He tried multiple doctors and outpatient programs for help but none of these solutions were giving Caleb the relief he was seeking and needed. After speaking with his pain management doctor and his parents, the decision was made for Caleb to attempt a more robust option to his situation, a stay at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Caleb had his choice of hospitals, but ultimately decided on Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Marlton, New Jersey.
Caleb explained, “Weisman Children’s just seemed like the best fit for me. On the tour, it did not feel like a hospital, it felt like a place you wanted to be. Whenever I was there, it felt like my home. I was very comfortable from the time I got there. I went in with the expectation that it was going to be very hard and I wanted to put my all into this so it would be helpful. It seemed like the best place to go for that kind of thing, which is not something I encountered before during this process.”
While the facility felt like home, Weisman personalized Pain Management program really spoke to Caleb and his desire to improve his condition. “They personalized my program for me. It was very accommodating but also encouraged me to push myself. The team believed me when I explained I was in too much pain, which is not always something I experienced in my pain treatment in the past,” noted Caleb. He went on to explain that besides the home like environment and intense therapy treatment, his time at Weisman Children’s was much more than that. “One of the best things to come out of my stay with Weisman Children’s was the education I received on my condition. This was the first time I finally understood what I was dealing with medically. No one explained my condition to me the way that Weisman Children’s did. I really believe that learning about my condition played a significant role in my improvement.”
Another important factor in Caleb’s recovery was self-motivation. Caleb’s desire to put in the effort to help with his chronic pain was something the staff of Weisman Children’s noticed immediately. “What stuck out most is that he worked really hard the entire time he was in therapy. Caleb came into our facility with his own goals in mind. He trusted that he could come to Weisman Children’s and get the help from the professionals to reach his end goal. I cannot emphasize the importance of that,” stated Katlyn Kristeller, Physical Therapist for Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital and Caleb’s Physical Therapist during his stay. She continued, “When he had a setback or if things got worse, he was always willing to get back to it and try again. He never gave up and continued to trust the process.”
Caleb’s uplifting and positive attitude, despite the pain he was experiencing daily, was something that the Weisman Children’s team still reflect on to this day. Linnea Fargo, Caleb’s Recreational Therapist during his stay revealed, “When he was with us, he was so go with the flow, which I feel definitely made a difference. Towards the end of his stay with us, we wanted to take him on an outing to a trampoline park. It was a trip we were all excited for, however when we arrived, the park was unexpectedly closed. Staying positive as he always did, Caleb made it a good time for everyone just walking around the mall instead. He was very willing to change and trust us and that is almost as important as the therapy itself in this program.”
Without Weisman Children’s, Caleb is unsure where he would be today. “Right now, I honestly feel like I am at the best point I have ever been. I am moving 2000 miles away for college and I am going to pursue my dream of becoming a video game designer. I would not be in the place I am currently, both physically and mentally, if I had not had my experience and stay with Weisman Children’s. I would absolutely still rely on a walker if I did not have my inpatient stay with them. My nervous system needed a hard reset and I could not have done that without their help. They were a huge part to where I am today.”
As chronic pain becomes more understood and medically accepted, Caleb continues to be an inspiration to help others. He participates in support groups encouraging others to learn what he has learned and not be afraid to seek the help. “One thing about chronic pain is that it is a disability that can get the best of you and control you. For anyone experiencing what I went through, please seek out a place like Weisman Children’s because they will give you the tools that you need to have a better life. Do not lose hope; there are ways that you can come out of this on the better side.”