From Full Speed to a Full Stop
John’s Journey After Spinal Cord Injury
At 63, John Wilmes of Wentzville, Missouri, was always on the move. He helped run a school‑supply business and spent his free time at the dirt track, bowling with friends, listening to music and staying active in his church community. He and his wife, Sandy, had raised three children, and life had always been full, sometimes overwhelmingly so.
But in the years after COVID, everything seemed to compound at once. His business slowed, supply chains were unreliable and he was helping care for his aging father while juggling day‑to‑day responsibilities at home. John carried a lot on his shoulders. So when he began losing his balance and struggling to walk, he initially brushed it off, thinking it might be related to a knee replacement he’d had a few years earlier. When therapy didn’t help, his doctor ordered tests. An MRI revealed something no one expected: a tumor pressing on his spinal cord.
John underwent surgery at SSM Health DePaul Hospital to remove the tumor and relieve pressure. The surgery successfully eliminated the tumor, but John had no strength or sensation below his abdomen. He couldn’t sit up, stand or move his legs.
“I went from 100 million miles an hour to full stop,” John said.
Inpatient rehabilitation
Spinal cord injuries require a lifetime of care and John’s physician recommended he start with inpatient rehabilitation to help him regain as much function as possible. He choose to stay in SSM Health’s network. When he arrived at SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Lake Saint Louis, John was ready to put everything he had into his therapy sessions.
His goal was to regain as much independence as possible. The more he could do, the less Sandy would have to, John reasoned.
His physician-led care team focused on building strength and teaching new ways to complete daily activities such as eating and grooming. Physical therapy introduced John to a standing frame to help him stand safely and build tolerance for bearing weight, along with strengthening exercises like arm push-ups. John started to use a slide board, a smooth board used to slide the body from one surface to another, so he could move between his bed and wheelchair without help.
Occupational therapy taught John different ways to do the things he’d always done. He learned how to use tools such as a reacher and dressing stick to dress himself while in bed. John used a thigh loop to reposition his legs and practiced long-sitting to improve core strength and balance.
Therapists taught John patience and helped him break big goals into smaller steps. “They taught me a method of attacking the problems one at a time,” John said. “They explained why I was doing certain things and how it was helping.”
Over five weeks, John went from needing three people to help him move from one spot to another to completing slide board transfers with supervision. He began doing more for himself each day. He could brush his teeth, wash and dress with set-up assistance. John slowly reclaimed the little routines that make a person feel like themselves again.
A major milestone came when he received a power wheelchair and drove it independently — the freedom to move around again on his own felt incredible.
Neuro Transitional Center
After five weeks, John was ready to move forward. He transitioned to the SSM Health Neuro Transitional Center (NTC), a residential setting focused on preparing patients for life at home. There, he received six hours of daily therapy, family training and went on community outings.
“I felt excited, motivated and afraid of the unknown,” John said. His goal, again, was to be more self-sufficient.
In physical therapy, John continued building independence with slide board transfers and daily stretching to help relax his muscles, which were often tight due to nerve damage.
As John’s core and upper-body strength improved, he graduated from the power wheelchair to a manual wheelchair. He learned advanced wheelchair skills — managing hills, crossing thresholds and performing controlled wheelies — giving him greater access to the community.
Occupational therapy helped John get back to everyday things — pulling on a shirt, buttoning clothes, stirring a pot on the stove, wiping down a counter. These were small tasks, but each one marked another step toward feeling capable again.
“The community at the NTC helped everyone feel better, even on the really bad days,” said John, who was always ready with a kind word or gesture. He created welcome posters for new patients, supported others through difficult moments and helped with cooking and meal prep. For many, his quiet acts of generosity transformed the NTC from a rehabilitation center to a home away from home.
“I always try to be upbeat with everyone…. You never know how their day is going so I try to lift their spirits with a smile, a joke or just asking how they are doing,” said John.
By the end of his 14-week program, John could dress himself, groom himself and do household chores. He mastered using his wheelchair and could transfer in and out of a regular vehicle using his slide board, so he and Sandy could get in the car and go places together.
“The therapy I have received has blown me away,” he said. “I follow what they tell me and boom, before you know it, I have made more progress.”
John was appreciative of the support he got from the entire staff. “It was not just [the therapists], it was the cooks, the handy people, the tech staff, the nurses and everyone else… encouraging people, holding their hand, clapping and giving them a pat on the back,” he said.
Family support was also essential, especially from Sandy, who completed extensive training to help him safely transition home. After 20 weeks, John looked forward to returning to his home and work. He would continue rehabilitation at SSM Health Day Institute - Lake Saint Louis, an intense day program created to maximize functional abilities.
Day Institute
At the SSM Health Day Institute, John continued building on the progress he had already made. Physical therapy centered on mobility and safety. He spent time in the standing frame to fully stretch his legs and prepare his body for walking. Botox therapy helped relieve stiffness in his right leg. John uses a wheelchair primarily, but he practiced walking inside the parallel bars and eventually progressed to taking steps outside the bars using a walker — a milestone that reminded him of how far he had come.
Occupational therapy focused on helping John regain strength and confidence for daily life. Sitting unsupported at the edge of the mat helped him develop the balance needed for bathing, dressing and moving around at home. He used light weights to increase upper‑body strength. Therapists incorporated his love of puzzles, placing pieces at different heights and distances, so he had to reach, twist and engage his core. Each small challenge added up.
As John’s time at the Day Institute came to an end, he noted, “I am about 95% self-sufficient at home… I am walking with a walker — sometimes with some help, other times with very little.”
Moving forward
John said that he is slowly getting back to work and is looking forward to going to the race track this season, a place where he always feels at home. He is collaborating with others to launch a Facebook group called “Life After Injury and Rehab” to create a space where patients and families can find support, resources and encouragement during what can feel like an overwhelming journey. “We hope this will spark information sharing and enthusiasm through the country for people to hop onto our page or start their own page in their own community,” said John.
John learned the value of encouraging others, but he also discovered how to pace himself. “I set goals that were too high at first,” he admitted. “I had to work with my pain thresholds and figure out how to push myself but not push too much. I had to learn to listen to my body and recognize when I need to take a break.”
The experience has profoundly changed the way he sees himself and others living with spinal cord injuries. As John puts it, “People don’t change — bodies do, but their minds don’t.”
At 63, John Wilmes of Wentzville, Missouri, was always on the move. He helped run a school‑supply business and spent his free time at the dirt track, bowling with friends, listening to music and staying active in his church community. He and his wife, Sandy, had raised three children, and life had always been full, sometimes overwhelmingly so.
But in the years after COVID, everything seemed to compound at once. His business slowed, supply chains were unreliable and he was helping care for his aging father while juggling day‑to‑day responsibilities at home. John carried a lot on his shoulders. So when he began losing his balance and struggling to walk, he initially brushed it off, thinking it might be related to a knee replacement he’d had a few years earlier. When therapy didn’t help, his doctor ordered tests. An MRI revealed something no one expected: a tumor pressing on his spinal cord.
John underwent surgery at SSM Health DePaul Hospital to remove the tumor and relieve pressure. The surgery successfully eliminated the tumor, but John had no strength or sensation below his abdomen. He couldn’t sit up, stand or move his legs.
“I went from 100 million miles an hour to full stop,” John said.
Inpatient rehabilitation
Spinal cord injuries require a lifetime of care and John’s physician recommended he start with inpatient rehabilitation to help him regain as much function as possible. He choose to stay in SSM Health’s network. When he arrived at SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Lake Saint Louis, John was ready to put everything he had into his therapy sessions.
His goal was to regain as much independence as possible. The more he could do, the less Sandy would have to, John reasoned.
His physician-led care team focused on building strength and teaching new ways to complete daily activities such as eating and grooming. Physical therapy introduced John to a standing frame to help him stand safely and build tolerance for bearing weight, along with strengthening exercises like arm push-ups. John started to use a slide board, a smooth board used to slide the body from one surface to another, so he could move between his bed and wheelchair without help.
Occupational therapy taught John different ways to do the things he’d always done. He learned how to use tools such as a reacher and dressing stick to dress himself while in bed. John used a thigh loop to reposition his legs and practiced long-sitting to improve core strength and balance.
Therapists taught John patience and helped him break big goals into smaller steps. “They taught me a method of attacking the problems one at a time,” John said. “They explained why I was doing certain things and how it was helping.”
Over five weeks, John went from needing three people to help him move from one spot to another to completing slide board transfers with supervision. He began doing more for himself each day. He could brush his teeth, wash and dress with set-up assistance. John slowly reclaimed the little routines that make a person feel like themselves again.
A major milestone came when he received a power wheelchair and drove it independently — the freedom to move around again on his own felt incredible.
Neuro Transitional Center
After five weeks, John was ready to move forward. He transitioned to the SSM Health Neuro Transitional Center (NTC), a residential setting focused on preparing patients for life at home. There, he received six hours of daily therapy, family training and went on community outings.“I felt excited, motivated and afraid of the unknown,” John said. His goal, again, was to be more self-sufficient.
In physical therapy, John continued building independence with slide board transfers and daily stretching to help relax his muscles, which were often tight due to nerve damage.
As John’s core and upper-body strength improved, he graduated from the power wheelchair to a manual wheelchair. He learned advanced wheelchair skills — managing hills, crossing thresholds and performing controlled wheelies — giving him greater access to the community.
Occupational therapy helped John get back to everyday things — pulling on a shirt, buttoning clothes, stirring a pot on the stove, wiping down a counter. These were small tasks, but each one marked another step toward feeling capable again.
“The community at the NTC helped everyone feel better, even on the really bad days,” said John, who was always ready with a kind word or gesture. He created welcome posters for new patients, supported others through difficult moments and helped with cooking and meal prep. For many, his quiet acts of generosity transformed the NTC from a rehabilitation center to a home away from home.
“I always try to be upbeat with everyone…. You never know how their day is going so I try to lift their spirits with a smile, a joke or just asking how they are doing,” said John.
By the end of his 14-week program, John could dress himself, groom himself and do household chores. He mastered using his wheelchair and could transfer in and out of a regular vehicle using his slide board, so he and Sandy could get in the car and go places together.
“The therapy I have received has blown me away,” he said. “I follow what they tell me and boom, before you know it, I have made more progress.”
John was appreciative of the support he got from the entire staff. “It was not just [the therapists], it was the cooks, the handy people, the tech staff, the nurses and everyone else… encouraging people, holding their hand, clapping and giving them a pat on the back,” he said.
Family support was also essential, especially from Sandy, who completed extensive training to help him safely transition home. After 20 weeks, John looked forward to returning to his home and work. He would continue rehabilitation at SSM Health Day Institute - Lake Saint Louis, an intense day program created to maximize functional abilities.
Day Institute
At the SSM Health Day Institute, John continued building on the progress he had already made. Physical therapy centered on mobility and safety. He spent time in the standing frame to fully stretch his legs and prepare his body for walking. Botox therapy helped relieve stiffness in his right leg. John uses a wheelchair primarily, but he practiced walking inside the parallel bars and eventually progressed to taking steps outside the bars using a walker — a milestone that reminded him of how far he had come.
Occupational therapy focused on helping John regain strength and confidence for daily life. Sitting unsupported at the edge of the mat helped him develop the balance needed for bathing, dressing and moving around at home. He used light weights to increase upper‑body strength. Therapists incorporated his love of puzzles, placing pieces at different heights and distances, so he had to reach, twist and engage his core. Each small challenge added up.
As John’s time at the Day Institute came to an end, he noted, “I am about 95% self-sufficient at home… I am walking with a walker — sometimes with some help, other times with very little.”
Moving forward
John said that he is slowly getting back to work and is looking forward to going to the race track this season, a place where he always feels at home. He is collaborating with others to launch a Facebook group called “Life After Injury and Rehab” to create a space where patients and families can find support, resources and encouragement during what can feel like an overwhelming journey. “We hope this will spark information sharing and enthusiasm through the country for people to hop onto our page or start their own page in their own community,” said John.
John learned the value of encouraging others, but he also discovered how to pace himself. “I set goals that were too high at first,” he admitted. “I had to work with my pain thresholds and figure out how to push myself but not push too much. I had to learn to listen to my body and recognize when I need to take a break.”
The experience has profoundly changed the way he sees himself and others living with spinal cord injuries. As John puts it, “People don’t change — bodies do, but their minds don’t.”