On April 27 of this year Linda Furlong and her husband, Gary, were driving back from Delaware, after visiting her 94 year-old father, when their lives were turned upside down. They were traveling on a quiet two-lane road in Maryland when another car stopped at the stop sign of a cross street and pulled out in front of them, giving Gary no time to react.

Fortunately, everyone survived the crash, but Linda, who was the passenger in her vehicle, was sent to the hospital with a broken left ankle and wrist, broken sternum, broken top right and left rib, and two compression fractures in her neck. Her husband walked away with a lot of serious bruising, but no broken bones. None of her injuries required surgery, although she remained in the hospital until May 3rd.

With her home in Manassas, GHRC was a convenient location for her husband, daughter, Katie, who lives at home, and son, Scott, who lives with his family in Haymarket, to visit while she recuperated from her injuries and participated in therapy. She arrived at GHRC with a splint on her left arm and leg and a neck brace. Little by little she began to heal. She was able to use a platform walker, but could put no weight on her wrist or ankle.

Linda said, “I’m glad I’m here. This has been a very positive experience. I have enjoyed it here. I love my therapists, Ash and Andrea. They are both very supportive and very helpful. They encourage me to do all that I can do. I am very motivated and I will push myself.”

Ashraf Sefain, PTA, commented, “Mrs. Furlong is one of the most motivated patients I’ve ever worked with. She always does her best in physical therapy and follows directions carefully to maintain her safety. She’s agreeable, pleasant, and fun to work with.”

Andrea Espinoza, OT, added, “Mrs. Furlong has been a pleasure to work with. She is motivated and determined, qualities that define a patient with unlimited potential.”

After the follow-up appointment with her orthopedist five days later, big changes began to happen. She got a boot on her left foot and was able to be weight-bearing. She went from using the platform walker, to using a quad cane, to using a point cane. She can transfer herself and is happy to be less dependent on others for assistance.

Originally from Delaware, Linda and Gary moved to Virginia for his job with American Airlines 38 years ago, in 1978. Linda worked for Prince William County Schools as a special education assistant, and a preschool teacher at Little Elves Preschool, where she worked with 3 and 4 year-olds.

Linda has a most unusual passion – she LOVES power tools! She says they come in handy during her semi-annual mission trips. She is part of a START team, or short-term aide relief team with St. Thomas United Methodist Church in Manassas. She has been to Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and Mississippi since her retirement in 2007.

Reading and spending time with her family are also important to Linda. She has another son, Kurt, in Glen Allen, Virginia, and a total of six grandchildren. She is going to miss everyone here, but she looks forward to going home to be with her family.

GHRC is proud of Linda and all that she has accomplished while here for therapy. She is an inspiration to us all!