JOHN NEEDS OUR HELP

December 10, 2014

John sends a "thank-you" letter to the editor of his local Foxboro newspaper..........

11/16/14

To my friends from Foxboro & beyond:

It’s been a little over a year since this newspaper ran a story about how my family and I have learned to cope with a new set of challenges due to a spinal cord injury from a skiing accident in January of 2013. I wanted to give you a little update about my progress and say “thanks” to some of the many people who have made our lives easier in so many ways.

Thank you to our neighbors, the Millers and Ciullas for the many meals you brought us, and for teaming up with my brother in law, Rich Hollis, to build a complete ramp system in our back yard so I can easily enter the house on my own.

Thank you to Jim and Pat Evans for your non-stop support of Elizabeth & me; you continue to be amazing friends. I also have to thank three special friends from Foxboro, (who probably prefer to remain anonymous) George, Tony and Karen, who have made regular donations to our fundraiser since it was established, which is incredible!

A special thanks to my sister in law Trisha Murphy for being there whenever we needed something, from food to haircuts to the many rides you gave me to Journey Forward. I know Elizabeth also appreciates your being there for us so often despite your own busy schedule.

I have returned to work full time and am now able to drive there myself thanks in large part to all of you who have donated to our fundraiser at HelpHopeLive.org. Your generous donations made it possible for us to modify a slightly used Nissan Pathfinder with hand gas/brake controls that also pulls my wheelchair in & out of the car automatically. The modifications alone cost over $30K and everyone’s generosity covered this entire expense!

I have recovered feeling to a substantial part of both legs, have a little bit of muscle movement, and am going to a specialized exercise rehab facility in Canton named Journey Forward, which was recently featured on The Today Show. The program, which specializes in spinal cord injuries, offers individualized training sessions using state of the art equipment and techniques not available in the traditional physical therapy setting. Unlike many injuries, the recovery from a spinal cord injury can take years and in many cases is a lifelong “journey.” The staff at Journey Forward recognizes this and really helps with both the physical & mental aspects of recovery. Unfortunately, this rehab program is not covered by medical insurance, which means we have to try to cover the cost of nearly $2,000/month ourselves. Thankfully, up until recently, this cost has been covered in part by your generous donations.

I truly cannot begin to express how grateful I am for all the help and support everyone has given Elizabeth and me since my injury occured. Your kind words and prayers have definitely helped speed my recovery. This town serves as a constant reminder of how lucky I am to have such a wonderful wife and family behind me, and to be blessed with so many friends in this wonderful community.

Again, to my family and friends in Foxboro and beyond, thank you.

Sincerely,

John F. Hardy

November 19, 2014

The Journey Forward Spinal Cord exercised rehab program I am attending, which is based in Canton, Ma. was recently featured on the Today show. Below is a brief story & link to a 3 minute video if anyone is interested in seeing their excellent work in action!

http://www.today.com/health/quadriplegic-walks-again-starts-exercise-program-help-others-spinal-cord-1D80261930

September 24, 2014

I am back to the Journey Forward exercise/Rehab program now that the presure sores are mostly gone.

I have entered a couple of new pictures of my Nissan Pathfinder SUV showing the wheelchair handling system.

December 18, 2013

I have received and been using the standing frame machine for several weeks now. It helps to have this standing position for bone strengthening, circulation benefits, and all around fitness.

We also just purchased a new vehicle for me, and it has now gone to the Ride-Away Company shop to undergo modifications to make "hands-only" driving possible and to stow my wheel chair. We bought a 2013 very slightly used Nissan Pathfinder SUV, and I'm anxious for the day when I can drive myself again (so is Liz)! I'll try to get some new pictures soon to show some of these and other changes. Thanks to everyone as your contributions are key to making this happen.

October 11, 2013

Visited our favorite agency on Monday, 10/07, the Massachusetts Dept. of Motor Vehicles (aka "the Registry"). Such fun!

Anyway had to take a complete new driving test like when we were teenagers, except using a hand controls car.and passed with flying colors!!!

Next stop, looking for the right vehicle so I can drive myself places and start giving Elizabeth a break.

September 14, 2013

The Foxboro Reporter - "Still Blessed"

Still Blessed

By Frank Mortimer

A few days after John Hardy slammed into a tree while skiing, a rescuer from the Mount Snow ski patrol told his family what he first noticed as the victim -- ribs and shoulder blade broken and spine severely dislocated -- lay in the snow.

Hardy, a parishioner at St. Mary's Church, was making the sign of the cross.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son ...

"Within a minute of the accident, I knew my legs were not right," Hardy said this week with the stoic understatement of a guy whose parents were strong South Boston Irish Catholics and who, at age six, became the "man" of the house in Framingham, for his mom and sister, when his father died at age 38.

"He never complains," Elizabeth Hardy said of her husband.

Paralyzed from the waist down since that Jan. 8 accident, Hardy, 61, still considers himself blessed.

Blessed that the long recovery he faces began on a baseline of lifelong health and fitness, and that -- with hard work in physical therapy -- he has gained some feeling and movement in his legs.

Blessed with a loving wife of 34 years, Elizabeth, and three adult children, one of whom -- a surgical resident -- knew what questions to ask in the crisis of emergency decision-making.

Blessed with friends whose support included the building of a 50-foot wheelchair ramp to the back door of the couple's South Street home.

Friends who now hope to raise tens of thousands of dollars for medical equipment, rehabilitation therapy and transportation -- giving a hand to a man who gave much of himself to the Town of Foxboro.

"A lot of friends and family are helping us get through this challenge in the way that is the least disruptive," Hardy said. "I'm doing as much as I can to get back in shape."

For many years until his accident, Hardy, an engineer who believes in sharing his gifts, helped Foxboro get into shape.

Building Foxboro

Near the main entrance to the recently re-opened Boyden Library, the name John Hardy appears on the new brass-color plaque along with other members of the Foxboro Permanent Municipal Building and Planning Committee.

The unsung group of volunteers oversaw, among other projects, the expansion of the Ahern Middle School, the construction of the Public Safety Building, the renovation of Foxboro High School, and the expansion of the library.

Projects which, incidentally, all came in under budget, according to committee chairman William Yukna.

A mechanical engineer and plant manager for roofing manufacturer Bird & Sons of Walpole, which is now part of Certainteed Corp., Hardy also served as chairman of the Foxboro Landfill Committee, which had the vital if unglamorous task of managing the safe closure of the landfill on East Belcher Road.

For years, he coached Foxboro Youth Soccer and taught CCD at St. Mary's Church, and both John and Elizabeth were active in local school councils.

Their children, all graduates of Foxboro High School, went on to fruitful careers: Daniel Hardy, 32, an Ohio-based marketing executive, formerly a store manager, with a major clothing retailer; Matthew Hardy, M.D., 29, a third-year surgical resident in Philadelphia; and Cecilia Hardy, 27, an interior designer with an architectural firm in Watertown.

A trim 5-foot-6, Hardy in younger years liked to jog and later turned more to bicycling and gardening. Through it all, since age 10, he loved downhill skiing -- and became good at it.

On the sun-filled morning of Jan. 8, the third day of a ski trip with friends from Foxboro, he decided to "traverse" from one trail to another. To do so without gliding to a stop and having to walk the level ground to the adjacent trail, he picked up some downhill speed, turned to make the traverse, then hit a patch of ice...

BREAKING THE NEWS

"The group was nine friends who have been going away like this for a number of years to southern Vermont," said former selectman James Evans. Five of the men skied one day, four the next day.

Among the others on the trip were stadium advisory committee member George Bell, Foxboro police Det. Lieutenant John Hannon, Route 1 businessman Michael Saegh and Rev. Steve Madden, pastor of St. Mary's Church (who wasn't skiing).

Some of them had skied Mount Snow many times before and knew it well. But any activity carries some risk.

Hardy, who was wearing a helmet, did not sustain a head injury or lose consciousness.

"He was obviously badly hurt and one of the guys went to get the ski patrol, who took John off the mountain in a sled to the medical facility where he was treated by EMTs from the area," Evans said.

Hardy was then flown by medical helicopter, along with another injured skier, to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., where he went into surgery late that day.

"His injuries included a number of broken ribs, a broken scapula and most seriously, injury to a number of vertebrae," Evans said. His wife, Patricia Evans, who was back home in Foxboro, went to the Hardys' home and gently broke the news of the accident to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, 55, and two of their children, Daniel and Cecilia, were at the hospital when he came out of surgery. His back was stabilized with a metal rod.

Their son, Matthew, a surgical resident in Miami at the time, was in contact by phone with his mother, with Evans, and with the medical team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

About a week later, Hardy was moved by ambulance to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, where he began physical and occupational therapy as well and continued medical treatment.

He was fitted for a wheelchair and worked out daily to keep up his strength and gain new skills. He was released on Feb. 19 -- earlier than the original prognosis.

GIVING BACK

Four friends -- Foxboro builder Bruce Ciulla and his son, John, along with neighbor Dan Miller and Hardy's brother-in-law Rich Hollis of Walpole -- built a ramp to the back door of the house so he could get in and out for rehabilitation, medical services and other trips.

Fortunate to have good medical insurance, Hardy still needs rehabilitation equipment and therapies which are not covered, and hopes to gain some measure of independence by buying a car designed for a driver with paraplegia.

His paralysis was a bizarre turn of fate.

Just five years earlier, Hardy co-chaired a fundraiser for Elizabeth's brother, Norwood resident John Murphy, whose cancer -- believed to be asbestos related -- had invaded his spinal column, leaving him unable to walk.

"Little did we know we'd be in the same situation," Hardy said.

Evans is a leader of a Foxboro group trying to raise $100,000 over the next six months for Hardy's immediate needs, including rehabilitation visits to Journey Forward in Canton (he goes for 2 to 4 hours a week at $100 per hour), and some modifications to the house, where the Hardys have resided for 31 years.

Evans said Hardy's longterm needs will probably hit around $250,000 -- money which the Foxboro friends will try to raise over the next two or so years.

"John is committed to remaining a productive part of our community. He has helped us and now he needs our help," Evans wrote on the website of HelpHOPELive, the 30-year-old, non-profit organization that coordinates fund raising for organ transplant patients or those with catastrophic injuries.

"To advance his goal of walking again, what is needed is hard work, the right medical and rehabilitation resources, and the resources to pay for them. John is providing the first, John has engaged the second, and John needs our help with the third."

Hardy returned to work on July 1. He works mostly from his home office, but is still completely dependent on someone driving him at this point.

"He is ready to take a new driving test to get his license and is looking at some appropriate vehicles," Evans said. "That's a great step toward more independence."

For more information about John Hardy or to assist with his needs please go to HelpHOPELive site (www.helphopelive.org) and search for John by name, or call Jim or Pat Evans at 508-543-2166.

Published: Thursday, September 12, 2013 4:56 PM EDT

Still Blessed

GUARDIAN ANGELS -- John and Elizabeth Hardy have given much to the community during their 31 years in Foxboro. Now, grateful townspeople are stepping forward to help cover the costs of his recovery from a catastrophic skiing accident.(Photo by Frank Mortimer)

Despite skiing accident that left his legs paralyzed, John Hardy 'never complains'

By Frank Mortimer

Published: Thursday, September 12, 2013 4:56 PM EDT

A few days after John Hardy slammed into a tree while skiing, a rescuer from the Mount Snow ski patrol told his family what he first noticed as the victim -- ribs and shoulder blade broken and spine severely dislocated -- lay in the snow.

Hardy, a parishioner at St. Mary's Church, was making the sign of the cross.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son ...

"Within a minute of the accident, I knew my legs were not right," Hardy said this week with the stoic understatement of a guy whose parents were strong South Boston Irish Catholics and who, at age six, became the "man" of the house in Framingham, for his mom and sister, when his father died at age 38.

"He never complains," Elizabeth Hardy said of her husband.

Paralyzed from the waist down since that Jan. 8 accident, Hardy, 61, still considers himself blessed.

Blessed that the long recovery he faces began on a baseline of lifelong health and fitness, and that -- with hard work in physical therapy -- he has gained some feeling and movement in his legs.

Blessed with a loving wife of 34 years, Elizabeth, and three adult children, one of whom -- a surgical resident -- knew what questions to ask in the crisis of emergency decision-making.

Blessed with friends whose support included the building of a 50-foot wheelchair ramp to the back door of the couple's South Street home.

Friends who now hope to raise tens of thousands of dollars for medical equipment, rehabilitation therapy and transportation -- giving a hand to a man who gave much of himself to the Town of Foxboro.

"A lot of friends and family are helping us get through this challenge in the way that is the least disruptive," Hardy said. "I'm doing as much as I can to get back in shape."

For many years until his accident, Hardy, an engineer who believes in sharing his gifts, helped Foxboro get into shape.

Building Foxboro

Near the main entrance to the recently re-opened Boyden Library, the name John Hardy appears on the new brass-color plaque along with other members of the Foxboro Permanent Municipal Building and Planning Committee.

The unsung group of volunteers oversaw, among other projects, the expansion of the Ahern Middle School, the construction of the Public Safety Building, the renovation of Foxboro High School, and the expansion of the library.

Projects which, incidentally, all came in under budget, according to committee chairman William Yukna.

A mechanical engineer and plant manager for roofing manufacturer Bird & Sons of Walpole, which is now part of Certainteed Corp., Hardy also served as chairman of the Foxboro Landfill Committee, which had the vital if unglamorous task of managing the safe closure of the landfill on East Belcher Road.

For years, he coached Foxboro Youth Soccer and taught CCD at St. Mary's Church, and both John and Elizabeth were active in local school councils.

Their children, all graduates of Foxboro High School, went on to fruitful careers: Daniel Hardy, 32, an Ohio-based marketing executive, formerly a store manager, with a major clothing retailer; Matthew Hardy, M.D., 29, a third-year surgical resident in Philadelphia; and Cecilia Hardy, 27, an interior designer with an architectural firm in Watertown.

A trim 5-foot-6, Hardy in younger years liked to jog and later turned more to bicycling and gardening. Through it all, since age 10, he loved downhill skiing -- and became good at it.

On the sun-filled morning of Jan. 8, the third day of a ski trip with friends from Foxboro, he decided to "traverse" from one trail to another. To do so without gliding to a stop and having to walk the level ground to the adjacent trail, he picked up some downhill speed, turned to make the traverse, then hit a patch of ice...

BREAKING THE NEWS

"The group was nine friends who have been going away like this for a number of years to southern Vermont," said former selectman James Evans. Five of the men skied one day, four the next day.

Among the others on the trip were stadium advisory committee member George Bell, Foxboro police Det. Lieutenant John Hannon, Route 1 businessman Michael Saegh and Rev. Steve Madden, pastor of St. Mary's Church (who wasn't skiing).

Some of them had skied Mount Snow many times before and knew it well. But any activity carries some risk.

Hardy, who was wearing a helmet, did not sustain a head injury or lose consciousness.

"He was obviously badly hurt and one of the guys went to get the ski patrol, who took John off the mountain in a sled to the medical facility where he was treated by EMTs from the area," Evans said.

Hardy was then flown by medical helicopter, along with another injured skier, to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., where he went into surgery late that day.

"His injuries included a number of broken ribs, a broken scapula and most seriously, injury to a number of vertebrae," Evans said. His wife, Patricia Evans, who was back home in Foxboro, went to the Hardys' home and gently broke the news of the accident to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, 55, and two of their children, Daniel and Cecilia, were at the hospital when he came out of surgery. His back was stabilized with a metal rod.

Their son, Matthew, a surgical resident in Miami at the time, was in contact by phone with his mother, with Evans, and with the medical team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

About a week later, Hardy was moved by ambulance to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, where he began physical and occupational therapy as well and continued medical treatment.

He was fitted for a wheelchair and worked out daily to keep up his strength and gain new skills. He was released on Feb. 19 -- earlier than the original prognosis.

GIVING BACK

Four friends -- Foxboro builder Bruce Ciulla and his son, John, along with neighbor Dan Miller and Hardy's brother-in-law Rich Hollis of Walpole -- built a ramp to the back door of the house so he could get in and out for rehabilitation, medical services and other trips.

Fortunate to have good medical insurance, Hardy still needs rehabilitation equipment and therapies which are not covered, and hopes to gain some measure of independence by buying a car designed for a driver with paraplegia.

His paralysis was a bizarre turn of fate.

Just five years earlier, Hardy co-chaired a fundraiser for Elizabeth's brother, Norwood resident John Murphy, whose cancer -- believed to be asbestos related -- had invaded his spinal column, leaving him unable to walk.

"Little did we know we'd be in the same situation," Hardy said.

Evans is a leader of a Foxboro group trying to raise $100,000 over the next six months for Hardy's immediate needs, including rehabilitation visits to Journey Forward in Canton (he goes for 2 to 4 hours a week at $100 per hour), and some modifications to the house, where the Hardys have resided for 31 years.

Evans said Hardy's longterm needs will probably hit around $250,000 -- money which the Foxboro friends will try to raise over the next two or so years.

"John is committed to remaining a productive part of our community. He has helped us and now he needs our help," Evans wrote on the website of HelpHOPELive, the 30-year-old, non-profit organization that coordinates fund raising for organ transplant patients or those with catastrophic injuries.

"To advance his goal of walking again, what is needed is hard work, the right medical and rehabilitation resources, and the resources to pay for them. John is providing the first, John has engaged the second, and John needs our help with the third."

Hardy returned to work on July 1. He works mostly from his home office, but is still completely dependent on someone driving him at this point.

"He is ready to take a new driving test to get his license and is looking at some appropriate vehicles," Evans said. "That's a great step toward more independence."

For more information about John Hardy or to assist with his needs please go to HelpHOPELive site (www.helphopelive.org) and search for John by name, or call Jim or Pat Evans at 508-543-2166.

September 2, 2013

Standing Frame -Rehab equipment

We are looking to purchase a standing frame; looking at a Brand/ model called Evolv-Glider which was recommended by Journey Forward. The purpose of this piece of equipment are several: 1) enable me to get into a standing position which helps build bone and muscle strength 2) provide a non-sitting position other than laying down which promotes good circulation and offers the chance to read or do work while standing. 3) The Glider model provides some cardiovascular workout via foot and arm movements similar to an elliptical machine. All movements can safely be completed without assistance for someone in my condition. This is one of the items the team hopes to be able to purchase with the Help of our friends & HelpHopeLIve. Cost = ~ $6500 and is not covered by our Insurance.

September 2, 2013

Returning to work @ CertainTeeed

As of July 1st, I started back to work with the full support of my colleagues & superiors. Working mostly from home in my office, I am able to do all the non-travel portion of my previous duties. Over time, I hope to go to the office a bit more once I receive my revised drivers license, and work on getting a vehicle I can drive alone. Eventually I expect to be able to do some travel to the plants again to get out where the action is, but first things first.