Reclaiming Independence and Rediscovering Purpose

When Annette Bryant thinks about the last year, the 64-year-old can’t believe how much her life has changed.

“A year ago, I was working at the post office, a job I held for the last 40 years,” she explains. “I also worked part time at the local library and enjoyed a very active lifestyle with my husband, Mark, and our dogs.

But then one fall changed everything and turned my life completely upside down.”

 A Disastrous Outing

Annette was walking her dog on July 11, 2025, when she tripped and fell on the sidewalk. “The leash got tangled on Annette’s wrist, and she hit the right side of her head before the dog dragged her an additional 20 feet,” recalls Mark, her husband.

When first responders arrived on the scene, Annette was unresponsive and remained in a coma for the next six weeks. “When I first woke up, I was not strong enough to start rehab at Craig Hospital, so I moved to an acute care facility to build my strength and stamina,” Annette says.

In early September, she transferred to Craig to begin her neurorehabilitation. Annette worked tirelessly in occupational, speech and physical therapy to regain her lost skills and spent three days a week at the PEAK Wellness Center to optimize her recovery.

“Being at Craig was a wonderful experience,” she says. “My care team supported me 100 percent and focused on helping me get back to my life. While I still struggle with speech and memory today, I never imagined I would get this far.”

Touched by Philanthropy

Following Annette’s accident, the couple went from a two-person income to no income at all because Mark quit his job to support Annette through her recovery journey.

“In addition to having no income, the medical bills devoured our savings,” Mark explains. “So, when we learned that Annette needed hearing aids due to balance issues caused by the fall, we became very nervous. The $4,000 cost was overwhelming for us—until Joanah Cruz, Annette’s clinical care manager, informed us that the Craig Foundation’s Patient Assistance Funds would cover the cost of the hearing aids.”

Annette adds, “We were so grateful for Craig’s help. I don’t know what we would have done without their support. In fact, I don’t know what would have happened if I had gone to another rehab hospital.”

Strategies for Success

After Annette was discharged in early November, she yearned to restore normalcy in her life as well as a sense of purpose and independence. While returning to her full-time position at the post office was not a reality, Annette became eager to go back to her part-time job at the library. She turned to Hayley Medina, an occupational therapy specialist with the donor-supported Community Reintegration program.

“Because work tends to be a vital part of one’s identity, we help patients return to their jobs and hobbies,” Hayley explains. “For Annette, going back required specific support and accommodations.”

Taking Annette’s memory and fatigue challenges into consideration, Hayley met with Annette’s employer—who was supportive of her return—to outline the tasks that Annette could resume. Accommodations were developed, which included reduced hours, regular breaks and memory aids.

“I developed several strategies to assist Annette with her work tasks, such as creating a map of the library to help her remember the layout, writing things down as a memory aid, and roleplaying to assist her in navigating potential questions from library patrons,” Hayley explains. “Annette struggled with confidence, so I worked with her in a consultative relationship to help support and encourage her return to work.”

Annette adds, “My entire care team at Craig thought of everything I would need to help me get back to my life. I can’t thank them enough for what they gave me. It’s an incredible place!”

To learn more or donate to help Craig grads like Annette, please visit craighospital.org/foundation/donate.