12/03/2024
A freak car accident left Samuel Neelands paralyzed from the chest down, just as he and his wife were expecting a baby. Fatherhood and unwavering support from his family have driven his determination to walk again.
Samuel Neelands, a 37-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Patterson, NY, has faced challenges head-on for much of his life. He has lived a life of strength and service: He has traveled the world protecting others as a combat medic, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010 where he survived bomb explosions.
“I was a thrill seeker; I loved the adrenaline rush,” he said, reflecting on his years racing cars and motorcycles, being a firefighter and professional arborist scaling trees. “My wife, Ashley, said I had nine lives.”
Yet, the accident that changed his life happened just seven minutes from his home.
Spinal cord injury from a devastating car accident
Samuel was working as a heavy tow operator and mechanic.
“I was always moving and grooving, getting things done,” Samuel said. “I would wake up at 9 am and get home from work at 1 am.”
Samuel woke on September 30, 2023, to a dreary, rainy Saturday morning. Though he hadn’t planned to leave home, he decided to help a colleague at the tow shop. Driving a familiar road, Samuel’s car slid on a turn, flipped sideways and rolled.
“I remember seeing a white house and then only the deployed airbags and shattered windshield,” Samuel said.
“I felt an intense, insane amount of pain in my back. I can’t describe the level of pain. I instantly felt tears coming down my face,” Samuel said.
Samuel realized he was lying across the center console in the car; his bent knees were against the side door, and his ankles were crossed and jammed against his backside.
“Someone shouted, ‘Hey buddy, are you alright?’ ” At the same time, my smartwatch called 911,” Samuel said.
Samuel spoke with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department on his watch.
“They stayed on the phone with me until the sheriff arrived on the scene,” Samuel said.
“I tried to hold it together and power through the pain. But I was sick to my stomach and going in and out of consciousness,” Samuel said. “I dealt with my fair share of accidents and wrecks over the years and knew how to stay calm and relay information. This time was different; I had trouble being coherent.”
First responders removed the passenger side door and pulled Samuel out on a backboard. The paramedics were assessing Samuel’s injuries when he realized he could not feel anything in his body below his chest.
“I remember saying bye to Ashley, who appeared at the ambulance door. They started me on IV medication for the pain and very quickly, I went to sleepy land,” Samuel said.
The paramedics rushed Samuel to Danbury Hospital, where a team led by neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Gilligan prepared for emergency spine surgery.
“The next thing I remember was waking up in the ICU around 2 am wearing a neck collar. It didn’t feel real; it felt like a dream,” Samuel said.
Samuel had a traumatic spine fracture.
Dr. Gilligan described Samuel’s injuries as among the most severe he has seen.
“Samuel had a severe burst fracture at the first level of the lumbar spine (L1) with bone fragments and an epidural hematoma compressing his spinal cord,” Dr. Gilligan explained.
“We performed a complex thoracolumbar spine surgery to decompress the spinal cord and nerves, remove several bone fragments and stabilize his spine with screws and rods. The severely torn dura also needed extensive repair to contain the spinal cord nerves and prevent a cerebrospinal fluid leak,” Dr. Gilligan said. “This type of surgery is very delicate because we’re working so close to the spinal cord.”
Spine surgery and the start of a long recovery
For nine days after surgery, Samuel lay flat in the intensive care unit (ICU), tethered to ports and monitors.
“It was enough to drive a person crazy,” he recalled. The mental toll was immense, but the smallest sign of progress — his left leg twitching five days after surgery — sparked hope.
About a week after surgery, Samuel was making enough progress to move from the ICU to the neuro unit at Danbury Hospital.
“The neuro unit has the best group of people. They cared for me and my entire family,” Samuel said. “They let Ashley stay with me; they were beyond phenomenal.”
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A family’s love and a father’s determination after a spinal cord injury
Samuel’s family was the driving force behind his recovery. Ashley, who was pregnant, their children, Samuel’s mom and their family’s support kept him going.
“I’m a husband and father of three — I couldn’t give up,” he said.
With the encouragement of physical therapist Kelly Barbarisi, he started sitting up, a feat that took five people to accomplish.
“At first, I could only sit up for about a minute because of the pain,” Samuel said.
Two weeks after the accident, Samuel began using a wheelchair and could shower independently using a chair.
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Rehabilitation after spine surgery turns paralysis into progress
After leaving Danbury Hospital, Samuel worked tirelessly for a month at an inpatient rehabilitation center to regain his strength and mobility. He eventually traded a walking harness for a walker.
“Not being able to walk was a huge struggle, physically and mentally,” Samuel said. “Actually, 95% of the fight was mental. I went from living a fast, adrenaline-seeking life and working to being home full-time, with Ashley as a full-time caregiver.”
Today, Samuel can move his left leg and partially move his right leg. He can’t feel his ankles or toes and uses a walker for support. However, he continues making progress and celebrates wins like walking up and down the stairs using a stair chair and getting in and out of bed and dressed.
“I notice gains every week,” he said.
“When Samuel arrived at Danbury Hospital, he had no movement in his legs or feet. Just over a year later, he can walk a short distance independently — a remarkable recovery considering people with this type of injury usually have either continued paralysis or minimal improvements,” Dr. Gilligan said. “We were able to get him to surgery quickly, which I think has helped his recovery. His determination to use physical therapy over these last several months and mindset have been the key to his continued improvements.”
Reflections on a changed life after a spinal cord injury
Samuel is sharing his experience to help others remember what matters most and appreciate everyday things fully.
“I realized I took so much for granted, like being able to get out of bed each morning, put both feet on the ground and use the bathroom. Before the accident, I never thought about being able to stand for five minutes without pain,” Samuel said.
Samuel has found a positive aspect from the unthinkable accident: time with his family.
“I was so busy before the accident, always on the go. Now, I’m home, experiencing my 10-month-old son’s growth and appreciating life,” Samuel said.
“I wouldn’t have been able to make as much progress as I have without Ashley and my family. I can’t tell you how many times my father- and brother-in-law picked me up off the floor,” Samuel said.
“The neurosurgery team is also phenomenal. Dr. Gilligan and Physician Assistant Stacey Gonzalez took extra time to answer questions. Even today, they are a phone call away; they take care of everything,” Samuel said.
Samuel is also grateful for Veterans Affairs, which “immediately helped.” They made his home accessible and safe for him and supported his physical therapy regimen.
For Samuel, the future is full of promise. “I’m still working on my recovery, but I’m here, moving and grateful for every moment.”
Disclaimer: Outcomes from a traumatic spine injury vary from person to person. No individual results should be seen as typical.