Spero Means Hope

Owen Cox is a US Marine Corps veteran and the owner of a cheerleading and tumbling gym where he and his wife coach young athletes. In 2019, his son, Christoffer, sustained a cervical level spinal cord injury which changed both his and his family's lives. A year later, motivated by lessons learned during Christoffer's hospital stay, Owen started the 'Salute the Fight Foundation'. This non-profit or...

In this episode, we connect with Rahul Sinha, a former pre-med student whose life was turned upside down after a car accident resulted in a cervical spinal cord injury which left him partially paralyzed from the chest down. 4 years later, Rahul reflects on how through that journey, he has been able to redefine who he is, ground himself in a new identity, find a different career path, and accept th...

Bastion Community of Resilience is a non profit organization located in New Orleans, LA whose mission is to meet the needs of injured US veterans and their families. The organization provides free community housing, vocational rehab, occupational therapy, functional activities, and other services all geared towards bridging the gap between conventional rehabilitation and independent community rein...

Rehabilitation Services Volunteer Project (RSVP) is a non profit organization whose mission is to improve health outcomes for uninsured or underinsured Houstonians with neurological diagnoses such as strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or amputations. The organization provides all of its services free of charge which include: physical and occupational therapy, medical visits, assistance...

In this episode, Tameka McNair shares her story from her humble beginnings being raised in a single parent household in Wisconsin, to making it out of poverty and into the leadership position she now holds with Microsoft. She explains how her Faith, vision, and resilience have helped her overcome many challenges including raising twin boys as a single mother, navigating the healthcare system when...

Maegan Barin, OTR/L is a full scope neurological occupational therapist at Spero Rehab. In this episode, she discusses how occupational therapists can help their patients address mental health challenges and navigate relationships and physical intimacy following neurological events such as a spinal cord injury. She discusses psychosocial considerations, deep dives into the changes to sexual functi...

In this episode, Mashal shares about her difficult postpartum experience which was marked by Pelvic Girdle Pain Syndrome and sensory deficits. She reflects on her journey to understanding her symptoms, seeking out help from various healthcare providers, refusing to accept pain as normalcy and advocating for herself. She touches on how systemic changes can improve maternal health for all women rega...

In this episode, Ricky reflects on the past 2 years of his life since a diving accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. He shares how this injury changed both his and his family's lives, gave him a new outlook on the meaning of life, and redefined his identities as a husband and as a father. After waves of depression and despair, he began his road towards recovery with the help of Faith an...

In this episode, Kat shares her story of surviving a stroke, relearning how to walk, reaching new milestones, and setting new goals. She expands on how this life changing event has shifted her mindset and reflects on the biggest influences in her life post stroke.

Welcome to the Spero Means Hope podcast!