This Colorado Gives Day, support the journey back to independence.
Your Colorado Gives Day gift helps unlock bonus incentive funding for Craig. Give between November 1 – December 8!
Meet Zach
Zach was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado where he embraced as many outdoor adventures as possible. “I’d always had an active childhood and could never keep still,” says Zach. “I was an adrenaline sports maniac; a very advanced skateboarder, a trail runner, and a solo free climber.”
In 2018, when he was a sophomore in college, Zach was in a severe rock-climbing accident. Zach underwent multiple emergency procedures, spending 5 weeks in the ICU and another 5 weeks in a long-term care facility before coming to Craig Hospital to begin rehabilitation for his brain injury.
Before they arrived at Craig, Zach’s family wasn’t sure what to expect. When Zach was changed out of the medical gown and into his regular clothes, his family quickly discovered what Craig is all about. “From that point on, I realized we were transitioning from facilities focused on keeping Zach alive, to Craig, where the focus was on his brain injury recovery and getting him back to some sense of normalcy,” says Ed, Zach’s dad.
The Journey Ahead
A long journey awaited Zach, but through every challenge, Zach’s family was met with kindness and care. “From the food services staff to those who cleaned Zach’s room, everyone greeted us and asked how we were doing. That feeling of Craig staff as our extended family is what stands out most,” says Ed.
Zach worked with occupational and physical therapists to relearn motor skills and everyday tasks. Their innovative, compassionate care supported not only his recovery, but also the well-being of his entire family.
With both short- and long-term memory loss, the support of friends and family became an important part of Zach’s progress. Craig often became a gathering place, where childhood and college friends could reconnect with him. During one of those visits, a conversation among friends led to an unforgettable breakthrough: Zach spoke for the first time in months.
A New Adventure Begins
Zach’s adventurousAfter re-learning how to swim with help from Craig's PEAK Center team, Zach snorkeled independently on a family vacation and hasn't stopped swimming since. spirit remains strong as ever. From snowboarding to mountain biking, Zach faces every new challenge with determination.
Today, Zach is busy working part-time and pursuing his associate’s degree in video production and editing. He continues to work on all aspects of his life skills to one day live independently.
Whatever comes next, Zach is committed to keep moving forward, embracing new challenges and building the life he envisions for himself.
Join us in supporting more journeys toward independence and adventures beyond. Your Colorado Gives Day gift helps unlock bonus incentive funding for Craig. Give today help maximize our share!
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Craig advocates for and provides exceptional patient and family centered care for those affected by spinal cord and brain injury. Together we bravely strive for optimal health, independence, and life quality with unyielding determination.
The Craig Foundation promotes the mission of Craig Hospital by providing sustainable support.
Founded in 1907 by namesake Frank Craig, the hospital started as a tent colony for patients with tuberculosis. This mission continued into the late 1940's, until medical advances made the disease more treatable. Shortly after, Craig transitioned into a treatment facility for polio, and then in the 1950's, into a hospital focused on rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Brain injury (BI) was added as a second specialty in the 1970's. Since 1956, Craig has helped more than 34,500 injured individuals and their families.
Craig Hospital is a one of a kind medical institution, not just in the state of Colorado, but also on a regional and national level. This is because Craig is more than a hospital; we are an educational institution that teaches patients and families how to live the fullest lives possible after a catastrophic injury. Our focus is on fostering as much independence as possible for our patients, and finding new and innovative ways for them to be self-sufficient, take responsibility for their futures, and succeed in spite of injury-related limitations.
Craig is also a family; we seek to educate patients, their families, and even the community. We nurture a family culture where staff tenure is exceptional, and our graduates stay connected, supporting one another. This strong culture, in conjunction with innovative rehabilitative approaches, generates extraordinary patient outcomes. Compared to national averages, Craig graduates make greater gains during their initial rehabilitation. They are discharged to their homes at higher rates, are more functionally independent, and require less attendant care.
Organization name
Craig Hospital Foundation
1974
Tax id (EIN)
23-7352287
Category
Health Care, Medical Research, Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Enterprise Zone Credit
Address
3425 South Clarkson StreetHeadquarters
3425 South Clarkson StreetCO, US