Shooting for the Stars

When 22-year-old Carissa “Luu” Aspnes arrived at Craig Hospital this past June, she was fitted for a wheelchair on her very first day.

“I was blown away seeing her in a wheelchair,” recalls Carissa’s mother, Patti. “For the past three months, Carissa was stuck in bed. But there she was, actually sitting in a wheelchair.”

Patti adds, “I remember feeling so many different emotions on that first day at Craig, but mainly, I felt hopeful. In fact, it was the first time I felt hope since Carissa’s accident.”

An Unexpected Call

It was the evening of March 28, 2025, when Carissa went for a ride on a friend’s motorcycle.

“My phone rang that night around midnight,” Patti says. “It was one of Carissa’s friends calling to tell me that my daughter had been in a serious accident.”

Living in Fort Collins at the time, Patti jumped in her car and raced down to Denver. “When I arrived at the hospital, I was told that the motorcycle Carissa was riding on had been hit by a car, and she was thrown headfirst into a concrete barrier. We were devastated but tried very hard to remain positive.”

Carissa’s family stayed by her side, waiting and praying. And after almost three weeks in the ICU, she was moved to a long-term acute care (LTAC) facility.

“We were so happy that Carissa pulled through, but having her in the LTAC was very challenging,” Patti recalls. “For the next few months, she lay in bed, not getting any better. We knew that Craig would give her the best chance at recovery. It’s where she needed to be, so we fought hard to get her there.”

The Right Place

Patti describes Carissa’s first week of brain injury neurorehabilitation at Craig as a whirlwind: “We met so many nurses, doctors, therapists and staff. It was exciting, but also overwhelming.”

She adds, “I remember meeting Dr. Eric Spier [Craig’s Brain Injury Program Medical Director] who told me, ‘At Craig, we shoot for the stars every time, and where we land is where we land.’ This approach completely changed my mindset, and Dr. Spier’s words became my motto. I felt peace for the first time since March.”

In addition to participating in Carissa’s numerous therapies, Patti began to closely watch how Carissa’s nursing team cared for her.

“I didn’t know how long insurance would pay for Carissa to be at Craig, so I wanted to learn everything I could, as quickly as I could,” Patti explains. “I was pleasantly surprised to find that Craig teaches you everything you need to know. The team empowered me to be hands on with all of Carissa’s care. They not only supported my daughter, but they were there for me as well.”

Becoming Family

Patti’s training was part of Craig’s donor-supported Clinical Practice Specialist (CPS) program, developed to prepare patients and caregivers to perform care after discharge.

“Carissa’s nursing team spent a lot of time educating and training Patti on how to care for Carissa, and my job as a clinical practice specialist was to close any gaps,” Craig CPS Lori Snow-Ricord explains.

“Before Carissa’s accident, Patti had little nursing knowledge. She felt some trepidation, so I encouraged her to start by observing staff and then slowly building her skills,” Lori explains. “Because she was focused and eager to learn, Patti was quickly practicing Carissa’s skin, bladder and bowel programs, as well as learning how to manage her respiratory and medication needs.”

Patti adds, “I spent so much time at Craig that the staff began to feel like family. As Carissa’s discharge date got closer, it felt bittersweet. I was excited to take her home, but it was also sad to leave.”

Bringing Carissa Home

When it came time for Carissa to return home in early October, Patti left her marketing job to become Carissa’s full-time caregiver.

“Accessing funding from the Foundation’s Patient Assistance Funds, we helped provide much-needed home modifications, including a wheelchair lift, and various bathroom equipment,” Clinical Care Manager Joanah Cruz says.

“Joanah, whose positivity and support helped carry me through this journey, also helped arrange in-home rehabilitation with a local agency specialized in brain injury rehab,” Patti explains.

She adds, “Some people have the goal of walking out of Craig. But my goal was to bring Carissa home. And thanks to Craig, we didn’t just bring her back to her house; we brought her home to experience a rich, full life. I truly consider Carissa’s story to be a success—a story made possible by everyone at Craig.”

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