The Accident
In 2003, 19-year-old Jared King was on track to get a degree in the geosciences at the Colorado School of Mines, a public research university for engineering and applied science in Golden, Colorado, which boasts some of the nation’s highest admissions standards.
A car accident changed everything. Jared was on his way back to college from New Mexico when he rolled his truck and sustained a traumatic brain injury. He came to Craig Hospital to begin the rigorous process of healing, both cognitively and physically.
As he worked toward regaining his independence, Jared made an important personal goal: to return to the School of Mines and continue his education. His recovery was slower than he’d hoped, but the shared support of his peers at Craig offered the motivation he needed to improve.
Rehab At Craig
“My time at Craig was hard, because the memory issues were extremely frustrating,” Jared said. At first, his balance was also very poor. He remembers struggling to walk on the treadmill. “There were others there who may never walk again who were encouraging me to work hard, to walk faster and to get better and get better. It was incredibly encouraging.”
When he graduated from Craig, Jared says he knew he was still healing. He wanted to go back to the Colorado School of Mines, but he soon realized he wasn’t ready. Jared stayed in New Mexico and took junior college classes.
“When I first went back to school, I realized I couldn’t function on the same academic level I was able to before my accident,” he said. Although he was eager to advance, he says that some of the best advice he got was to slow down and give his body the time it needed to heal.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Jared was accepted into graduate school at the Colorado School of Mines. “That’s when I felt like I’ve made it full circle.” He did return to the place where he could do everything academically that he could do before the accident, but it felt different. “It was defining a new normal for me,” he said.
Recovery
Today, Jared works as a hydrogeologist at a software company in Colorado. A multi-year recipient of the Craig Hospital Alumni Scholarship, Jared says he likes being able to contribute to help other Craig patients go back to school.
“For me recovery was primarily about perseverance and getting through it,” he said. “I now have the confidence that almost anything I encounter will pale in comparison to what it took to overcome my injury.”
Meet Jared’s Team
Tiffany Heck
Director of Occupational Therapy
Karen Ramsey
Registered nurse
Brenda Bertrand
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
I made it full circle.
Jared King, Craig Grad 2003
Pushing Ahead
“I really couldn’t imagine wanting to go through a rehab program anywhere else.”
Learn more about Jared’s Programs and Services
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center
BI treatment and rehabilitation at Craig is a comprehensive system of care, from the initial days after injury, through inpatient rehab and outpatient treatment, home- and community-based services, and long-term follow-up.
Speech and Language Therapy
The Speech-Language Pathology team at Craig takes a holistic but individualized approach with every person with whom they work.
Physical Therapy
The goal of physical therapy at Craig is to promote functional independence and mobility, customized to each patient’s individual needs.
Occupational Therapy
At Craig, occupational therapy focuses on maximizing independence in daily living skills.