It’s not every day that you’re thrown into the air in the middle of your own home.
But that’s exactly what happened to Dave Boughner when a tornado tore through the town of Gaylord, Michigan, in May 2022. As the EF-3 tornado reached Mr. Boughner’s home, it burst through the walls, tossing him airborne and causing rubble to collapse on top of him, pinning him to the ground.
When he arrived at University of Michigan Health, Mr. Boughner was diagnosed with multiple fractures in his spine and ribs and had no sensation below his chest despit exhibiting some involuntary movement in his lower extremities. He was placed on a ventilator for about two weeks and required total assistance for all functional and self-care tasks. His physicians were hopeful but ultimately unsure of the recovery he would make.
Following his intubation, Mr. Boughner was transferred to the University’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, where he began the recovery process. He went on to spend just over a month in the inpatient rehabilitation unit, receiving three hours of physical and occupational therapy per day as well as recreational and independent group living therapies, even having the opportunity to go fishing with his therapists.
Over the course of that month, Mr. Boughner was able to return to a normal diet and achieve independence at the wheelchair level. By July, he was discharged from the hospital and able to rejoin his family to recover further. While he has not currently regained the ability to walk, Mr. Boughner remains optimistic for the future and is grateful for how far he has already come.