Randall Jewett
On Jan. 30, 2003, Randall Jewett, 20, of Sheridan was med-flighted to BAPTIST HEALTH Medical Center-Little Rock with several broken vertebra after being thrown from his four-wheeler. The accident left him with total paralysis in his right leg and limited use of his left.

Jewett and his friends had been riding their four-wheelers through the woods. As they crossed a back road, a truck suddenly appeared. " I could have either hit the truck or hit the ditch. I decided to go for the ditch, but when I did, my four-wheeler flipped and the handle bars slammed into my back," said Jewett.

Jewett broke his T-10, T-11, sheared his T-12 and fractured his 1-L vertebra. "They call it T-12 incomplete, which gives me a good chance of walking again," said Jewett. "I came to BAPTIST HEALTH Medical Center-Little Rock where I had surgery to remove the debris from my back and stayed in surgical intensive care for a while. Once stable, I was transferred to the orthopedic floor and then came to BAPTIST HEALTH Rehabilitation Institute (BHRI) on Feb. 14 to begin my therapy."

"This accident has really opened my eyes. I have been given a second chance to live my life better and I intend to use it. The staff here has been absolutely essential in my recovery. They have been nothing less than spectacular. Throughout this entire experience, I have depended on the support of my friends, family, the staff here and prayer to get me through this," said Jewett.

Once discharged, Jewett said he is looking forward just being at home and of course, his mom's home cooking. Jewett will continue his therapy on an out-patient basis at the BAPTIST HEALTH Therapy Center-Sheridan.

The staff at BHRI uses a team approach to meet the individual needs of each patient. The goal for every patient entering BHRI is to minimize disability and maximize independence.