Believe in a way back to the courts

It is a cool crisp afternoon in February, and Robert Pittman walks onto the court lightly balancing on two forearm crutches. Today, he is graduating from Magee Riverfront's intensive Day Rehab program where he has spent the last seven weeks on his recovery from an incomplete spinal cord injury. He hands his crutches to his therapist, Colleen, and palms the basketball with a still weak grip. He holds his breath and takes a shot for the first time in almost five months. Towering over his two therapists, 6' 3" Pittman makes a basket within five shots. Everyone cheers. His aunt remarked, "This is the best birthday ever".

To look at him, you would not know that just five months ago he lost all arm and leg movement after breaking his neck in a severe motor vehicle accident. Pittman was driving down a small two-lane road where he swerved to miss an oncoming car in his lane. The other driver kept going without stopping to check on Pittman's condition. He was rushed to Cooper Hospital, where he had emergent neck surgery to preserve as much as he could of his arm and leg function. Pittman recalls overhearing another doctor say "He may never walk again." At that point, he made up his mind to beat the odds and to continue living by his personal motto "Strive Every Day for Greatness."

As soon as he woke up from surgery, his mother recalls his first words as "Get me a red shirt so that I can at least practice next year." At the beginning, his progress was very slow. He began by being able to move his right side just a little bit, and then the left started to come back slowly. After one month at Cooper Hospital, he was transferred to Magee Rehabilitation Hospital where he started his recovery journey and learned to stand up, take his first steps again, and begin to move his arms.

Pittman, who has played basketball since age six, had just transferred to Rowan University as a sophomore IT major. Already facing a very difficult year with the recent loss of his father, who was a long time basketball coach, he is facing the difficult challenge of recovering from a cervical spinal cord injury head on. Being a role model for his younger brothers, ages 11 and 18, has also helped him fight hard.

Each day, he gives his all in therapy. His daily progress is measured in faster steps and smoother gait at a rate that therapists do not have the pleasure of seeing on a frequent basis. Only a few weeks ago, Pittman was just learning to take steps with forearm crutches for the first time.His physical therapist Colleen Sullivan, DPT remarks, "He walks more smoothly while dribbling a basketball because the sport is so second nature to him".

Sullivan also remarks,"Robert's drive and dedication throughout his therapy have been inspiring—not only to patients, but also to the staff he works with on a daily basis. Not only has he made exceptional gains in Magee's Day Hospital Program, but the sheer fact that these goals were accomplished over six weeks is amazing. To go from barely holding a basketball while standing up, to now dribbling and passing the ball is quite humbling to watch from a therapist's point of view. "

Recovering from injury and spending some time in a wheelchair has made Pittman see the world from a different perspective. "I needed to learn how to bounce back from a setback."

His recovery has been inspired by the support of his family and his new coach at Rowan. His new basketball coach, having only recently met Pittman, visited or checked in on him on a weekly basis.

His recreational therapist, Colleen McAllister, TR, remarks, "After long days of hard work in therapy, Robert continues to find the motivation and strength to pursue his leisure interests by attending 76ers games and his brother's basketball games."

His father also instilled in him a very strong work ethic in him and always pushed him to distinguish himself among others, both in academics and on the court. Pittman's father kept him very busy with athletics, which he credits for making him disciplined and confident. His mother remarks, "My husband raised my boys to be strong men." And a strong man he is.

So, what's next for Pittman?

His recovery journey is not over. He will continue therapy at Magee Riverfront's Locomotor training clinic for continued work on walking and return to sports skills as well as occupational therapy for continued work on his hand function. He also looks forward to driving again in March and plans to return to school in September. When he recovers, he hopes that he can use his experience to help people in wheelchairs.

Pittman's fighting spirit embodies our "Believe in a way back" motto.  We at Magee Rehab can't wait to see him on the Rowan court again.

Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.