Support Recreational Therapy

The donor-supported program uses sport, recreation, and leisure opportunities to re-engage patients and their families with life and meet important therapeutic goals.

The Recreational Therapy department offers a variety of different programs – from day-trips for inpatients to local sporting events and attractions, to kayak trips in the San Juan Islands for graduates and their families.

“At Craig, rehab is more than just getting up and learning to get dressed and move in a chair. To the staff at Craig, that does not equate to a full life. We are helping people return to the passions that define them or helping them discover new ways to enjoy their lives.”

– Tom Carr, Director of Recreational Therapy at Craig

Stewart Lundy: Doing What He Loves Through Recreational Therapy

Stewart Lundy was 14 when he was injured in a diving accident in 1982. He did his rehab at a different facility, and was at a low point in his life when a friend told him about Craig.

He was introduced to the Recreational Therapy department when he came for an evaluation in 1997. He has since participated in a variety of different Recreational Therapy outings, including a glider flight in partnership with the Black Forest Soaring Society.

For a life-long fan of all things aviation, it was a dream come true. “Getting up so high made me feel insignificant, but part of a bigger thing—it was almost a religious experience for me,” says Lundy. “As a person who uses a wheelchair, I felt so free, and it really fueled me to see what else I could do.”

Each Craig patient is assigned a certified recreational therapy specialist, who serves as an important member of the patient’s treatment team. The therapist will evaluate the patient, and suggest different activities, from gardening, music, arts and crafts, to various sports. Patients can try a variety of different activities to return to a previous interest or find a new one.

“We have a deep sense of gratitude and admiration for the awe-inspiring work done at Craig Hospital each and every day! The compassion and devotion of the staff to the patients (and their families) who have suffered spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries is truly remarkable. Their work starts when a new patient arrives, and does not end until they leave, forever changed, but with the ability to live a long, happy, and capable life. The Recreational Therapy Program in particular removes limitations and introduces new ways for the patients to experience and enjoy a seemingly unlimited number of activities (sports, art, music, biking, fishing, hunting, skiing, scuba-diving, etc., etc.) whether it’s the patient’s first encounter, or their life-long passion. We have seen first-hand how restorative and uplifting that can be!

“Thank you Craig Hospital, we are all truly blessed that you are there for so many whose lives were changed because of your selfless work. We are honored to support Craig and the amazing people who are part of the Craig community, and we look forward to seeing the support for Craig grow so that together we can all change the lives of many more to come.”

– The Corley Legacy Foundation