Attitude helps as man faces unknowns

Katie Kerwin McCrimmon

Published January 7, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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Scott Slade's resilient spirit may boost his ability to heal.

"He just always displayed a wonderful attitude," said Dr. Tom Balazy, Scott's doctor at Craig Hospital.

"Psychologically, that helps a person's immune system. Some people are fortunate to have that. He had one of the top personalities and attitude that I have seen in a long, long time."

Scott recently told Balazy that he may be getting some neck strength back. Balazy said he hopes Scott might see some incremental improvements over time.

In general, patients who suffer spinal cord injuries improve most within the first three to six months following their injuries. But some continue to improve more than a year after their initial paralysis, Balazy said.

Scott's type of paralysis is extremely rare. Balazy said there is much less data on how patients with Scott's condition, known as transverse myelitis, can improve over time. Damage to Scott's spinal cord resulted from inflammation and infection, not an accident, which is much more common.

Balazy said it's difficult to determine whether the inflammation from the staph infection caused so much damage that it destroyed Scott's spinal cord or whether the inflammation will improve over time and allow his cord to rebound.

"That's why we leave the prognosis open. What we're trying to do is give Scott the best environment that we can to allow the healing," Balazy said. "He's a year out. Now we need to have the cord show us what kind of healing it can provide."

Balazy said he hopes Slade can return to Craig for a re-evaluation as an outpatient in about six months.

For more information on Craig Hospital, go to craighospital.org.

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