The Michael-Ryan Pattison Foundation Programs
The Michael-Ryan Pattison Foundation is seeking to establish a state-of-the-art restorative therapy center in the Seattle area. MR received the highest level of care following his injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. At Kennedy Krieger, MR received care from Dr. John McDonald, the noted physician and research scientist who has pioneered Activity Based Restorative Therapy. MR’s vision is to establish a healing center that is of the same quality and spirit as Kennedy Krieger. Through neuro-rehabilitation and comprehensive services, the center will provide hope for the recovery of sensation, motor and autonomic function, as well as independence for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders.
Approximately 11,000 new spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United States. The standard of care for persons suffering a spinal cord injury is 15 days of hospitalization in acute care, followed by an average of 44 days of rehabilitative therapy. In layman's terms and in Michael-Ryan's experience, beyond the acute phase, "you are on your own." The Healing Center will provide restorative therapeutic care beyond the acute phase for persons who have become suddenly disabled.
The Michael-Ryan Pattison Foundation was formed to:
- Raise awareness of the therapeutic needs of individuals with spinal cord injuries
- Create philanthropic support for the development of a state-of-the-art, specialized restorative therapy center in the Seattle area
- Aid in the ongoing administration and operation and of the therapy center
- Educate SCI victims and their communities
- Establish basic Foundation funding for other charitable, scientific, and educational purposes related to spinal cord injury, within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
The Michael-Ryan Pattison Foundation sponsored the development of a quadriplegic and paraplegic accessible 1947 Hudson Race Truck in 2009 and 2010. The Hudson is designed and built by Randy Simmons, a California entrepreneur and inventor specializing in robotic engineering.
The Hudson is the first ever race vehicle designed to set land speed records while being controlled and driven by a quadriplegic who has no mobility below the collar bone. Michael-Ryan will use a specially designed mouthpiece to control the throttle and steering of the Hudson.
The Foundation sponsored this project to send a message of hope--to show that anyone can accomplish dreams no matter how great the hardships. The Hudson has the capability to not only reach high speeds, but also the ability to spread the Foundation’s message of hope to all that have the opportunity to see it.