Two women pose together in front of a blue background. One woman sits in a wheelchair with a service dog in a harness, while the other stands beside her, smiling.

Eden Schroeder

Graduate, Adolescent Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program

  • Connection

About the portrait

Self-Titled

Goofy Teamwork

Photographer

ELEY

About Eden

Eden Schroeder, a 23-year-old para swimmer from Atlanta, began her journey at Shepherd Center following a diving accident in November 2020. She spent several months as an inpatient and continued with outpatient therapy, gradually rebuilding her independence.

Eden has since found strength and community through adaptive sports, especially swimming, and credits Shepherd with helping her discover a new sense of possibility.

Now pursuing a doctorate in psychology at Georgia State University, Eden is inspired to give back by supporting others navigating life with disabilities, just as she was helped by Shepherd’s longtime psychologist, Cheryl Linden.

Eden hopes her portrait communicates resilience and teamwork, showing that her injury is only one part of who she is — a multidimensional person, including an intellectual, dog mom, and loyal friend. She credits Shepherd Center with embodying hope and demonstrating that life after injury can be rich and fulfilling, even if it looks different.

Reflecting on her recovery, Eden emphasizes the importance of patience, embracing the journey, and leaning into the joyful, supportive culture at Shepherd (what she affectionately calls “Wheelchair Disney”). To others facing similar challenges, her message is clear: be patient with yourself, find strength in community, and believe that with perseverance, a meaningful and full life is possible.

In her portrait

  • Heather Jones (close friend and physical therapist): She has been a vital partner through her recovery journey. Heather has supported Eden not only physically but emotionally, helping her navigate challenges with humor and determination.
  • Chippy (service dog): He represents comfort, independence, and unconditional support in her daily life.
A smiling woman sits in a wheelchair, wearing a light sweater and pants. She leans her head on her hand. A black service dog with a blue vest lies on the floor in front of her. The background is blue.
A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a light sweater and pants, smiles while sitting in a wheelchair against a blue background.
Two young women smiling, one giving the other a piggyback ride. Both wear light-colored tops and jeans, and they appear happy against a dark, gradient background.
Left image: Eden and Chippy; Top right image: Eden; Bottom right image: Eden and Heather