need hope, I remember how far I’ve come.”
Alexi, a former Zumba instructor, found healing in therapy, music, humor, and even dancing. Even on the hardest days, there were reasons to smile. Therapists danced through complex procedures. Nurses made her laugh until the hallways echoed. Peers bonded over inside jokes that only someone walking a similar path could understand.
“We learned to laugh until we were crying, instead of just crying,” she says. “That’s the Shepherd difference.”
Embracing new passions and possibilities
But Shepherd Center’s impact reaches far beyond inpatient rooms. Just ask Paris Carter, who was first referred to Shepherd after aging out of pediatric care. What began as a visit for specialized services soon became something more.
“Even during the height of the pandemic, with masks and distancing, the staff created an atmosphere of joy and compassion,” Paris says. “That environment truly drew me in, and it kept me coming back.”
As an outpatient, Paris found belonging through the driving program, the seating clinic, recreational therapy events, and adaptive sports. She’s now part of a basketball team, plays tennis, and dreams of skiing more often after a Shepherd-led trip introduced her to the slopes.
“I’m way more active now than ever,” she says. “And I’m excited for what’s ahead for me, and what’s ahead for Shepherd Center, too.”
Laughing, belonging, and being seen
The sense of camaraderie that defines the Shepherd experience doesn’t depend on the length of your stay. It’s felt in the quiet encouragement of a therapist, the laughter shared at rec therapy, and the small moments that stick with you forever.
For Paris, one of those moments came at the finish line of her first post-injury 5K.
“A staff member recognized me and ran over to cheer me on. They remembered me and were so proud. That interaction meant the world to me,” she says. “That’s the heart of Shepherd. It’s not just a place where patients are seen. It’s a place where they’re celebrated.”
And for Alexi, the heart showed up in hundreds of small but powerful ways, from nurses who lifted her spirits to therapists who empowered her voice.
“They helped me believe in my body again,” she says. “They didn’t just support me; they reminded me who I was.”
A place like no other
Whether you’re recovering from a recent injury or navigating long-term care, Shepherd Center feels less like a hospital and more like a stage. A stage where every person is invited to move, grow, and shine. Here, healing isn’t just clinical; it’s emotional, communal, and often joyful. It’s a place where the music of hope plays loud, and everyone finds their own rhythm.
“The support I’ve felt is hard to describe,” Paris says. “The staff truly care. They’re deeply invested in helping every person become the best version of themselves.”
Both Alexi and Paris now serve as powerful reminders that healing isn’t linear or solitary. It’s something built together with heart.
“Give yourself so much grace,” Alexi says. “Forget about the big stuff. Focus on the little things. They’ll become your biggest accomplishments.”
About Shepherd Center
With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.
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