Thanks to the generosity of the Stratton Faxon law firm in New Haven and the power of social media, Gaylord Specialty Healthcare emerged the victor in an online charitable giving contest on July 11 that had four non-profit organizations vying for a $100,000 cash prize. With the prize money, Gaylord will purchase a bionic exoskeleton system from Ekso Bionics designed to help people with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury or neurological disease stand up and walk. The purchase will make Gaylord the first hospital in Connecticut to use the Ekso bionic exoskeleton in therapy. Only 10 hospitals in the United States currently have them.
“It’s only one technology that’s available, but bionics offers a strategy that I think will make a significant difference in the lives of people with spinal cord injuries by helping them return to a life that you and I take for granted,” Gaylord President and Chief Executive Officer George Kyriacou said.
Stratton Faxon puts aside 10% of the firm’s fees on each case for charitable causes. This year, the firm sponsored its first Community Builder Contest, pre-selecting four non-profit organizations of which staff had personal knowledge. In the case of Gaylord, many of the clients the firm represents in personal injury cases receive services at the Wallingford-based long term acute care hospital.
The contest rules were simple: The charity receiving the most online votes from June 4-July 8, 2012 would win $100,000 to help the charity’s designated efforts.
“We are so excited to be the grand prize winner of $100,000,” said Lori Evon, senior development officer at Gaylord. “It’s amazing how many people helped us win. Stratton Faxon never imagined that over 20,000 people would log on to their website and vote, with Gaylord getting more than 6,800 of those votes and winning by 500 votes. Our efforts even reached two professional football players from the Philadelphia Eagles who re-tweeted the information and encouraged their followers to vote. It was a great effort that made for an exciting contest.”
Ekso™ is a 50-pound, wearable robot or exoskeleton that enables people with lower-extremity paralysis or weakness to stand and walk. Worn over the user’s clothing, the Ekso is operated by remote control and a rechargeable battery pack, it leads the person’s steps. With the patient providing the balance and proper body positioning, Ekso allows them to walk over ground with reciprocal gait. The physical therapist uses the control pad to program the desired walking parameters, such as step length and speed, as well as control when the Ekso stands, sits, and takes a step. It is powered by two high-capacity lithium batteries which drive the hip and knee motors.
Gaylord officials expect to be using the Ekso bionic exoskeleton system in early 2013, after staff education and training occur.