Philip was skiing with a friend in early 2023 when he experienced a devastating injury. Here’s how MetroHealth’s rehabilitation experts helped him find hope and healing.
“Going from not being able to walk, to being back where I was before the accident – it didn’t seem possible.”
On the evening of February 18, 2023, Philip Case, 17, and a friend decided to cap off a day of skiing and sledding at a resort about 50 miles south of Buffalo, New York, with some night sledding.
The friend made it down the mountain with no issues. But Philip hit a patch of ice and slammed into a pole.
Sarah and Clark Case were at home in Aurora when they received a call around 10 p.m. Their son would soon be flown by helicopter to a Level 1 Adult Trauma Center in Buffalo. The Cases rushed to be by his side.
Philip was hospitalized for two weeks with injuries to his right leg and head. Though he was wearing a helmet, the sheer force of impact had cracked his skull, and he sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Once his TBI stabilized, he had surgery on his right leg to repair a fractured femur bone; a permanent rod was inserted through the knee.
“He was really banged up. It was a horrific sight – but he was alert and cracking jokes,” Sarah said. “He didn’t always know who he was, where he was, or who his family was. That was very scary.”
But through it all, Sarah said, he never once lost his wit or sense of humor.
The Cases set out to bring Philip closer to home for inpatient rehabilitation. Daniela F. Mehech, MD, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician at MetroHealth and part of the same cycling team as Philip, helped the Cases as they worked with insurance and the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute.
“I know what it’s like for patients; you don’t know what’s going on,” Dr. Mehech said. “It’s very unfamiliar and scary. I wanted to give them assurance and an idea of what to expect with inpatient rehab.”
Philip arrived on March 3 and started working with occupational therapist Laura Poling, physical therapist Amy Lengyl and speech therapist Teresa Kusner three days later.
Even as he regained strength, Philip had doubts he’d ever ride a bicycle again. An avid cyclist, he was accustomed to racing and long rides.
Philip remembers Scott Tibbitts, a PT assistant, providing lots of encouragement and telling him it would happen in a few months’ time.
“Going from not being able to walk, to being back where I was before the accident – it didn’t seem possible,” Philip said.
Less than two weeks later, he was home. He soon returned for two more weeks of outpatient therapy with physical therapist Lisa Garber, occupational therapist Liz Galvin and speech therapist Doreen Krackenfels Jones.
Right before spring break, Philip returned to school part-time. Within days, he had progressed from crutches to a cane. That spring, he scored well on two Advanced Placement exams.
Lixan Cui, MD, another PM&R physician, said he had no doubt that Philip would have a good recovery. “Here was a young man with complex and severe injuries who ended up doing well.
“He gave the impression of being independent, a smart kid. And he has a very supportive family, which is very important for recovery.”
In May 2023, Philip started cycling again.
Over the summer, he returned to his part-time job as a bike mechanic. He also flew to Costa Rica alone, staying with the family of a foreign exchange student the Cases had hosted. With them, Philip visited beaches, jungles, volcanoes and hiked up a mountain. The trip reinvigorated him.
During Philip’s time at MetroHealth, Laura told the Case about LoveYourBrain, a national organization that advocates for and provides support and resources for people with TBIs – and their caregivers. A family friend also had told them about “Crash Reel.” The documentary film was about Kevin Pearce, a professional snowboarder who sustained a career-ending TBI in 2009 and later started LoveYourBrain with his brother Adam.
In February, information about a solo fundraising bike ride Philip had been planning went live on the group’s website.
With his senior year complete, Philip is preparing for his 4,300-mile fundraising ride. He’ll take between 70 and 80 days over the summer to ride from Virigina to California or Oregon. He has surpassed his fundraising goal of $15,000.
“I feel a new sense of … I’m not dead. I have a lot to be thankful for,” he says. “Every time I face a hard challenge, I think, ‘This is not going to be harder than learning how to walk again.’”
Metrohealth Rehabilitation Institute
Leaders in rehabilitation, research, and education to improve care for the most complex injuries and illnesses. Visit our website for more information about the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute or call:
- Outpatient appointments for adults and children, call 216-778-4414
- Inpatient services or admission for adults and children 13 yrs+, call 216-778-4167
